Mozambique: Set Sail on a Luxury Dhow Safari

Thought you’d ticked that island hopping adventure off your to-do list? Well think again…this is island hopping on a whole new level. On this 10 night Robinson Crusoe escapade you’ll sail through the beautiful Quirimbus Archipelago in northern Mozambique. We’re taking you well off the trodden path. On a traditional dhow boat, you’ll sail through this collection of deserted islands and sandbanks with a team of expert guides and skippers. For five days you’ll discover this pristine environment, snorkelling and kayaking and relaxing on deserted stretches of sand. Come night, and after beach BBQs, we’ll set up a private mobile camp complete with bathrooms and facilities so you can experience nature without another soul in sight. After this adventure of a lifetime, you’ll spend a few nights at our Africa Experts’ favorite eco-lodges, where you can rest up and enjoy the warm and laidback Swahili island life.

First stop; Pemba where you’ll be met off the plane by your guide for a road transfer to Mucojo, where you’ll climb aboard your traditional dhow with a trusty crew and everything you could possibly need for your very own castaway experience. You’ll then set sail to Mogundula Island, your base for the next two nights and one of the most beautiful spots in the archipelago. Known by the locals as the island with the sacred lake it provides beautiful bird watching, pristine swimming off the sandbank beach and excellent snorkelling. With your mobile camp set up for you, you’ll have the island all to yourself to explore along with our local expert guides, so we suggest setting sail to Pangane Peninsula or similar Macaloe Island.

After two nights on Mogundula island you’ll begin your exploration deep into the Quirimbas Archipelago on a unique safari. Your next stop is the Ulumbwa river mouth and it is here where fascinating rural fishing villages dot the shore. Here you can camp in the open Mozambique bush and interact with the friendly locals from the fishing villages.

The next day you’ll wake early and sail up the Ulumbwa estuary viewing a variety of birds & mangroves that thrive in this area. In the afternoon, take a tour through this fishing village getting to know the ways of these fisherfolk as interpreted by your knowledgeable guide – a fascinating experience. At dusk, you’ll return to camp at Ulumbwa where you’ll be met with a beach BBQ of freshly caught seafood.

Ibo Island

For your last stop on the dhow you’ll dock at Ibo Island, probably one of the mystical parts of the Quirimbas archipelago. With an expert local guide in tow, you’ll discover Ibo’s 200-year-old ghost town and 16th Century forts for a fascinating peek to an era long forgotten. Here you’ll have the chance to interact with the amazingly friendly local people and observe their unique island culture and heritage and a way of life that has not changed for hundreds of years. You’ll then check into Ibo Island lodge for the next three nights, a historic colonial property where you spend lazy days on verandas, explore the tropical gardens and watch the sun go down from the rooftop. For wildlife lovers, we’ll arrange a trip just for you to one of the nearby sandbanks where you can spot turtles and dolphins in their natural home before returning to your seafront veranda for a sundowner. Heaven.

For the final three nights, you’ll hole up in total beach luxury at Azura Quilalea for a few days of rustic chic relaxation on a totally private island. Here you can live out your wildest Robinson Crusoe dreams, where you can slip from your beachside villa into the ocean to spend the day scuba diving in the crystal waters.