Diving in Mozambique in the warm, crystal clear Indian Ocean waters and its islands, is a thrilling and rewarding experience. Mozambique is one of the finest diving destinations in the world, with remarkably unspoilt coral reefs and an abundant variety of marine life that all levels of divers can enjoy all year round. Sea temperatures vary between 30°C in summer to 21°C in winter and the structure of the reefs offer pinnacles, overhangs, coral arches and much more.
Reef depths vary from 10m to 40m and offer good visibility and fantastic photo opportunities. Not only of the incredible range of coral but of over 6,000 species of fish. The reefs attract a variety of game fish while the coral is home to myriads of brightly coloured smaller fish including schooling banner fish, Moorish idols, butterfly fish, blue striped snappers, barred sweetlips, goldies, and trigger fish.
Mozambique diving is an excellent all year-round activity and a range of exciting and varied diving itineraries can be organized. Barracuda, manta rays, moray eels, sharks, huge schools of kingfish, giant lobsters, and numerous species of reef fish are commonly seen. The whale shark, the largest fish in the world which can reach lengths of up to 14m and weigh up to 15 tons, can be spotted between December and April.
Above the waves, dolphins are frequently encountered as are leatherback, loggerhead and green turtle. Humpback whales can be sighted between August and October while the lucky few may get to marvel at the sight of the rare dugong. Most lodges in Mozambique are pleased to welcome all levels of divers and lessons can be arranged for both beginners and intermediates.
Article Source
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Mozambique 12-day Scuba Safari
Day 1: Barra Lodge Beach Resort – Inhambane
Arrive at Inhambane International Airport Transfer to Barra Lodge Beach Resort Lunch at the resort Afternoon at leisure Dive planning: late afternoon at Barra Dive Resort Dinner Evening at leisure
Barra Lodge Beach Resort offers 3 star accommodation right on the beach front. All rooms have mosquito nets and a fans. Attractions include a relaxing beach bar and restaurant with swimming pool. The Resort is located in Praia da Barra which is situated on a huge estuary just off the town of Inhambane.All dives are undertaken from the Barra Dive Resort, situated in the Barra Lodge Beach Resort. This means no transfers to and from the dive site. Everything is right at hand. The Barra Dive Resort is a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center, thus internationally renowned for safety and professionalism.Divers have 14 major reefs to enjoy. One of the major attractions is a Manta ray cleaning station where scores of Cleaner wrasse attend to the Manta’s every need. Also in attendance are porcupine fish, Rubberlips, Potato bass, Triggerfish, Bull rays and Honeycomb moray eels. There are also luscious green Whip corals and circular big Plate corals to be seen, along with Pink fleshy coral and Orange sponges.
Day 2: Barra Lodge Beach Resort – Inhambane
Dive #1 Breakfast Dive #2 Afternoon at leisure Dive planning: late afternoon at Barra Dive Resort Dinner Evening at leisure
Day 3: Barra Lodge Beach Resort – Inhambane
Dive #3 Breakfast Dive #4 Afternoon at leisure Dive planning: late afternoon at Barra Dive Resort Dinner Evening at leisure
Day 4: Barra Lodge Beach Resort – Inhambane
Dive #5 Breakfast Dive #6 Afternoon at leisure Dive planning: late afternoon at Barra Dive Resort Dinner Evening at leisure
Day 5: Casa Barry Lodge - Tofo
Breakfast Transfer to Casa Barry Lodge in Tofo Dive #7 Afternoon at leisure Dive planning: late afternoon at Tofo Scuba Dinner Evening at leisure
Praia do Tofo is situated about 20 km from Praia da Barra and share the same dive spots – 14 main reefs. The Casa Barry Lodge is situated in the town of Tofo and offers non-catering brick Casitas, the majority with sea views. All Casitas are equipped with mosquito nets, fans and a verandah. The Casitas are serviced daily.Tofo Scuba is within walking distance from the Casa Barry Lodge, thus ensuring effortless diving.Reefs closer to Tofo offers Crocodile fish, Lizardfish, Scorpionfish, Paperfish, Devil firefish, Fire Gobies, Trumpetfish and many more. Corals in the area consist of various kinds of hard corals such as Staghorn coral and Plate coral. Also soft corals including Porous coral, Thistle coral and Anemones. And don’t forget the Nudibranchs.
Day 6: Casa Barry Lodge – Tofo
Dive #8 Breakfast Dive #9 Afternoon at leisure Dive planning: late afternoon at Tofo Scuba Dinner Evening at leisure
Day 7: Casa Barry Lodge – Tofo
Dive #10 Breakfast Dive #11 Afternoon at leisure Dive planning: late afternoon at Tofo Scuba Dinner Evening at leisure
Day 8: Casa Barry Lodge – Tofo
Dive #12 Breakfast Dive #13 Afternoon at leisure Dinner Evening at leasure
Day 9: Jeff’s Palm Resort – Guinjata Bay
Breakfast Transfer to Jeff’s Palm Resort in Guinjata Bay Dive #14 Afternoon at leisure Dive planning: late afternoon at Palm Resort Pro Dive Center Dinner Evening at leisure
Jeff’s Palm Resort is an internationally renowned PADI Dive Resort and operates the Palm Resort Pro Dive Center from its premises. The Resort is located on the beach front about 25 km from Inhambane. With majestic sea views on the one side, and large coconut and cashew nut plantations on the other, it truly is a unique setting. Added benefits are a Portuguese restaurant and relaxing beach bar right on the beach front. Jeff’s Palm Resort offers spacious Cabanas, the majority with spectacular sea views. With 11 major reefs the diving is truly spectacular. Watch out for Manta rays, Devil rays, Barracuda, Yellow fin tuna and sometimes even Blue marlin. Also Batfish, Butterflyfish, Kingfish and Triggerfish.
Day 10: Jeff’s Palm Resort – Guinjata Bay
Dive #15 Breakfast Dive #16 Afternoon at leisure Dive planning: late afternoon at Palm Resort Pro Dive Center Dinner Evening at leisure
Day 11: Jeff’s Palm Resort – Guinjata Bay
Breakfast Dive #18 Afternoon at leisure Dive planning: late afternoon at Palm Resort Pro Dive Center Dinner Evening at leisure
Day 12: Jeff’s Palm Resort
Day at leasure
Day 13: Jhb
Transfer to airport at 9:30
Optional Activities:
Ocean Safaris & Snorkeling trips Cultural tours Inhambane tours Beach volleyball Kayaking Ski-boats & Jetski’s Spear fishing Quad biking Horse riding Surfing Dhow trip to Maxixe
Inclusions:
Breakfast Dinner 18 Dives Transfers Flights Johannesburg-Inhambane (Mozambique)-Johannesburg Accommodation Full rental scuba gear
Exclusions:
Article SourceGear Rental at +/- R100/ Day All beverages (alcoholic & non-alcoholic) Optional excursions Departure tax
Scuba Mozambique
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Mozambique Flights
LAM is the national airline for
Other airlines such as South African Airways and Pelican Air also offer flights from
Visas may be obtained on arrival in
Domestic air services operate between
Flight access to Vilanculos and the Bazaruto Archipelago
There are several routing options between
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.
• 4.
Flight access to Pemba and the Quirimbas is available from
Flights from
Return flights to
Flights from
Flights from
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Mozambique’s Gorongosa - A Resurging Paradise
Gorongosa National Park, located in central Mozambique, was once Southern Africa’s premier wildlife preserve. Hollywood actors, royalty, and wildlife enthusiasts would fly thousands of miles just to witness the diversity and abundance of its animals. The 4000 square kilometer park is located at the southern end of the East African Rift Valley and boasts a number of varied habitats, making it ripe for ecological diversity and a proliferation of wildlife.A Misused Paradise
Gorongosa sounds idyllic, but after the end of Mozambique’s 17-year civil war, 95 percent of the mammal population had disappeared. RENAMO, an internal resistance organization funded by apartheid South Africa and active during the 1980s and 1990s, used Gorongosa as a base of operations for most of this period. As a consequence most of the prominent species were either eaten, poached for their ivory or destroyed by gunfire and landmines as a direct result of the fighting.
There is, however, new hope…
The Carr Foundation, created by Greg Carr in 1999 as a charitable organization dedicated to the environment, humanitarian efforts, and the arts, is working in conjunction with the Mozambican government to return this park to its former glory.
Greg Carr first visited Gorongosa in 2004, and found the park in shambles. His vow and commitment to the park not only includes his very generous gift of $40 million over 30 years, but also his personal touch and enthusiasm. He is not simply a benefactor, but is directly involved in the park, spending a good portion of his time in Gorongosa.
The animals are coming back, largely due to reintroductions from Zimbabwe and South Africa.
On my last visit there last year I saw hippo, elephant, crocodiles, bushbuck, waterbuck, impala, oribi, nyala, warthogs, genets, a serval and signs and sounds of lion and hyena. The birdlife was exceptional – diverse and abundant. The land itself is ripe for reintroductions. The habitat is ready and waiting, and the wildlife is making a comeback.
Eco-Tourism
The park restoration benefits the local and regional economy through tourism and the generation of employment. It is also bringing healthcare and education to people who previously had little access. The funding of health clinics and schools and the training of farmers in sustainable agriculture are a direct result of the Carr Foundation’s social responsibility policy.
Visiting Mozambique and Gorongosa
Visitors to Mozambique will notice that it is a country that boasts stunning white sand beaches with world class diving, wild rivers to explore, and an interesting culture to boot. It also exudes extreme poverty and high HIV rates. The country’s warring parties signed a peace agreement in 1992, and tourism has been increasing steadily since that time.
Visitors to Gorongosa will now find modern and comfortable cabanas, equipped with air conditioning and en-suite bathrooms. There is a restaurant and bar on-site as well. Travelers on a budget can camp in their newly renovated campground, which even have hot showers available.
There are many activities once you arrive at Gorongosa. There are over 100km of roads accessible from the camp. Your guided game drive will take you through the many ecosystems of the park, allowing you to see game in their native habitats.
Guides can take you to the local community of Vinho to see how the Carr Foundation’s vision of social responsibility is working. This 40-minute walk, along with a short boat ride across the Pungue River, will bring you to this community with its new school and hospital.
Article Source
Friday, February 13, 2009
Manta Rays, Mozambique
A second and possibly third species of manta ray discovered
Genetic and morphological analysis has now confirmed the existence of a second species of manta ray, and possibly a third one as well. Up until know, the scientific community only knew about one single species of manta ray and all encountered manta rays were viewed as variants within the same species. PhD marine biologist Andrea Marshall did however suspect that there might be more than one species of manta ray luring in the ocean and in 2003 she to a small coastal village located in southern Mozambique to be able to study the manta rays found off the African coast. During the last five years, she has been carrying out a manta ray study sponsored by the Save Our Seas Foundation and discovered a new species as well as collected invaluable information about the reproductive habits of the manta rays.
The two manta rays species have overlapping geographical ranges, but they have significantly different life styles. One species is migratory while the other one – the smaller and more commonly known species – is resident to particular costal regions where it stays year round. There are also noticeable differences in reproductive biology, skin texture and colouration.
The small, stationary species is commonly encountered by divers and researchers at coral reefs, while the larger, migratory species is much more elusive.
The pectoral fins of a manta ray can span almost 8 meters in width and the weight of this baffling shark relative can exceed 2000 kg. Unlike the stingray, the manta ray is not equipped with a functioning stinging barb, but one of the manta ray species actually has a non-functioning type of sting on its tail.
According to the Save Our Seas Foundation, Andrea Marshall’s new finding is the marine equivalent of discovering an unknown species of elephant.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Eco-Tourism in Mozambique - A Fresh Start
If you love isolated places, conservation, safaris or activities like fishing and diving, keep an eye on the remote Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, where one of Africa’s most exciting new eco-ventures is taking shape. In an untouched area, the Cabo Delgado Biodiversity and Tourism Project will offer a rare combination of big game safaris and tropical coastal activities while funding comprehensive conservation and community development initiatives.Aware of Mozambique’s enormous tourism potential, African travel expert Christopher Cox and wildlife vet Dr. Julie Garnier launched a search in 1996 for an area suitable for conservation and able to sustain a luxury tourism product. Cabo Delgado was identified in 1998. Thorough socio-ecological surveys were conducted by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and ecology experts before the concession was finally obtained in November 2001.
These surveys confirmed its exceptional biodiversity, with over 15 different land habitats, including endangered coastal forest. The area was largely untouched by Mozambique’s civil war, and viable game populations include Elephant, Buffalo, Hippo, Lion, Leopard, Wild Dog and several Antelope species. A marine survey revealed rare habitats such as sea-grass beds and found coral reefs that are among East Africa’s richest, with diverse fish life and endangered species including turtle, humpback whales, dugong and whale shark. The ZSL has since declared Cabo Delgado among its most important African conservation projects.
Funding for conservation and community initiatives will come from international donors and from luxury tourism. Visitor numbers will be limited, but the area is large enough to support five small eco-lodges, enabling guests to switch between inland, coastal and island habitats. The first two lodges will open in 2003, on Vamizi island and on the 35km-long mainland beach. In 2004 two lodges are planned for the 33,000ha inland area, where expert guides will lead game drives and walking safaris through diverse habitats including mangrove swamps, wetlands, coastal forest and acacia savannah.
A further lodge is planned for Rongui island, as a base for deep-sea game fishing. Guests at coastal lodges will also be able to scuba dive, join marine wildlife expeditions and explore nearby islands by catamaran or dhow. Within the concession is a ruined Portuguese fort and the historic island of Ibo is nearby.
An essential component of the project’s success will be the involvement of local communities (among Mozambique’s poorest). All have given their written approval and are set to benefit through skills acquisition, employment, small business initiatives and the creation of a community fund to provide assets such as schools, clinics, grinding mills and wells.
The receipt of direct financial benefits from their wildlife will hopefully motivate the local people to ensure its conservation. Community relations specialists have visited to ensure that what’s defined as a “Smart Partnership” between tourism, conservation and communities runs to the benefit of all. Guests will be encouraged to visit and participate in conservation activities, including cataloguing terrestrial and marine fauna and flora, identifying human-wildlife conflicts and potential resolutions, evaluating the use of species socio-economically important to local communities and developing sustainable-use programmes. The project will also help protect adjacent areas by employing, training and equipping wildlife guards from local communities.
On the drawing board, the plans seem flawless. No doubt hurdles will arise during their execution, but if the finished product resembles the blueprint, Cabo Delgado should shoot into the top rankings of Africa’s eco-ventures.
Article Source
Scuba Mozambique: http://www.scubamozambique.com/
Monday, December 22, 2008
Mozambique: The Gem of the Indian Ocean
by Shaun
Mozambique is undoubtedly one of the top tropical paradises in Africa. It is especially well known for its spectacular diving and coast line which runs all the way from South Africa to Tanzania for over 2500km. This country boasts untouched beaches with lots of little islands all amazingly beautiful.
Aside from scuba diving there is a plethora of water activities to satisfy any holiday makers thirst for adventure. Swimming, sea kayaking, dhow sailing, snorkeling, fishing, surfing and more are all readily available along the coast of Mozambique.
With all this activity travelers can build up quite an appetite which is a food thing as some of the best seafood world wide is just a few steps from your accommodation. Prawns are especially fantastic!
When to go:
To get the most out of your holiday, without worrying about the weather, its best to visit Mozambique between May and November. During this time the rainfall and temperatures are at their lowest with the thermometer hovering between 20 and 29 degrees Celsius. If you can tolerate the heat its possible to have a great holiday in Mozambique from November to January.
Generally February to April is the rainy season so unless you plan on spending most of your time inside avoid traveling during this period. Also, if you plan on going over Easter or December it is a very good idea to book at least 9 months in advance.
Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1132807
Aside from scuba diving there is a plethora of water activities to satisfy any holiday makers thirst for adventure. Swimming, sea kayaking, dhow sailing, snorkeling, fishing, surfing and more are all readily available along the coast of Mozambique.
With all this activity travelers can build up quite an appetite which is a food thing as some of the best seafood world wide is just a few steps from your accommodation. Prawns are especially fantastic!
When to go:
To get the most out of your holiday, without worrying about the weather, its best to visit Mozambique between May and November. During this time the rainfall and temperatures are at their lowest with the thermometer hovering between 20 and 29 degrees Celsius. If you can tolerate the heat its possible to have a great holiday in Mozambique from November to January.
Generally February to April is the rainy season so unless you plan on spending most of your time inside avoid traveling during this period. Also, if you plan on going over Easter or December it is a very good idea to book at least 9 months in advance.
Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1132807
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