On the eastern shores of Southern Africa, where the Zambezi river takes its final bow, lies Mozambique. Once a Portuguese colony, this embattled nation is often underestimated as a travel destination.
In the south of the Mozambique channel, a short hop from Vilanculos, Bazaruto’s islands offer up some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world. Its turquoise waters teem with whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins and humpback whales, as well as rare dugongs while its beaches promise bikini-busting seafood feasts on endless white sands.
Further north lie the private beaches of Ilha Caldeira and the remote Quirimbas archipelago. Amid a blend of Portuguese, Arabian and African influences, the coral reefs of these pristine, largely unexplored islands are strung together by deserted sand bars and nodding coconut palms. Getting here is no easy feat. But man, is it worth it.
