“Oh do you live in Vilanculos? I would LOVE to visit there- so stunning, so beautiful!” said the 90-year-old mother of a Dutch friend I met here in Mozambique, who visits her son every year. “I once saw a picture of that magnificent bay in a brochure and had never seen anything so wonderful.” It is true, I replied, in the pictures it looks beautiful and it truly is beautiful.

Vilanculos – a formerly quiet fishing town, now one of Mozambique’s tourist hotspots. Officially Vilankulo, named after the local chief Gamela Vilankulo Mukoke, a well-known family name in this area.

Vilanculos is best known as the gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago, which was granted protected area status back in 1971, making it the first and oldest marine national park in Mozambique- because of its exceptionally beautiful underwater world. Whale sharks, manta rays, thousands of fish species, whales, dolphins, nesting sea turtles and the last remaining viable population of dugongs set in tranquil, turquoise seas, surrounded by powder-white beaches made the Archipelago a highly desirable and  top tourist attraction in southern Africa.

The archipelago is a diver’s and snorkeler’s paradise and watching the humpback whales in season a fantastic experience.

On the island of the archipelago you will find exclusive lodging, ranging from the more family-friendly and larger Anantara Resort to the luxurious &Beyond Benguerra and even more luxurious and exclusive  Kisawa Sanctuary, for top class service and exclusivity.

In 2023, Zenguelemo Lodge opened, a luxury eco glamping in partnership with the local community, providing a unique opportunity to stay in the middle of the archipelago at an affordable price.

 Below the helicopters flying over, transporting guests from the small international airport in Vilanculos to the luxury lodges on the islands, life in Vilanculos continues unruffled and unchanged, as it has for centuries. At the end of the day, the dhows (traditional Arab sailing vessel with one or more masts) come sailing into Vilanculos bay with their catch of the day or night; where the women await them to sell the fresh fis in the evening market.

This is a special sight you don’t see in so many places in the world anymore. I keep finding it, ever since we have been here, extraordinary and special how this authentic local life mixes with the (still small-scale) tourism. Tourists (or ourselves) enjoying a cold beer in the beach bar with in front of it on the beach the fishermen busily and precisely repairing their nets and the fishermen are only too happy if you buy a fresh fish or lobster from them.

The local Mozambicans remain friendly as ever and are always as happy and cheerful. At low tide in the afternoon the beach is bustling with activity with youngsters playing soccer with the few materials they have.

In recent years Vilanculos has experienced considerable growth, new roads have been built (we ourselves still live on a dirt road) and in record time almost the entire town was provided with electricity (with all its advantages and disadvantages because Mozambicans love loud music.

Many accommodations were added, from backpackers and mid-range lodges to luxury 5 star hotels like the beautiful Santorini hotel. So in terms of accommodation choice there is something on offer for everyone’s style and budget, though on average prices are a lot higher than in South Africa, for example. This is mainly due to the small scale nature of the industry, the fact that in Mozambique almost everything is imported with 100% import tariffs, and seasonality. Vilanculos is also a lot further north from the capital Maputo than, say, Tofo (about 11 hours on a fairly poor highway) resulting in higher transport prices and far fewer (self-drive) travelers than in southern Mozambique and places like Ponto d’Ouro, Bilene and Tofo.

As mentioned above, Vilanculos became known primarily as the gateway to the idyllic Bazaruto Archipelago. However, its white beaches overlooking the shimmering bay with magnificent views on the islands of the Archipelago, wide choice of accommodations, authentic local life and laid-back atmosphere make Vilanculos a wonderful vacation spot to  rest and relax.

If you want to be more active, there are plenty of things to do in Vilanculos. Canoeing in the Govuro wetlands is one of my favourites, or visit the archeological site at Chibuene, my favourite area of Vilanculos, about 10km out of town. Chibuene is one of the oldest trading places on the coast of East Africa. The local restaurant by the old Baobab is entirely run by the local community. Another inspiring community project activity is a sea horse safari by traditional dhow. This is run by the local NGO ParCo who collect and recycle plastic rubbish. Extremely valuable work!

A local village tour by ‘Tuk Tuk’ (locally called ‘chopela‘ is a great way to learn about Vilanculos, its history, culture and food or join in a cooking workshop. A birding/walking tour with my friend Crispen is lovely. Horseriding in the ocean or on the beach with Mozambique Horse Safari is very special or go  kitesurfing in the bay. The choice is yours!

Finally, how did we end up here?

We already visited Mozambique back in 2008, when we traveled overland from Malawi to Pemba, all the way north. It was as if we had discovered an glinstering raw diamond! Sitting there so quiet on the east coast of Africa, so diamond! Beautiful, so friendly, Mozambique was mysterious undiscovered secret to me. And there was not a tourist to be seen!

Years later we returned, back to to the north again and the incredibly beautiful Quirimbas Archipelago. There I met fellow Frisian woman who had been living in Africa for years, who told me about Vilanculos. So we decided to escape lockdown Europe and go for a restful holiday in Vilanculos in early 2021. We immediately loved the relaxed and friendly atmosphere, the beautiful bay and tropical flora and fauna. I always had a desire to live in Africa and Vilanculos seemed to offer us new opportunities. While Gerry completed his new studies, we launched Mindwise. A new adventure was born.

The Island of Mozambique/Mozambique Island – Ilha de Moçambique in Portuguese -, is one of the most beautiful and historically culturally interesting places to visit in Mozambique.

We visited the island in 2017 for the first time and I loved it. I will never forget staying in this centuries old house named Casa das Ondas (House of Waves) which was full of beautiful wooden furniture. I felt like I had stepped into a different era, a different time. A time long gone but still so present and so tangible that present and past intermingled in an almost surreal way. The image of a local lady dressed in a beautifully-coloured capulana (type of a sarong) sitting in front of the house, gazing over the endless calm turquoise blue Indian Ocean, is an image printed in my memory.

This time it took us a bit longer to get there, as we didn’t fly to Nampula like we did in 2017. Instead, we travelled on local transport all the way from Vilanculos. We were lucky that, after leaving Gorongosa National Park early at sunrise to wait for a bus, that one came almost immediately, taking us all the way to Nampula (16 hours) from where we could go on to Mozambique Island the next day.

To get to Ilha, we took a chapa (local minibus) from Nampula and while we were waiting for the bus to fill up, local sellers passed by selling fresh fried prawns on a stick in homemade Peri-Peri sauce, for 5 meticais (about 5 Euro cents). Delicious!

Cramped in a jam packed chapa, the journey took much longer than expected, partly because we lost half of the cargo halfway down the road and had to go back and find it. Secondly, these chapas stop EVERYWHERE as they need to load off their cargo. They are really more cargo carriers than passenger buses which frustrates me immensely and there were quite a few times I lost my temper on this trip. Not very mindful, I know, but travelling on local transport in Africa has its challenges. We finally crossed the bridge to the island after dark.

Arriving on the small island, my memory had not played tricks on me. It was still a beautiful and special place. It felt like arriving in a different world, a different time zone, a different energy. An energy of peace, of inspiration and beauty.

We based ourselves in Hotel Central, had a cold beer and I had a quick walk around town feeling like I had travelled far back in time, just like I felt back in 2017. I visited Casa Gabriel, the guesthouse of Italian Gabriel who has been living on the island for years, and who beautifully restored one of the old buildings into a charming and cozy little guesthouse, which is very reasonably priced.

Ilha de Mozambique was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991 because of its important cultural history. It was the capital of Portuguese East Africa under Portuguese colonial rule, after Vasco da Gama discovered the island in the late 14th century. It then became  the first capital of Mozambique. Its name was derived from sultan ‘Ali Musa Mbiki’, a sultan who ruled the island in the 15th century. And that’s how the country also got its name.

Later, the Dutch also tried to attack and conquer the Portuguese settlements here, but didn’t succeed. However, history goes much further back than that. Arabian tradesmen already came to the area around the 10th century and Bantu-speaking people- perhaps as early as the 3rd century- migrated from inland to the coastal areas. This mixture of Swahili, Arab and European influences make the island a unique destination in Mozambique to visit. Different cultures and religions have peacefully lived here together for centuries and the island breathes an atmosphere of openness and tolerance, which feels very pleasant.

The following day we visited some beautiful and unique accommodations for Unique Mozambique’s portfolio. For example, Terraço das Quitandas which is a 300 year old building next to the old customs house, now beautifully restored into a boutique design hotel. In Jardim dos Aloés (House of the Aloe Veras) we were warmly welcomed by Italian owner Bruno who has transformed an old warehouse into a unique, cozy and personal guesthouse where you will be treated as a king or queen. Stepping through the old Arab doors you’ll find a different world. My favourite on the island!

Bruno invited us to breakfast the next day where we met lovely other guests. Breakfast here is a real feast and owner Bruno is a true encyclopaedia and ambassador for the island. The luxurious Villa Sands hotel personally had less appeal to me, it’s a nice hotel but part of a chain which immediately makes it feel a lot less personal, even though the staff were super nice and friendly.

We had a stroll around historical Stone Town and met the lovely Fahar from Ilha Blu, who organises dhow tours, bicycle and historical walking tours as well as whale watching and sunset boat trips. Sailing around the blue waters of Ilha, seeing  the UNESCO heritage site from the Indian Ocean on a historical dhow sailing boat – how unique is that! Ilha Blu is based in a beautifully restored building, now a cafe with lovely staff and great cocktails!

We indulged ourselves in the delicious culinary culture of Ilha and its very nice restaurants, eating the local speciality Cava Cava (type of lobster) which was super tasty. We went to another local restaurant and I had the best Matapa I have eaten in Mozambique. The cuisine on the island is a mix of fresh fish with Arabic influences of herbs and spices which makes for the most delicious dishes.

We stayed on the island for 4 days, met the friendliest of people, visited the interactive exhibition where, with 3D and virtual reality and took a journey through the past and Makua culture.We visited the Fortaleza de São Sebastião (fort of San Sebastian) and the museum where the wildly enthusiastic guide told us all about the island’s history. In the evening we were entertained with upbeat live music in one of the cafes.

Visit the Island of Mozambique if you want to learn more about Mozambique’s rich history, culture and cuisine. It is a true highlight of any trip to Mozambique and one of the most special places in southern Africa I have been to.

How to get there? No worries, I will help you organise the trip. We can plan a (video) call to discuss your needs and preferences for accommodations, route and activities in order to completely customize your holiday.

“Why should I go  on holiday to Mozambique”? “What does it have to offer”? “What is unique about Mozambique“? These were the most frequently asked questions at the Fair for Adventure, Luxury & Cultural Tours in Amsterdam, in the beautiful Beurs van Berlage, an architectural work of art with a rich past, in which I took part for the first time this year.

This fair focuses on small-scale providers of holidays and unique destinations and is organised every year in January. I had only just finished decorating my stand with Mozambican capulanas (sarongs), plugged in the monitor with my presentation on this beautiful destination, when visitors started to pour in.

“Because it is stunningly beautiful!”, I answered enthusiastically to the most popular question of the day. Mozambique is stunning and off the beaten track – an undiscovered destination with few tourists, beautiful beaches, snorkelling and diving with stunning coral reefs and small-scale and very nice accommodations. 

Still somewhat hesitant, people watched my presentation on the monitor which showed beautiful images of the Bazaruto Archipelago and its alluring turquoise ocean, and our safari in the magnificent Gorongosa National Park in July 2024. What a contrast to this rainy grey cold Dutch Saturday in January! 

It was busier at Marjon’s table next to me. Like me, she organises personal tailor-made trips to Africa –  to Madagascar,  destination somewhat better-known in the Netherlands than Mozambique. I visited it myself back in 2010 with Gerry. Back then we met no less than five tourists on the whole trip, a beautiful country with unique nature.

In between all the larger agents and tour operators with professional promotional material, fancy banners and free promotional gifts, it was surely no coincidence that Marjon and I were located beside each other; small-scale one-man businesses (one-woman businesses to be precise) with similar visions such as a personal approach and a passion for the countries we represent.

I noticed our approach did appeal and we were even getting questions whether Mozambique and Madagascar could be combined in a single trip! Indeed, geographically they are not that far apart and both unique destinations in their own right, but logistically still a challenge to combine in one holiday package.

During the course of the morning, my helpers arrived – my mother and father in his Mozambican shirt, custom-made at the local market in Vilanculos when he visited us for two months; my sister and my niece in her Mozambican trousers; and my brother-in-law who had made a nice promotional banner for me.

My father enthusiastically told visitors everything they wanted to hear about Mozambique. Yes, that it is very safe, yes, that it is easy to get there via Johannesburg and Airlink; yes, that the Mozambicans are so kind, sweet and friendly, and very talented artists and yes, that he women in the local market all wanted to marry him!

Moreover, he repeated that it is lovely, warm, beautifully green and tropical and above all, very relaxed and laid back.

It got busier and busier, and I talked my heart out about this still unknown destination in the Netherlands.

This former Portuguese colony is still a lesser-visited destination in southern Africa, with its tropical and warm climate, small-scale boutique hotels and lodges and exclusive safari opportunities.

Although often combined with a trip to South Africa, there is enough to see and do in Mozambique for a full two- to three-week holiday. The laid-back capital Maputo, located on the Indian Ocean, is a fun city to spend a few days. Visit the beautiful art galleries, colourful markets and historic buildings and get a taste of Mozambican cuisine with its famous ‘peri-peri chicken’ and fresh tiger prawns.

Safari opportunities are abound in Mozambiue and are available in Maputo National Park, Zinave National Park and the spectacularly unique and remote Gorongosa National Park. Those interested in cultural history will be indulged on Ilha de Mozambique, (Mozambique Island), a UNESCO-protected World Heritage Site where the past and present intertwine in its mysterious streets –  one of my Mozambique highlights

On Sunday, the second day of the fair, it was a lot quieter but my public presentation on Mozambique was well attended. It wasn’t easy to summarise the uniqueness of this country in 25 minutes, but the striking images captured the imagination of everyone and the reactions were enthusiastic. ‘How stunning!’ ‘The beauty!’. ‘It has so much to offer’ and “How did you end up living there?” were just some of the comments. A couple of people came back to my stand to find out even more. Mission accomplished!

The fact that Mozambique is still relatively undiscovered and has no mass tourism – it is still in its infancy, with all the advantages and disadvantages that this brings – appealed to many people. It’s a special and unique destination, with the fair living up to its name.

If you like beautiful beaches, diving and snorkelling or fancy a lovely relaxing wellness holiday after, for example, a safari holiday in South Africa or Botswana, Mozambique is not an inferior destination to places such as Mauritius – often chosen by agents or tour operators. But Mauritius is more touristy, much busier and with many large resorts.  Mozambique, on the other hand, has unspoiled beaches, almost just for yourself.

Several visitors asked me if I organise adventure travel tours to Mozambique for small groups. The idea that came to me when I was in Zimbabwe last year was confirmed. Something I will definitely look into this year – a small group trip starting in Vilanculos all the way to Gorongosa National Park is definitely a possibility. What an adventure that would be!

Vilanculos. This former quiet fishing town is a fast growing place and became known mostly as the gateway to the beautiful Bazaruto Archipelago. It’s a very laid-back place where life is still slow and authentic and fresh fish is being sold on the beach. We are facing the idyllic Bazaruto Archipelago with its paradise islands, turquoise blue water and pristine underwater world.

Vilanculos is a perfect place to relax and unwind, go for a quiet walk on the beach, enjoy a drink on the beach watching the dhows passing by and listening to the calming waves of the ocean. Use your time here for some self-care and self-love and join one of the yoga classes, a meditation practice with Gerry, or try one of the lovely Spa treatments in one of the beautiful hotels or on the beach. Read more about Vilanculos here.

The Bazaruto Archipelago is beautiful. Think of the Maledives or Seychelles of Mozambique, bounty islands with crystal clear white beaches, blue warm water surrounded by untouched protected coral reefs, whales, dolphins and the rare Dugong.

UNESCO world heritage-listed Ilha de Mozambique is one of the most fascinating and interesting places to visit on your holiday to Mozambique.  The Zanzibar of Mozambique but without the many tourists. Full of  beautiful accommodations. Foodies will love it here too!

Stay a couple of days in one of the uniquely restored historical buildings – now boutique hotels – and cross over to Cabaceira Grande or Lumbo for a peaceful and relaxing stay away from the hustle and bustle of Ilha. Here you will find the most beautiful beaches you will ever see.

Gorongosa is overwhelming. A safari in what is called Africa’s greatest wildlife restoration story, is a unique and very special experience. Remote, wild, exclusive, diverse and off the beaten track. Bush and Beach at its best! Read more about our visit to Beira and Gorongosa National park here.

Have you ever dreamed of driving across a stunning white sand beach along the Indian Ocean?

BD point-or Bartolomeus Dias point, named after the explorer-is accessible only at low tide. After driving on a spectacular beach for 30 kilometers, you will arrive at a unimaginably beautiful tropical secluded lagoon with turquoise blue water, soft white sand and traditional swahili dhows slowly gliding by. Stay in Sussurro Boutique Hotel or Rio Azul Lodge.

Here, you truly feel at the end of the world.

Lively and vibrant Tofo with its huge beach, good choice of restaurants, hip vibe and affordable accommodation, is home of the whale sharks, mantarays, humpback whales and many more beautiful underwater creatues. This is THE place to do an ocean safari, dive the numerous reefs, go on a daytrip to the lagoon or just relax and chill.

Be a Robinson Crusoe and take yourself to a spectacular stretch of unspoiled coastline with white sand and huge coconut and indigenous trees, while buying your fresh fish from the fishermen.

This is the place to hide yourself from the world, watch the moon rising up from the ocean and view endless starry skies. The diving here is  fantastic and you can even join a yoga class with Peri Peri divers. Or why not dive into your inner self and combine Morrungulo with our unique well-being and well-doing package?

Unique, because here it is possible to see the two largest mammals in one day: The elephant and the whale!

Only 100km south of the capital Maputo, Maputo National Park, also called Maputo Special Reserve, is very accessible, yet still not busy with tourists. It combines lakes, wetlands, forests, mangroves and lots of wildlife. A safari here is a very relaxing experience and great start or end of your trip in Mozambique.

It feels a bit unfair to put Mozambique’s relaxed coastal capital on nr 9 but don’t read the list in order…Maputo is cool! Lots of artists and culture, great markets, great restaurants, interesting sites to visit for example the beautiful railway station and ‘Casa de Ferro’ (iron house) built by Gustave Eiffel. A relaxed vibe, live music and a fantastic fish market where you can buy the freshest of fish. While you have your cold beer they will cook it for you! A super local and cool experience.

Mozambique is full of deserted beaches, hidden getaways, fun places and surprises. Inhambane is a nice town to visit and see the amazing market with colourful baskets. Beira is a good base to visit Gorongosa National Park. The town of Mabote, halfway to Zinave National Park, is a friendly town in the middle of the Mozambican bush where you will really and truly experience local life. Zinave National Park is Mozambique’s rising star on the safari circuit.

Everything is different and unique. Let me surprise you. Welcome to Mozambique!

We traveled to Zimbabwe for my 50th birthday, the country I have so many fond memories of. I first visited Zimbabwe in 2000, went to Victoria Falls and apart from meeting the kindest and sweetest people on earth, I also met the American Cathy. We became dear friends and visiting her in the USA, I met Gerry, my life companion for 22 years already.

I wanted to return to the Bvumba Mountains – also known as the ‘misty mountains’ because usually, like Table Mountain in South Africa, they sit in the clouds. We visited this area in 2017 and I had so many nice memories of this area. It is actually just across the border with Mozambique. So from Vilanculos it’s not all that far in terms of distance, but the road is incredibly bad and full of potholes, so it takes quite a long time to get there. Because of the high mountain area it has a totally different climate than Mozambique, cool and dry with a very special biodiversity. Birdwatchers come here from all over the world to see rare and beautiful species.

Right after the border crossing, a sense of melancholy came over me as we arrived into Mutare across the other side. The atmosphere was different than in 2017 – poorer, more restless, and more agitated in terms of atmosphere.Zimbabwe has been struggling with hyperinflation for years, purchasing power has plummeted and you clearly see that locals are visibly struggling to survive, even though there are also a many Zimbabweans with a lot of money – that too is very visible.

The 100-year-old English-style hotel where we stayed, complete with flower curtains, classic style white tablecloths and beautiful flower gardens, suited my melancholic mood. It turns out that a ‘big’ birthday like this is full of moments when you just let life pass you by while also contemplating many moments in your own life. We had a drink in the garden and I saw a beautiful bouquet of flowers on the compost heap. I thought, “there you go”, we humans, as well as our memories, are equally as impermanent.

Gerry surprised with video messages from family and friends from all over the world – and I felt rich with so many people around me, far away and yet so close. We ate a celebratory cake at Tony’s coffee shop – famous throughout Zimbabwe and beyond. I met the owner of our hotel who had just been back from a visit to celebrate his sister’s 99th birthday party in England. We met nice guests who told me about areas in Zimbabwe I didn’t know yet and I thought how fun would it be to organize a (small-scale) group trip from Mozambique to Zimbabwe with Unique Mozambique! I got very excited about it!

After my birthday, we camped for 2 more nights in the area. The former house where now the shower and toilet breathed a state of decay, with books and posters on the wall from better times. But the place was beautiful and full of flowers, scents and birdsong.

We met a nice young Dutch couple there who have been travelling for 2 years through Africa and working digitally along the way.

A short despairing thought went through my mind – I am not very good with social media, we are no digital nomads and we have no pensions. Your mind is always playing tricks on you! I decided to make a Gin Tonic. The nice staff in the kitchen gave me a lemon which seemed just as old as I was.

After 2 very cold nights in the tent under overwhelming starry skies, we decided to treat ourselves and stayed one more night back in the same hotel, sitting  by the fireplace and contemplating life.

There is no going back, we can only keep going forward. Everyone has a different path in life – maybe hard, maybe easier, but still unique for everyone. Not better not worse, just different. Make the most of it, if you can.

Happy 50!