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Quirimbas Beach Holiday

MOZAMBIQUE’S SECRET GETAWAY

A set of coral islands strung along the remote northern Mozambique coast, the Quirimbas Archipelago has only recently become accessible to travellers and offers one of the most exclusive beach holiday destinations in Africa. 

It’s a landscape of almost luminous blue water punctuated by slivers of palm-covered islands, some with colonial ruins and traditional silversmiths; others completely uninhabited except for a lodge – perhaps a sleek eco-retreat or honeymoon hideaway. You’ll have the beach to yourself in many cases, and the luxury of exploring at an unhurried pace: there are turtle nesting sites to visit, coral reefs lying a few metres offshore and desert-island picnics to enjoy. 

You’ll need to fly in: the islands of Quirimbas are accessed by light plane or helicopter from the coastal town of Pemba, which lies less than a 3-hour flight away from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport. This makes it easy to combine a Quirimbas beach holiday with South Africa’s top travel destinations – the Kruger National Park and Cape Town – as well as places further afield such as Botswana.

More remote than the more established Bazaruto Archipelago, the Quirimbas are especially good for honeymoons, romantic travel and special occasions – the accommodation available tends to be small, intimate and luxurious with spas and fine dining. And for scuba divers, the reef diving is superior to anywhere else in Mozambique.

The best time for a Quirimbas beach holiday is between May and September when rainfall and temperatures are at their lowest, although bear in mind that temperatures throughout the year rarely fall below 24°C (75°F) even at night. This period happily coincides with the best time for diving in the Quirimbas as well as for safaris in South Africa and Botswana.

Temperatures build in October and November and the rains begin, peaking over January and February. Visit the Quirimbas at this time and you can expect heavy rain on occasion but cyclones are rare in northern Mozambique compared to the south of the country.

Take a look at our top Quirimbas experiences for inspiration and browse our range of pre-packaged tours that include a Quirimbas beach holiday on their itineraries with a big game safari. Alternatively, simply contact us with your requirements and we’ll put together a tailor-made tour for you.

Quirimbas Beach Holiday on the map

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TOP EXPERIENCES

RELAX; EXPLORE; RECHARGE

1. TAKE IT EASY

The Quirimbas were made to be enjoyed … at a slow pace. This is where you really do kick off your shoes & nestle down into a hammock with a book. Our top lodges have in-house spas & wellness centres as well as private pools, room service & fine dining.

2. INTO THE BLUE

Sail away on a dhow, paddle a kayak along a mangrove forest, strap on a tank & go scuba diving or put on a mask, snorkel & fins & cruise the local reef – the waters around the Quirimbas are warm, clear & home to some of the best dive sites in the Indian Ocean. We recommend Vamizi & Quilalea islands for getting underwater.

3. GO ISLAND HOPPING

Like a family, each island has a peculiar character & you have a chance to sample some on an island-hopping tour; many islands are small – perfect for a private picnic – but visit Ibo Island for a taste of colonial history & the chance to see traditional silversmiths at work.

4. DISCOVER THE WILD SIDE

Much of the Quirimbas is protected as a marine reserve & consequently this is a place to see baby turtles hatching, pods of dolphins & migrating whales (June to October) as well as a surprisingly long list of birds – head for Ibo & Vamizi islands for the best bird watching.

5. ROD & REEL

More than 50 types of game fish occur in the waters around the Quirimbas Archipelago, making it a great destination for keen anglers whether on a deep-sea fishing excursion or fly-fishing adventure – ask us about lodges that adhere to catch-&-release fishing policies.

Tailor-made Africa

Experience the extraordinary with Safari Online, let us tailor-make your trip to Africa. Combine a Safari with a Beach Holiday.

ACCOMMODATION

OUR RECOMMENDED BEACH LODGES

Azura @ Quilalea Private Island
Azura @ Quilalea Private Island
In Short: Exceptional hospitality on island getaway
Location: Quilalea Island, Quirimbas Archipelago
One of our top choices for an exclusive, private beach holiday, this lodge has a reputation for stellar service & cuisine. Remote & surrounded by deserted beaches, it’s a long-time honeymoon favourite & offers incredible diving & snorkelling as well.
FROM:
USD 745p/p sharing
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&Beyond Vamizi Island
&Beyond Vamizi Island
In Short: Intimate hideaway with dazzling coral reefs
Location: Vamizi Island, Quirimbas Archipelago, Mozambique
Set in a marine conservation area, this lodge is recommended for snorkellers & divers. Accommodation takes the form of beautiful villas, complete with chef, driver & vehicle & butler; treat yourself to a spa or yoga session or just relax in complete privacy.
FROM:
USD 985 p/p sharing
View Gallery View Location
Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort

Hands-on Expertise

  • We’re based in Africa
  • Consultants Travel in Africa
  • Knowledgeable team
  • Expect great customer service

Accredited & Bonded

  • SATSA – Bonded Membership (2061)
  • Travel Save Compliant Certificate
  • Fully Independent & Owner Run
  • Travel Support from Start to Finish

Reviews

It was a safari of a lifetime and exceeded all of our expectations!

Our mom grew up in Central and South Africa so we had visited the continent many times. My sister and I wanted to take our teens and husbands to Africa to experience the magic. We had a limited budget but big and specific expectations and by some miracle Walter was able to manage both.

Heather (USA)
Walter has always been an excellent communicator and has supported us fully

We have been to Africa for 24 of the last 27 years so know a bit about what is involved. Walter has arranged the details for the last couple of years, and has done a superb job. He is always quick to respond and comes up with answers immediately……..no evasive tactics, always head-on!

Roger (UK)
Safari Online made our fantastic family holiday dream come true!!

Safari Online have been nothing but professional and incredible from the time we made our first enquiry to the last day of our stunning holiday. Nothing was too much trouble for Walter. We are now starting to plan our next family Safari for 2019. Guess who we will be booking with??? Safari Online we hope you are ready!!!!!

Penni (AU)
Professional, patient, efficient and responsive. Met all our travel needs and requirements spot on

Communication was excellent – I asked A LOT of questions and did a ton of research myself and Walter was extremely patient with me and very responsive. he was straight forward and extremely professional. Tour itself was excellent – an incredible experience and one never to be forgotten. Everything was spot on.

Neena
An incredibly well organised tour with no hassles whatsoever.

Safari Online understood our needs and was able to present us with sensible options to choose from. It was evident that this tour operator has knowledgable and experienced agents who can arrange a seemless tour. We were provided with a professional online itinary which was comprehensive and easy to use, knew exactely what to expect, and encountered no stumble blocks along the way.

Gwen (AU)
Best trip I have ever been on. Highly recommend.

Would highly recommend. Safari online asked questions when booking and were efficient and knew exactly what we were looking for in terms of accommodation and animals were wanted to see. Gave advice on a few little extras with no pressure, which we did and am very grateful which make trip even more exciting. Would definitely recommend booking with them.

Professional, quick and top of the edge service!!!

From the very first contact we’re very happy about the respond time and quality of information from safari-online.com. Based on the received first tailor-made quote, which is a weblink with all the details about the flights, photos of the lodges etc. we knew that this is “our” partner for this trip. Our expectations were excelled!!!

Lukas (Germany)
Safari Online were extremely efficient and absolutely charming to work with.

Our 28-day itinerary took us to South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana. A magnificent and unforgettable adventure. Everything ran smoothly and efficiently from the flights, transfers, rides, connections, etc. Absolutely wonderful! Can’t thank them enough!

Ann and Mario (Canada)
Karina was absolutely instrumental to our safari success.

Our experience with Safari Online was excellent. After becoming very frustrated trying to search for a safari destination on our own, we turned to Karina for help and she was a lifesaver.  We had an amazing safari adventure at the lodge–the experience of a lifetime–and are so grateful for her help. We literally couldn’t have done it without her!

Chris (USA)
Very helpful good suggestions for holiday ideas always available for questions good organising

Excellent service and they supplied good suggestions for our holiday they also organised all internal flights and arranged check in for us so we had no worries while on holiday. We have had a most memorable holiday staying at wonderful places thanks to Sabrina and Safari Online. Would recommend Safari Online to organise your holiday.

Lorraine (UK)