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Vilanculos Beach Holiday

  • Destinations
  • Mozambique
  • Vilanculos Beach Holiday

THE ‘GOT-IT-ALL’ MOZAMBIQUE COAST

Gateway to the islands of Bazaruto Archipelago, the coastal town of Vilanculos has taken advantage of its location to become great beach holiday destination. Long sandy beaches run for miles along the Indian Ocean coast, backed by palm and mangrove forests and looking out over clear blue water where dolphins and dugongs can be seen.

A Vilanculos beach holiday is not quite as exclusive as it is on Bazaruto or the more remote Quirimbas Archipelago. But the fact that you are not paying for access to these offshore islands means that it is usually more affordable – though there is certainly the top-end accommodation available. And if you are keen to do as much as possible, then the list of activities at Vilanculos lodges rivals if not outcompetes those of the islands: sailing, diving, snorkelling and deep-sea fishing as well as kite surfing, bird watching and horse-riding are among the most popular.

There’s great accommodation for families on the Vilanculos coast – ask us about lodges with kids activity clubs and child minders – as well as private villas for groups of friends travelling together; if it’s a honeymoon or romantic journey that you are planning, then Vilanculos has accommodation where you’ll find soothing spas, sumptuous suites and a table for two.

Vilanculos is easy to get to as well: the flight from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo Airport is under two hours which means you can add places like Cape Town or Botswana to your holiday, and it’s even less time if you fly to Vilanculos from Nelspruit, set outside the Kruger National Park. This convenient connection gives you the opportunity to enjoy Big 5 game viewing in the morning before kicking off your shoes and heading for the hammock for the afternoon.

The best time for a Vilanculos beach holiday is the same as it is for a safari in South Africa or Botswana: between May and September, which gives you the mildest and driest weather of the year. It is less comfortable in October and November as it gets hotter and the rainy season begins; Vilanculos is hot and humid over December and January and visitors can expect a thunder shower or two. It is even wetter in February and March – this is Mozambique’s hurricane season and it’s best to avoid travel to the coast at this time.

We’ve listed below our favourite things to do in Vilanculos as well as our recommended accommodation. You can browse our pre-packaged itineraries combining a big game safari with a Vilanculos beach holiday or simply contact us with an idea of what you would like to do and we’ll start the planning process with you.

LET’S PLAN YOUR SAFARI & BEACH HOLIDAY TODAY GET IN TOUCH NOW

TOP EXPERIENCES

A GREAT RANGE OF ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYONE

1. RELAX & RECHARGE

With dreamy suites looking out over beaches & sunsets, our range of Vilanculos lodges are perfect for travellers who want to unplug for a few days; book into the spa, order a bottle of something cold & settle into the hammock.

2. TAKE TO THE WATER

Vilanculos is great for water sports: sailing, kite surfing, water skiing, wind surfing & deep-sea fishing are all available here & it’s a short boat ride over to Bazaruto’s excellent dive sites – ask us about accommodation with a PADI Dive Centre.

3. BRING THE FAMILY

Long sandy beaches, sheltered bays & a list of activities as long as your arm: Vilanculos is a family holiday playground & there are lodges available with large family chalets, baby sitters, free Wi-Fi & everything a child could want – from beach sports to movies with popcorn.

4. EXPLORE MORE

Saddle up & enjoy a horseback ride along the beach or grab a mountain bike & hit the beach on two wheels; there’s plenty to do if you’d like to stretch your legs & see a bit more of the Indian Ocean coast; alternatively, you can book a helicopter safari & see it the easy way.

5. WATCH FOR WILDLIFE

A coastal setting means a diverse set of habitats & several of our recommended Vilanculos lodges are very good for bird watching, especially for species at the edge of their ranges. And if you go in season, you can also see some of the world’s biggest animals: humpback whales & whale sharks passing the Bazaruto Archipelago.

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 Benguerra
Azura Benguerra
In Short: Mozambique's first eco-boutique retreat
Location: Benguerra Island, Bazaruto Archipelago
Suitable for couples as well as families, this small & intimate lodge offers indulgent pampering & relaxation as well as a long list of activities. You’ll have your own butler, a private plunge pool & a range of dining venues including at the ocean’s edge
FROM:
USD 655p/p sharing
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Benguerra Island Lodge
Benguerra Island Lodge
In Short: A top dive site & honeymoon favourite
Location: Benguerra Island, Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique
Taking advantage of its sheltered, remote location, this lodge is perfect for a mix of rest & recreation. Enjoy spa & massage treatments as well as excellent snorkelling & diving; other treats include horseback safaris, ‘desert-island’ picnics & sunset dhow cruises.
FROM:
USD 765p/p sharing
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Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort
Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort
In Short: Luxurious, well-appointed beachside resort
Location: Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique
Perfect for those looking for an active beach holiday, this resort has one of the widest ranges of facilities & activities in the area. Accommodation is in beachfront chalets or more spacious & luxurious villas complete with lounge & private pool.
FROM:
USD 525p/p sharing
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Hands-on Expertise

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Reviews

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)
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)
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 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)
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
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)
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)
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.

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)
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)