Scuba Diving Holidays Mozambique

Extreme Sports Cafe and its newest partner has put together a 20 day safari through Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa, enabling you to see the countries as they really are, but with all the logistical comforts of an organised diving tour. The catch word would be "active" in this diving trip. The relatively relaxed pace of the diving safari tour provides plenty of opportunity to participate in numerous activities, with the emphasis on diving. For the scuba diver, snorkeler, and also Big Game fisher, Mozambique proves to be one of the worlds best kept secrets. Scuba Diving holidays & Adventure from Extreme Sports Cafe in Mozambique.

For some years now Extreme Sports Cafe's Adventure Diving Safari partner has offered 19 day safaris through Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa. With some pride, we can now say that they were able to plunge some hundreds of venturers in a mixture of outdoor action, culture, wildlife and underwater experiences! We alternate between camping and huts or chalets and try to offer a wide variety of activities, such as horse riding, quad biking, canoeing or game driving.

Adventure Diving Safari Hight lights

• Game viewing on horseback in Swaziland.
  
• Rafting the Usuthu River.
  
• Rhino walks in Hlane Royal National Park.
  
• Adventure caving and quad biking in the bush.
  
• Dhow trip to the Bazaruti Archipelago.
  
• Fish braai on the beach.
  
• Discover the colonial city of Maputo and the Portuguese slave town Inhambane.
  
• Canoeing the mangroves at Barra.
  
• Dive with manta’s and snorkel with whale sharks.
  
• Taste the 'couleur locale' and visit an orphanage.
  
• Visit the hundred year old Kruger Park.

With those ingredients in mind, we set out on a route that first leads us through the traditional and mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland. We are welcomed by the local people, known for their hospitality and explore their wildlife parks, either on foot, bike or horse back. Small Mozambiquan villages are hidden between the palm trees. Endless white beaches separate the lush bush from the Indian Ocean, which will hopefully reveal some of her secrets to us. Her treasures, like the Bazaruti Archipel, the whale sharks, manta's and humpbacks deserve more than to be summed up in one sentence, but will undoubtedly leave an impression on you. One of the oldest and biggest wildlife parks in the world, The Kruger Park, will be the back ground of the last stretch of our adventure diving safari tour. Elephants, lions and hippo's will give you the sensation you have landed in the real Africa.

Adventure Diving Safari to Mozambique from Extreme Sports Cafe

Adventure Diving Safari to Mozambique can be booked online

Adventure Diving Safari Mozambique - Brief Itinerary

• Safari Day 1: Pretoria, double rooms
  
• Safari Day 2-3: Mlilwane wildlife sanctuary, beehive huts
  
• Safari Day 4: Hlane Royal NP, camping
  
• Safari Day 5: Casa Lisa, camping
  
• Safari Day 6-8: Tofo, camping
  
• Safari Day 9-11: Vilanculos, huts
  
• Safari Day 11-14: Barra Point, chalets
  
• Safari Day 15: Casa Lisa , camping
  
• Safari Day 16-18: Kruger Park, camping
  
• Safari Day 19: Pretoria, double rooms

3 Week Adventure Diving Safari in Mozambique €960 p/p

Your Adventure Diving Safari to Mozambique includes:

• All transport by 4x4 overland truck
  
• All camping and bedded accommodation 
  
• Use of camping- and cooking equipment
  
• All entrance fees
  
• Game drives Kruger Park 
  
• 2 experienced guides/drivers/cooks

Dates 2010 to Be Confirmed - Adventure Diving Safari to Mozambique operate from April - December.

• *All tours guaranteed from 4 bookings on.(Check with us for trip date booking numbers)
  
• Safari group size 4 - 20 persons.
  
• With small groups, alternative transport will be used and only one crew member will join.
  
• Price can fluctuate due to the fuel prices or exchange rates.
  
• For extra expenses, check General Information Adventure Diving Safari Mozambique below.

Adventure Diving Safari to Mozambique can be booked online

Itinerary Adventure Diving Safari Mozambique

Alright, you’ve done all the brochure research, made the booking, packed the bag, bought the film and guide book and now you have found your way to Pretoria to meet your fellow travellers and embark on a Mozambican Diving Safari adventure.

Pretoria - Before we head off, there are some interesting spots in Pretoria you might want to consider. You can have a look for instance how 'Father Kruger' is watching over his money in the bank at Church Square. Or you can go and have a look at materialised Afrikaner pride, the 'Voortrekkers Monument'. Very popular is the Lion Park. Have you ever fed a giraffe or played with lion cups?

• If you want contrast, Soweto is a must, the cradle of the Anti-Apartheid movement. The house which Nelson and Winnie Mandela lived in, during times when they were still fighting the white regime and not one another, can still be visited, including bullet holes and the original Mandela toilet.

Swaziland - The next day we board the truck and are on our way to Swaziland; a little, cozy and hilly kingdom, enclosed by its big brother South Africa. The only country in the world without a cinema and where they have no problem canceling a public holiday because the king isn’t feeling too well. We stop at a crafts market in Ezulwini Valley, or ' Valley of Heaven', where you can go mad shopping for goodies. We discover that it is not just 'heaven' when, if possible, we visit an orphanage. Emanuel Khayalethu offers a safe haven for abused and abandoned kids and our Adventure Diving Safari has promised to try and help them. At the end of day we reach Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary.

• The whole next day is available to explore the antelopes, zebra’s, warthogs and crocodiles in the park. This can be done on horseback, on mountain bike, on foot, or you can sit back and get driven around. But, you can also dare the Usuthu River and try to master the grade 3, grade 4 rapids in 2-men rafts or go adventure caving. As the day comes to an end, we can sip our drinks, feet up, while we watch the hippo’s being fed and the sun sets over the pool next to the veranda. We close off with traditional Swazi dancing, before we retire to our beehive huts (if available).
  
• The next stop is the private grounds of His Majesty the King Mswati lll, Hlane Royal National Park. In this park are all Big 5, but buffalo. There's a waterhole close to the camp site where one can often find rhino's drink and bath. Guides will offer 'Rhino walks' for those who dare to approach them.

Mozambique - We cross into Mozambique at Namaacha border post, where I can guarantee your first taste of Mozambican efficiency, after which we go for the culture shock in Maputo, a challenge on its own. But for whom allows themselves the time to see through the bubble of chaos and noise, a city with a rich cultural and historical background will unfold itself. Decrepit buildings bear witness to Portuguese influences, the wide 'avenida’s' with names like Mao Tse Tung and Fidel Castro are remains of an Marxist era with lots of struggle. But the beautiful City Hall is a symbol of a country in reconstruction after hard times. 

• Fortunately for the visitor, lots has remained intact: the art galleries and studio’s, the fort, the cathedral and the IJffel House; a construction entirely made out of iron, causing such oven-like temperatures that it was never put into use. We spend the night 50 km out of Maputo at campsite Casa Lisa.

Tofo Beach - Further north we will encounter typical Mozambican villages and the landscape will change gradually. Wild berries make room for palm trees and the traffic will be replaced by beautiful lagoons. The sport of bartering is tested when we stop at a local market. With permission you can taste the sometimes unknown goods, and when purchasing make sure you negotiate for the local price - as opposed to the tourist price. 

• The next three days we stay at the local campsite. Two days are at our disposal to explore the waters around Tofo, not only known for the multitude of reefs, but where you also might bump into whale sharks, manta rays, or giant turtles and in season even humpback whales.
  
• Specialty trainings can be provided here, like deep dive training. There’s no need for the non-divers to get bored. For those who have never been under water, the local dive school can organise scuba diving introduction dives, or you can take surfing lessons, there's a village to discover, a very inviting beach at your disposal or you can splash some waves on horseback. The locals will show us the Mozambiquan way of life during a village tour. They will show you how to build houses out of palm leaves, which can be grow on sandy soil, how the hierarchy of the community works and how to chop coconuts with a machete.
  
• We have to continue, but not before we have nosed around a bit in Inhambane, one of the oldest European settlements in southern Africa. As a Portuguese trading post, Inhambane made the history books due to the ivory - but even more so, the slave trade. In its high days, around 1850, an average of 1500 slaves a year passed through its harbor for export to Brazil. A short dhow trip across the Baia de Inhambane takes you from the peninsula to the main land, where the truck awaits you for the next stretch.

Bazaruti Archipellago - In the afternoon we arrive in the little fishing town Vilanculos. In the maze of market stalls, a motley crew of articles is available. Your nose will indicate the fish section where a wide variety is to be found and without a doubt, your ears will trace the local 'shebeen'. Three nights we stay in Vilanculos. Off the coast is 'Parque Nacional de Bazaruto'. The islands are known to be of the most beautiful of Africa: crystal clear water, white palm beaches, coral reefs. The divers will be impressed by the spectacular Two Mile Reef. Imagine an encounter with the nearly extinct and elusive Dugong! Should you have no desire to move so deep, a sailing trip by dhow to the island and snorkeling is another option. 

• A dhow is a wooden boat, introduced in the Middle Ages by Arab tradesmen and it still is a popular mode of transport. To us it’s a relaxing trip, but should the winds take us in the direction of Madagascar, we will reinforce with a bit more modern technique.
  
• All islands are inhabited and interesting for a day visit. A few shades darker, or at least with a burned nose, we return to Vilanculos.
  
• (The Mozambiquan government has closed down all budget accommodation on the islands. Therefore we now stay in Vilanculos for 3 nights. This has no consequences for the diving, the dhow safari or the visit to Benguerra.)

Barra Point - The next morning we turn 180° and head south to Barra Point, back on the Inhambane peninsula. The northern end of the peninsula consists of beautiful mangroves and lagoons and the options are endless. The beach is stunning, you pitch underneath the palm trees and you can go for a dip, zipping cocktails at the neighbours. Quad biking take on a new dimension when you discover that the area is tidal. You will be soaked, for sure. Should you wish to stay dry, you can take it more easy in a canoe or a bit higher on horse back. Sunset cruises on a catamaran are offered in the lagoon. 

• The divers have a choice of several reefs and different specialties can be organised. Sometimes it is possible to squeeze in a night dive. We spend three nights here, in chalets.
  
• The proceeding route takes us through the Xai Xai wet lands. In 2000 this area made world news when people were rescued from tree tops. After the floods there has been massive construction; enormous dams have arisen from the clay and the toll bridge over the Limpopo River is very impressive. Characteristic pictures of local women doing their washing, fishermen working their nets and children playing in the water. Our aim is a campsite Casa Lisa.

Kruger Park - We return to the main road and continue to the Lobombo border post, leaving Mozambique behind us. The famous Kruger Park is next, a park of about 24000 km2 and declared a protected area over a hundred years ago by the very person it was named after, Mr Paul Kruger. Intentions are to merge Kruger Park with adjacent land in Mozambique, which would mean an incredible improvement as wildlife would regain the chance to follow ancient migratory patterns over an extended range. Though Limpopo Transfrontier Park has recently opened to the public, the local Mozambicans are not inclined to leave the area and game is scarce. Efforts are made to relocate game from Kruger Park, but most animals tend to turn around and go back to their birth ground.

• Intensive searching, patience and lack of toilet opportunities will certainly reward us with pretty pictures of elephants at waterholes, crossing zebra's, evasive duikers, curious ground hornbills and with some luck, mighty lions or chasing cheetah's. For the more fanatical, we can try to organise an optional night drive. We spend three days in the park until at the end of day three, we leave the park and camp in Hazyview, 20 km away.

Once we are back in Pretoria we finish with a goodbye dinner and hopefully, you will leave us not only with an additional bag of souvenirs, full memory cards and a tanned head, but also with new friends, a new passion, a journal full with stories of an incredible (diving) safari and a memory to last a lifetime.

Adventure Diving Safari to Mozambique can be booked online

Scuba Diving in Mozambique

On this Adventure Diving Safari trip there are 7 days available for scuba diving, at 3 different locations if you want to. Mozambique is gaining popularity as a scuba diving and water sports paradise; as far as coral reefs and fish population, it can easily compete with renowned destinations like Asia and the Caribbean, the only difference being that mass tourism hasn’t spoilt it yet. Let yourself roll into the tropical waters – the chance is considerable that you’ll encounter a dolphin, humpback whale, whale shark, manta or giant turtle.

For the diving fanatics, we have put together packages of 10 dives at discount rates.

• Scuba Diving package, 10 dives, excluding gear    €370
  
• Scuba Diving package, 10 dives, including gear    €450

Booking the Scuba Diving package in advance guarantees a space on the boat. The cost is payable in cash Euro, Rand or US$ at the start of the Adventure Diving Safari trip in Pretoria. The costs are indications only. Individual accounts are kept and the balance settled at the end of the diving trip. 

• You might be charged for a dive should you cancel for no good reason. You will be refunded only when the dive centre cancels. 
  
• Of course it is also possible to book individual dives and sometimes we try to push for extra dives.
  
• * Our partner Adventure Diving Safari is not responsible for any sudden increases in dive rates.

Should you wish for an introduction to the underwater world, at Tofo you will have the opportunity to to do a scuba diving intro course. Also, special training can be provided by the diving school, like deep dive training if required. At Barra Point we can try to organise a night dive. Please let us now when you book if you'd like to dive and if yes, do you require scuba diving equipment.

• If you have your own scuba diving equipment, we do advise to bring it, though it should not exceed the standard gear of a suit, BCD, regulator and mask/fins. The truck has extra baggage space allocated for this purpose.
  
• All the dives are boat dives, conditions can be a bit choppy and currents or surge may occur. The temperature averages from 22°C in May up to 24°C in December, making a 5 mill full length suit with cap desirable. Visibility is about 15 meters and the depth ranges from 12 up to 25 meter. Sometimes one complains about poor visibility, but please keep in mind that if there were no plankton, there would be no big fish feeding.
  
• It is advisable to bring pills for motion sickness. The diving is not really seasonal. If anything, the rainy season is less favourable, but we do not schedule this trip in the rainy season. August can be a bit windy. Humpback whales are spotted from June up to October.
  
• Our Adventure Diving Safari partner offers an extra diving insurance. Mozambique does not have a deco tank and medical back up. In case of an emergency one has to fly to South Africa for treatment. The insurance is ZAR300 and covers most expenses up to ZAR300.000 Please let us know when booking if you require the insurance.

Whale sharks in Mozambique

The whale shark is the largest fish on this planet, easily reaching an average length of 12 meter. Despite its size, it is totally harmless to humans, as these 14 ton giants feed off plankton. Whale sharks live just beneath the surface of tropical and sub tropical waters. They flow with the current, mouth wide open, allowing the water to run through. Enormous gills filter the water for plankton. The leftovers are nibbled away by small fish catching a lift in the whale sharks mouth. Their size, gentle nature and the fact that they live just beneath the surface, allow these giants to be approached relatively safely. An experience which, should you be one of the lucky ones to have marked it on the been-there-done-it list, you will never forget.

• Mozambique is fortunate enough to host large numbers of whale sharks coming through each year. They are predominantly known as summer frequenters and as many as 25 whale sharks have been spotted in ½ hour boat rides. But even in winter, from April till November, the chances of an encounter are pretty good. During the winter of 2003, at least one sighting was made every single day from Tofo, the place to see whale sharks and manta Rays. An unknown high. The largest group in that season consisted of 15 whale sharks close to Tofinho Point, outside Tofo. They were indulging in enormous amounts of plankton and stayed for at least 3 hours.
  
• The best way to experience all this, is to jump overboard with fins and snorkel. Only then does their true size become real. Seemingly undisturbed, the whale sharks just continues floating, at or just underneath the surface. It is very important never to make contact with them as your touch might damage the skin which makes them susceptible to infections.
  
• Our Adventure Diving Safari partner has now been active in Mozambique for over eight years now and has frequently witnessed these incredible creatures. If not in Tofo, on every Adventure Diving Safari trip run in 2002, 2005 and 2007 we hit jackpot and in 2003 and 2004 and 2006 on all but one trip. In 2008 we weren't lucky all the time, we saw them in 5 out of 8 trips.

What else have we see in the past?

The big attraction of diving in Mozambique is Big Game Fish. Most Adventure Diving Safari trips are run between May and December and we have not really noticed a change in sightings with the passing of the seasons. The exception would be the humpback whale, for which you should come between June and November. So far, in the previous years we have run 53 trips altogether and we logged manta's on 48 trips and whale sharks on 45. This doesn’t mean that every one saw them at all locations, but they were spotted on the tour. The record lies with a small group in April 04 who spotted them no less than 7 times. 

• Turtles and dolphins we have literally seen without exception; we even snorkelled with dolphins on occasion. Sharks, of different kinds, do pass sometimes, but not regularly. The humpback we see on almost all tours within season. 
  
• In December 03 we finally traced the rare Dugong and again in October 05, we even bumped into an estranged hammerhead. All in all, statistics to dream off. 
  
• The smaller marine life includes trumpet fish, yellowtails, clown trigger fish, barracuda's, Spanish dancers, lobsters, banner fish, morays (honey combed/ spotted), devil rays, scorpion fish, lion fish, parrot fish, angel fish, octopus etc.
  
• Per trip we have 7 days of diving. In the past years we had only 10 cancellations due to bad weather
  
• *The diving is subject to weather conditions or other unforeseen problems.

Adventure Diving Safari To Mozambique can be booked online

General Information Adventure Diving Safari Mozambique

Adventure Diving Safari - Where to meet up

• To meet up with your fellow travellers, please go to Twana Lodge, 42 Boschkop Road, Swavelpoort, (details on this location once booked in) on the day of your booking, which is on a Sunday each time. This day can be spend exploring Pretoria and/or Johannesburg. The departure to Swaziland will be Monday morning. Please note that an airport pick up can be arranged.

Adventure Diving Safari - Climate

• From April to September Mozambique a pleasant climate: warm and usually dry, cooled down by the ocean winds. During the rainy season, from January until March, there’s a high humidity with average temperatures of 28°C along the coast. In South Africa and Swaziland it is usually mild and sunny during the day. However, in the months of July and August it can cool down considerably at night time.

Adventure Diving Safari - Transport and accommodation

• Transport is by a 4x4 safari truck, 20 seater, especially designed for overlanding. The truck is equipped with cooking utensils and 2 man dome tents, has storage space for food and baggage and even has an extra compartment for storing diving gear (if not exceeding the standard gear of a suit, BCD, regulator and mask/fins). 
  
• You are seated high up and the roll up sides guarantee you a good view, which is great for game viewing.
  
• In the truck we have a library, a bar, a radio, intercom, in and outside lighting, a freezer and bolted safes. In this trip we make regular use of bedded accommodation, like indigenous beehive huts, chalets etc. In case of small groups, the trip will be run in alternative transport and one crew member will join.
  
• NB. The roads have deteriorated severely over the past year and a lot of road construction is in process. Please expect delays on traveling days.

Adventure Diving Safari - Includes

• Included in your adventure diving safari trip is the transport by truck and use of the truck equipment, all entrance fees, all accommodation in tents or otherwise, Kruger Park, 2 guides/driver/cooks with extensive experience in Africa.

Adventure Diving Safari - Not included 

• The adventure safari does Not include flights. You must make your own way to the meeting point mentioned above. Every person has his/her own personal budget and spendings differ greatly from person to person. It’s hard to estimate how much you should take into account for let say, drinks, souvenirs, excursions. In the past, people spent approximately €200pp on personal spendings, apart from the diving. Dive expenses are explained in the diving section above. 
  
• The food kitty is €175pp. This covers all meals from Sunday evening until the night we go out for dinner in Pretoria. This money is payable cash in Euro (or the equivalent in ZAR or US$) before departure and is not refundable. 
  
• Other costs would be a visa for Mozambique; obtainable at the border for ZAR172, travel insurance (compulsory), vaccinations, optional excursions. Currency exchange rate, click here.

Adventure Diving Safari - Moneys

• The local currencies are South African Rand and Mozambican Meticais. The Metacais especially is not a hard currency and subject to inflation. 
  
• In Mozambique it’s only possible to change cash Euro's, US$ or Rands. Traveler cheques or credit cards are hardly accepted, or at very high costs. Therefore we recommend cash only for Mozambique. 
  
• In South Africa credit cards, traveler cheques and foreign currencies shouldn’t be a problem.
  
• As the amount of cash money seems to add up on this trip we do recommend you make use of the safes on board and money belts worn under your clothes.

Adventure Diving Safari - Health

• We recommend you consult your GP about the required precautions concerning health issues. Also you can get more specific details on tropical diseases in this area by Clicking Here. 
  
• On board the truck we do have a medical kit. However, we still advise to bring your own plasters, iodine, salt solutions, Immodium, Paracetamol, vitamins, tweezers, band aids etc. Tap water is not always drinkable. 
  
• We usually have clean water on the truck, but some people will still respond simply because it’s different to the water at home. You can try to prevent this by drinking bottled water, boiled tea or coffee or by bringing purification tablets.    

Adventure Diving Safari - Malaria

• Malaria occurs on almost the whole continent. Therefore, we advise you to consult your doctor for prophylactics. Bear in mind that this will not give you 100% protection, but it does slow it down, which is good in Mozambique where medical aid is not always at hand. But the best is to try to prevent by taking prophylactics, cover up at night time and use repellent. 
  
• For more information Click Here.

Adventure Diving Safari - Baggage

• Please bear in mind that baggage space is limited and try not to take more than 12 kg with you. This excludes diving gear, should you bring any. Excess baggage can be stored in Pretoria. We do have extra locker space for diving equipment. The storage space on the truck also works on 20 kg per person. It is better to not use suitcases or packs with an outside frame. Doing laundry or having laundry done shouldn’t be a problem. A daypack is handy for small items and valuables.

Adventure Diving Safari - What to bring

• warm sleeping bag
  
• mattress
  
• towels
  
• pocket knife (optional) 
  
• torch
  
• batteries
  
• alarm 
  
• sun glasses and spare glasses
  
• contact lens fluid
  
• light shoes, like sandals
  
• closed shoes
  
• toiletries, like sun screen, lip balm, tampons, repellent, razor blades
  
• music 
  
• bathing suit
  
• binoculars, if you have any
  
• camera/ memory card 
  
• earplugs (optional) 
  
• water purification (optional) 
  
• diving gear (optional as can hire) 
  
• pills for motion sickness
  
• Please bring a warm fleece and wind proof jacket as it can sometimes cool down considerably.
  
• And don’t forget the hat to protect you from the sun.

Adventure Diving Safari - The Crew

• This Adventure Diving Safari trip is run by a Dutch company and the crew can be Dutch or of local origin. Some passengers will fly in and others will board in Pretoria. The crew is Dutch/English speaking. The crew will do their best to make this adventure tour as enjoyable as possible; drive the truck, handle the accommodation and cooking and help you with any problems. 
  
• They will also inform you of any do's and don't and all activities. The truck has a library with different books on additional information like wildlife, history etc.

Adventure Diving Safari - Expectations

• This is one of those trips where, no matter how much you plan, things can and will go wrong at times. Roads can be bad, we might have a puncture, we might have to dig. The hot water may run out, the boat leaks a bit. Delays can occur due to an officer who got out of the wrong side of the bed, but maybe also because we spot a river and decided to go for a swim. We ask you to be flexible and pack your sense of humour and positive attitude as well as your toothpaste and camera. 
  
• We will also ask you to give us a hand at times, changing tyres, shopping, watching the truck, dishes, building a fire etc, etc. If we all take it as it comes, you’re in for a brilliant, true African experience.

A little bit for a good cause

• During this trip we visit a little local community of 550 souls outside Tofo to have a closer look at the Mozambican way of life. In this community, initiatives to improve sanitary conditions and schooling keeps stranding in bureaucracy and poverty. For years, they have been trying to get a water pump installed to supply the locals with clean water. Our Adventure Diving Safari  partners decided to help these people and raised money to get the pump in place.
  
• Our Adventure Diving Safari partner started a new project in 2006. Swaziland has the highest HIV an Aids rate in the world, now resulting in a mere 70.000 Aids orphans. Allow us to invite you to have a look at Young Heroes. Our Diving Safari partner is asking you to adopt a family or make a donation. They also collect clothes (especially for kids), school materials and toys for an orphanage in Swaziland. If possible, they try to visit the orphanage during the diving tour. They can use all the help they can get. Should you wish to create some space in your backpack and leave some goods behind, please leave it with us and donate. We also try to raise money to install a permanent teacher for the children. Our Diving Safari partner will supervise any projects and publish the results on this website.

You'll leave us not only with an additional bag of souvenirs, full memory cards and a tanned head, but also with new friends, a new passion, a journal full with stories of an incredible (diving) safari and a memory to last a lifetime.

Adventure Diving Safari to Mozambique from Extreme Sports Cafe

Adventure Diving Safari to Mozambique can be booked online