The top 5 dive sites in Mozambique
7 Day Mozambique Escape
Arriving at the airport you will be met by one of our guides and transferred to you hotel. Maputo is an enchanting city of wide acacia lined avenues and tall buildings overlooking Maputo Bay and the Indian Ocean. One of the city’s more fascinating features is the remarkable wealth of architecture making it unique amongst Africa’s cities. Lunch at the famous Costa do Sol restaurant followed by an afternoon tour will give you the chance to experience the highlights of this fascinating city.
Enjoying the early morning breeze we cross the Maputo Bay to Catembe and drive south to Salamanga with its impressive Hindu Temple. Crossing the Maputo and Futi rivers we enter the Maputo Elephant Reserve and head towards the coast. Enroute there is time to stop and view the wildlife and the extensive variety of birds found in this area. Elephant [est.200-300], crocodile, hippopotamus, red duiker, bushpig, vervet and samango monkeys all being spotted regularly. A leisurely lunch is served before making our way south to Ponta Mamoli. BLD
Enjoy the private and secluded unspoilt beach, the bay a perfect spot for snorkelling, fishing, surfing and swimming. If however, you prefer not to get sand between your toes, lounge on the deck next to the pool sipping a cocktail just meters away from the bar and dining room. The Ponta Mamoli Dive centre offers wonderful snorkelling and diving expeditions with 10 reefs within 8km’s. The dive sites are some of the best in the world. The coral is untouched and in excellent condition, the fish life abundant. Swimming with dolphins and whales is also an option at certain times and for those inclined Ponta Mamoli now offers Deep Sea Fishing. The bay is also a favourite for salt-water fly-fishing. Land based activities include sunset cocktails at serene inland lakes, beach bon fires and hippo watching. Exciting lake canoeing trips, horse trails, shell spotting and bird trails keep young and old amused.
After a relaxed breakfast, there is time for an early morning dive or ride, before heading back to Maputo and your hotel.
Day of leisure in Maputo.
Minimum 2 clients
Included :
Transport by airconditioned 4×4 minibus Lunch at Costa do Sol Restaurant 4 nights at Ponta Mamoli Lodge 2 nights 4 star Cardoso Hotel City tour of Maputo Entrance to Maputo Elephant Reserve Meals as specified Dolphin Swim [Conditions allowing]
Exclusions:
Visas Airport Taxes Airline surcharges Alcoholic beverages Activities such as Diving and Horse riding
Maputo is fast coming into its own and is now considered an ideal destination for an exotic weekend adventure. Old buildings have been restored, new buildings are going up at an alarming rate and business is booming, and still retains a distinctly Mozambican charm. In a single weekend you can explore the cultural heritage of the city, relax on beautiful Inhaca Island, gorge yourself on the famous Mozambican prawns and – if you’re brave enough – venture into the legendary Mercado Xipamanine. Here’s our guide to getting the most out of 48 hours holiday in Maputo …
For the culturally inclined….
Cathedral of Nossa Senhora da Conceicao
Maputo’s famous cathedral, built in 1944 in dedication to ‘Our Lady of
Conception’, is situated in Independence Square at the top of Av Samora
Machel. Keep an eye out for the strong Portuguese Catholic influence in
the awe-inspiring stained-glass windows and elaborate interior.
Train Station on Praca Trabalhadores
While train stations are usually a means to an end rather than a
sightseeing destination, this particular train station is definitely
worth a visit. The beautifully domed station was built in 1910 by
Gustav Eiffel (he of the tower fame) and is considered to be one of the
most beautiful train stations in the world.
Keep an eye out at the entrance to the station for the curious monument to the soldiers killed in the Great War (1914-1918). The stone statue, which depicts a woman killing a cobra in a pot of boiling porridge, is the work of the Portuguese sculptor Rui Gameiro and simultaneously honours the fallen soldiers and a local woman who rid her village of a deadly cobra. Better than another cenotaph I guess!
Casa de Ferro
Ever heard the saying ‘people who live in the tropics shouldn’t build iron houses’?
Nope? Neither had old Gustav when he came up with the highly impractical Casa de Ferro (Iron House), which he designed as a residence for the governor of the Portugese colony. Unfortunately the prefabricated iron building became (unsurprisingly!) unbearably hot under the African sun and the governor couldn’t live there.
Jardim Tunduru
Behind the Casa de Ferro lie the Jardim Tunduru (botanical gardens). At
times a little overgrown, these beautiful gardens, which were designed
in 1885 by the English gardener Thomas Honney, provide welcome shade on
a hot steamy afternoon. Honney also designed similar gardens for the
Sultan of Turkey and the King of Greece. At the entrance to the gardens
you will find a statue of Mozambique’s first president — Samora Machel.
Potter around a museum…
Museum of the Revolution
Situated on Av 24 Julho, this museum recounts the violent struggle against Portuguese colonialism in Mozambique. The history is fascinating, but be warned that all of the captions and texts are in Portuguese.
The National Museum of Art
Tucked away at 1233 Av Ho Chi Minh, the National Museum of Art houses
an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures by famous
Mozambican artists. The exhibitions include works by Chissano,
Malangatana, and Naguib, along with a variety of temporary exhibitions.
The Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum, which is housed in a beautifully restored
colonial building, is situated near the Hotel Cardosa. While the
building is definitely worth going to see, the museum displays will
appeal to a rather specific audience — its main attractions are a large
shark collection and a collection of elephant foetuses, showing the
stages of development during gestation. Interesting…
Do some shopping
Mercado Xipamanine (Rua dos Imaos Roby)
Don’t visit the Mercado Xipamanine — the largest market in Mozambique
— expecting to find the usual selection of counterfeit trainers and
plastic junk. Xipamanine is known far and wide as the place to stock up
on capulanas (traditional multi-purpose cloth worn by women) and for
its traditional medicine (curandeiros) section, where you can take your
pick from animal parts, herbs and lucky potions.
Saturday Craft Market (Praca 25 do Junho)
Taking dried herbs and animals back through customs could be
interesting, so for a few souvenirs make sure you drop by the Saturday
Craft Market. Here you’ll find a wide-selection of handcrafts from
carvings and jewellery to paintings and batiks. As the name suggests,
it’s only open on Saturdays, so make sure to work this into your
itinerary.
Central Market (Av 25 de Setembro)
Almost anything can be found at the Central Market: fresh fruit,
veggies, curios, a steady supply of pickpockets… make sure your
belongings are safely stashed on your person and don’t flash too much
money around.
That's all for now on a Mozambique scuba diving holiday
Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1088112
Between 1 and 14 December 2008, the owners of Scuba Mozambique will conduct an exclusive guided dive and safari trip to the best dive spots in Mozambique. This trip requires a minimum of persons and will be capped at 8. By driving through Mozambique you will see the country in a way that no fly in trip can offer you. You will find the true spirit and culture of Mozambique. • Meet in Johannesburg Should the trip not place as planned we can still offer a similar but slightly revised package. The main difference will be that you will have extra flights instead of the driving and that airport transfers will also be included. You will also be without a guide. The applied price will then be R17080-00 per person regardless of the number of people on the trip and the dates can be a bit more flexible if you like. This back up trip is designed especially for clients travelling from abroad worrying about loosing flights already booked. Exclusive guided trip = Should we have 4 clients we are charging R27 906-00 per person. If there’s 10 clients we are charging R20 364-00 per person. 14 Day Guided by Scuba Moz

Trip Summary

• Drive to game lodge on Kruger border
• Spend 2 nights at Grand Kruger Lodge DBB
• Enjoy 1 full day safari in Kruger National Park with breakfast
• Drive through Maputo, Capital of Mozambique, on route to Inhambane
• Overnight half way at Casa Lisa, 60km past Maputo
Chalets Type A (8 chalets)
1 double bed, 1 single bed per room with mosquito nets. Bathroom en suite with hot water, and own veranda.
Breakfast English style teas/coffees
• Spend 7 nights at Coconut Bay Beachfront chalets (sleep 4 per chalet)
• Whilst at Coconut Bay enjoy catered for meals by guides
• Dives included whilst at Coconut Bay: incl full kit
• 2 x Ocean safaris at nearby Tofo (whale shark swimming)
• 2 x Dives at nearby Barra
• 6 x Dives at Jangamo / Guinjata (of which 2 are Manta Reef)
• On route back to Johannesburg we overnight 1 night in Maputo with breakfast
• Overnight 1 night at Grand Kruger Lodge or similar on return Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
• 4 Hour morning game drive at Kruger ParkBack Up Package
Rates
Back up trip = R17080-00 per person