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10 July 2012

Inhaca Island


Inhaca Island is a small-inhabited island, lying just 37 km off the Mozambican capital of Maputo and positioned at the entrance to Delagoa Bay. It has much to recommend it: it is easily accessible by boat or ferry from Maputo.

The island also features large areas of unspoiled evergreen forest and bush land. Large areas of its land and shores have been protected as natural reserve since 1976, providing a unique and pristine environment, which can be enjoyed by taking one of the excellent two- to three-day hiking trails that are available for the avid walker.

All told, Inhaca has some 100 km of coastline, much of it having some of the best coral reefs in the Mozambique Channel. Snorkeling conditions in the inshore bay areas are excellent for novices and, while visibility may not be as good as it is on the offshore reefs, marine life is plentiful.

 
For divers the fish life is virtually untouched and the reefs are unspoiled. The best time to dive here is when the water level is at its highest; you can then catch the tide on its ebb and drift a kilometre or more along the reef. Spearfishing is permitted on the offshore reefs, but is prohibited in the immediate vicinity of Inhaca.

A fascinating experience for scuba divers is exploring the many shipwrecks in the area. Shark diving is also possible. Staghorn and plate coral, moray eel potato bass, large school of barracuda and kingfish are in abundance. Dolphins, whale sharks and manta rays are not uncommon during the summer months. The maximum diving depth is 30m with an average depth of approximately 18m. The average water temperature is 22-27 C and water visibility is between 10 - 30m.




Situated just to the northwest of Inhaca Island is another smaller island called Portuguese Island. You can amble across the narrow strait when the tide is low, snorkel in the enclosed lagoon, or be even more adventurous and venture out further towards the reef with flippers, snorkel and mask. However, only do so when the water is clear, since there are sharks in the deeper waters of both these islands.

Other excursions available on the island which can be booked after arrival included mountain bicycles rental, light house trips, visit to the Marine Biological Centre and boat trips to the Portuguese Island.

 
Now the only problem with all of the above is, that if you go out of season and you land there in the middle of the week, not one of the above activities is available, which makes Inhaca an utterly boring experience.

Not only are most things just not advertised on the island or an option, only the Inhaca Pestana offer many of these activities and they will only take you diving for example if there is a minimum of four people going.


Note to self, do not ever go here again unless it is a busy long weekend - or you go in a group of friends and can take over the island. At least me a Dru could catch up on our reading :)










Must and Must NOT go places on the island:
  • Do go to Tropical Restaurant and just say yes to whatever they want to serve you as there is only three option on the menu at any given time, and the options change daily. The best food and the best service on the island. We fell in love with the owner and will certainly return again when we are in the area.
  • Do stay away from Lucas's restaurant, our food had sand in, the service was terrible and the staff and owner completely uninterested in "customer service", it is also completely overpriced. I know people say, "Hay this is Mozambique, or Africa don't set your expectations too high, but then how does Tropical Restaurant which is not even 200m from Lucas restaurant and with far less equipment get it right.
  • Do meander to the small little island airport, what a site and the little kids entertaining you along the way makes it very special
  • Do spend time on the beach, just watching the boats go by.
  • Do mix with the locals and have a fantastic pool competition and drink R&R's.
  • Do not just go with the first accommodation one of the "beach boys" offer you when you get off the ferry. They are all similar priced, yet vary greatly in standards. Go for Cool Runnings, if on a serious budget. It is clean and neat, and has hot water and a full kitchen you can use as you like. Do play with the dog that they have tied permanently to a pole :( He had almost all of my biltong.
  • Do trust the "beach boys", I was sceptical at first that it was all a money making scheme, but it actually made a huge difference to our stay and we made a friend who we have invited to come and visit us at home.

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