Sea Kayaking

Inhaca Island, Mozambique

Inhaca Island is situated at the southern most tip of Mozambique in the Maputo Bay. A large portion of the island is protected and managed by the local conservation body. This has helped to ensure that the coral reefs, indigenous forest and animal life are protected from any uncontrolled exploitation. The island has a vibrant village life. Dhows slowly work their way between Maputo and the island bringing in their catch and supplies to the islanders. Meals served at the restaurants on Inhaca are sumptuous; fish, calamari, lobster and crab are always on the menu with a side starter of clams and fresh, island baked, bread. The local brew, 2M or Laurentina are also very welcome on hot days.

All kayaking excursions take place on the protected side of the island. Our main camp is situated at the southern end of the island, alongside a beautiful reef, home to many coral and fish species.

Two packages are offered:

The first is a self-contained excursion where we camp on the fly. This package allows us simpler maneuverability around the island but is more basic than the second option and requires a higher level of fitness.

The second package caters for a gentler paddle. We kayak during the coolness of the day in the morning and again in the late afternoon. Each trip is to a different destination returning to the base camp every evening. The reef is positioned right next to a sandy beach, so it is just a matter of walking into the water to start snorkeling. Depending on the weather and availability of a dhow the 5 day excursions will make use of two campsites, one in the south and the other on Portuguese Island situated just off the north western shores of Inhaca. A chef from the island stays at camp and prepares all meals.

Other activities include walking in the nearby forest or around to the open sea. The bird life is diverse with many habitats such as wetlands, forest, mangroves, grassland and coastline contributing to this diversity; over 300 species have been recorded. One can also observe the locals fishing or harvesting marine life at low tide. The evenings are spent in a very comfortable camp, under a canopy of trees.

All bookings are based on a minimum of 6 persons. Packages cater for a minimum of two nights and a maximum of 5 nights. Fitness is not a prerequisite for the permanent camp but a relative degree of fitness would help for the self-contained excursions.