Vilanculos

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Vilanculos is in Mozambique. It's a popular beach hangout and the gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago, a group of islands and Mozambique's only underwater national park. The dry season is from May to September with temperatures around 20 degrees. Bring a sweater for the evenings.

[edit] Get in

To get to Vilanculos, you have a few options. From Beira it is about a 5-8 hours bus ride over pot hole ridden roads, not the best option, but not expensive either. You can normally fly here from South Africa as well as Beira and Maputo, but most are charter flights or those with their own planes.

[edit] Get around

The town is compact and walkable.

[edit] See

[edit] Do

[edit] Horse Riding

Horse riding in Vilanculos

Evening swim with the horses in Vilanculos

A canter on the beaches of Vilanculos

The costal area surrounding Vilanculos is world renowned for its superb variety of white sand, alluring golden sunsets and tall palm trees. The area is suitable for riders of all levels of ability.

• Mozambique Horse Safari, Vilanculos, Pat Retzlaff on 00 258 84 2512910 ], info@mozambiquehorsesafari.com, [1]. Africa's leading Horseback Adventure Safari based in Vilanculos.

[edit] Dhow Safari

Experience the wonder of a traditional sailing dhow gliding through the Bazaruto Archipelago. The islands of Benguerra, Bazaruto, Magaruque and Santa Carolina are complete with azure waters, sandy beaches, palm trees and pristine coral reefs.

• Mozambique Horse Safari, Vilanculos, Pat Retzlaff on 00 258 84 2512910 ], info@mozambiquehorsesafari.com, [2]. Bring your camera, and capture the freedom of unspoilt beach's, solitude, and stunning scenery on a traditional sailing dhow at Mozambique Horse Safari.

[edit] Game Fishing

The area surrounding is ranked as the best Black Marlin destination in the Eastern Indian Ocean. The season runs from early October through to end of January each year. The Marlin come close in to the shallow waters around the Islands and can often be found feeding around the shoals of various species of tuna that frequent our waters during this time of the year. The Bazaruto Archipelago area also offers salt water fly fishing for the sought-after bonefish.

• Mozambique Horse Safari, Vilanculos, Pat Retzlaff on 00 258 84 2512910 ], info@mozambiquehorsesafari.com, [3]. Mozambique Horse Safari in association with the top game fishing company in the Bazaruto archipelago offer excellent game and salt water fly fishing.

[edit] Scuba Diving

The Bazaruto Archipelago is nearby, an offers some excellent scuba diving on daytrips from Vilanculos. 2-tank dives are the norm, and snorkelers are also welcome. The archipelago's coral reefs and clear waters offer some of the best diving in the world, dive sites are uncrowded and marine life is varied and abundant. With sites at a depth of 12 to 30m and visibility up to 40m you will discover protected reefs teeming with dolphin, hump back whales, whale sharks, sharks, manta and spotted eagle rays, green and turtles.

• Odyssea Dive, at Boabab Beach, +258 8278 1713, scubaben_uk@yahoo.co.uk, [4]. PADI certified with fast, inflatable dive boats.

• Mozambique Horse Safari, Vilanculos, Pat Retzlaff on 00 258 84 2512910 ], info@mozambiquehorsesafari.com, [5], Mozambique Horse Safari in association with the top dive schools in the Bazaruto archipelago offers you the chance to discover the amazing marine life off the coast of Vilanculos.

[edit] Buy

[edit] Eat

[edit] Drink

[edit] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Smugglers, +258 293 82253, [6]. Popular with a range of options in various blocks of rooms. Hot water in the shared bathrooms, and a sports bar with satellite TV and pool table with weekly competitions. Tues and Thurs are volleyball night. Swimming pool with a pool bar. Come here if you like to party. R150-525.

• Zombie Cucumber, [7]. To get here walk a few minutes south of the town center. Dorms Mts 220,000 Chalets Mts 700,000. Advance bookings not possible.

• Baobab Beach, 082 7315420, [8]. Head south for about 5 minutes from the center of town. A large place overlooking the beach with many huts and a few that serve as dorms with about 8 beds each. Also good for campers with tents. It's a little quieter up here than the northern end of town.

[edit] Mid-range

• Vilanculos Beach Lodge, (at the northern end of Vilanculos), +258 293 82388, beachlodge@teledata.mz, [9]. R850-1050/night.

• Casa Guci, 082 868 6540, [10]. A German owned resort with 3 chalets, 2-4 beds in each and fully equipped kitchens. Has a small swimming pool and a restaurant that serves European and local food, including good pizzas. €60/R480/person for self catering or €85/R680/person for full board.

[edit] Contact

• TDM in the village has a couple of computers offering internet access.

[edit] Get out

Fly out of here to:

• Swaziland
• Kruger National Park
• Manzini
• Mpumalanga