Sports and the Outdoors
Canoeing and Birdwatching Safaris. Paddle your own canoe (with expert guidance) for a two-hour trip up the river, or amble along on a two-hour bird-watching and bush walk, which includes transport and refreshments. Casa Rex, Vilankulo, Inhambane. 258/2938–4247; www.mozambiquehorsesafari.com. From $30 per person.
Kitesurfing Centre. Mozambique's warm, calm seas make this exhilarating activity easy and fun. Owner, kitesurfing expert Mark Pegrum, also offers intermediate and advanced classes from $45 per hour. Casa Rex, Vilankulo, Inhambane. 258/844–492–263; www.kitesurfingcentre.com. From $100. Equipment hire is $25 per hour, or $100 per day.
Mozambique Horse Safari. Whether you go for a beach, bush, inland lakes, or dune ride, you’ll be riding some famous horses. Vilankulo horses are the rescue horses that Mandy Redslaff saved from death on confiscated Zimbabwean farms and wrote about in her bestselling book One Hundred and Four Horses. Each horse has a storied past: Texas was destined to be fed to the lions; Brutus was arrested on arrival in Mozambique for eating the chief’s maize; Fanta taught generations of children how to ride. Beginners, intermediate, and experienced riders are all welcome. Casa Rex, Vilankulo, Inhambane. www.mozambiquehorsesafari.com. From $60 per ride, including transport.
Sailaway Dhow Safaris Vilankulo. Take a day safari to Magaruque or Bazaruto Island aboard a traditional Arab sailing craft built in the same way for over 2000 years. You’ll motor out to the islands after breakfast and then dock on a lovely beach with shade structures where you can relax in between swimming and snorkeling along a quarter-mile long reef. All your snorkeling gear is provided, including rubber boots for navigating the reef. After a traditional lunch with sodas, beer, or wine, you’ll sail back to the mainland under the iconic triangular dhow sail. Sailaway also offers two-night camping and live-aboard safaris. Casa Rex, Vilankulo, Inhambane. www.sailaway.co.za. $95 per person with a minimum of two people.
Scuba diving and snorkeling, Vilankulo. Odyssea Dive Centre provides tuition, dives and snorkeling. Two-Mile Reef, off the eastern shoreline of Benguerra Island is home to gorgeous, diverse coral formations and thousands of tropical fishes from tiny clownfish to large wrasses and parrotfish. You may also encounter Moray eels, various rays, and white-tip reef sharks (harmless). Dives include full equipment hire plus lunch and refreshments. Snorkeling trips including lunch and refreshments. Casa Rex, Vilankulo, Inhambane. www.odysseadive.com. $180 for two dives. $90 per person for snorkeling.
