Hello thorn tree readers!
I'll be visiting Mozambique between Christmas and New Year's this year and looking for a beach destination.
Landing in Maputo, so was hoping to stay somewhere within 1/2 day's drive away. Ideally there should be a cool, laid back local scene, fresh seafood, and decent surfing available. Would prefer to travel North from the city so as to avoid the influx of South African holiday makers!
Thanks...
All places up to 2 days drive north of Maputo will be full of South Africans come their school holidays.
One day's drive will get you to Tofo, which should tick most of your boxes - only the surfing may be questionable but then I'm not a surfer so what would I know? Two days would get you to Vilanculos, although that will be a lot quieter (and again, I can't comment on the surf).
But as previous poster points out, Xmas/New Year is when the Transvaal empties and everyone descends on the coast for seasonal R&R. You may have a helluva job finding somewhere to stay if you haven't booked yet. Other alternative would be to try one of the lodges that dot the coast between Vilanculos and Maputo - you may be able to fix something up with one of them although again I wouldn't leave it too long. If you do, check whether you need 4wd to get there.
We stayed in the village of Chidenguele, few hours drive north of Maputo in this well run Paraiso de Chidenguele Beach Lodge and really enjoyed our time there. The beach is absolutely gorgeous, big, with strong surf, pure sand, coarse though, and the beach goes for ever in both directions. If you feel like doing absolutely nothing with no touristy type of nonsense like you get in Tofo, this is the place!! The lodge has rooms and fully equipped chalets, so come with plenty of food and you are all set to have a good time. There is a nearby village where you can get basics, even a frozen fish, so don't worry if you forget something.
If you feel like having more action, go to Tofo, the beach is enormous, and the village is more alive, touristy, with the t-shirt stands, etc. you get the idea, you also get bothered more on the beach with people trying to sell you things. Personally, if we had known about Chidenguele, we would not have bothered wasting our time staying 2 nights in Tofo, but - that's us.
There is also an absolutely out of this world beach and paradise lovely spot north of Mozambique Island, but this is more than 2 days drive north of Maputo, so I am not sure if this applies in your case, if you want to know more about it I can certainly share it with you, just let me know.
Good luck choosing!
Tofs is fine. If you are a traveller its just another African town with locals tryin to sell you something but not beggars at all.
Nothing like the lights in the suburbs of SA - which is actually OK too.
In saying that, once you cross the border you'll soon understand Mozambiquens are poorer than most other Africans nearby. So many are without limbs and a general lack of basics common elsewhere in surrounding African countries like Zimbabwe, SA, and Malawi. Generally a humbling experience.
Fantastic bread and beer though.