Your advice needed on my itinerary in Mozambique

Dear fellow travellers,

I, a solo female budget traveller, am going in December to Mozambique and I need your advice on my itinerary.

Day 1 (Sunday): Maputo - Inhambane (by public transport)
My question: is Sunday a good day to travel?
Day 2 : Inhambana - Vilankulo (by public transport)
Day 3: Bazaruto
+My question is: how much does a trip to Bazaruto cost? If this trip wouldn't be affordable, I might would like to drop the trip to Vilankulo and not go further North past Inhambane.
Other question: Is there any budget accomodation on one of the Bazaruto islands?+
Day 4: Vilankulo- Inhambane
Day 5: Inhambane - Tofo
Day 6-7: Tofo
Day 8: Tofo-Xai Xai (or is there another place besides Xai Xai where I could stop on my trip back to Maputo?
Day 9: Xai Xai
Day 10: Xai Xai - Maputo

Final question: I know December will be busy but does that mean that I even do have to reserve a bed in a dorm in advance? Anyway, I am hoping that with your feedback I will be able to finalize my itinerary and make some reservations in advance.

Thank you so much in advance. I am looking forward to receive your feedback.

I would stick to Tofo. Otherwise, you are spending too much time in transit and long distance buses leave ~4 a.m. in Mozambique. Besides, last I heard Bazaruto was expensive because the only budget accommodation closed years ago. There are the sailing trips out of Vilankulos but I thought they were also expensive.

You can go straight from Maputo to Tofo and back with Fatima's shuttle or take a public bus to Maxixe, ferry over to Inhambane, then chapa to Tofo. There may be a public bus to Tofo from Maputo but I don't remember seeing one in the other direction. Maybe to/from Inhambane.

If you bring a tent you can cheaply camp at many places in Tofo, don't need a reservation, and won't have to put up with obnoxiously drunk dorm mates. I stayed at Turtle Cove and it was great.

Jon

Thanks for the advice. However, I really would prefer to stay in a dorm or stay in a single room because I wouldn't like to sleep alone in my tent.

Another question about peak season December. Do you think I have to give the exact number of nights already while reserving or would I have the possiblity to decide on the spot to stay a night or two if I like the place?

Do I also have to reserve in advance in Maputo or do all South Africans stick only to the beaches?

Last question: I don't find a budget option in Xai Xai. Does anyone know a nice place somewhere between Tofo and Maputo where I could spend a few days?

Hello,

Unfortunately, no cheap accommodation on Bazaruto any more. Pity, it's fantastic.

Cost for a day trip (Bazaruto, Benguerra, Two Mile Reef), $60/65.

More information on www.odysseadive.com...

Have a nice trip !

Denis

Veerie, December will be peak season in Tofo, You will have to specify when you book how many nights you want to stay. I was at Bamboozi Lodge a month ago and they said that they were booked out for Christmas and New Year so, depending on when you want to go, you may not be able to get a reservation. If I were you, I'd get onto it now, right away. Good luck.