International Arrivals

Welcome to Mozambique! Arrive at Maputo International Airport (MPM) and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel.

Take time to relax and unwind before joining the group for a Welcome Dinner to mark the start of your exciting journey.

Overnight: Polana Serena

Maputo National Park by Sea

After breakfast, we’ll check out of Polana Serena Hotel and embark on a 90-minute boat ride across the bay to the small, vibrant community of Santa Maria, where Rare has worked closely with local communities. SCUBA divers will go to the beach for a briefing and to get wetsuits and fins before setting out for the dive while those snorkeling will head straight to the reefs.

Please note the following diving requirements. Elevate Destinations will request these documents closer to your trip.

• Have medical insurance that covers extreme sports as scuba diving. This is not covered under standard medical insurance policies.
• Provide your Physicians Certification Form before arrival and if you have any illnesses, you will need to be declared fit by a doctor in order to dive.
• Provide a copy of your dive level/qualification and when you last did a dive.
• If your last dive was longer than 12 months prior, you will need to take a refresher course before the trip.
• Closer to the trip, Elevate Destinations will request your height, weight and shoe sizes to provide the dive company for your wet suit.

After exploring the mesmerizing world of underwater coral teeming with marine life, everyone will meet back together for a fresh seafood lunch at Bemugi’s Place with the head official of Machangulo. (There will be showers available to freshen up before lunch!) Then, we’ll set out for a scenic drive through Maputo National Park, a flourishing haven of Mozambique’s unique flora and fauna.

Arrive at your beautiful beach-side accommodations, Ponta Membene in the early evening. Check in and take time to unwind with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and its vibrant reefs before a starlit dinner at the resort’s restaurant.

Overnight: Ponta Membene

Maputo National Park

Enjoy a leisurely morning at Ponta Membene. Walk along the secluded beach, take a dip in the pool, or, for those feeling adventurous, grab a surfboard and catch some waves before taking part in the highly competitive Rare Olympics.

Park wardens will join us for lunch and a briefing on the afternoon game drive to learn more about what to expect and the park’s conservation efforts in Mozambique. We’ll set out for an afternoon game drive across diverse landscapes, where we may see elephants, giraffes, zebras.

Return to the hotel in the evening to freshen up before dinner.

Overnight: Ponta Membene

Travel to Ilha de Moçambique

We’ll grab a very early breakfast before departing for a final game drive through the national park to the Futi Gate en route to the Maputo Airport (about a 3 hour drive in total). We’ll check in for our private chartered flight from Maputo to Nacala (2.5 hours) as a group. Once we arrive at the Nacala Airport, we’ll take a scenic drive through villages to Ilha de Moçambique, about a 2.5 hour drive. The island is a 3km-long UNESCO World Heritage Site home to 14,000 Mozambicans with a rich and complicated colonial history.

We’ll be greeted with welcome cocktails upon arrival at our hotel in the beautiful historic Stone Town, followed by a relaxing dinner on the rooftop to recharge after our long day of travel. There’s no way around the amount of time it takes to get around our country programs in Mozambique, but rest assured that we will make this trip as comfortable and interesting as possible.

Overnight: Feitoria & Villa Sands

Ilha de Moçambique

Happy Independence Day, Mozambique!1

Celebrate Mozambique’s 50th Independence Day with a special community pride celebration! We’ll engage with community leaders and government officials to witness Rare’s work in the region and spend the afternoon on an island tour to learn more about this unique island and its people. We’ll end the day with a serene dinner on the terrace, soaking up the spectacular views of the island.

Overnight: Feitoria & Villa Sands

Ilha de Moçambique

After breakfast, we will embark on a Dhow Sailing Safari to explore the surrounding islands that form the outer edge of the proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA), situated between Ilha de Moçambique and the nearby islands of Sete Paus and Goa. Snorkel the clear waters and enjoy refreshments on the islands before returning to Ilha de Moçambique for a delicious barbecue lunch.

Later, we’ll return to the hotel for free time. We can take a dip in the pool to relax, possibly rent bikes to explore the streets of Ilha de Moçambique, or engage with local community members. In the evening, enjoy we’ll enjoy a sunset on the rooftop and reflect on the community experience over a fresh, local dinner overlooking the ocean.

Overnight: Feitoria & Villa Sands

Travel to Maputo

After breakfast, we’ll depart for the drive back to Nacala and our chartered flight back to Maputo. We’ll have a few hours to rest and refresh back at the hotel, where you’re invited to take a dip in the pool, visit the spa or visit the local craft market.

In the evening, we’ll commence our journey with a memorable farewell sunset celebration featuring local musicians, and a private dinner sharing stories and reflections from our time in Mozambique.

Overnight: Polana Serena

International Departures

Enjoy a final breakfast together at the hotel before checking out. You will have a private transfer to the airport for your departure, based on your individual flight time. Those of you who are joining the Extension to Rwanda will travel together to Kigali.

For more information about this incredible journey to Mozambique with Rare, or to extend your travels with a Gorilla Trek to Rwanda, be sure to visit the following pages:

Pricing & Registration
Pre-Departure Information
Health & Safety
Destination Information
Extension to Rwanda
About Elevate Destinations