Quirimbas Archipelago Safari Guide
A remote chain of 32 coral islands in northern Mozambique — even more exclusive than Bazaruto, with pristine reefs, Swahili ruins, and some of Africa's finest island retreats.
Top Highlights
Best Time to Visit Quirimbas Archipelago
May to November for dry season with calm seas and best diving conditions. July to October for humpback whale migration. December to March brings rain and occasional cyclones.
Quirimbas Archipelago Safari Budget Guide
Ultra-premium destination. Luxury island lodges $600-3,000/night. Ibo Island Lodge is the most affordable premium option ($200-500/night). Very basic guesthouses on Ibo from $20-40/night. Reaching the islands is the main expense — transfers from Pemba by boat (3-4hrs) or charter flight.
Getting to Quirimbas Archipelago
Fly to Pemba Airport from Maputo or Dar es Salaam. Boat transfers to the islands take 3-4 hours. Charter flights and helicopters available for luxury transfers. The islands are in far northern Mozambique near the Tanzania border.
The Quirimbas Archipelago is one of Africa's most exclusive and remote coastal destinations — a chain of 32 coral islands stretching along the northern Mozambique coast, most of them uninhabited and virtually untouched by tourism. The marine environment here is among the richest in the western Indian Ocean, with coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests supporting an extraordinary diversity of marine life.
Ibo Island, the cultural heart of the archipelago, was once a thriving Portuguese colonial trading post. Today its crumbling fortresses, silversmiths' workshops, and atmospheric ruins create a fascinating historical backdrop to the pristine natural beauty of the surrounding waters. Kayaking through the mangrove channels at high tide and walking the exposed sandbars at low tide reveal a marine ecosystem of remarkable richness.
A handful of exclusive lodges on private islands offer what may be the most remote luxury beach experience in Africa — days spent diving pristine reefs, sailing between uninhabited islands, and dining on fresh-caught seafood under the stars.
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