Mozambique is where an African safari meets the Indian Ocean. Most travelers come for the beach — the Bazaruto and Quirimbas Archipelagos offer some of the finest barefoot-luxury island lodges on the continent, with world-class diving, snorkelling and dhow sailing over coral reefs. We most often pair a few nights here with a bush safari in South Africa or Zimbabwe for a classic bush-to-beach honeymoon. On the mainland, the rewilding of Gorongosa National Park is one of Africa's great conservation stories, now opening up as a genuine safari destination. The best beach weather runs from April or May through November, outside the cyclone-prone wet months.
Go for snorkeling the crystal-blue waters of the Bazaruto Archipelago from barefoot-luxury lodges.
Each dimension is rated 0–3: 0 = not offered / avoid, 1 = fair, 2 = good, 3 = excellent. For the monthly strip, a higher score means a better time to travel.
These are our own expert ratings, drawn from years of planning and operating safaris across Africa. They reflect first-hand experience and traveler feedback rather than measured statistics, and conditions vary year to year.
Source: Fauna Travel Safari Seasonality & Suitability Ratings, updated 2026-10-05 — https://faunatravel.com/destination/africa/mozambique
Monthly averages at Bazaruto · 2021–2025. Bars show rainfall; lines show average daily high and low.
Source: historical daily reanalysis from Open-Meteo (ERA5), averaged over 2021–2025. Our month-by-month travel ratings are Fauna Travel's own, from first-hand experience.
Warmest around Jan–Dec (daily highs near 28°C / 82°F); coolest around Jun (24°C / 75°F); wettest in Feb (~235 mm); driest in Sep. Based on 2021–2025 averages at Bazaruto.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°C / 82°F | 27°C / 81°F | 137 mm | 14 |
| Feb | 28°C / 82°F | 26°C / 79°F | 235 mm | 15 |
| Mar | 28°C / 82°F | 26°C / 79°F | 120 mm | 14 |
| Apr | 27°C / 81°F | 25°C / 77°F | 62 mm | 9 |
| May | 26°C / 79°F | 24°C / 75°F | 62 mm | 12 |
| Jun | 24°C / 75°F | 22°C / 72°F | 54 mm | 12 |
| Jul | 24°C / 75°F | 22°C / 72°F | 36 mm | 8 |
| Aug | 24°C / 75°F | 22°C / 72°F | 30 mm | 5 |
| Sep | 25°C / 77°F | 23°C / 73°F | 10 mm | 2 |
| Oct | 25°C / 77°F | 24°C / 75°F | 30 mm | 5 |
| Nov | 27°C / 81°F | 25°C / 77°F | 50 mm | 6 |
| Dec | 28°C / 82°F | 26°C / 79°F | 109 mm | 9 |
Visa / eTA — apply before you travel. For a stay of 90 days or less in a hotel or vacation rental, US passport holders need an electronic travel authorization (eTA), obtained in advance with proof of your reservation. (If you’re staying instead in the private home of family or friends, you’ll need a full visitor visa, applied for before travel.)
Passport. Valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date, with 2 empty visa pages (endorsement pages don’t count).
Vaccinations. A yellow-fever certificate is required if you’re arriving from certain countries in Africa or South America; if you need one and arrive without it, you may be vaccinated at the airport health clinic.
Currency. Up to 10,000 Mozambican meticais (about US$150) may be brought in or taken out.
Good to know. Always carry your passport (with your visa/eTA) or a notarized copy — police sometimes stop travelers and solicit bribes, especially from those without it. The US Embassy advises against paying bribes.
U.S. Embassy, Maputo: mz.usembassy.gov
Guidance is for U.S. passport holders and can change — always confirm with the official source before you travel. Confirm at travel.state.gov →
Cape Town, a big-five safari, and a romantic tropical island finale.
The five-star South African Honeymoon: boutique Cape Town, a private Sabi Sand safari, and barefoot island luxury in Mozambique.
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