Mozambique - September/October 2027

Tour Overview:

Duration: 6 day/6 nights photographic safari

Spaces: 6 Maximum

Join Tracey for a photographic tour with a difference, designed specifically to give you the best opportunities to photograph Africa's wildlife up close and personal at Zimanga Mozambique Lodge. You will have exclusive access to the lodge and will spend 6 days photographing a diverse range of wildlife both on land and at sea. There are also opportunities for Seascapes both on land and in the air by helicopter (extra cost).

Zimanga Bazaruto in Mozambique is a prime African ecotourism destination unlike any other.  Surrounded by crystal clear tropical water and hundreds of vast sandbanks in even more unimaginable shades of blue and hues of white, this Exclusive Use lodge is situated on a private game reserve hosting unique species from the massive Eland, the World’s largest antelope, to the diminutive Suni, one of its smallest.  The area, oft referred to as the Blue Serengeti, hosts an overwhelming abundance of marine and terrestrial species, and apart from being considered as extremely important southern humpback whale calving grounds, is also home to Africa’s last remaining dugongs, 5 species each of dolphins and turtles, hundreds of species of birdlife plus thousands of other aquatic lifeforms from three seahorse species, hundreds of corals, thousands of colourful reef fish and a legion of oceanic predators that follow these, resulting in a prolific fusion of terrestrial and marine life in one of the World’s top biodiversity hotspots.

The Bazaruto Archipelago National Park is Mozambique’s oldest marine protected area, proclaimed as far back as 1971.  It spans more than 1400km2 and encompasses the northern islands of Bazaruto and Pansy Island, Santa Carolina (Paradise Island), Benguerra, Magaruque and the smaller Banque Island.  Each island has its own character but all have one thing in common with long stretches of white sandy beaches and warm waters in every colour of the blue spectrum.  This Park protects one of Africa’s Biodiversity Hotspots with thousands of species calling it home.

Apart from unhindered Park access, visitors to Zimanga have additional access to the private protected waters and wildlife of the neighbouring Mozambique Sanctuary and San Sebastián Coastal Reserve where the Lodge is situated, with its astonishing myriad of islands, sandbanks, mangrove channels, estuaries and terrestrial wildlife in the coastal forests and savannah.

The Bazaruto Archipelago National Park hosts the last remaining dugongs in the western Indian Ocean and whilst difficult to find, this marine mammal leaves a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to see it.  A near guaranteed sighting is that of the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin which is the rarest mammal in Southern Africa.  On days the weather does not play along one can enjoy game drives to search the coastal forest for animals from the large Livingstone’s eland, to zebra, wildebeest, kudu, reedbuck and a host of smaller antelope species like grey or red duiker and the beautiful and dainty suni which inhabits the dense undergrowth and which are residents of the Lodge grounds.

The luxurious setting of the Lodge with the Indian Ocean lapping at your doorstep is your base to explore this biodiverse wonderland with its myriad of outdoor activities on offer, set against an indescribable backdrop of blues and whites that will linger with you forever.  The majority of activities are boat-based, be they scouting the Linene sandbanks for rare and out-of-range bird species, heading into the open ocean to view 20-tonne humpback whales breach and crash down in a spray of white water, or heading to the spectacular two-mile reef to witness an easily accessible underwater utopia filled with more than 2000 species of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and coral.

Lodge-based activities include canoeing the tranquil mangrove-lined channels and bay right on your doorstep, birding, game drives, or just relaxing in the large salt-water fed pool with its centrally placed thatched gazebo, ideal for cooling down drink in hand with an unmatched view into the heart of the Bay out front

During the trip guests will take part in 12 activities. The activities will be broken down into AM & PM activities or some can be run as a full day activity. As the whole lodge and its activities are booked exclusively for my group, there is complete flexibility with the schedule. Activities can be amended or repeated.

Activities on offer

– Open Ocean Safaris in search of Southern Humpback Whales, dolphins & dugongs

-Birding expeditions by boat in search of Yellow-billed storks, little egrets, cormorants, kingfishers, Flamingos & pink-backed pelicans

– The Olive Bee-eater hide sessions during peak breeding activity.

-Visit Starfish City - a wonder of nature with hundreds, and sometimes thousands of giant beaded starfish of every size, hue and colour.

-Game Drives looking for grey duiker, red duiker, steenbok and suni, whilst larger species include eland, wildebeest, zebra, kudu, nyala, waterbuck, reedbuck, impala as well as vervet and secretive simango monkeys and red squirrels.

– Snorkelling along the colourful coral reefs

Optional Paid Extras

– Aerial photography from helicopter over sandbanks, lagoons, and tidal flats

-Seahorse Safaris

Zimanga Bazaruto Lodge

This Exclusive Use Lodge sleeps up to 12 visitors in six two-bedded units.  It is situated on the San Sebastián Peninsula and a private conservation area with unencumbered access to the vast tropical paradise of Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago National Park.  This constitutes guest access to more than a hundred and fifty thousand hectares of blue waters of every imaginable hue, vast white sandbanks full of birds, uninhabited islands fringed by coconut palms and draped by coastal forest, savanna and freshwater pans together with thousands of species that call this biodiversity hotspot their home

The luxury castaway Lodge architecture was first and foremost designed to be low in impact and building units were placed in existing natural clearings with minimal tree removal taking place.  Its build style consists of a fusion of canvas on wood floor bedrooms and living rooms, against solid en-suite bathrooms with inside and outside showers.  

The separate units and main buildings are covered with indigenous jecca thatch, allowing the breeze to cool the rooms naturally, as well as imparting an authentic luxury castaway experience matching your mind-blowing surrounds in this tropical island paradise.  The large inviting swimming pool hugs the entire main building’s living spaces and provides natural cooling to these, and due to the relatively dry climate the pool water is combination fresh and saltwater pumped directly from the ocean in front.  Apart from water saving this additionally limits the chemicals required to maintain a crystal clear and enjoyable lounge in the pool.  The bathrooms, whilst remaining spacious and ultra-luxurious, were designed with water saving features throughout, and with the use of canvas and thatch as preferred material in rooms to reduce heat reservoirs associated with traditional construction methods, the energy required to cool the rooms is greatly reduced.  Not that this should worry the powerful solar system seamlessly incorporated as out of sight onto service building rooftops, making all aspects of the lodge off-grid and as green as you can get.

Mozambican cuisine offers a mouthwatering spread of the most incredible variety of seafood from prawns, crayfish, calamari, crab curries or mussels, with freshly baked bread (known as Pao) being at the order of the day.  Should time permit you can even head to the open ocean to attempt to reel in a tuna for fresh sashimi or have our chef prepare it in your method of choice.

Pre-trip advice

1-2 months prior to travel you will receive a comprehensive document that provides packing advice so you are prepared for your trip

Tour language

This tour is an English-speaking tour. Please note: all lodge staff/forest guides will have a good understanding/ use of understanding the English language.

Passport requirements

To enter Mozambique, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry and contain at least 2 blank pages. You may be denied entry if you do not have the required validity, or if you attempt to travel on a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Visas

Most visitors require a visa to enter Mozambique. This can be applied for online in advance of travel through the official e-visa portal, or obtained on arrival at Vilankulo Airport. We recommend applying in advance to avoid any delays. Authorities suggest allowing at least 2 weeks before your departure.

Vaccinations \ Health

Wild Aperture are not qualified or legally allowed to provide vaccination or medical advice.

The Vilanculos Wildlife Sanctuary carries a medium malaria risk. We strongly recommend you take prophylaxis and use insect repellent, especially at dawn and dusk. Beds are fitted with mosquito nets, and a spray programme will be in place around the lodge.

However you should consult your travel nurse or doctors for specific medical advise and up to date advise on vaccinations required. It’s suggested to do this at least 2-3 months prior to travel or sooner if this allows.

All guides at the reserve are first aid trained.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about what you can take into and out of Mozambique. You must declare items that may be restricted, prohibited, or subject to duty.

Fitness Level Required

This tour does not require a high level of fitness. However, guests should be able to get in/out of a game vehicle/boat with little or no assistance and should be capable of walking up to 200 metres to and from their room at the lodge.

Camera Equipment

Depending on the size of the subject you are photographing, or the image you have in mind, lenses can range from 20mm to 800mm! Further information on photography equipment will be supplied as part of your pre-trip advice.

Gratuities

Gratuities are not included in the cost of your safari.

It is customary for tourists visiting Africa to leave a gratuity for guides and hospitality staff. You will notice that guides and staff will often go out of their way in order to give guests the best experience possible.

Your hosts will advise on the amount and can collect this from you all at the beginning of the tour or on the first night in Mozambique. This will avoid you having to worry about paying gratuities at the end of the trip.

Wi-Fi Network Access

Wi-Fi is available in the Main Lodge

Dietary

Most dietary requests can be catered for with advance notice provided to us at least two months prior to departure.

Travel Insurance

It’s strongly recommended that you purchase your own travel insurance at the time of booking to cover any eventualities should you need to cancel your trip due to unforeseen circumstances as both the deposit and final balances are non-refundable. Guests travelling without their own travel insurance do so at their own risk.

Group Photo Safari Cost: £3175 (no single supplement)

Secure your place with a non-refundable deposit of £793.75 per person

Payments accepted by bank transfer

*Please see Terms & Conditions for payment details

Cost Includes:-

• 6-nights’ luxury accommodation at Zimanga Bazaruto Lodge

• Exclusive use of Zimanga Mozambique Lodge and all facilities

• All meals and snacks

• Water, tea, coffee, soft drinks, local beers, spirits, and house wine

• Bazaruto National Park entry, boat licences, and snorkelling fees

• All photographic activities (all planned around tides and weather)

• Exclusive use of the skippered Zimanga boat for photography experiences, island visits, whale/dolphin watching and snorkelling trips

• Return Airport transfers from Vilankulo to the lodge

• Expert photographic tuition and guidance throughout the trip

• Local conservation and park fees

• Fantastic local guides

• Services of a photographic host & Zimanga guide offering tuition and advice if needed

• A friendly, like-minded group to share this amazing opportunity

NOT Included:-

• International flights to/from Vilanculos

• Any personal expense such as beverages / drinks bill at all hotels, snacks whilst travelling, telephone bills, airport tax etc

• Imported spirits and Speciality wines whilst in Zimanga

• Curio Shop Purchases

• Helicopter flights (highly recommended for aerial photography)

• Optional Dhow safaris

• Seahorse Safaris

• Tips & gratuities. E.g. local guides/drivers & hotel staff (amount to be advised at booking)

• Personal Travel insurance

• Any other services not stated in the itinerary or above costs.