Experience Mozambique
Your base will be on the outskirts of the coastal village of Vilanculos, a short boat ride from the World Heritage Site islands that make up the Bazaruto Archipelago. The islands are one of the jewels of the East African coastline. From our beach camp you will have the chance to explore the stunning tropical waterways of the Guvuru River, experience the Islands of the Archipelago by traditional Arab sailing dhow and take part in our community projects in rural Vilanculos.
Itinerary in brief:
Departures are on the first Sunday of each month.
| Day | Outline of activities | Location | Accommodation | Meals |
| 1 | Arrive in Vilanculos, Orientation | Beach camp | Thatched bungalows | D |
| 2-3 | Guvuru River Canoe Trip | Rio Guvuru, inland from Vilanculos | Tented camping | B, L, D |
| 4 | Guvuru River Canoe | Bartholomew Diaz (mouth of Indian Ocean) | Bathorlomew Diaz Lodge | B, L, D |
| 5 | Transfer back to Vilanculos | Explore Vilanculos traditional market | Thatched bungalows | B, L, D |
| 6-7 | Island Dhow Experience | Bazaruto Archipelago | Arab sailing dhow | B, L, D |
| 8-9 | Scuba diving at two mile reef (No diving experience necessary) | Bazaruto Archipelago | Thatched bungalows | B, L, D |
| 10-11 | Community Volunteering | Rural Vilanculos | Thatched bungalows | B, L, D |
| 12 | Depart Vilanculos |
Note on community work:
Day 1: Arrive in Vilanculos. As you fly in to land in this coastal village you will be greeted with incredible sights of the Indian Ocean and tropical islands below. Palm trees will wave you in as you arrive. Our team will meet you at the airport and transfer you to our base camp, which will be followed by orientation and familiarization. Settle in to your comfortable thatched bungalows at our beach camp and enjoy a welcome dinner.
Day 2 - 4: Guvuru River Canoe Experience
Leave our beach camp and our team will drive the group inland to the Guvuru river launch site where we will embark on our canoe experience that will take you through winding and beautiful inland African waterways for the next two days until we mouth out into the Indian Ocean where more of our project team will be on hand to meet you.
The canoe trip involves camping on the banks of the river overnight, under the supervision of our experienced professional guides. Our project translator will also travel with the group and interpret when we stop off and visit with local villagers on some occasions.
Your final night will be at Bartholomew Diaz Lodge at the mouth of the Indian Ocean where your canoe trip ends.
Day 5: Transfer back to Vilanculos
When you arrive back at our beach camp and have had refreshments you will have the chance to go into town and explore the vibrant local market, or hang out at one of the many tourist spots, playing volleyball or just socializing.
Day 6-7: Island dhow safari
Island after island, shimmering drops of white and green on a table of azure blue, Mozambique is without doubt one of the last enchanted secrets of this modern world. It's unspoiled, untouched and unbelievably beautiful.
Day 8-9: Island diving experience (No diving experience necessary)
Experienced instructors will guide you through your open-water or advanced diving certification and you will then spend some time exploring the Bazaruto Archipelago under their guidance.
Day 10-11: Community volunteering
This project is facilitated by our sister organisation African Impact, and has a very rural feel and involves various aspects of community work and development in and around the coastal town of Vilanculos. We support a number of different community development initiatives, mornings are spent at a village preschool and afternoons are rotated around various community projects involving rural home-building, orphan care work, skills development, adult literacy and others.
The projects are always evolving so will be at different stages, volunteers should be prepared to be involved in a wide diversity of project work as things evolve and develop, all of which are moving the project towards a common goal.
As a result of the February 2007 Cyclone Favio which devastated this area, we were involved in the immediate post-cyclone relief work and have since been involved in local home-building for disadvantaged and disabled villagers which we are still continuing with.
Day 12: Depart Vilanculos. One of our project staff will take you to the airport.
Cost:
12 Day Experience Mozambique trip: GBP695 / US$1390
Please contact our booking staff if you would like to extend the volunteer portion of this trip.
Cost Includes:
Cost Excludes:
Accommodation:
You will be staying at our rural camp in rustic yet comfortable thatched bungalows, located on the beach. Facilities include a kitchen, lounge/dining area, garden area, braai/bbq area, volleyball court and pool deck. Each bungalow consists of 2 twin bedrooms and a bathroom with toilet and shower. Members of our project team will be staying on the same property, so that they are always available to you for any questions or issues you may have. During the river expedition the group will be camping with all equipment and professional supervision provided.
Meals:
You will be provided with three wholesome meals a day.
Breakfast is on a help-yourself basis and usually consists of cereals/porridge, toast, fruit, tea and coffee. Lunch and dinner are full meals, and will be cooked for you by one of the crew.
Note:
Please advise us of any specific dietary requirements before you arrive! Please also remember that you will be on a rural placement and food will be quite simple, but plentiful and nutritious.
"The whole experience was absolutely incredible. It was uplifting, rewarding, challenging, grounding, heart-breaking and soul-destroying in equal measure. To see the absolute joy on the faces of the children when we arrived to spend time with them, or their excitement at being given some new clothes, a piece of chocolate cake or the opportunity to do something creative, was incredible. To see someone's new home taking shape was fabulous. To see how they accept what they have, are content with it and essentially happy with their lot was a major lesson for me, and certainly changed my perspective of my life and the things that I take for granted. Moments like this make it one of the most amazing things I have ever done. This is why I WILL do it again and why I would encourage anyone who is thinking about doing this sort of thing to stop thinking about it, and go and do it."
Stuart Neath, UK.
www.happyafricafoundation.org
Regd UK Charity Number: 1123529
Pathfinders and The Happy Africa Foundation
Pathfinders is proud to have been instrumental in the establishment of The Happy Africa Foundation and continues to be one of the Foundations major supporters. Donations made to support our community and conservation initiatives by private donors as well as by Pathfinders as a voluntoursim company are managed and distributed on our behalf by The Happy Africa Foundation.
The mission of The Happy Africa Foundation is to empower the African people through the support of community and conservation based initiatives that operate at grass roots level.
Conservation Development:
The Happy Africa Foundation works together with local African communities to conserve and protect the environment, wildlife and cultures in areas where the Foundation is involved. Thus, the Foundation supports, financially or logistically (or both), local and international organizations that operate projects supporting conservation education and research at a grass roots level.
Community Development:
The Happy Africa Foundation strives to initiate, facilitate and support community development projects that are sustainable. As such, The Happy Africa Foundation makes every effort to ensure and takes relevant measures in assessing, planning and monitoring community development projects for the benefit of local African communities.
The Happy Africa Foundation provides travellers, volunteers and other donors with a chance to give back to the communities they visit or volunteer in on their African journeys, or that they wish to support remotely through donations.