Activities & Excursions

Excursions on Bugster
Boat Trips, Snorkelling & Fishing

Our highly experienced skipper (Marinheiro) Gonçalves expertly captains our Yamaha W31 vessel Bugster, proudly crafted in Mozambique by Marine Service. Throughout your stay at Nahyeeni Lodge, Bugster is available and at your full disposal—ready whenever you are to explore the island’s most breathtaking destinations.

Inhaca is an island of remarkable diversity, offering an array of unforgettable excursions. Explore pristine, deserted beaches, snorkel in crystal clear waters, visit the historic lighthouse with its sweeping views, or wander through the fascinating maritime museum. Discover the island’s rich mangrove swamps, enjoy exhilarating water skiing and tubing, and, during the season from August to November, experience the breathtaking spectacle of whale watching.

Nahyeeni Lodge also offers both half day and full day fishing excursions—perfect for seasoned anglers and complete beginners alike—ensuring everyone can enjoy the thrill of casting a line in these abundant waters.

All Inclusive Kitesurfing & Wing Foiling
Packages on Inhaca Island

Inhaca is fast becoming one of the premium kite surfing venues in the world and Nahyeeni Lodge have teamed up with from Beyond Ocean Experience to offer all-inclusive kitesurfing and wing-foiling trips hosted by renowned kitesurfers Joshua Emanuel and Lorenzo Valenti, offering incredible experiences in blue water paradise across both Inhaca and Portuguese Islands. These are all-inclusive, multi-day packages with perfect conditions, including sandbanks and flat-water spots ideal for all skill levels. Bookings for 2026 are already open with the season starting from August through to October. Be sure to book your trip directly with Beyond Ocean Experience at TBC

Activities & Excursions | Nahyeeni Lodge

Lighthouse Tours

Our lighthouse excursion is taken by vehicle, guiding you through the very heart of Inhaca Island. Along the way, you’ll experience the island’s rich diversity of flora and fauna, as well as its spectacular birdlife. The journey continues through lush tropical forests until you reach the historic lighthouse (Farol), perched high above the coastline and offering incredible panoramic views of both the island and the vast Indian Ocean.

After your visit, the vehicle will take you down to Lighthouse Beach, where our team will assist you in reaching the remarkable rock pools at the island’s northernmost tip. Here, you can snorkel in crystal‑clear waters, explore the fascinating marine life with an abundance of juvenile fish, crabs, cleaner shrimps and even moray eels, or wander across the sweeping dunes that make this area so unique. Its an excursion not to be missed!

Turtle Beach

Along the Eastern shores of Inhaca where the only footprints to be found on the sand are those of the occasional local fisherman, you will find Turtle Beach. Loggerhead, Leatherback and the odd Green Turtle are known to nest along this stretch during the season from November through to March.

This magnificent stretch of deserted beach runs 12.5kms from the northern point of Ponta Mazondue to the southern tip of Ponta Torres and makes for an incredible experience and outing.

This excursion is undertaken by vehicle where you would enter the Coastal Forestry Reserve and be dropped at the foot of the secondary dunes which you would climb up to reach a breathtaking, expansive view of the eastern shores of the island before heading down the dune to enjoy this truly stunning beach.

Ponta Torres Marine Reserve
Marine Life & Coastal Excursions

Located on the Southern point of Inhaca Island, and sometimes mistakenly named as Santa Maria (which is actually the name of the village located on the inner bay side of Machangulo Peninsula), Ponta Torres is an excursion that MUST NOT be missed!

The boat ride takes you along the western shores of Inhaca and around Ponta Penduine where your experienced skipper will follow the winding channel past sleepy fishermen villages and mangrove swamps where flocks of Flamingos gather and Pelicans ply their trade close to the sandy tidal shores.

Ponta Torres is a protected Marine coral reef and Reserve, which affords some quite incredible snorkelling opportunities on the incoming tide when the clearer waters are being pushed in – do not miss the huge schools of Bigeye Kingfish and Natal Moonies amongst the proliferation of reef fish and colours that are on show – this is truly a veritable paradise!

You can walk the stunning, deserted beaches along the coral rock formation until you reach the edge of the Island with Machangulo Peninsula and the mainland in front of you, separated only by a few hundred meters by an area notoriously known as Hells Gate, due to its rough and tricky exit to the Indian Ocean.

Please be advised that there is a charge of 200.00mtn per person for snorkelling at the Ponta Torres Reserve, payable to the Marine Park Guards on duty.

Please ensure that you do not touch any coral, rocks or marine life in any manner or form – no shells or other such souvenirs may be taken from any Reserve Area on Inhaca Island. Take only your photographs and leave only with your memories!

Exploring Portuguese Island
Marine Wildlife & Beach Walks

Formerly known as Elephant Island, aptly named by the British, due to the trade of elephant ivory by tall ships off its shores, this beautiful, uninhabited Island Reserve now known as Ilha das Portuguese’s was also used as a leper colony, the ruins of which can still be located in the middle of the island.

With a short boat ride from Nahyeeni, you can enjoy the expansive beaches, tranquil, turquoise waters and take long and luxurious walks around to the inner lagoon area where you will truly feel liberated by the freedom and romantic appeal this special Island has to offer.

Be sure to look out for the evasive and rare Humpback Dolphins, still on the endangered species listing – we have a small school of about 15 – 20 Humpbacks in this area which is growing year on year. They are exceptionally shy and we recommend that to maximize your viewing pleasure, that boat engines are turned off and silence is maintained so the Dolphins may approach your boat at their own discretion.

For the more adventurous, a run or brisk walk around the Island is approximately 6km and sincerely refreshes the spirit!

Biology Museum

Take a leisurely walk along the stunning western shores of Inhaca to the museum at the Biology Station (about two hour walk return) – a large variety of well preserved and pickled marine life as well as a complete skeleton of the highly endangered Dugong amongst a whole array of other interesting items make this journey one well worth taking.

The Museum is run by the University of Eduardo Mondlane in Maputo and there is also a Research Station attached to the Museum. Kindly note that there is a small fee of approximately U$D3.00 to pay for adults entering the museum and we highly recommend that you take along enough water with you as there is no shop or facilities at the destination. Alternately you can charter our boat Bugster to take the short boat ride down the western shores!

Water Sports

Please enquire with our Lodge Manager or Skipper regarding all water sport activities that we have available. Water skiing and tubing can be enjoyed directly in front of our Lodge when the tide is full as conditions are normally ideal – skis are readily available for your convenience.

We also offer a couple of double person water tubes for pure, high energy fun. Climb aboard with a partner, hold on tight, and see if you can stay on for the whole ride—it’s guaranteed laughter from start to finish.

Fees are applied as per every 30 minutes or part thereof.

Inhaca is also a fantastic venue for both the kite surf enthusiast and wind surfer – don`t miss out on the opportunity and bring your gear along with you! (The Lodge does not supply any kite or wind surfing equipment).

Inhaca Island Marine Safaris
Humpback Whale Watching

During the months of July through to the end of November, migrating Humpback Whales and the occasional Southern Right Whale frequent the shores of Inhaca to mate, give birth and nurture their offspring before making their long and arduous journey back to the Antarctic to feed.

Up to 30 to 40 Humpback Whales a day have been spotted on occasion around Inhaca Island and there are no words that can describe the humility you feel being in their presence. Humpback whales are an endangered species. It is encouraging to note that the southern hemisphere humpback whale populations continue to recover on year to year basis and are no longer considered endangered, listed as 'Least Concern' globally by the IUCN.

Having migrated south from rich northern waters provisioned with tons of blubber, the Humpbacks do not feed for the duration of their tropical visit. Instead they devote all of their energy to birthing and nursing a new generation of young, or in courting and mating to create the next.

The topside observer is treated to a full array of individual and group surface behaviours including a variety of thrilling breaches, pectoral fin slapping, spy hopping, peduncle throws and lob tailing. It is possible to be able to witness all these behaviours in a day's excursion!

Where Dolphins are family-based and highly social, Whales are anti-social. If you see two 40-foot-long grown whales together, usually one is a female and the other a male. If you see three, it's usually two beaux vying for her attention, and this can be particularly noticeable during the early months of the mating season when their testosterone levels are high and they are eager to find a mate. The presence of a receptive female can lead to competitive rowdy groups as challenging males physically struggle to displace her escort.

When a whale dives, air is compressed in its lungs. Upon reaching the surface, the air is exhaled through the whale's blowholes. The exhaled air expands, causing the temperature to decrease, thereby condensing into water vapour. The blow is quite visible and can reach heights of 20 feet. In concert with the blow is the sound of rushing air that can be heard up to 800 feet away. The blow of a humpback whale is unique to each animal and a great way to distinguish between types of whales.

On average, adult humpback whales take a breath every ten to fifteen minutes, but can remain submerged for as long as forty-five minutes. Calves must rise to the surface every three to five minutes to breathe. The trip can take up to 3 hours and sighting of Whales is not guaranteed. Please look out for Bottlenose and Spinner Dolphins who are frequently spotted around these northern waters of the Island.

Fishing Charters
Deep Sea & Game Fishing

Fishing opportunities abound around Inhaca Island for every type of enthusiast with a number of world class spots to choose from. We offer either a full or half day charter and for the novice fishermen wanting to try their hand, our skipper Goncalves is a seasoned fisherman and will assist in helping you bring in your first ever catch. Whether you prefer to trawl, jig, spin, or fly fish, some of the most exciting game fishing may be found around Inhaca – Various species of Kingfish including the elusive Giant Kingfish (Caranx Ignobilis), Barracuda, Dorado, Sierra, Queenfish, Wahoo, Job, Yellow fin tuna and Sailfish amongst others, not forgetting of course the magnificent Black, Striped and/or Blue Marlin. Inhaca has also, for many years, been a favourite destination for fly fishing for that ever-elusive Bone Fish.

Deep sea bill fish fishing charters can be organized through prior arrangement. Kindly note that Nahyeeni Lodge, in line with international fishing practices abides by the tag and release principal, ensuring a sustainable use of this resource – please respect these restrictions.

CPR - Catch, Photograph, Release

Sunset Cruise

Whilst the sun is setting in the western skies over the distant silhouetted shapes of Maputo City, pamper yourselves with a sunset cruise and maximize the tranquillity of the moment! The cruise will take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, excluding drinks.

Coral Gardens / Barreira Vermelha

On the incoming tide, a short boat ride south will take you to Barreira Vermelha, more commonly known as Coral Gardens, where you can jump into the warm, shallow waters of the Indian Ocean and enjoy some incredible snorkelling opportunities where coral growth, due to the shallowness and protection of the waters in this area, continues to thrive – marvel at the size of the Plate and Brain Corals and spot the juvenile damsels and Chocolate Dips hiding in between Stag Corals. You may even see the occasional Loggerheads Turtle!

Exploring Inhaca’s Mangroves
Birdwatching & Boat Excursions

Set off on a tranquil journey through Inhaca’s enchanting mangrove swamps—one of the island’s most unique and vital ecosystems. As you glide quietly through narrow channels and winding waterways, your skipper will guide you into a world where land and sea intertwine. Towering mangrove roots rise dramatically from the water, sheltering an abundance of birdlife, juvenile fish, and fascinating marine creatures.

This peaceful boat excursion offers an opportunity to experience the island’s natural rhythms up close and enjoy the serene beauty of this untouched environment. It’s an unforgettable blend of discovery, relaxation, and pure island magic. Look out for the elusive Mud Skipper on the banks of the shore and keep alert to spot the rare and elusive mangrove kingfisher plying his trade.

Discover a myriad of birdlife from Whimbrels, Giant Egrets, a variety of Kingfishers, curlew sandpipers, Yellow billed Kites, Herons, Storks, Crowned Hornbills and the occasional Fish Eagle!

We are fortunate to have a remarkable variety of mangrove systems on the island, each offering its own unique charm. Excursions can be enjoyed during high spring tides, taking you either to the northern mangrove swamps or, alternatively, to the southern mangroves, where the river carries you on an enticing journey into a truly magical world to experience one of Inhaca’s most captivating natural treasures.