Our fully trained local tour guide is ready to take you on some of the most spectacular, breathtaking and awe-inspiring excursions you could imagine. Whether it be by boat, by foot, by car or by fat bike to the deserted beaches, coral reefs, lighthouse views, fishing grounds, fat bike trails or whale and dolphin sightings, Inhaca Island has everything you could possibly imagine and more. Our tour guide is well versed in local cultures, traditions and Island life with a wealth of knowledge ready to share with you to enhance your adventures even further.
Our highly experienced skipper (Marinheiro) Goncalves looks after our Yamaha W31 vessel `Bug` which was proudly built in Mozambique by Marine Service. During your stay at Nahyeeni Lodge `Bug` would be available at any time to enjoy not only any one of the many spectacular excursions that are available around the Island, but also for water skiing, tubing and especially Whale watching during the season from mid-August through to the end of November.
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.
Be sure to be on the lookout for Whimbrils, Giant Egrets, a variety of Kingfishers, including the rare Mangrove Kingfisher, Yellow billed Kites, Herons, Storks, Crowned Hornbills and the occasional Fish Eagle!
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!
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. In the past, the global humpback whale population size was about 750,000 to 2 million animals whereas the current global population is estimated to be about 30 to 40 thousand.
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.
"No living animals have captured our imaginations as have the great whales... They fire our imaginations and stab at our emotions. They inspire our art, literature, and music. And so they should. The indescribable blend of grace, power, and beauty of a whale as it glides underwater, leaps toward the sky, or simply lifts its flukes and slides into the sea symbolizes a vanishing poetry of the wild."
Dr. James Darling, With the Whales
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!
With the incoming spring tide, we thoroughly recommend exploring the rarely ventured interior of the lagoon of the island, meandering along the windy river amongst the exceptionally healthy mangroves of the Saco de Inhaca. This is an awe-inspiring journey – the Lodge will provide you with snorkeling gear so you are able to drift along and between the extensive roots of the magnificent mangrove trees, searching for juvenile fish and crabs in one of natures greatest nurseries. Look out for the elusive Mud Skipper on the banks of the shore and the rare giant kingfisher plying his trade.
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.
Be sure to be on the lookout for Whimbrils, Giant Egrets, a variety of Kingfishers, including the rare Mangrove Kingfisher, Yellow billed Kites, Herons, Storks, Crowned Hornbills and the occasional Fish Eagle!
When the incoming tide is high enough, the boat will take you between Inhaca and Portuguese Island to a deserted part of beach close to the northern tip of the Island – from here, for those who are adventurous to try, a +/- 3km return walk across the sands and through tropical forest areas will take you to the Inhaca Lighthouse (Farol) where the light keeper will allow you, for a small donation, to climb to the top of the tower and marvel at the truly breathtaking expanse and beauty of both Inhaca Island and the Great Indian Ocean.
A guide will accompany you along this trip and we strongly recommend the usage of footwear due to the extreme heat of the summer sand! We must advise that this is a tough climb with steep inclines, but one that is more than worth the effort! This is an excursion that must not be missed, a truly awe inspiring expedition!! For those looking for a more relaxed, less strenuous excursion, a walk along the beach will bring you close to the northern tip of Inhaca Island where you would be able to glimpse the last visible part of the old lighthouse shipwreck, the M/S Tecumseh that went down in November 1932, and enjoy the many rock pools that abound in this area when the tide is out – here you will find an abundance of juvenile fish, crabs, cleaner shrimps and even moray eels – large, enticing rock pools also call you in to relax and unwind………
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 where baby ninja turtles may also be seen running the early morning gauntlet from their nesting sites to the Ocean.
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 which our tour guide would gladly arrange for you. After a drive through some or our local communities 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 and then down to enjoy this truly stunning beach.
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 favorite 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.
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.
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!
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 $1.00 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 Bug to take the short boat ride down the western shores!
Please enquire with our Tour Guide regarding all water sport activities that we have available. Water skiing 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. Alternatively try out our tube if you dare and see if you are able to stay on for the duration!
Inhaca is also a fantastic venue for the kite surf enthusiast – don`t miss out on the opportunity and bring your gear along with you! (The Lodge does not supply any kite surfing equipment)
info@nahyeenilodge.com
+258 84 281 8560 (Mocambique)
+278 354 10391 (South Africa)
nahyeenilodge@intra.co.mz
+258 85 693 1618 (Mocambique)
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Inhaca Island Mozambique
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