Vilanculos – Mozambique is a coastal town in the country that is considered as its “Water Sports Capital” providing visitors here with excellent facilities for diving, snorkeling, sailing, swimming and even game fishing.
Location
Vilanculos – Mozambique is a town that is part of the Vilanculos District which is in turn part of the Inhambane Province, in the southeastern section of the country.
Getting There
Flying in to Vilanculos – Mozambique is via the Vilanculos International Airport. The airport is served by several international airlines although you may have to have a stopover in Maputo or Johannesburg.
Traveling by road is possible by coach transports from Beira or Maputo; or minivans from Inhambane.
There are also charter flights coming in from South Africa as well as Zimbabwe.
What to See and Do
For the water sports lover, you will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy your favorite water sports. Scuba diving is one of the most popular water sports in this town.
On the other hand, if scuba diving is not your thing, there is always snorkeling; still an excellent activity that will allow you to view the beautiful marine life in the surrounding waters of the archipelago.
Game fishing is perfect for catching a few Black Marlins. The surrounding waters of Vilanculos – Mozambique after all, are considered as one of the best places in the world to catch these fishes.
After you’ve enjoyed all these water sports, you can also go horseback riding on one of the horse safaris available in town. You can ride along the coast of the town and enjoy the beautiful scenery as your horse treads upon the white, sandy beaches.
Brief History
Vilanculos – Mozambique takes its name from a local tribal chieftain, Gamala Vilankulo Mukoke. During the colonial period, the Portuguese changed the name to Vilaculos because the locals here do not normally use “K” in their everyday language.
Over the last ten years or so, the town has experienced economic progression with a number of investors coming in particularly to contribute to tourism development for the town.
It is estimated that as of the year 2010, the town had a population of twenty-four thousand four hundred and thirty-three.
Cost
Accommodation costs around Vilanculos – Mozambique, particularly in the beach area, are relatively cheap. Rooms generally start at $40 per person, per night up to $50.
For mid-range rooms, price ranges from $70 up to $95; while luxurious accommodations are at $115 up to $350.
Other Information
The best time to visit Vilanculos – Mozambique for game fishing is between the months of October and January where the Black Marlin comes quite close to the shallow parts of the waters.
