Many people in Eswatini (Eswatini) have visited Maputo before, but there are some other destinations that are well worth checking out, and All Out Africa can take you there! Here is our list of the top 3 Mozambique destinations within reach from Eswatini (Eswatini):

Ponta d’ Ouro Beach Tours from Eswatini (Eswatini)

Ponta d’ Ouro Beach Tours from Eswatini (Eswatini) are probably the quickest way to get to a great beach. Located just south of Maputo “Ponta d’ Ouro” is only a 4-hour drive from Ezulwini and can be enjoyed on a 2-night visit. The Ponta bay has beautiful golden sand beaches and warm, clear ocean water, making it a popular choice.

Swim with dolphins in Ponta d’ Ouro

The town is set right on the beach and there is a wide range of accommodations and restaurants to choose from. The highlights of Ponta include the stunning beaches, ocean safaris to swim with wild dolphins and quad biking tours through the breathtaking coastal plains.

One of the restaurants found in Ponta d’ Ouro

Tofo Beach Tours from Eswatini (Eswatini)

Tofo Beach Tours from Eswatini (Eswatini) take you to a proper tropical Indian ocean beach. Tofo is a microcosm of Mozambique with so much on offer. It takes about 9 hours to get to by road from Eswatini (Eswatini) so we recommend no less than a 4-night visit. There are many good restaurants in the town as well as markets to explore. You can choose from a wide range of accommodation many of which are located right on the beach.

This is one of the best places in the world to snorkel alongside whale sharks and scuba dive with manta rays. Other activities included surfing lessons, beach yoga, mangrove kayaking, and sunset sailing trips.

Kayaking Tofo Mozambique’s Indian ocean

Maputo Elephant Reserve (Maputo Special Reserve) Beach Tours from Eswatini (Eswatini)

Maputo Elephant Reserve (Maputo Special Reserve) beach tours take you through one of the most beautiful and untouched coastal nature reserves in southern Africa and it’s just a hop over the Lubombo hills from Eswatini (Eswatini). Nestled just south of Inhaca Island and Maputo it’s only 4 hours from Ezulwini. The park combines miles and miles of exquisite, untouched sand beaches with rolling coastal plains and inland lakes. Elephants are present and fairly commonly seen along with reedbuck, waterbuck, warthog and kudu.

Maputo Elephant Reserve shows a herd of elephants

Accommodation ranges from luxury lodges to mid-range bungalows and camping. What makes this place so unique is that you can combine a game drive safari experience with the beach and diving. This is a place well worth visiting, it’s like paradise on earth.

For more information or to book your own Mozambique tour email us tours@alloutafrica.com

We had one extremely rough day on the ocean where the boat launch was nearly cancelled. Bracing ourselves through the chop, inevitably when we rolled back to get underwater it was absolutely glorious on dive site ‘Giants’. With top-to-bottom visibility, what a relief to get off the surface. As we turn to see where we are heading, a carpet of white and black glides over the rocky bottom – a reef manta ray directly below us! We slowly headed to the sea floor and held our position, but as a small dive group of 4, our new manta friend was so relaxed she circled us several times. She once flashed her belly within two meters of our heads! ID shots taken, we continued the dive.

A diver taking ID Shot

A little way along the tall reef wall, we would often find the resident loggerhead turtle in a rocky overhang, but he just wasn’t there. Perhaps he has moved on since it’s been so long that we have been diving on ‘Giants’. Enjoying the schooling trevally overhead and inspecting the little white-banded cleaner shrimp in their holes, bam. We look up and our old huge loggerhead neighbor almost swam right into us! What a relief to see him, and to know he’s still keeping guard of his rocky nook. Just as our computers had begun to tell us it was time to ascend, we always take a look all around – above and below in the depths. Unbelievable.

A first for me after nearly 5 years of diving these waters, a ragged-tooth shark! Sadly, it was sitting at around 35 meters, and we were forced to begin our ascent. It goes to show – you must always be patient and persistent, you never know what a rough ocean might deliver.

To learn more about our All Out Africa Marine Research project, or talk about how you can get involved, please email bookings@alloutafrica.com

As a tourism entrepreneur, I have experienced the depths of the challenges first hand. 2020 was going to be our busiest year ever! On 13th March 2020, we called our entire All Out Africa staff together across 3 countries for an emergency meeting: How to navigate the challenges of COVID-19 as a tourism business? What to expect? Wow, it has been tough! Looking back there is not much we could have done differently.

COVID-19 in Southern Africa and Emotional Wellbeing

With the travel restrictions and lockdowns implemented across the world, everyone has experienced emotional downs and ups. Anxiety, depression and mental health have deteriorated (https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/05/04/mental-health-coronavirus/).

All Out Africa went from a thriving growing travel business to one where income suddenly crashed to zero overnight. I recall sitting with my head in my hands wondering how we would stay afloat. We have had to make some very tough decisions. With no government relief for salaries, our staff team has dwindled. We’ve struggled to cope with the economic and social challenges this has placed on us, our beneficiaries and associated communities. Uncertainty has been the order of the day.

COVID-19 and Tourism Restrictions in Southern Africa

Lockdowns in southern Africa happened quickly. Travel halted and a lot of economic activity came to a grinding halt. The discovery of the 501Y.V2. variant in South Africa has resulted in it being labelled the “South African Variant” although it is present worldwide and it is not certain where it originated. This discovery has led many countries to impose special restrictions on travellers from South Africa.

As infections receded the lockdowns eased in southern Africa and the economy breathed. The second wave of infection spread and travel restrictions were again implemented. The longer it went on the harder it has been for tourism businesses to stay afloat. I remember thinking surely the restrictions would not last longer than a year – little hope! Now I find myself hoping it won’t last longer than 2 years!

COVID-19 and Tourism in 2021

Early 2021 has been a time of introspection, grit and crystal ball gazing. As the All Out Africa family, we are immensely proud of what we have managed to accomplish during this time and how our team has coped through the challenges. We are hugely grateful to our supporters and partners who have enabled us to continue so much of the good work we do. Thank you, without you, it would not have been impossible.

All Out Africa Team

The vaccine rollout has been encouraging although it has been desperate to see Africa last on most distribution lists. It has been heartening to see the growth in local travel and All Out Africa has used the chance to launch some new experiences which add some exciting diversity to our products. We remain hopeful of travel opening up in the second half of 2021 although it is likely to be slow in recovering.

Tourism Recovery in Southern Africa

So how will the recovery be? Likely slow since many tourism businesses from airlines to travel agents to hotels and activity companies have failed. It does seem clear that people are eager to travel and when they can, they will. We’re hopeful that being largely in the youth market and being focused on experiential travel and longer trips All Out Africa will be at the front of the recovery line for tourism in southern Africa. When exactly tourism bounces back for good and how quickly is anyone’s guess at this stage.

All Out Africa Coping and Evolving

What’s keeping us going you ask? Well, our projects have become even more important and necessary as the socio-economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic has grown. Our social projects in Eswatini have tackled hunger, poverty, education and life-skill development.

All Out Africa doing food parcel deliveries

Our Savannah Conservation project has produced a wealth of important field progress. This is despite the research camp being flooded out as the Mbuluzi River burst it’s banks during Cyclone Eloise.

The Savannah Research Centre camp being flooded

Our Marine Conservation project has gone through some exciting changes in office, accommodation & dive partners that we feel will help raise it to the next level.

Tilak Lodge new volunteer accommodation

We’ve had to get creative with our experiences and tailor some to the local market. We’ve added some great new hiking and day tour experiences to our Eswatini tours. We’ve been limited by restrictions on our South Africa and Mozambique tours, but have been making some good preparations for future trips.

All in all, we are optimistic about the future and grateful for what we have, despite the current challenges.

Written by Kim Roques, Founder and Director of All Out Africa.

We’ve never thought about hiking and camping with our family before.  Why it is so much fun? 

As well as learning lots of fun facts from your lead hiking guide about nature, there is the potential to spot wildlife – in Lubombo there are zebra, wildebeest, impala, kudu, bushbuck, giraffe, klipspringer, monkey and baboon hiding out in the bush.  For families with older children, it is often the challenge of completing the hike.  For those with little ones, it might be taking them an adventure and trying something new.  For all families, we notice it is doing something completely different from home life and spending time together.   Sigs, who hiked with us with her 3-year-old son recently, said that for her “It’s about sharing values that I can pass on.  I can teach my child how to enjoy nature.  I grew up with it.  It is an adventure.”

The children are young so it really possible to do a hiking and camping weekend trip?

We can tailor-make any hike by discussing the fitness and likes of your group so that the experience works for you.   Some are athletic and happy to carry little ones, but it’s not for everyone.   Camping is great fun for small children, especially if there are some marshmallows to cook on the campfire.  Sigs said “My son is 3.  He is young, so needs to be carried so take this into account on longer hikes.  But he does like it and it works if you take “petrol” (rewards!) as he can walk and enjoy it.  He really loves the camping – the fire, the evening under the stars and camping.  Chose the hike that suits your family, don’t choose something that is too strenuous as no-one enjoys it.  It is an adventure and if you don’t want any hassle then the slackpacking adventures with All Out Africa work well.”

We’re not all super-fit so won’t it be too difficult? 

Our advice is that you know your limitations and those of each member of your family.  It is possible to make a plan for different needs within a group, as long as we know in advance.  We have an experienced team and are happy to chat about your family and make a plan that suits you.

The great thing about our hiking and camping “Slackpacking” trips is that we tailor them to every family.  We understand that every family is different – single-parent families, blended families and extended families to name but a few, ensuring that our experiences are open to everyone. Contact us tours@alloutafrica.com to plan your next family adventure.

We have received a gratitude letter from Bongekile Matisa, a former NCP graduate, homework club member and this year she started her High school.

My name is Bongekile Matisa. I started homework club in 2016, by then I was doing my 4th grade and I have been producing outstanding results. Homework Club has helped me a lot with my studies, I am now doing my first year in high school and all thanks to homework club.

I want to thank All Out Africa for starting this afternoon activity (Homework Club) and it has been so helpful to me. I know that some of the homework club members will agree with me. Lastly I want to thank the volunteers who have been helping us with our studies and not forgetting Uncle Tjengisa. I will miss Homework Club. Thank you so much All Out Africa, love you so much and I wish you all the best.  

Written by Bongekile Matisa

If you would like to be an All Out Africa volunteer, email bookings@alloutafrica.com