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| Viewing: 5 Day Quilalea Island Dive Safari, Mozambique |
Package ID: 1749 |
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| 5 Day Quilalea Island Dive Safari, Mozambique |
Discover the remote Quirimbas Archipelago, Africa’s greatest secret. A wild-untouched destination! Be the first to discover this awesome area. Inclusive of 5 star lodge, meals, dives & local air fares
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Day 1: Johannesburg to Pemba (Quirimbas Archipelago)
On arrival at Johannesburg International Airport (O.R. Tambo International) you will be met by our representative, who will assist you while you book on to your 3 hour connecting flight to Pemba on the warm tropical coast of Northern Mozambique.
Pemba Bay is the third largest bay in the world and home to a number of breathtaking attractions including the beautifully untouched Quirimbas Archipelago, consisting of 37 islands. The scenery is breathtakingly rustic and gives you a feeling of being lost in a place forgotten by time where traditional palm leafed houses are nestled in between thick stands of baobabs that slowly meander to the emerald blue seas, while the coastline is dotted by hundreds of dhow sailing boats, remnants of a bygone era influenced by Arabic settlers.
The Pemba coastline is fast becoming one of Mozambique’s premier tourist destinations, with many undiscovered areas now opening up to the intrepid diver who dares to explore. There are 37 diveable Islands, some of which have not been fully explored. The waters are abundant with an extensive variety of hard and soft coral, a vast array of marine plants, countless different types of crustacean, a legion of fish species, great variety of marine invertebrates, 4 species of dolphin and 4 species marine turtles, while it is also not unusual to spot the rare Sunfish (known as “Moonfish” in Europe). Humpback whales are regularly sighted between August and October and Whale Sharks become extremely common between April and July. The water temperature is 30°C in summer and 26°C during winter, with visibility never below 12 metres, giving you an awesome all year round diving experience.
On arrival in Pemba, you will be met your Lodge representative, who will assist you in boarding your Air Transfer to your Lodge. This will give you an awesome view of the Quirimbas Archipelago from above, the different shades of blue and turquoise doted by Islands and filled with amazing sea creatures.
Check into your Lodge, a stones throw from the edge of the Indian Ocean, relax and enjoy.
Day 2, 3, & 4: Quilálea Lodge, Quilálea Island
Quilálea Island Resort (5 Star) is situated in Mozambique’s paradisiacal Quirimbas Archipelago, a tropical marine sanctuary, fringed with secluded beaches, sparkling ocean and superb dive sites. The island is uninhabited apart from the nine spacious villas and in keeping with the lodge’s firm environmental policies, each one has been built using entirely indigenous materials and locally handcrafted indigenous teak and mahogany. Natural rock walls, makuti palm thatch and efficient ceiling fans keep you cool by day, whilst the malaria-free nature of the island allows for open widows by night and bedtime sea-breezes.
Above the main beach area, the open-sided bar, lounge and dining area are perfectly positions, with east and west orientations, to enjoy the rose-drenched skies at sunrise and sunset. Here truly delicious lunches and dinners are created from the freshest local, fair-trade produce. The aromatic spices and flavours of Goa and Portugal dominate the cuisine in testament to the country’s past.
Days on the island are a whimsical mix: day-dreaming on hammocks, soaking up the sun by the sparkling pool, sport fishing along the deep drop offs (catch and release), diving with sharks and turtles on the home reef, kayaking the picturesque mangrove channels or sailing to historic Ibo island to explore the fascinating Portuguese fort.
Quilálea has a fully equipped fishing and PADI dive centre, boasting immaculate boats and experienced staff, so both novice and practised divers are sure to enjoy the delights of the surrounding waters. Quilálea offers some of the best scuba diving in the entire Quirimbas archipelago. A reef just off the beach provides sheltered diving and snorkelling for the beginner. More experienced divers will want to explore the big walls of the Montepuez channel on the southern edge of the sanctuary. Caves and currents combine to create an underwater paradise, inhabited by reef and pelagic fish of every size and description.
Quirimbas diving offers up to 30-metre visibility and water temperatures around a balmy 28 degrees Celsius. You can expect to see all coral reef species typical of the Indian Ocean region as well as game fish - yellow fin tuna, dogtooth tuna and marlin. There are also manta rays, eight species of shark (to date), whale sharks, huge schools of feeding barracuda, and many species of king fish in season. Dugongs are present but shy; it is easier to find their grazing marks than the animals themselves. A slow dive through the seagrass beds yields brightly coloured nudibranches, up to 195 species of fish, and swimming scallops that will come up and dance in midwater. Turtles range widely throughout the sanctuary, with green turtles and perhaps Olive Ridleys nesting on the islands. Humpback whales visit the sanctuary from June to December every year, coming inshore to feed and shelter their calves. Dolphin species include spinner, common, and bottlenose, with humpback dolphins appearing occasionally inside the sanctuary but are common in the mangrove channels of Ibo Island just to the north.
The Lodge offers impeccable service and laid-back beach style, and is thoroughly deserving of ever accolade and award it has been bestowed. Quilálea comes highly recommended as a destination not to be missed.
A typical day will start with wake up call from the Resort in the way of a snack filled breakfast tray packed with light delights and freshly brewed coffee and tea, after which you will meet the resorts professional dive master, who assist you in checking your dive equipment, and will take you through the specifics of the dive location for the day. You will then head out by boat to one of the many dive sites in the area, stopping on your way to view dolphins, whales, turtles and other sea creatures. After the dive you head back to the lodge for a much deserved brunch. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy the island on one of the many additional activities offered by the Resort or you may choose to lounge around on the beach enjoying the tropical sun or even take part in another dive. The choice is yours. Lunch will be served in the restaurant with its panoramic sea views, while dinner can be served anywhere you like it.
Day 5: Quilálea Lodge, Quilálea Island / Johannesburg, South Africa
All dreams have to come to an end, and unfortunately, this is your final morning. After breakfast and some last minute sightseeing, you will be escorted back to Pemba.
You will then have time to do some final curio shopping in the local markets, where we are sure you will pick up a few fantastic bargains.
You then board your onward flight to Johannesburg International Airport (O.R. Tambo International).
(Tour Ends: 17:00)
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Itinerary Highlights
Quilálea Lodge, Quilálea Island (Quirimbas Archipelago)
• 4 nights, 5 Star Private Lodge accommodation, at Quilálea Lodge on the Quilálea Island, with en-suite facilities
• Daily Diving Excursions with professional dive master
• Wide variety of complimentary activities including Wind Surfing, Kayaking, Kite-Flying and Catamaran Sailing
• Several optional activities: Snorkelling, Sunset Dhow Trips, Cultural Tours, jet ski’s and skiing
What Is Included:
• 5 star luxury accommodation, with en-suite facilities
• Local Flights from Johannesburg to your Lodge
• All air, boat and ground transfers
• All Meals
• Scheduled Dive excursions daily (except on days of arrival and departure)
What Is Not Included:
• Long Haul International Flights
• PADI Dive Course or Dive Refresher Courses
• Optional Activities and Excursions
• Drinks & refreshments
• Tips for porters and restaurants
• Telephone calls, laundry & other incidental personal expenditure
• All Nature Reserve fees where applicable
• Visa fees, where these apply
• Airport departure taxes, where these apply
Important Notice
• All activities are subject to prevailing weather conditions
• We are able to organize PADI Certified Beginner Diving Courses and Refresher Diving Courses on requests
• All guests will have to provide Proof of their Diving Qualifications and complete a Medical Assessment in order to take part in the diving excursions.
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