Call 01306 744 656 or
Call 01306 744 656 or
This is the village I was born in and a great opportunity to gain insight into local life…
Our guided tour to the small village of Santa Maria is a great opportunity for guests to gain an insight into local life. This is the village I was born in, so I enjoy taking people here.
On the way there we take time to explore a mangrove swamp, which is a completely different environment to the one guests see at the lodge. At high tide we’re able to pull the boat straight in; at low tide you get a free mud bath. The mangroves are vital to the village because of the water purification function they perform. On another excursion we offer mangrove kayaking. The kayaks follow a snaking river and you can see pelicans, flamingos, kingfishers and many other birds.
It’s interesting to see how the village has changed over the past decade or so. Life was a lot harder before tourism – people mainly got by with fishing. As children we used to have to go to Maputo City to continue our education; now there’s a secondary school as well as primary school. We visit a small market that sells fruit and warm bread and I take guests to the hospital, where we chat to a nurse, and the school – where we meet the children and a teacher.
We have lunch at Bemugi’s Place, a relaxed beach restaurant where you sit at tables with the sand under your feet. As a part of Machangulu’s involvement with the community we offer free Santa Maria tours to all of our guests as a way of supporting the local businesses.
Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Adele, who knows Mozambique well. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - people that can direct you to the best locations to spot dugongs, turtles and angelfish; who'll take you to their village so you'll get a real insight into local culture; and who'll invite you to join them for a spot of sandboarding.
Freephone an expert 01306 744 656
