Mozambique in March

Temperatures remain high as Mozambique’s long, wet summer continues. Expect humid nights above 20°C (68°F) and average daily highs still over 30°C (86°F). In the north of the country, it remains peak cyclone season and many of the biggest storms strike the coast in March. Flooding is exacerbated by rivers swollen with inland rain and northern Mozambique can be difficult to reach at this time. When the rains do recede, their slow withdrawal begins in the south and by late March the far south may see some sunny days. Although it’s still undoubtedly hot and wet across the country, there’s a hint of change in the air and you may get lucky with some intermittent fine weather.

Credit: Baraka Beach

If you’re visiting Mozambique March, it’s still best to head south, from Vilanculo and the Bazaruto Archipelago, down to Ponta do Ouro. Be aware that southern Mozambique can get busy towards the end of March, when South African schools break for the Easter holidays. If you’re searching for solitude there are still plenty of secluded resorts, especially around the Machangulo Peninsula, south of Inhaca Island. The lodges on Bazaruto and Benguerra Islands offer exclusive escapes year-round, and there are a number of out-of-the-way guesthouses and villas north and south of Tofo. If bare-foot beach bars and a more social vibe appeals, then take your pick of Vilanculo, Tofo Beach or Ponta do Ouro. Vilanculo and Tofo Beach have more of a backpacker feel, while Ponta attracts a lively, family crowd from across the South African border.

Travel tips

• February and March are some of the best months for nesting turtles, March is still great for whale sharks in Tofo, and the warm water is ideal for diving and snorkelling all along the coast. If you’re looking for a party then the Easter holidays can be fun, especially in the resort towns of Vilanculo, Tofo and Ponta do Ouro.

• Resorts and lodges fill up quickly over Easter so be sure to make bookings fairly far in advance. There’ll likely still be rain, at least every few days, and both days and nights up and down the coast will be humid and hot. March is not good for seeing humpback whales – they only start to arrive in June. And Mozambique’s main safari park, Gorongosa National Park, is closed during the wet season and only reopens in April.