Inhaca Island lies off the coast of Maputo, Mozambique. The closest tropical island to Johannesburg it has been the sunshine playground of South Africans, residents and foreign travellers for many years.

This an African island, not so much a tropical destination in the idyllic sense, but it’s certainly a great place to park off for a few days when the need to escape arises and the budget doesn’t extend to Bazaruto or further exotic islands. 

Inhaca Island is easy to get to from Maputo - either by ferry or boat but we find the best (and quickest) way is the short air hop from Maputo airport, where self drive guests could leave their vehicle.

The main hotel on the island is the Pestana Inhaca Island Resort which has been updated in the past couple of years which offers comfortable bungalows dotted within a lush garden.

From the hotel one can explore the sandy beaches, kayak, snorkel or go on a diving or fishing expedition with ‘Gone Fishing” the hotels activity centre. A visit to the Marine Biology Centre and the Inhaca lighthouse are also worthy excursions as is a day visit to Portuguese Island, a small deserted island with a beautiful white beaches.

Almost everyone who visits the island gets to visit the locally famous Lucas restaurant. Lucas is a local resident who serves whatever has been caught that day washed down with a cold Laurentina, a Mozambican beer.