IIlha do Fogo
Research Trip Package 2024
Ilha do Fogo, translated as Fire Island, is a beautiful and remote island that lies off the Northern coast of Mozambique. It boasts 150kms of breathtaking, unexplored reef, with abundant and diverse marine life. If you’re reading this, you’ve been fortunate to get the inside scoop on a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list adventure.
We are offering a unique opportunity to discover unknown reefs, and help conserve this remote island. Our quest is to learn more about Fire Island’s incredible flora and fauna, and our goal to set up projects to protect its imperiled inhabitants.
Ilha do Fogo, translated as Fire Island, is a beautiful and remote island that lies off the Northern coast of Mozambique. It boasts 150kms of breathtaking, unexplored reef, with abundant and diverse marine life. If you’re reading this, you’ve been fortunate to get the inside scoop on a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list adventure.
We are offering a unique opportunity to discover unknown reefs, and help conserve this remote island. Our quest is to learn more about Fire Island’s incredible flora and fauna, and our goal to set up projects to protect its imperiled inhabitants.
Maputo
Quelimane
Boror
Ilha do Fogo
Mode of transport
Getting there
The way to ilha do fogo
Maputo to Quelimane
2 hour flight
from Maputo International Airport to Quelimane.
Accommodation
Millennium Hotel – R1,500 per person
Quelimane has very limited quality accommodation options. If Millennium is unavailable, similar accommodation will be sourced.
Quelimane is the last stop to purchase anything that might be needed for the trip, but please note that due to possible late arrivals and next morning early departures, there might not be sufficient time.
Ensure everything required for the trip is packed and taken with you when departing from your home country. If there are delays the next morning, we cannot guarantee same-day arrival on Ilha do Fogo, which would require another night to be spent in Quelimane.You will also be responsible for the driver and any additional skipper’s accommodation.
Quelimane to Boror
05h00:
Departure to Boror- R7,120 per person return – max 6
13h00:
Depart for Ilha do Fogo – R14,800 per person return – max 6
15h00::
Arrive on Ilha do Fogo (Weather dependent)
This leg of the trip allows you to experience the very rural parts of Mozambique. Transfer from Quelimane is by road and takes an average of 9 hours. Some roads are paved but most are dirt roads or in disrepair, so it is a long and bumpy ride.
Limited stops in villages will be made for refreshments, however, we might necessitate a ‘bush break’ at times as no public ablution facilities are available along the route. It is safe to drive in these areas with amiable locals. Boror has an easy departure through the mangroves. Note that there are no accommodation options in Boror. Should departure to Ilha do Fogo not be possible due to unforeseen circumstances, basic tented accommodation will be provided.
Boror to Ilha do Fogo
The island:
R1,900 per person per day. Includes accommodation, two meals per day (lunch and dinner with access to cereals for breakfast), limited soft drinks, and diving equipment
Boat use – Optional
(R7,400 up 4 hours and to a distance of 30 km from island)
Alcoholic beverages are available at own cost.
You’ve made it to Ilha do Fogo! There is no jetty or beach mooring at the island, so disembarking the boat will mean wading through shallow waters, which in inclement weather might mean getting wet. All gear and equipment will be carried to your accommodation and there are staff to assist. It is about a 200m walk from the beach to the accommodation.
Accommodation on Ilha do Fogo is a tented camp. Each safari tent is on a wooden platform, furnished with two twin beds, comfortable bedding, a fan, and an en-suite bathroom with a shower. They all have a private patio with outdoor seating. There is electricity on the island, derived from our solar plant, but no air conditioning, unfortunately. Limited Wi-Fi is available for communication and we have a satellite phone for emergencies.
Aligning with our sustainability ethos, our freshwater comes from our state-of-the-art desalination plant, and our toilets work on a closed system. This type of toilet system ensures there are no wasted water and energy resources. They do not flush but the system ensures no odours escape. The refuse is later composted to grow grass on our runway.
There is a communal dining area by our boma and all meals are prepared by our local chefs. Given the remoteness of the island and the difficulty of purchasing stock, the menus are basic, but always tasty, and include a lot of sustainably and locally caught line fish.
Retrun trip & Important Information
05h00: Boat transfer to Boror
07h00: Depart from Boror to
Quelimane
≈15h00: Arrive Quelimane
Stay at Millennium Hotel
(R1,500pp B&B)
14h25: Fly from Quelimane to
Maputo
16h00: Arrive at Maputo
Optional
Taxi to Southern Sun from
Maputo International Airport
R450
Stay at Southern Sun
R3,400 per person
Bed & Breakfast
Taxi to Maputo
International Airport from
Southern Sun at 10h00
R450
Things to note:
Malaria: Mozambique is a malaria area, especially the north, so ensure you speak to your local travel clinic or GP about anti-malaria medication, and pack lots of insect repellents. The island itself does not have mosquitoes but it is always good practice to be cautious.
What to pack: The north of Mozambique is hot and humid throughout the year. Pack light clothing, hats, sunblock, and swimwear. But do pack something warm just in case. Evenings do cool down, especially in winter months, and towards the south in Maputo, warmer clothing might be necessary, especially in winter months. Keep in mind that the road and boat transfers have limited space so pack small suitcases and only the necessities. Rather take two small suitcases than one big one – this makes carrying and packing easier. On the island, the staff will have to carry the suitcases to the accommodation in the heat, so be mindful!
No shoes are required on the island, although the sand does get hot, so a pair of flip-flops is advisable. We ask that our guests ensure they pack a separate pair of flip-flops solely for use on the island. This is to ensure there is no transfer of invasive fauna to the island, especially by way of thorny seeds in the sole of your shoes. Road transfers are undertaken either by double cab pick-up or closed Landcruiser, but space is very limited. We’ll likely also be transporting fresh produce and stock for the trip.
Electricity sockets: Electricity sockets on the island are standard South African sockets. Make sure you pack adaptors if required. Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is essential. Our procedure for emergency evacuation will be by boat to the nearest land base, then by air from Quelimane. Please be sure that your travel insurance will cover this.
Dining: Dining options from Quelimane onwards are very limited. There are no real vegan options available (Dairy alternatives are not available and requests are met with very confused reactions) – most local restaurants and takeaways offer chicken and fish options. If you have specific dietary requirements, please let us know well in advance. We will ensure that we keep sufficient and relevant stock on the island and can try and pack meals for the road, if required. Most meals on the island are prepared on open fire and gas burners. Please don’t expect gourmet meals, however, the meals are always tasty and fresh! Breakfast is usually fruit, yoghurt, cereals, rusks etc. Lunch will be something light and dinner is mostly fresh caught fish, chicken ‘braai’, salads, bread, veggies, etc. Drinks options are limited to soft drinks, water, and local beer. We can arrange for spirits, mixers, and wine, but this must be requested in advance.
Life on the Island: Life on the island is very serene. There are no dangerous animals, except the occasional mosquito, although there might be scorpions, but none venomous. It is safe to walk anywhere on the island, even at night. The only people you’ll encounter on the island are our staff, fellow guests, and the amenable artisanal fishers that we are working with to educate them on sustainable fishing.
Diving: We have a fully functional dive centre with compressors and cylinders for diving, as well as snorkels, fins, masks etc. The water in Mozambique is often over 20 degrees Celsius, so no wetsuit is required for snorkelling. We still advise a thin suit for SCUBA, especially to protect you from the rocks/reefs. We do not offer dive courses on the island and suggest that guests obtain their advanced diving qualification before embarking on the trip if they intend to SCUBA dive. Many of the reefs and wrecks are unexplored so we are still determining what to expect, but all dives will be led by a qualified DM.
First-aid: We do have a basic first-aid kit on the island and staff have basic first-aid training, but for any serious injuries, airlift will have to be arranged.
Fishing: We have fishing equipment on the island, so there is no need to bring your own, should you wish to fish. If your studies require fishing to tag or capture data, please ensure you bring any specialist equipment with you. We do fish for edibles and our focus is firmly on conservation. We do not encourage sport fishing or catch and release. We eat what we catch, if it is not a collapsed species.
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