Ilha Do Ibo, Quirimbas Archipelago, Mozambique

Ilha Do Ibo: Adventure travel in Africa

Ibo Island is a slice of heaven located just offshore in northern Mozambique, not far away from the mainland city of Pemba. It is one of 27 tropical islands that comprise the beautiful Quirimbas Archipelago. Although the archipelago is up and coming as one of the world’s most exciting vacation destinations, Ibo Island – or Ilha Do Ibo, as the locals call it – is the hidden jewel nestled in this part of the Indian Ocean.

Vacationers looking to get away from urban life and from the crowds who flock to popular island hotspots will find in Ibo Island’s serene beauty a tranquility and ease that will rejuvenate them for the life they will reluctantly re-enter once they leave this island paradise.

The adventure will begin even before arrival, as the most common way to get to Ibo Island is to travel from Tandanyanga, a village about 145 km (90 miles) from Pemba, by a traditional teak sailing dhow. This ancient, exotic mode of transportation will prepare visitors for entry into an island with an old world charm, a place that has been virtually plucked out of colonial times. 

Initially settled by Arabs in 600 A.D., Ibo Island (and the rest of Mozambique) was eventually conquered by the Portuguese, and from the 15th through 18th centuries, enjoyed a position as a prosperous trading post. The island’s troubled history as part of Eastern Africa’s slave, ivory and silver trades is not forgotten even centuries later. The 4,000 locals who live on Ibo Island live primarily in small villages and sustain themselves in the small-scale fishing, agricultural and tourism industries of the island. 
The streets of Ibo Island maintain their colonial charm, and visitors can tour three magnificent seaside forts, walk through a colonial graveyard, explore an old world Catholic church and the various old government buildings that still speckle the streets today. 

The unparalleled Ibo Island Lodge, an ecotourism facility which provides long-term sustainable employment for more than 30 island residents and plays an important role in tourism development and the conservation of Ibo Island’s biodiversity, offers visitors accommodations that they will never forget. Ibo Island Lodge is comprised of three century-old mansions with luxury en-suite rooms with air conditioning, local handcrafted furniture and beautiful antiques.  Guests can relax on the wide verandas that face the sea and lounge on the mahogany teak daybeds carved by the island’s skilled artisans.

Another old world feature about Ibo Island that visitors may (or may not) find charming is that there’s no electricity – though the Ibo Island Lodge is powered by two generators. Day-time activities are a must, then, since visitors may prefer to retire to the lounge after sunset. During the day, visitors can go kayaking, fishing, snorkeling and hiking. They can take a whale watching tour, or go shopping for silver jewelry (which Ibo Island is famous for). In the evening, guests can relax at the Ibo Island Lodge pool, enjoy the excellent service of the butlers and savor the delicious meals prepared by the lodge’s in-house chef.

All in all, Ibo Island offers an opportunity to relax in an old world environment with modern day amenities. The best time of year to visit is between the months of June and August, when the weather is temperate and mild, between 21.6°C and 30°C (71°F and 86°F). The rainy season is from November through April, when it gets quite humid. The island experiences the heaviest rains during January and February. Visitors who can afford to do so can also fly into the island via speedboat or charter plane.

About the Author

Alsana Humbert is a graduate of University of Michigan’s prestigious MFA program in Creative Writing, and is currently living in Mumbai, working on her first novel.  She has a passionate love of urban landscapes, and in an ideal world would split her time between some of her favorite metropolises in the world.