GS Small Group Mozambique Kayak & Dhow Safari October 22nd - 30th, 2016 Quirimbas Archipelago: Pemba, Ibo Island, Matemo Island, Mogundula Island Explore the Indian Ocean by traditional Arab dhow and kayak. Paddle or sail from one tropical island to another in the breathtaking Quirimbas Archipelago in northern Mozambique. For those who love adventure and appreciate tranquility, to sail, kayak, dive and snorkel in such pristine, untrodden and gorgeous areas is an opportunity not to be missed! You will: Explore wide coastal river mouths teeming with red-listed bird species and pristine mangrove forests by kayak or dhow Snorkel off deserted white sandbanks and in the turquoise sea Sleep in mobile eco camps on uninhabited tropical islands Dine under the stars Stay on the mystical and ancient Ibo Island and enjoy barefoot luxury at the Ibo Island Lodge Come join us and be as active or relaxed as you like on this remote adventure! 10/30/15
Day 1, October 22nd: Pemba to Ibo Island Welcome to Mozambique! Upon arrival in Pemba, have pen and passport handy to purchase your single entry visa (if you haven t already secured it prior to departure). *Please note that the visa situation is in flux and we will advise our recommendations closer to time of travel. After clearing Customs and Immigration formalities, you will be met by a representative who will assist you with your light aircraft transfer to Ibo Island Lodge. From high above, enjoy your first encounter with the breathtaking clear waters and dotted islands of the Quirimbas Archipelago. Upon arrival on Ibo Island, you will be met at the airstrip and transferred to the Ibo Island lodge. Ibo Island is often regarded as the most compelling attraction in the Quirimbas; Ibo s 200-year-old ghost town and 16th Century forts make for a fascinating journey to an era long forgotten. During your stay you will have the opportunity to wander around the mysterious ruins amongst forts and ancient trade buildings. This afternoon is at leisure to settle in, relax and familiarize yourself with the lodge and staff. In the evening, enjoy a delicious welcome dinner at the rooftop restaurant. The restaurant and bar are situated on the huge roof terrace of the Bela Vista mansion, facing west for unforgettable sunsets and affording spectacular views over the bay. Cuisine combines Mozambican and world inspired influences with the freshest of seafood: giant tiger prawns, game fish and Ibo s specialty: fresh crab with fragrant soft, fluffy coconut rice. Two nights at the Ibo Island Lodge in a standard rooms on a full board basis, excluding alcoholic beverages and including all programmed activities www.iboislandlodge.com Ibo Island Lodge prides itself on offering some of the most unique, authentic and luxurious accommodation in Mozambique. The Lodge is located on the prime waterfront site on Ibo Island in the Quirimba s Archipelago and is comprised of three historic and magnificent mansions, each over one hundred and fifty years old, which have been lovingly restored to their former glory. All 14 rooms have air-conditioning and ceiling fans to keep things cool in the balmy tropical weather. Each room is individually designed and features elegant pillars, meter thick coral and lime walls, lofty tall ceilings and solid teak beams. Ibo Island Lodge is set amongst lush gardens planted with frangipani, bougainvillea and palm trees. Three swimming pools beckon an escape from the heat of the day whilst sipping on one of Kissinger s legendary Mojito s! The Bela Vista lounge lives up to its name with mesmerizing views over the bay at high tide, and the private dining room features an enormous solid teak banqueting table, perfect for a private romantic dinner, or a group celebrating a birthday or anniversary in Mozambique. The heart of Ibo Island Lodge is upstairs on the Bela Vista roof deck restaurant where guests sip sundowners and after dinner drinks under spectacular stars. From the lodge, be whisked away to an idyllic white sandbank beach and dive some of Africa s richest coral reefs, snorkel, sea kayak, swim, fish, enjoy a massage and relax.
Day 2, October 23rd: Following a lovely breakfast, today is the day to experience your new, beautiful surroundings and enjoy some cool excursions. First, for those who are interested, it s off to the very special Ibo Silver Experience. Plan ahead to bring a few grams of silver from home as you will design your very own piece of jewelry with local silversmiths. In the main fort on Ibo, you will help them work a lump of melted metal into a beautiful work of art. This is a very rare opportunity to work with artisans still practicing an ancient art form by hand using ancient Arab techniques and tools. This exquisite, intricate jewelry is found nowhere else in the world. What an amazing experience! Following lunch in the gardens, you can relax, partake in the Ibo of Yesterday guided historical experience, or choose from the menu of available activities. This tour is a guided walking journey throughout Ibo Island s Stone Town and important historical buildings - many that have been rehabilitated, and some that have fallen into decline. Visit the ancient fort of St Joao Baptista and learn about the turbulent history that this beautiful fort has endured. These historical and cultural activities are a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in the unique culture of Ibo and a rare chance to understand this unchanged lifestyle. Activities on offer: The Sand Bank beach experience The Ibo Island pre school project Swimming Snorkeling (additional cost) Scuba Diving (additional cost) Guided Nature & Bird Walk (additional cost) Spa Treatments (additional cost) Remainder of the day is at leisure. Dinner by the main pool. Day 3, October 24th: Ibo Island to Matemo Today begins your dhow safari! Depart Ibo Island for your exploration north into the clear turquoise waters of the Quirimbas Archipelago. Over the course of the next four days, you will have a choice of double or single kayaks, as well as traditional Arab dhows, as your primary mode of transport. The dhow/kayak safaris are led by a pro guide experienced in these waters, and are backed up by a 12 meter beautiful support dhow built according to Arab designs with Mozambican skipper, crew and chef on board to whip up seafood extravaganzas around the camp fire! You don t sleep on board - instead mobile camps are set up on tropical islands and special spots. Weather conditions permitting, you should be kayaking or sailing in calm, clear water with lots of opportunities for diving and snorkeling. Few things in life compare with the sight of white traditional dhow sails to break up the endless view on the horizon. This afternoon, take a tour through a local the fishing village and learn about the lives of the villagers, as interpreted by your knowledgeable guide. You will later stop on the southern tip of Matemo Island, set up camp, and explore this part of the island. Day 4, October 25th: Day Trip to Ulumbwa Estuary Today the Ulumbwa River mouth beckons for exploration. It is here where fascinating rural fishing villages dot the shore. This is your chance to experience the open Mozambique bush, south of Ulumbwa. Enjoy an early morning kayak or sail up the Ulumbwa estuary viewing a variety of birds & mangroves that thrive in this area. Later in the afternoon you will return to your camp at Matemo.
Days 5 & 6, October 26th & 27th: Mogundula Island Many believe that Mogundula Island is one of the best islands in the archipelago. Lucky us...we will spend two nights here! Mogundula gives us a fantastic base from which to explore our surroundings. Known by the locals as the island with the sacred lake, it provides us with beautiful bird watching, pristine swimming off the sand bank beach and excellent snorkeling. Our mobile camp is set under the shade of trees and you usually have this magical uninhabited island to yourself! Day 7, October 28th: Dhow transfer to Ibo Island Enroute back to Ibo Island Lodge you will experience a Dolphin encounter a rare and unique opportunity to swim with bottlenose dolphins in their natural environment. This has become the highlight of all guests staying at the lodge for good reason. Get up close and personal with these incredible mammals whilst snorkeling the pristine waters off Ibo Island. Ibo Island Lodge dolphin encounters are ethically managed by trained guides for minimal ecological impact. Guests receive training in dolphin behavior and sociability and swim with dolphins in their natural habitat. Guests are not allowed to have physical contact with the dolphins. Remainder of the day is at leisure. Day 8, October 29th: Today you will have a choice of three different activities/excursions: Ibo of Today: a wonderful chance to interact with the charismatic people of Ibo. Mozambique s history has ensured that cultures have met and mingled - a blend of European, Indian, Arabic and Chinese. In addition to this, old Mozambique tribal customs and religions are still respected and followed on the island. All this creates a special way of life, completely unique to Ibo Island. The guided walk into the villages of Ibo reveals the day-to-day life of the Kimwani people. Discover how Muslim and African traditions have blended to create a way of life unique to Ibo. Visit the local witch doctor, meet some of the islanders, get an Ibo face-mask and soak up the truly authentic island culture. Kayak to Quirimba: a kayak trip through the mangrove channel that was cut by slaves in the late 1700s. Explore these ancient waterways and superbly preserved ecosystem teeming with birdlife, have a village tour and coconut plantation visit with return trip by dhow to Ibo Island. Walk to Quirimba: at low tide it is also possible to walk through the mangroves canals to the fascinating neighboring island of Quirimba. This is a popular excursion for those with an adventurous spirit taking you into the heart of the mangrove forests. A moderate amount of fitness is required as it is an approx. 2-3 hour walk depending on tides and conditions. This is not a race and the pace can be set by you. Once you reach Quirimba Island you will explore the island that gave the Archipelago its name with its rural villages, culture and old church before heading to the beach to catch an authentic working local sailing dhow back to Ibo through the canal cut by the slaves in the eighteenth century. (Please note that this activity is entirely tide dependent, and often entails a wait on the beach for the incoming tide to be deep enough at Quirimba Island before you can set sail home to Ibo. Based on tide times and wind conditions, it could also mean arriving back to Ibo after dark. Pack and use lots of sun screen, a book, a torch, camera, swimming and beach wear and drinking water). This evening enjoy your farewell dinner in the main fort. The main fort is incredibly atmospheric at night with beautiful lighting and incredible acoustics. As a special treat, a local group of musicians will accompany the meal as you watch the moon rise over Matemo and reminisce about the wonderful week you have had!
Day 9, October 30th: Goodbye Mozambique! This morning, a beautiful light aircraft flight will transfer you over the islands and turquoise waters to Pemba International Airport - at which time you will connect with your departure flight to the US via Johannesburg. For those participating on the optional extension to Tanzania, you will connect with your departure flight to Dar es Salaam. ~End of Services~
Cost (Per Person Sharing): 8+ travelers starting at $3,895 4-7 travelers starting at $4,205 Single Supplement: contact us for details (Please read carefully through what is and is not included) INCLUDES Itinerary as specified Meet and greet in Pemba Roundtrip light air transfers to Ibo Island 4 nights pristine island hopping by traditional dhow or kayak. Overnight island, river and beach camps Experienced English and Portuguese speaking crew All camping and catering equipment included for island camps (sleeping bag, pillow and towel supplied) Meals as stated in the itinerary 4 nights at Ibo Island Lodge on full board basis (excluding all drinks) Activities on Ibo Island as specified including dolphin encounter and Ibo silver experience EXCLUDES All international airfares and related taxes/fees Flights to/from Pemba (at this time approximately $800 roundtrip from Johannesburg and including taxes) Single entry visa for Mozambique All meals that are not specified All alcoholic drinks, personal bar account, etc. Scuba diving equipment Mozambique arrival / departure airport taxes National park entrance fees US$14 per person paid directly at the lodge Community fees - US$4 per person paid directly at the lodge Items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, curio purchases, etc. Optional activities / excursions / transfers not specified Vaccinations, visas, passports, travel and medical insurance
Mapping Your Trip 4 5 2 3 1 1. Pemba 2. Ibo Island 3. Matemo Island 4. Mogundula Island 5. Ibo Island
NOTES Mozambique Entry Requirements: When traveling in Mozambique, we recommend that your passport has 3 consecutive blank non-endorsed pages in it. Iif extending your stay in South Africa, this is a strictly enforced requirement. Passports must be valid for 6 months after the intended date of departure. Visas: International visitors require a visa for Mozambique which currently can be purchased upon arrival in Pemba and paid for in US$ cash - currently $90-100, but this is subject to change and visas may have to be purchased prior to departure. An additional US$2.50 stamp duty applies for entrance and exit, so we advise clients should be in possession of at least US$100 cash with notes from 2008 onwards only. Departure Taxes & Fees: All of your departure taxes should be included in your tickets. However, you should always have extra cash on hand as occasionally, a unique airport fee is introduced and fees may increase with limited notice. Routing: Please note that routing and itinerary is dependent on the winds. Trade winds blow on the east coast of Africa and change direction twice a year. However, weather patterns are not constant and it is impossible to always predict what the winds will do. We do our best to detail the planned itinerary at the time of booking, but all clients must understand that the itinerary has to remain entirely flexible. Money and Tipping: US Dollars are accepted, but only notes from 2008 onwards. It is, however, far better to have local currency with you. It is ESSENTIAL that clients travel to Pemba with cash. There are no ATM s at Pemba airport. Clients can exchange money at JHB International or other airports before travel to Mozambique and must do so before departing for Pemba. Tipping is not mandatory, though it is customary. Only tip if you are happy with the services! Tips can be given in the local currency or US dollars. The guides and crews go to great lengths to provide you with an experience of a lifetime. They often go that extra mile to make that special moment. Remember also that there are also hours of behind the scenes work that you may not be aware of that make your experience really special. Please consider all of this when you decide on your tipping! Luggage: Your luggage is restricted to 15 kilograms for all aircraft flights to and from the Ibo islands and for space on the dhow. We recommend that you utilize old or inexpensive luggage. Suitcases are NOT suitable. You may use a small/ medium sized soft bag or rucksack, provided that it has no frame. A dry bag is also a very useful item to keep your passports, camera s etc, medication, and items you can t get wet. Medical: Parts of Mozambique are considered malarial. Therefore, be sure to take precautions against malaria prior to the commencement of your holiday. Follow your doctor s advice regarding prophylactics and be sure to cover up in the early mornings and evenings and apply repellent. Insurance: It is a condition of booking with Global Sojourns that you have comprehensive travel insurance to safeguard against cancellation and curtailment, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, damage/theft/loss of personal baggage, money and personal belongings.
TERMS & CONDITIONS PAYMENT TERMS: A non-refundable deposit for 20% is required at the time of booking. The balance is due 60 days before commencement of the arrangements. If the reservation is made within 60 days of departure the whole amount must be paid at the time of confirmation. If the balance is not received prior to 60 days before departure, Global Sojourns L.L.C. reserves the right to treat the trip as cancelled. All payments may be made by check, bank transfer or major credit card (Visa/MC). Upon agreement of the itinerary, you will be sent detailed travel information and some forms to fill out. Please review the information and send in a signed liability waiver with your deposit. CANCELLATION POLICY: It is very important that you are aware of our cancellation policy which comes into force as soon as a booking is made definite. These policies are based on those of the suppliers we are using for this itinerary. Cancellations are only effective on receipt of a written cancellation. Cancellation charges will be levied when travelers cancel their confirmed reservations as follows: The traveler s 20% deposit is forfeited if a confirmed booking is cancelled. Cancellations made after the due date of full payment carry a charge, expressed as a percentage of the total booking value, and are as follows: within 45 days = 30% within 30 days = 50% within 20 days = 60% within 15 days = 100% Please note that we contract services and accommodation of third parties who have their own cancellation policies that may differ from ours and on occasion these must be adhered to. Some parties may require partial or full payment up front in order to confirm a booking - on cancellation this larger deposit may therefore be forfeited as per the third party s cancellation policy. AIRLINES: The airfare and airport tax quoted are current and are therefore subject to change without prior warning should the airline impose an increase in the rate for any reason. The airfare quoted is based on the lowest class fare available at the time of quoting and is subject to seats being available in that class at the time of booking. Neither Global Sojourns nor our ground operators can be held responsible should airlines discontinue flights on a particular routing or change schedules resulting in missed connections. Should an amendment in a routing or itinerary be necessary we will re-quote accordingly. TRIP INSURANCE: Global Sojourns, L.L.C. strongly recommends that each participant take out trip insurance- trip cancellation/interruption coverage as well as medical expense and evacuation coverage. This is designed to give you peace of mind and protect you in case of unexpected events such as a medical emergency or if you lose pre-paid, non-refundable trip deposits and payments because of cancellation or trip interruption due to illness, injury, or death of someone in your traveling party, an immediate or extended family member, or a business partner. Typically, these services and expenses are not fully covered by your credit card company, homeowner s policy, and/or medical insurance. We can recommend some companies if you do not already have a company that you use. It is important that you are clear on what exactly they will be covering thus is it recommended that you speak to the insurance company directly. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Each client is entirely responsibility to ensure that they are in possession of all the necessary travel documents, including a valid passport (with at least 6 months validity after departure from the host country and with sufficient blank pages for each country s immigration stamps and visas requirements), valid visas, air tickets that have you arriving in time for the start of your trip and valid vaccination certificates. For visas, the cost, currency, accepted method of payment and type of visa (i.e. single, double or multiple entry visa) should be checked in advance. This is of particular importance if you are re-entering Zambia from other countries. Border officials in some countries are not in a position to issue visas on the spot hence the need for obtaining visas in advance. Neither Global Sojourns nor our ground operator can be held responsible should the necessary visa not be fulfilled.
MEDICAL INFORMATION: It is each client s responsibility to make sure they are fit enough for the intended trip. It is essential that persons with any pre-existing medical condition(s) and/or dietary restrictions make them known to us well before departure. Be aware that you are traveling in remote geographical areas which may have limited standards of hygiene, sanitation facilities, medical treatment and that medical services, including the presence of a physician or any other trained medical professional and availability of prescription type drugs may be limited or altogether absent. Please note that many areas of travel within Africa are malarial areas and all travelers must consult their doctors before traveling and ensure that all anti-malarial precautions are taken, followed and advised upon a the time of travel. WILD ANIMALS: Please be aware that your trip may take you into close contact with wild animals. Attacks by wild animals are rare, but no trip into the African wilderness can guarantee that this will not occur. We cannot be held responsible for any injury or incident on your trip by wild animals or otherwise. Please note that the majority of camps are unfenced and wildlife moves freely in and around the camps. Always follow the safety instructions from the guides and camp s staff with regards to moving to and from your lodging and while on game activities throughout your trip. RESPONSIBILITY: Global Sojourns L.L.C. and its owners act only as agents for the clients with respect to services provided, including but not limited to accommodations, activities and all forms of transportation. All tour services are provided by independent contractors who are not controlled by Global Sojourns L.L.C.. Global Sojourns L.L.C. assumes no responsibility or liability for injury, death, damage, loss, accident, delay or change in air or other services howsoever caused, irregularity, inconvenience or additional expenses which may be occasioned directly or indirectly by quarantines, strikes, weather, sickness, civil unrest, wars, theft, pilferage, force majeure, wild animals, failure of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled. Over booking, travel advisories, discrepancies or changes in transit, hotel and other services over which it has no control, or any act of God occurring in either the country of origin, destination or through passage, or for any reason whatsoever. On advancement of deposit to Global Sojourns L.L.C. the depositor therefore agrees to be bound by the above recited terms and conditions.