Mozambique Dive & Safari Self-Launched Adventure

Start early in Johannesburg and take a shuttle or the Intercape/City to City bus toward Nelspruit (Mbombela), roughly £18–25 and 5–6 hours. From Nelspruit, either hire a car for the Panorama Route section (cheapest per person if you share, ~£25–35/day) or join a backpacker shuttle up to Hazyview. Self-drive the Panorama Route highlights: God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels viewpoint over Blyde River Canyon — all have small entry fees (£3–6 each). Overnight in a Hazyview backpackers or guesthouse.

🚌Intercape/City to City bus Johannesburg–Nelspruit ~£20; shared car hire or backpacker shuttle to Hazyview ~£25

🛏Hazyview backpackers or budget guesthouse (dorm ~£15, private ~£22)

• →Panorama Route self-drive
• →God's Window viewpoint
• →Bourke's Luck Potholes
• →Three Rondavels / Blyde River Canyon

If you have the car, do an early self-drive loop in Kruger's southern section via Numbi or Phabeni gate (£6 conservation fee per person per day plus ~£20 vehicle fee). Alternatively book a morning game drive through your lodge (~£30–40). Return the car and take an afternoon shuttle/bus to Maputo via the Komatipoort–Ressano Garcia border (shuttles ~£18–25, 4–5 hours including border). In Maputo, explore the baixa on foot: the old railway station, Cathedral, and Mercado Central for cashews and spices. Overnight in the Baixa or Polana district.

🚌Shuttle/bus Nelspruit or Komatipoort–Maputo ~£22 including border crossing

🛏Maputo budget guesthouse or hostel (dorm ~£14, private ~£25)

• →Kruger self-drive or morning game drive
• →Maputo old town walk
• →Mercado Central market visit

Take an early bus from Maputo's Junta or Praça de Touros terminal to Inhambane with a local operator such as Nagi Investimentos or ETE (roughly £15–20, 8–9 hours). Alternatively book a shared chapas transfer through your Tofo accommodation. From Inhambane, catch a chapa or taxi to Praia do Tofo (~£1–2, 30 min). Settle into a Tofo beach lodge, walk the long dune-backed beach and arrange your dive package with one of the local dive centres (Tofo Scuba, Diversity or Liquid Adventures) for the next days.

🚌Maputo–Inhambane coach ~£17; chapa Inhambane–Tofo ~£2

🛏Tofo beach backpackers/hostel (dorm ~£12, private ~£22)

• →Overnight bus journey to Inhambane
• →Beach walk at Praia do Tofo
• →Meet dive shop and plan dive package

Morning double-tank dive with a local dive centre (Tofo is famous for manta rays, whale sharks in season and reef fish); two-tank trips run roughly £55–75 including equipment. Not certified? Do a Discover Scuba Diving session (~£60) or swap in a whale-shark/ocean safari snorkel trip (~£45). Afternoon: beach time, hammock, and sundowners at one of the beach bars. Book dives a day ahead to secure spots.

🚌Walking locally

🛏Tofo beach backpackers/hostel

• →Double-tank reef dive at Tofo
• →Discover Scuba session or snorkel safari alternative
• →Beach relaxation

Another morning double dive (or a snorkel trip if you skipped yesterday), targeting different reefs and sites like Manta Reef or Salon if conditions allow. Afternoon options: surf lesson at Tofo's beach break (~£18), a walk out to the Tofinho lighthouse and dunes, or a cooking class with a local family. Eat at the beach-front restaurants — grilled fish and matapa stew are cheap and excellent.

🚌Walking locally

🛏Tofo beach backpackers/hostel

• →Double-tank reef dive
• →Surf lesson or Tofinho lighthouse walk
• →Local food dinner

Third double dive, or swap in an Ocean Safari: a boat trip to snorkel with whale sharks and dolphins, around £50–60 depending on season and operator. Afternoon is free for beach time, a massage, or catching up on sleep. Dive shops often discount multi-day packages, so paying for three double-dive days upfront can save 10–15%.

🚌Walking locally

🛏Tofo beach backpackers/hostel

• →Double-tank reef dive
• →Ocean safari / whale shark snorkelling
• →Beach relaxation

Use your last morning for a final double dive or a resort course if you've got the bug. Alternatively, take a guided walk to a nearby village or rent a bike and ride the coastal track. Afternoon: laze on the beach, swim, watch the dhows coming in. Confirm tomorrow's transport south with your accommodation and pack up.

🚌Walking/bike hire ~£4

🛏Tofo beach backpackers/hostel

• →Final dive or coastal bike ride
• →Beach and market browsing
• →Arrange southbound transport

Take a chapa back to Inhambane, then a northbound or direct bus toward Xai Xai (often via Maputo; allow a long day, roughly £15–20 total). Some backpacker shuttles run the coast on a set route — ask in Tofo. Arrive in Xai Xai and check into a riverside lodge. Walk the broad Limpopo estuary beach at golden hour and toast the sunset with a local 2M beer (~£1). Dinner of prawns at one of the riverside restaurants.

🚌Chapa and coach Tofo–Xai Xai ~£18

🛏Xai Xai riverside guesthouse or resort room (~£20)

• →Long coastal bus journey
• →Estuary beach walk
• →Sundowner on the Limpopo

Head south and cross into Eswatini at the Namaacha/Lomahasha border (shared taxi or shuttle ~£15–20). Continue to Manzini or Mbabane, then arrange a transfer up to Hlane Royal National Park (roughly £20 shared, or pre-book a lodge transfer). Stay at the Hlane Ndlovu Camp self-catering rondavels inside the reserve — the cheapest way to be right among the game. Evening at the waterhole with a braai.

🚌Shared taxi/shuttle Xai Xai–Manzini ~£18; transfer to Hlane ~£20

🛏Hlane Ndlovu Camp rondavel (~£22 per person sharing) or nearby guesthouse

• →Border crossing into Eswatini
• →Transfer to Hlane Royal National Park
• →Waterhole sundowners

Join a Hlane morning game drive in an open reserve vehicle (~£25–30) — rhino, elephant, lion and plenty of plains game. Afterwards, transfer to the Ezulwini Valley near Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary (~£12 shared taxi via Manzini). In the afternoon, walk or cycle self-guided trails around Mlilwane's rest camp, spotting zebra, warthog and antelope on foot. Overnight in a Sibane-Spa-style mid-range hotel or the more budget-friendly Mlilwane Rest Camp beehives.

🚌Shared taxi Hlane–Manzini–Mlilwane ~£14

🛏Mlilwane Rest Camp beehive hut (~£18) or Ezulwini guesthouse (~£28)

• →Hlane morning game drive
• →Mlilwane self-guided trail or bike ride
• →Wildlife viewing

Morning guided trail walk in Mlilwane (~£12). Then take a shared taxi to the nearby Esajeni community and join one of the village's community tourism experiences — maize grinding, water carrying, traditional crafts and wall building — booked directly through the community or your accommodation (~£15–20). Try Swazi dishes for lunch. In the evening, enjoy a traditional celebratory dinner with song and dance at a local cultural village or your guesthouse (~£15).

🚌Shared taxi locally ~£5

🛏Mlilwane Rest Camp beehive hut or Ezulwini guesthouse

• →Guided nature trail at Mlilwane
• →Esajeni community cultural experience
• →Traditional meal and dance evening

Take a morning shared taxi or shuttle from Mbabane/Manzini to the Oshoek/Ngwenya border and continue by intercity bus or shuttle into Johannesburg (~£20–30, allow 5–6 hours with the border). If you have time before your flight, visit the Apartheid Museum or Maboneng precinct. Trip ends in Johannesburg.

🚌Shuttle/bus Eswatini–Johannesburg ~£26

🛏Not included (onward flight or own arrangement)

• →Border crossing into South Africa
• →Intercity transfer to Johannesburg
• →Optional Apartheid Museum visit (~£8)