Mozambique is fast becoming the place to go for a classic tropical island holiday. Its wide mainland beaches are lapped by the warm Indian Ocean but the most appealing destinations lies just offshore: two clusters of postcard-perfect islands dot the blue horizon – the Bazaruto Archipelago in the south and the exclusive private islands of the Quirimbas Archipelago near the Tanzanian border in the far north.

A Mozambique holiday is the perfect excuse to kick off your shoes, take off your watch and gear down to the slow pace of island life: swim, snorkel, laze in the sunshine or set sail on a sunset cruise. When the mood takes you, there are richly colored coral reefs waiting to be explored on scuba diving trips, and the clear waters are world-renowned for big game fishing.

Once one of Africa’s top big game destinations, the country’s wild reserves are recovering rapidly and are becoming a top choice for off-the-beaten-track safaris. In fact, Mozambique’s flagship park – the beautiful and diverse Gorongosa National Park – was recently the subject of an award-winning National Geographic documentary “Africa’s Lost Eden” and it won’t be long before Mozambique regains its reputation as both a game viewing and beach holiday destination.