Inhaca Island

Inhaca Island is a small island at the entrance to Maputo Bay off the coast of Mozambique, administratively associated with Maputo. It is a noted local center for coastal biodiversity and recreational beach visits.

Beaches, shallow coral reefs, and sheltered bays attract snorkelers, small-boat excursions and recreational fishing; the island also supports a small local population and visitor facilities concentrated around the main settlement. Scientific visitors come to the long-standing marine research facilities and field stations located on the island.

Inhaca has been a base for coastal research and local fishing communities for decades and is widely used for both subsistence and tourism activities. Infrastructure remains modest, focused on guesthouses, small lodges and visitor boat services.

The island sits at the mouth of Maputo Bay and is reached by ferry or speedboat from Maputo and nearby ports; travel times are typically under an hour by fast boat depending on departure point and sea conditions.

• Access: Regular boats and speedboats connect the island with Maputo and surrounding towns; schedules vary seasonally and with tides.
• Marine life: The island is known for coral reefs and shallow-water snorkeling; much of the best reef is on the island's seaward side at low to mid tide.

What to See #

• Inhaca Biological Station: A long-established marine research facility that supports scientific work on local reefs, fisheries and marine biodiversity; it is a reference point for visitors interested in marine biology.
• Inhaca lighthouse: A functioning coastal lighthouse and headland used as a local navigation point and viewpoint over the bay and nearby reefs.