What to do in Ponta Do Ouro

The waters off Mozambique's southern coast are home to a menagerie of underwater creatures, from the rare dugong to Leatherback turtles and incredible species of fish. It's no surprise that Ponto do Ouro is also a snorkelling Nirvana with myriad reefs to choose from, and balmy and crystal-clear waters. After a boat ride across the bay, enter a world of underwater flora and fins along the reefs with depths ranging from 10 metres to depths of 47 metres at the aptly-named Atlantis. Spend as long as you like exploring the colourful coral formations, keeping your eyes keen to spot the endangered species of the Mozambican Channel. While Mozambique's south coast are temperate most of the year, but the dry season (May to November) is the most enjoyable.

Crystal-clear, turquoise waters, year-round balmy weather and lively reefs, the southern coast of Mozambique promises dives that are out of this world. And a collection of incredible scuba diving sites is only a short boat-ride away. PADI-certified dive masters are ready to accompany you to the location of your choice, from shallow reefs at 10 metres to the incredible Atlantis reefs that reach depths of 47 metres. Once you break the water's glassy surface, the reefs are a hive of activity and colour. Part of a thriving marine protected reserve, you'll be dazzled by darting shoals of fish, forests of coral, and everything from rays and reef sharks to diving pods of dolphin and the secretive dugong. Conditions and underwater visibility remain ideal all year, but the dry season months (May to November) tend to be the most enjoyable.

Mozambique boasts some of the most wildly beautiful and unspoilt coastlines in Africa, which you'll explore on a stroll along the shore. Joined by a well-seasoned guide, walk across the golden sands, clamber over dunes and inspect the tiniest details left behind by Mozambique's smallest wildlife. Your guide will fill you in on how animals have adapted and thrived in this ever-changing environment, and the fascinating mythology of the area. Stop for refreshments on the beach before heading back to your hotel or extend your morning / afternoon with a stroll around Lake Mamoli with plenty of hippo, butterflies and birdlife.

While much of a Mozambique holiday is all about sea, sea, sea, take a safari detour to the Maputo Special Reserve. Helmed by your expertly-trained guide, you'll get a front row seat to the wild goings-on in this biodiversity hotspot - it's one of only 36 in the world. Along the way, you may see herds of antelope, incredible butterfly (over 433 species!) and birdlife and, of course, elephant. If you leave in the morning, enjoy a post-game drive picnic brunch overlooking Lake Hlunguti and its snorting hippo, or sundowners following an afternoon drive.

One of the most magical things to see in the wild is watching female turtles emerge from the water, skate across the sand and lay their eggs under the cover of darkness. Between November and February, Ponta do Ouro has some of the richest nesting sites for Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles in Mozambique. Visit the conservation project and gain insight into their program for monitoring, tagging and protecting these hard-shelled ocean creatures. On a walk across the coast's quietest beaches, learn to spot a turtle nest, the whys and hows of choosing a nesting place, and if you're really lucky, you may even witness the tiny newborns scooting their way back to the sea.