Self-Drive Adventure from South Africa to Bilene Mozambique
Bilene is the closest Mozambique holiday beach resort to Johannesburg making it the number one family holiday destination for South Africans. South Africans flock to Bilene Mozambique for family holidays. Easy access from Johannesburg, water sports and white beaches. Safe Uembje Lagoon, affordable self-catering accommodation.
A self-drive adventure from South Africa to Mozambique is super fun and Blinene is the closest Mozambique beach resort to Johannesburg. It makes a change from the usual South African family coast holiday on the KwaZulu-Natal North and South Coasts. The warm and safe Uembje Lagoon is the main attraction, offering a wide array of things to do including parasailing, paragliding, fishing, diving, snorkelling, kayaking, windsurfing, kite surfing, beach walks and whale watching. The best family road trip imaginable will start in Johannesburg and end in a glorious beach resort setting where palm trees sway, the water is warm and clear, the beaches are long and white and the sun sets crimson into the ocean every day.
Why do South Africans Always Choose Bilene Mozambique?
As the crow flies, Bilene is closer to Johannesburg than other Mozambique beach destinations. It makes for an exotic tropical change from the usual KwaZulu-Natal beach holidays and adds self-driving thrills and spills to an unforgettable road trip adventure! Bilene is only 685 km from Johannesburg, about an eight-hour drive. The cheapest way to get from Johannesburg to Bilene is to jump on a bus for about less than R1 000, a long 11-hour journey. The quickest flight from Johannesburg Airport to Maputo Airport is the direct flight which takes one hour – there is no direct flight from South Africa to Bilene but intrepid holidaymakers can taxi to the OR Tambo International Airport, fly to Maputo then hire a car to Bilene! Flights to Mozambique and within Mozambique have been updated!
South Africans love life and the spirit of Ubuntu permeates their laid-back yet hard-working characteristics. They love a good holiday on a beach where water sports dominate and the braai fires can be lit outside affordable self-catering accommodations. What better Mozambique destination to do all of this and more than Bilene? It’s close to Maputo and Xai Xai and was formerly known as Sao Martinho.
Bilene is a popular tranquil seaside village on the dazzling 8km x 27km Uembje Lagoon, a delightful body of warm and shallow waters. It can reach depths of 50m for diving fun and it is fringed with spectacular white beaches, undulating dunes and lush tropical dune forests. In the town, a vibrant local market attracts visitors to buy fresh foods, coconuts, cashew nuts, colourful capalanas (sarongs), locally made clothes and curios.
Bird watchers love Bilene’s Uembje Lagoon, the perfect saline feeding ground for black-winged flamingos which flock there in the summer months with other water birds. The untouched vegetation and Miombo woodlands are home to Rain birds, Loerie’s and the Burchells Coucal.
Fishing opportunists can fish in the lagoon or off the shores and boat rides out to sea are equally thrilling to hook garoupa, crabs and prawns for seafood dinners. Many South Africans tow boats to Bilene for long summer holidays in the sea and surf. Marine ocean lovers can visit Turtle Bay to view turtles in season, a conservationist’s paradise. Bilene is not only a popular water sports and beach holiday venue but it is also a top conference destination thanks to its affordable conference and meeting facilities, self-catering accommodation and activities for rest and relaxation. Bilene offers low key self catering accommodation for self drive travellers in fantastic campsites, cabanas, bungalows and holiday resorts. There is plenty of outdoor space for everyone to enjoy that sense of Mozambique summer freedom.
What to do in Bilene Mozambique – Lagoon and Beach Activities
Bilene is one of the best family holiday destinations in Mozambique thanks to its water attractions in the warm Uembje Lagoon and the gorgeous Indian Ocean. Bilene is just over 2 hours from Maputo, easy to get to and away from urbanisation. Fringed with scenic dune vegetation, long white beaches and natural habitats, Bilene has it all for bird watchers, marine conservationists and action seekers. Boating is hot as the mouth of the lagoon remains open for launching fishing boats, whale-watching cruises and sailing. This is our top choice for a resort beach destination featuring family accommodation in affordable self-catering units, rustic hotels and bed and breakfasts.
Check out these things to do in Bilene:
- Local markets for fresh foods, curios, sarongs, clothing and more
- Funky shops for beer and supplies, cafes and bars, live music, petrol
- Quad biking trails – go as far as Limpopo River Mouth and Zongoene Resort 35 km away through villages and past inland lakes.
- Whale watching, turtle watching, bird watching.
Check out these fabulous lagoon, ocean and beach activities in Bilene:
- Boating, sailing, jet skiing
- Parasailing, water skiing, paragliding
- Surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing
- Stand-up paddling, kayaking, canoeing
- Diving, snorkelling, swimming, deep sea fishing for tuna and barracuda
Bilene is a top family hotspot for all ages and a captivating combination of tranquillity and adventurous fun. One of the best things to do in Bilene is to visit the turtle, dolphin and whale watching viewpoint, a brief 1.5km walk from the lagoon mouth to Turtle Cliff and its sweeping 360° views. Some of the best self-catering accommodation and places to stay are within Bilene.
In a nutshell, Bilene is very popular with South Africans who find it the closest Mozambique beach resort from Johannesburg. Durbanites would drive from the Kosi Bay border, via Ponta do Ouro and Maputo. Bilene is a great stopover point for travellers en route to Xai Xai, Inhambane, Vilanculos and the Bazaruto Archipelago.
How to Get to Bilene Mozambique from South Africa
There is no direct connection from South Africa to Bilene. These are the travel options to get to Bilene from Johannesburg:
- Taxi to OR Tambo International Airport, fly to Maputo, then hire a car to self-drive to Bilene.
- The nearest airport to Bilene is Xai-Xai (VJB) Airport which is 45.3 km away. Other nearby airports include Maputo (MPM) (104.5 km) and Skukuza (SZK) (162.8 km).
- Travelling from the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park and Massingir – drive past the turn-off for Xai-Xai and head for the EN1 (national road) close to the town of Macia. Then turn right at the junction in Macia and drive for about 30 km to Bilene village and the lagoon.
Self-drive holidays in Mozambique are fun
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