With more than 1,500 miles of Indian Ocean coastline, this country has no shortage of all kinds of strands, and one favorite is this relatively new small town on the southern coast (it's a five-hour drive from Maputo, but just an hour by air, and there are also direct flights from Johannesburg).is one of those fishing village turned tourism magnets, yet still feels laid back and not overrun. The tawny sands are lined with beach bars, and there are plenty of other eating and nightlife options, along with a range of accommodation from backpacker level to luxury. Apart from swimming and surfing, the main attraction is great snorkeling and diving the offshore coral reef - with a chance to get up close and personal with manta rays and (harmless) whale sharks (a number of tour operators and dive charters will help with that).

 
Dominic Scaglioni