Getting to Nhucha Villas
Nhucha villas is located on the Machangulo Peninsula, in the remote village of Santa Maria.
The Machangulo Peninsula is situated 85km north of Ponta do Ouro and 40km east of Maputo. Santa Maria is on the Northern most tip of the peninsula, which can be reached by land and sea.
This is where we are
Location
- Santa Maria
- Machangulo
- Maputo Province
- Southern Mozambique
Contact Info
- Bookings@nhucha.co.mz
- +258 84 810 0312
Travel by sea
The most convenient and most direct way to get to Santa Maria is by sea; the easiest is by charter, either private charter or shared boats. You can also make use of the Inhaca ferry; however, this is not a direct route and involves a few additional legs to the journey.
Private Charter
Be sure to confirm which marina or port you need to meet the boat.
Available charters
- Bemugi's
- +258 84 385 6863
- Number 1 Boat Charters
- +258 84 677 4438
- Bussola Azul
- +258 86 266 6983
- Maputo Blue
- +258 84 712 1666
Inhaca Ferry
The public ferry leaves from the Catembe Pier in Maputo @ 08:00 Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, and @11:00 on Fridays. The trip to Inhaca takes about 2 hours. The return trip to Maputo leave Inhaca at 15:00.
Costs: first class tickets cost 680Mt while second-class tickets cost 280Mt each (one-way).
For a small daily fee, you can arrange to park at the Afrin Hotel
The ferry stops about 1 km from the island, you will need to disembark onto a smaller boat which will take you to the Island, these boats charge about 100Mt. you will need cash with you to pay for the leg of your journey. Please note: these boats also cannot reach dry land and you will need to walk the last few meters; you will get wet (usually about knee high) be sure to dress accordingly.
Please note there is a 200Mt Island tax payable upon arrival on Inhaca, even if you are not staying on the Island.
In most cases, you are dropped off on the beach, in front of the main village. To get to Santa Maria, you can either hire a “banana boat” to take you the 16km across the bay to Santa Maria OR you can hire a driver to transfer you by road from the village to Ponta Torres on the southern tip of the island. From there you will need to get a boat transfer from the island across the channel to Santa Maria.
Be sure to have pre-arranged these transfers, you are welcome to contact us to help you make these arrangements.
You will need to pay cash for either of the above options so please be sure to have enough on you.
Pin to Escola Nautica
Pin to Porto de Pesca
Pin to Catembe Pier
Travel by land
You can get to the peninsula by road. Santa Maria is situated on the Northern tip of the Machangulo peninsula, the only way to get to us by road is through the Maputo Special reserve.
The entrance to the reserve is on the N200 (the road from Maputo to Ponta). Santa Maria is 67km NE from the FUTI gate. This road has some very thick sand patches and does require a high clearance 4×4 and driver skill.
From Maputo
Note: Do not follow Google maps.
Head south out of Maputo on the N200, over the Katembe Bridge for approximately 70km towards Ponta. You will pass several little towns.
There are two tollgates on this road, you can pay with ZAR, US$ or Metical. Please note if paying with foreign currency you will get change in Metical
- Katembe 125Mt
- Belavista 100Mt
Please be mindful of the speed limits as they do trap on this road. You will pass over a cattle grid, then through an unmanned park entrance gate. About 200m after this you will turn left onto a paved road; follow this road to the FUTI gate. (See GPS co-ordinates)
Note: Do not follow Google maps.
Please note the Gala gate is closed do not go that way.
From Kosibay
Note: Do not follow Google maps.
From the border, head north towards Maputo on the N200 for approximately 30km.
There is one tollgate on this road, you can pay with ZAR, US$ or Metical. Please note if paying with foreign currency you will get change in Metical
- Ponta 130Mt
You will then cross a cattle grid, which indicates you have entered the Maputo Special Reserve. Please note the speed limit is 50kmph.
Continue for another 10km then turn right onto a paved road, follow this road to the FUTI gate. (See GPS co-ordinates)
Note: Do not follow Google maps.
Please note the Gala gate is closed do not go that way.
Through the Maputo Special Reserve
⚠️It is highly recommended that you only drive through Maputo National Reserve with a high clearance 4×4 and the driver has some 4X4 experience.
From the gate to Santa Maria is about 67km it will take you between 3 – 4 hours. It is a long journey but the destination is worth it! Please give yourself enough time to get all the way through the reserve and hopefully all the way to Santa Maria during day light hours.
Remember there is almost no cell signal most the way through so other travellers are your best friends and often your only help should you need it.
➡️Directions:
When you go through the gate stay right. Follow the road for about 5 – 7 km. They have added red sand to the surface, which has helped with the thick sand, but it is still slow especially when it is wet. You will get to a big marsh, follow the road through the marsh or if it is wet around the marsh, head towards the power lines on the right, follow these for the next 60km (they end in Santa Maria).
There is a road to the left, which is slightly shorter; however, it goes through wet marsh and through “forest” areas with protruding roots, which often cause sidewall damage.
About 20km in you will get to an unmanned boom gate, stay left. Keep going for about 10km, until your get to the Machangulo gate. (See GPS co-ordinates above) At this gate, they will ask you to produce your entrance permit. Note: keep this proof of payment; you will need it for your return journey.
Keep following the power line for the next 26km.
⚠️Do not drive in the mangroves.
You will reach the filling station go right. Follow the road for 2km you will pass Ocean Echo SCUBA keep going; follow the signs to Nhucha Villas. At the substation, go right Nhucha Villas is about 300m along that road on the right.
If you are travelling directly to Santa Maria, you are concidered to be in transit so only need to pay entrance fee for one day.
Keep your reciept as you will need it to exit the park and also for your return journey. If you can’t produce the reciept you will need to pay again.
