Two and a half thousand kilometres of Indian Ocean coastline, and the archipelagos are the reason to come: Bazaruto and the Quirimbas, where the diving and the dhow sailing are genuinely world-class and the islands are still quiet. Works best as the beach half of a safari-and-sea trip, reached by short flight from Johannesburg or Kruger. The dry season from May to November is the reliable window; the cyclone season from January to March is not worth gambling on.