Reefs, rivers and ocean swells
Water Activities
Africa has two world-class coastlines, two of the planet's great rivers, and the largest tropical lake outside Asia. Diving, surfing, sailing, kayaking — the water side of African travel is criminally underrated.
Three coasts, three temperaments
The Indian Ocean coast — Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya — is warm and biodiverse, the world capital of reef diving. The Atlantic coast cools fast as you move south; surf is cold but consistent. The Red Sea is its own world: easy entry, high visibility, wartime wrecks.
Indian Ocean
Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar
Warm year-round, coral diversity, dhow sailing, whale sharks.
Atlantic Ocean
Morocco, Namibia, South Africa
Cold currents, world-class surf, kelp forests, big swells.
Red Sea
Egypt
Clear, calm, accessible. Liveaboards from Hurghada to Marsa Alam.
What to do, where
Red Sea diving
Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Marsa Alam (Egypt)
Year-round; March–May and September–November are best
Some of the world's best coral and a roll-call of wrecks (Thistlegorm, Salem Express). Excellent visibility year-round.
Bazaruto and Quirimbas diving
Mozambique
April to November
Manta rays, whale sharks and dugongs in remote, low-traffic reefs. Pair with a beach lodge stay.
Mafia and Pemba diving
Tanzania
October to March
Whale shark season at Mafia runs October to February. Pemba's drop-offs are some of the wildest dives in East Africa.
Snorkelling Mnemba Atoll
Off Zanzibar
June to October, January to February
Day trips from Stone Town or Matemwe. Reef sharks, turtles and ribbon-clad fish, gentle entry from a dhow.
Cage diving with great whites
Gansbaai, South Africa
Year-round; April–October peak
Operators run a half-day, including a chum-and-bait approach. Decoys keep sharks present even on quiet days.
Surfing Jeffreys Bay
Eastern Cape, South Africa
May to September
Supertubes — one of the longest right-hand point breaks on Earth. Crowded but worth it; warm wetsuit needed.
Surfing Taghazout
Morocco
October to April
Anchor Point, Killer Point and a string of mellow beach breaks for beginners. Surf-and-yoga camps line the cliffs.
Sailing a dhow on the Lamu archipelago
Kenya
October to April
Traditional lateen-rigged dhows weave between Lamu, Manda and Pate islands. Multi-day trips include beach overnights.
Kayaking the Lower Zambezi
Zambia / Zimbabwe
May to October
Multi-day canoe trails through pods of hippo and herds of elephant. Camp on islands midstream.
Stand-up paddling Lake Malawi
Cape Maclear, Malawi
April to November
Clear freshwater, colourful cichlids beneath, and a fraction of the cost of saltwater coast holidays.
For divers
Booking dive trips
Bring your certification card and a recent logbook — many operators run a check-out dive before more advanced sites. For the Red Sea, liveaboards typically run 6 nights; for Mozambique, day-boats are the norm. Carry a marine first-aid kit and dive insurance (DAN) for serious trips — chambers are limited in remote areas.
Recompression chambers
- Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt)
- Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
- Maputo (Mozambique)
- Cape Town (South Africa)
- Mombasa (Kenya)
Safety in and on the water
Bilharzia in freshwater
Most rivers and freshwater lakes in Sub-Saharan Africa carry bilharzia. Lake Malawi, the Zambezi and the Okavango all need a single-dose treatment afterward. Saltwater is safe.
Crocs and hippos
Never wade in unknown rivers. The Zambezi, Mara and Limpopo all support large crocodiles. Always swim only in pools or sea with lifeguards.
Rip currents
Atlantic beaches in Morocco and the Western Cape have strong rips. Swim between flags, never alone, and respect lifeguards.
Sun on the water
Reflected sun on a boat or paddleboard doubles your dose. Long sleeves, hat, zinc on the face.
Reef etiquette
Touch nothing. Buoyancy keeps the reef alive. Don't chase or feed fish.
Liveaboards: get insurance
Egypt's Red Sea has had high-profile vessel incidents. Check operator history and confirm insurance covers liveaboards.