Ponta do Ouro

The Mozambican town of Ponto do Ouro is fringed by sea, sand, dunes and casuarina trees, and offers a superb holiday destination. Surf fishing for barracuda, kingfish and bream is popular, while adventurous scuba divers can set off beyond the reefs and dive with sharks, dolphins and giant whale sharks.

Gentler pursuits in Ponto do Ouro include whale- and dolphin-watching trips (you can even swim with the dolphins), viewing turtles (who lay their eggs on the beach in the summer months), swimming, and long beach walks. It is a beautiful three kilometre stroll along the beach to South Africa's border at Kosi Bay.

Ponto do Ouro or "Point of Gold" is so named because early Portuguese explorers got a bit muddled over their maps and thought gold might be found here. They were wrong!

The do Ouro dunes are a rich black titanium, and the only gold seen here is the setting sun glinting off the long white beaches. Essentially this area is an extension of South Africa's Maputaland, but far more pristine.

There is no airport in Ponto do Ouro and visitors are advised to drive in from South Africa or Maputo. The last stretch is along a sandy road and 4x4 vehicles are essential.

Just north of Ponto do Ouro is another resort area called Ponto Malongane which is a smaller resort set in thick forests offering diving and fishing facilities.

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