Activities at Nuarro
The wide variety of activities available at Nuarro Lodge will keep guests of all ages as active or relaxed as they choose!
For the more active, there are all the marine excursions which include diving, snorkeling, whale watching and sunset cruises, just to name a few.
Landlubbers can enjoy a picnic on a private beach of their choice, or a leisurely stroll to the nearby village, even an adventurous mountain bike road to the lighthouse!
For the less energetic, perhaps a massage under the shade of trees, maximizing on the sea-breeze. Alternatively, curled up with a good book, relaxing in the comfort of our beach bar lounge is also a great way to spend the day!
Diving in Mozambique
With direct access to the sea, the proximity of the continental shelf and pristine reefs, Nuarro is the perfect diving destination in Mozambique. Thanks to the owners' passion for diving, we have a fully equipped PADI Dive Centre catering to all levels of recreational diver, offering a wide variety of dive sites from easy shallow shore entry to deep vertical walls and wrecks.
Here's what's on offer:
- Aluminium cylinders in 7, 10, 12 and 15 litre (DIN and INT)
- NITROX
- A comprehensive range of rental equipment including SCUBApro regs/BCD's and dive computers
- Wetsuits, masks and fins in a wide range of sizes
- Wash area, hot showers and safe equipment storage
- Trained local and experienced international staff
- Fully equipped motorised dive boats with a full complement of safety equipment
- Night dives including fluorescent dives (using UV lights)
- Wreck dives in the Baixo do Pinda area.
Key facts:
- Best time of the year: April-December
- Visibility: 20+m, often more than 30m
- Sea Conditions: very calm, protected bay
- Ecosystems: Tropical coral reefs, drop offs, mucky (seagrass + sand)
- Marine life: High diversity of reef corals, turtles, huge gorgonians, seahorses, shrimps and nudibranchs
- Type of dives: Shore and boat dives, always exclusive small groups
- Special dives: Fluorescent Dive, Night Dive, Rebreather Dive, Bio
- We have ideal dive conditions for underwater photographers excellent macro, caves and gorgonias for wide angle
Dive Scooters
Our dive center has two underwater scooters and is the first lodge to be able to offer the Advanced Open Water course with Diver Propulsion Vehicle as one of the Adventure Dives. If you are already certified, you can join our exclusive scooter safaris and see how it feels to fly underwater.
Glow diving
Did you know that much marine life is fluorescent? We are pioneers of glow diving or fluorescent diving in Mozambique. Our calm water and easy shore entry allow excellent opportunities for night diving, so why not to discover something completely new?! Your night dive and the way you see animals will never be the same! With the assistance of blue lights and special filters you will be able to see many marine organisms glowing in the dark, from coral polyps to crazy nudibranchs. Experience night diving as if you were at an underwater disco!
Fluorescent or “Fluo” diving has recently taken the diving community by storm and Nuarro is the first and only dive centre in Mozambique to off this experience to our clients. Chemical compounds contained in the tissues of many marine animals react to UV light causing them to fluoresce in brilliant reds, purples and greens, we take UV lights and filters on night dives to experience the reefs like never before! Be among the first to get the Fluo Dive bug!
Rebreather Diving
Nuarro is the only lodge in the North of Mozambique offering rebreather diving!
We are a closed circuit rebreather (CCR) friendly dive centre and can provide boosted oxygen to 200 bar, sodasorb, training and support. With two APD CCR’s, we can provide a rental unit as well as guiding on CCR if you chose to bring your own machine. Contact us for more details.
Snorkeling
Nuarro Bay is a dream for snorkelers. Snorkelling from the beach.
The Nuarro Bay is a sea life paradise with beautiful coral reef just a short swim from the beach. There are two reefs that are often used for snorkelling, these are:
Enupa Reef (house reef) – Shore entry: 100m swim, from 4 to 12m deep. Enupa Reef lays in front of the Activities Centre about 100m from the beach and is part of the Nuarro Marine Reserve. This is an easy and relax snorkel where you can spend lots of time around 5m but adventure down to 12m if you wish. Snorkel here can be done at most times of the day, but high tide is the best time as the entrance is easier. Photographers will be delighted with the macro life where they can spot many kinds of shrimps and crabs, snake and moray eels, nudibranchs, flatworms, and other marine life like gobies, egg cowries, butterfly-fish, wrasse, damsel-fish, blue spotted stingrays, puffer-fish.
Fish Alley, Boat entry, from 3 to 30m (in places sheer wall drops to 60m+). Fish Alley offer suitable conditions for all levels of divers and snorkelers. Therefore it is an ideal place to go when part of the group wants to dive and part wants to snorkel, everyone will leave the water with smiles in their faces. The shallowest part have a little bit of all, coral bommies, sea grass and the top of the wall. Coral bommies offer every one his own patch of coral with plenty of colours. Garden eels, cowries, ribbon eels, gobies, sand perches, mullets and puffers are found. This is a site where many fish come to visit cleaning stations; bi-colour and common cleaner wrasse compete to service the gills, skins and fins of all kinds of clients, sometimes not much bigger than themselves. Lyre tail and saddle back hog-fish are usually seen around as well as the Indian and African sand wrasse.
All equipment is available at the Nuarro Activity Centre.
Whale Watching
Nuarro is a fantastic place for whale watching. The calm blue water and close droop off allow us spectacular sights of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) during our winter. Humpbacks can be seen from the comfort of your chalet, or you can venture out with us on the boat for a close encounter. During whale watching with the Nuarro team you will receive in-depth information about them, assist in research and even have a chance to listen to the magical song of the whales with the assistance of a hydrophone. Of course, the quality of the encounter does not depend only on us as whales are a wild animal, however we will do our best to offer you the best whale experience in Mozambique.
The whale season starts in July and ends in November, with the peak season in August and September. Each year the pregnant humpback whales move from the cooler Antarctic waters to the east coast of Southern African to give birth and nurture their calves, before making the voyage back down to their summer feeding grounds. Sometimes you can also hear the whales singing underwater when snorkelling or diving!
Did you know ...
- Humpback's can grow to around 16m long, weighing between 30-50 tons.
- Females are larger than males
- Distinctive white patches on the underside of the fluke (tail) are like fingerprints.
- Baleen whales are seasonal feeders and carnivores that filter tiny crustaceans , plankton and small fish.
- Eat around 2 tons of food, normally in two feedings, per day.
- Can dive for up to 30 minutes and to a depth of 150-200m)
Can often be seen:
- Spyhopping (bobbing with their head out the water to look around)
- Lobtailing (sticking their tails out the water, swinging it around and then slapping the waters surface)
- Breaching (launching their bodies high out the water and splashing down again)
Massage Treatments
One of the best activities is doing “nothing”.
Maria, our Mozambican masseuse, who was born and lives in Baxio do Pinda (the village) has no formal training, but has learnt her trade from many mentors. She provides the most relaxing back and full body massages under the trees on the beach, this is certainly the best venue for a massage surrounded by ocean energies, breeze and sunshine. Rejuvenate body, mind and soul at this special holiday destination.
Feel her midas touch, and relax and enjoy!
(Massage in chalet is also one of the possibilities)
Other Activities
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking is a wonderful way to discover the Baixo-do-Pinda peninsula. Cycle to the old Portuguese lighthouse in the village and enjoy spectacular views.
There are currently 10 BTT mountain bikes, with standard equipment. For the land-lovers, or for a change of scenery from the beach, grab a bike (and some water) and cycle down to the lighthouse (around 45 minutes), or for a closer experience, peddle over to the private beach for a quick swim and back again (around 15 minutes).
Bird Watching
The Nuarro peninsula has a large variety of birds, and this is an informal activity, that all guests partake in (whether they want to or not), as the sounds and sights of the feathered friends are a 'normal' daily sight. If you venture out to the mangrove by kayak, you have a good chance of seeing various species of kingfisher. In and around the lodge, you are likely to see the lilac breasted rollers, and the brutalise coucal, to name but a few.
Beach Picnic
A dream comes true during your Beach Picnic. The ultimate indulgence! Allow yourself to be taken by boat (or road) to one of the deserted beaches and enjoy a delicious picnic prepared by the chef of the restaurant at Nuarro.
Spend your day soaking up the sun, reading a great book, swimming in the sea and tantalising your taste buds with Chef’s wonderful array of beach snacks, which include fresh wraps, samosa’s and other delectable surprises!
Dhow Sailing
The dhow is a traditional boat used by locals for transporting goods and for fishing in the bay. Pack some sundowners and snacks and you can sail a beautiful hand crafted local dhow. It is imperative that a booking is made for this prior to your arrival, as we do not have our own dhow and prefer to support the local community, which takes some arranging. Sailing trip on this elegant wooden boat is an experience that all guests entering Mozambique should have!
Kayaking
Simply spectacular is the Sea Kayaking activity in the bay. Visit the pristine beaches situated between majestic rock formations. Pamper yourself with a delicious picnic delivery. Do not forget to kayak through the mangroves. An experience never to be forgotten.
Nuarro has 3 single and 2 double kayaks (Nomad Feelfree) sit on top sea kayaks that can either be taken by the confident paddlers for an early morning or sunset (or anytime) kayak.
Some guests have had some wonderful dolphin (and even whale) interactions on our sea kayaks in the past, so try your luck!
Guided tours through the mangroves … The mangrove trip departs by boat, which takes around 20 minutes to the entrance of the mangrove, where the kayak route will start for around 30-45 minutes. The tour can only be done between the tides to be able to see crabs, mudskippers and some birds, like the kingfisher.
Paddling Board
There is no better way of exploring the bay of cruising on a paddle board. Paddling is about having endless fun and getting remarkably fit at the same time. It also happens to be one of the fastest growing water sports in the world.
Cultural Village Tour
From Nuarro you can easily go for a Cultural Village Tour and visit the local village of Nanatha where you can meet the local Macua population. Learn more about the work that Nuarro is doing, and how your stay at Nuarro contributes to the village and the community. Visit the school and meet the teachers. Have a tour through the Mosque, and wonder around to the football field, where you may be lucky enough to catch a competitive, but festive game!
The tour is taken by our community representative, Feliciano and takes around 1 hour, but you can really make this as long or as short as you like!
View Nuarro Lodge
Click on the tabs above for more information
