A wooden boat under a palm at Praia do Vilanculos, Mozambique

Born here. Built here.

A small Mozambican operator, run by people who actually live here.

EKAYA is a locally-owned tour operator in Vilanculos, Mozambique, founded in 2026 by Alfredo — a Vilanculos local who has worked these waters his entire life. He started EKAYA for the simplest reason: he loves showing people his hometown.

The name EKAYA means “home” in Xitswa, the local language of the Inhambane coast. That’s the feeling we’re after — not a transaction, not a package. Just the kind of welcome you’d get from a friend who happens to live in one of the most beautiful corners of Africa.

Alfredo, EKAYA founder, in Vilanculos

Meet Alfredo

A lifetime on these waters.

Alfredo grew up on the beach at Vilanculos. As a kid, he was already out on the water with his family — learning to read the wind, the tide, and the fish from the men who’d been doing it their whole lives. Fishing came first. Then, as the islands started drawing more visitors, he moved into running boats — skippering dhow safaris and speedboats out to Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, and Santa Carolina.

These days he knows every reef, every sandbar, every island village. He knows which captain to call on a windy morning and which lodge owner will go out of their way for a guest with a story. EKAYA is what happens when someone with that much local knowledge decides to welcome guests under his own name.

The captains, guides, and lodges he sends you to are people he’s known for years — the ones he’d put his own family with. And every booking runs through Alfredo himself, from first message to last sunset, so you’re dealing with one person who lives here, not a faceless booking platform.

The short version

EKAYA at a glance.

Founded
2026, in Vilanculos
Based
Vilanculos, Inhambane Province, Mozambique
Locally owned
Yes — by Alfredo, a Vilanculos native
Languages
English, Portuguese, Spanish, Xitswa
We cover
Vilanculos, Bazaruto Archipelago, Tofo, Inhambane
How to reach us
WhatsApp +258 83 529 5850 — every message goes to Alfredo

The part we feel proudest of

The work and the money stay in the same town.

The captains we sail with live in Vilanculos. The lodges we send you to are run by people we know personally. School fees, boat repairs, the small businesses along the main road — they all benefit when bookings come straight to the people doing the work. It’s a small thing, but it’s a big part of why EKAYA exists.

Common questions

About EKAYA

What does EKAYA mean?
EKAYA means “home” in Xitswa, the local language spoken across the Inhambane coast of Mozambique. We picked it because that’s what we want guests to feel from the minute they message us — at home in a place that already feels like ours.
Who founded EKAYA?
EKAYA was founded in 2026 by Alfredo, a Vilanculos local who has worked these waters his entire life — first as a kid fishing with his family, then as a skipper running island trips to the Bazaruto Archipelago. He started EKAYA for the simplest reason: he loves showing people his hometown.
Where is EKAYA based?
We’re based in Vilanculos, on the southern coast of Mozambique in Inhambane Province. Vilanculos is the gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago — Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, and Santa Carolina islands. We also run trips out of Tofo, ~3 hours south.
Is EKAYA a locally-owned tour operator?
Yes. EKAYA is 100% locally owned. Alfredo was born and raised in Vilanculos and still lives here. Every booking goes to a Mozambican founder who knows the boats, the captains, and the islands personally.
What languages do you work in?
English, Portuguese, and Spanish for bookings and conversations. Alfredo also speaks Xitswa, the local language — useful for the small island villages we stop in. If you’d rather chat in another language, send the message anyway and we’ll figure it out.
Do you run all the tours yourselves?
We work with a small, hand-picked group of local captains, guides, and lodges Alfredo has known for years — people he’d send his own family to. Every booking goes through him personally, so you’re talking to one person from first message to last sunset, not a faceless booking platform.
How do I get in touch?
The fastest way is WhatsApp — every message goes straight to Alfredo and we usually reply within a few hours. Email works too if you prefer it: hello@beyondekaya.com.

Come home
to Mozambique.

Tell us when you’re coming and what you’re into. Alfredo will reply personally — usually within a few hours — with a rough plan, a price, and probably a photo of last night’s sunset.

Message Alfredo on WhatsApp

English · Portuguese · Spanish · Reply in a few hours

Chat with us