Search the site
Praia do Tofo, Inhambane, Mozambique

How to get to Tofo.

Via Inhambane. Every route in, public and private.

Tofo is reached through Inhambane — the only flights into Inhambane Airport are LAM hops from Maputo and Vilanculos, and the EN1 drive is paved the whole way. The last 22 km is the easiest leg in Mozambique.

Coming from abroad See all routes Ask about a transfer

Coming from abroad

Getting to Tofo
from overseas.

Every overseas traveller reaches Tofo through one of two gateways: Maputo (MPM) or Johannesburg (JNB). No international airline flies into Inhambane — the airport 30 minutes from the beach — so the trip is always two moves: a long-haul into the region, then one short hop or drive to the coast. Which gateway suits you depends less on where you’re flying from than on what day you land.

Via Maputo

Maputo is Mozambique’s only meaningful international airport, and the only gateway with a direct flight on to Inhambane. TAP Air Portugal flies nonstop from Lisbon, Qatar Airways from Doha, Ethiopian from Addis Ababa, and Airlink, LAM and others shuttle up from Johannesburg through the day. From the UK and most of Europe the Lisbon and Doha connections are the shortest way in — roughly 14–20 hours of total travel from London, with one stop.

From Maputo there are two ways to finish: LAM’s Inhambane hop (about an hour in the air, but only around three times a week — check current schedules), or the road, about 7 hours over 470 km of paved EN1. We run that leg door to door for $285 per vehicle.

Via Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the highest-frequency gateway to this coast, but nothing flies from there into Inhambane directly — that route doesn’t currently exist, whatever a booking engine implies. Two ways on: connect through Maputo and pick up the options above, or take Airlink’s daily nonstop to Vilanculos (about 1 hour 35), then come down the coast — roughly 5 hours by road, $190 per vehicle with us. Travellers pairing Tofo with the Bazaruto islands usually do it in this order anyway.

The part the booking sites don’t tell you

The LAM hop to Inhambane runs roughly three times a week, and a long-haul from Europe rarely lands on one of those days. That single fact decides most itineraries: plan the last leg as a road transfer by default and treat the flight as a bonus if your dates happen to line up. Nobody we’ve collected from Maputo has regretted the drive — the EN1 is paved the whole way, and you see the country instead of the inside of a second airport.

The honest version: land in Maputo, sleep there, and drive up fresh the next morning. Or land in Johannesburg, fly straight to Vilanculos, and take the coast road south. Both beat waiting three days for a connection.

Plan the journey

Getting to Tofo.

From Maputo

Tofo is reached via Inhambane — either fly to Inhambane Airport (INH) and transfer, or drive the EN1.

  • Fly (LAM) + transfer ~1h30 · from $100

    LAM hops Maputo → Inhambane (INH), then a 30-min transfer to Tofo.

    See this transfer

  • Self-drive on the EN1 ~7 hours · ~470 km

    Step-by-step
    1. Carry cash meticais for the toll gates, and keep each slip for the next one.
    2. From Maputo, take the ringroad and follow signs to Xai-Xai, then keep north to the Inhambane turn (~7 hours).
    3. Entering Inhambane, follow the signs for “Praia do Tofo”. Paved the whole way; the last 22 km is easy.
    Rent a car for this drive

  • Bus — Nagi, via Maxixe ~8–9 hours · from MZN 1,500

    Step-by-step
    1. Air-conditioned, reclining seats — the reliable bus option. Buy your ticket a day or two ahead at the Nagi office (Junta terminal); same-day isn’t recommended. Either way, be there well before the ~04:00 departure.
    2. The bus drops you in Maxixe — a midway stop, not the last one, so tell the driver you’re getting off there. Walk ~5 min to the ferry, leave luggage at the front (not at your seat), buy your ticket and wait; it leaves once full (~30 min wait, ~30 min crossing).
    3. Cross to Inhambane city, then walk to the market opposite.
    4. Take a chapa from there — ask for “Tofo” or “Praia do Tofo” (~25 MZN) — to Tofo Market. In a group or with luggage? We can drive you straight to your hotel instead.

  • EKAYA private transfer Private ~7 hours · $285 · 18,000 MZN

    Fixed-price, door-to-door, your timing.

    See this transfer

From Johannesburg

There’s no direct flight to Inhambane — the fastest air route is via Maputo: fly Johannesburg → Maputo, then the LAM hop to Inhambane (INH) and a 30-minute transfer to Tofo. Driving is also possible via the Lebombo or Kosi Bay border.

  • Fly (connect in Maputo) + transfer ~4–5h · from $350

    Step-by-step
    No direct flight to Inhambane — connect in Maputo. INH is 22 km from Tofo; transfer ~30 min. Leave a buffer so a LAM schedule shift doesn’t break the connection.
    See this transfer

  • Self-drive via Lebombo or Kosi Bay border ~12–14 hours · break overnight

    Step-by-step
    1. Plan ~13 hours of driving for the ~1,000 km — most people break overnight in Maputo. You could detour via eSwatini, Kruger, or the Panorama Route on the way.
    2. Cross during daylight at Komatipoort / Ressano Garcia (the SA–Mozambique border): it opens 06:00 in low season, 24h in high season. Ignore the “runners” touting fake help at the border — do the paperwork yourself (it’s easy) and check your passport stamps are dated correctly.
    3. Just before Maputo, take the ringroad and follow signs to Xai-Xai, then keep north to the Inhambane turn. Entering Inhambane, follow the signs for “Praia do Tofo”.
    4. SA-registered vehicles need a Mozambican third-party insurance disc. See our self-drive guide.

From Vilanculos

  • Self-drive Vilanculos → Tofo ~5 hours · ~315 km

    Step-by-step
    1. From Vilanculos, drive back to the EN1 and head south toward Maxixe, then on to Inhambane.
    2. Entering Inhambane, follow the signs for “Praia do Tofo”. Paved the whole way.
    Rent a car for this drive

  • Bus — Nagi, via Maxixe at least 7 hours · Bus from MZN 1,000 + ferry & chapa

    Step-by-step
    1. Buy your ticket a day or two ahead at the Nagi office in Vilanculos — same-day isn’t recommended, as buses fill up in high season. Several buses run; the earliest are faster, with fewer stops.
    2. It’s a pre-dawn departure, so arrange a ride to the stop the night before — we can run you there from your accommodation. Don’t expect a real terminal — buses line up on the main road with little signage, which is tricky in the dark or without Portuguese, and several leave at once, so double-check you’re on the right one.
    3. The bus drops you in Maxixe (~4 hours). It’s a midway stop, not the last one, so tell the driver you’re getting off there — it’s easy to doze off and miss it.
    4. From Maxixe, walk ~5 min to the ferry — really a big wooden boat. Leave luggage at the front (not at your seat), buy your ticket, and wait; it leaves once full (~30 min wait, ~30 min crossing).
    5. From the Inhambane jetty, walk to the market and take a chapa — ask for “Tofo” or “Praia do Tofo” (~25 MZN) — to Tofo Market. In a group or with luggage? We can drive you straight to your hotel instead.

  • EKAYA private transfer Private ~4.5 hours · $190 · 12,000 MZN

    See this transfer

From Inhambane

Tofo is just 22 km east of Inhambane city — the easiest leg in this whole table.

  • Self-drive ~30 min

    Paved road. Easy.

    Rent a car for this drive

  • Chapa (shared minibus) ~30–40 min · MZN 25 (more with big bags)

    Step-by-step
    Cheap and easy. Pick up from Inhambane bus terminal or near the market. Wait for the chapa to fill before it leaves.

  • Lodge or EKAYA transfer Private ~30 min · ~$25–40

    Ask about a private transfer

Common questions

Before you book.

What's the fastest way to get to Tofo?
Fly into Maputo, connect onto the LAM flight to Inhambane Airport (INH), then take a 30-minute transfer to Tofo. There's no direct international flight into Inhambane, so the Maputo connection is the quickest way in by air. The catch: that hop runs only around three times a week, so unless your arrival day lines up, the 7-hour road transfer from Maputo is faster in practice. Most lodges arrange the last leg; if yours doesn't, we can sort it.
How do I get to Tofo from the UK?
There are no nonstop flights from the UK to Mozambique, so it's two stages. Stage one — reach Maputo: the shortest routings from London are via Lisbon (TAP), via Doha (Qatar Airways), or via Johannesburg (BA or Virgin, then Airlink or LAM). Total travel time is roughly 14–20 hours with one stop. Stage two — reach Tofo: either LAM's Inhambane hop (about an hour, roughly three times a week) or the 7-hour road transfer up the EN1. An alternative worth pricing: fly to Johannesburg, take Airlink's daily nonstop to Vilanculos, then come 5 hours down the coast — often easier to schedule. See our flights guide for the full comparison.
How do I get to Tofo from the US or Europe?
Same two stages as the UK, with different first legs. From the US, the standard routings into Maputo are via Doha (Qatar), via Addis Ababa (Ethiopian), or via Johannesburg — 22–30 hours of total travel. From mainland Europe, Lisbon (TAP) is the shortest and usually the cheapest way in; Doha and Addis also work. Once you're in Maputo the last leg is identical: LAM's Inhambane hop when the day suits, otherwise the road.
Is there an airport in Tofo?
No — the nearest airport is Inhambane (INH), 22 km west of Tofo. The only flights in are LAM Mozambique hops from Maputo (about an hour, roughly three times a week) and Vilanculos (~45 min, around three days a week) — there are no direct international or Johannesburg flights to Inhambane.
How do I get from Inhambane Airport to Tofo?
A 30-minute drive on a paved road. Three options: lodge transfer (often included — check before you fly), EKAYA private transfer (~$25–40), or a chapa + taxi from town (cheap, slower, fine without big luggage).
How long does it take to drive from Maputo to Tofo?
About 7 hours, ~470 km on the EN1, paved the whole way. The last 22 km from Inhambane city to Tofo is paved and easy. Plan a fuel stop at Xai-Xai.
Is there a bus from Maputo to Tofo?
No direct bus — but the chain is straightforward, and plenty of travelers do it. Long-distance coaches (Nagi Investimentos and Etrago are the main operators) leave Maputo's Junta terminal around 04:00 and reach Maxixe in 8–9 hours. Maxixe is a midway stop, not the last one, so tell the driver you're getting off there. From the jetty it's a short ferry across the bay to Inhambane city, then a chapa on to Tofo (~MZN 25). Budget MZN 1,500 for the coach leg — that's the Maputo–Maxixe fare in the AMOTRANS fare table in force since 18 May 2026. Buy the ticket a day or two ahead at the Nagi office rather than same-day. Traveling in a group or with real luggage? We'll drive you door to door instead.
Can I drive from Johannesburg to Tofo?
Yes, but it's a 12–14 hour journey — most travelers break overnight in Maputo. Cross at Lebombo or Kosi Bay, head north on the EN1 to Maxixe, then east to Inhambane and on to Tofo. SA-registered vehicles need Mozambican terceiro insurance and a vehicle permit. See our self-drive guide.
How much is a chapa from Inhambane to Tofo?
Around MZN 25 per person — more if you have big bags. Chapas leave from the Inhambane bus terminal and the area near the market through the day, generally waiting until they're full before they go. Cash only.

Last reviewed:

From any airport, we can take it.

Tell us when you'll land at Inhambane (or Maputo, or wherever) and we'll have a driver waiting. Same goes if you're driving and want to break the trip.

Message us on WhatsApp

A reply in a few hours · English & Portuguese

Chat with us