Inhaca is an island in the Maputo bay. Santa Maria is the very end of the peninsula within the Maputo National Park Both are popular tourist destinations and once you know how, are easily accessible. The two are separated by a very short channel of sea called Hell’s Gate. As the name describes, water can rush through here at a fast pace making it pretty rough.
Driving
As Inhaca is an island it cannot be reached by car. Although if you get to Santa Maria (as explained below) you may be able to get a boat across the channel. There is no official service and you would need someone to collect you on the other side.
Santa Maria can be reached by driving through the Maputo National Park. The road turns off the main Ponta Do Ouro to Maputo road at the National Park entrance. This makes it easily accessible from the Kosi Bay border (to South Africa) and from Maputo. You will need to pay to enter the Park and register at the gate. The prices are low and variable depending on your country of residence. From this point, it is a long drive over sand roads. This can only be done with 4×4 vehicles with deflated tyres. There is little mobile signal within the park and few other vehicles so it is recommended to do this drive with at least two vehicles.
Boat
Ferry
There is a public Inhaca ferry. At the time of writing this leaves Maputo in the morning and returns later in the afternoon every day. I have received various reviews of using the public ferry from it being simple and a good ride, to it being more difficult. It is a cheap option, being only a couple of hundred Mts and is pretty reliable. The ferry leaves from the jetty at the end of Avenida 10 Novembro. Sitting on the top deck costs slightly extra but is recommended. The jetty on Inhaca has broken so small boats ferry you to the shore. There is no need, and probably no way, to book in advance. You cannot take vehicles on the ferry.
Scheduled Charter boat
Number One Boat Company dominates the boat market in Maputo. They often have scheduled weekend transfers to Santa Maria, Inhaca, or both. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for details. The scheduled trips leave Friday afternoons and return Sunday afternoons. The timings vary depending on the tide. There is plenty of space in the boats for luggage and they will help you with it. The boats leave from the harbour by the Maputo Waterfront restaurant. There is a small daily parking fee here.
Charter a boat
There are now a number of businesses offering this service in Maputo. You can find them here. You can choose your own trip timings, but only within the restrictions of the tide.
On arrival
In Santa Maria, if the tide is right you can be taken in front of your lodge by the boat. Make sure they know where you are going. In Inhaca if you tell the lodge when you are arriving, most will collect you from the harbour.
The crossing
The boat trip is across Maputo bay. The bay is fully sheltered from ocean waves and the state of the sea is entirely determined by the wind. On windy days the sea can be rough. But it is rare for boats not to be able to travel. The trip on charter boats can be chilly in the breeze even on warm days.
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