Bilene

Bilene sits on the Uembje lagoon, a large body of water separated from the sea by a sand bar that opens and closes with the years, so the lagoon is calm, shallow and warm while the ocean crashes a few hundred metres away. That makes it the safest swimming water on this coast and the reason it developed as a resort, with lodges along the shore and watersports on the lagoon. It is a weekend destination for Maputo and for South African visitors.

What you actually see

• The lagoon - a large sheltered body of warm shallow water behind a sand bar.
• The sand bar - the barrier separating the lagoon from the open sea.
• The watersports - kayaking, sailing and waterskiing on the flat water.
• The ocean beach - open surf on the seaward side of the bar.

When to go

May to September is the cooler dry season and the most comfortable. December and January bring South African holiday crowds. Summer is hot and humid with storms.

Honest expectations

The lagoon's water quality varies with how open the bar is and can be murky. Prices rise sharply over South African holidays. Development along the shore is uneven and some lodges are poorly maintained.

Nearby

Xai-Xai is northeast, and Macaneta is south.