Montego Resort Xai-Xai Mozambique

An Amazing & Authentic Mozambique Holiday Experience
Welcome to the New Montego resort, the true Mozambique holiday destination.

email: xaixai@go.mozbookings.com

Montego Resort is a tranquil and affordable Mozambique holiday destination for fun-loving and nature-orientated guests with its rustic bungalows, huts and terraced campsites nestled in the pristine coastal forest with large Milkwood trees and ancient cycads with their scarlet fruit.

The resort overlooks a unique stretch of the pristine Mozambique seascape where Pirates Point juts out to meet the famous Chongoene reef creating a sheltered little bay and where the colonial ruler, Senhor Alho (who gave his name to the area between Xai-Xai and Chongoene) had his holiday house right on the water’s edge and the ruins are being exposed by the waves at high tide.

With the Pirate Fish as our logo, Pirates point as our Restaurant & Bar named after the dune jutting out at the swimming bay, the theme of thepirates and their sailing ships are used throughout Montego Resort

Accommodation at Montego Resort Xai-Xai

Montego Accommodation

Our accommodation is designed with minimum impact on the environment but still providing comfort and privacy to our guests. The huts and bungalows utilizes the natural shade and thatched roofs as well as the cool sea breeze through large netted windows for natural cooling. Comfort is facilitated by clean and quality bedding, comfortable furniture, space and clean En-suite bathrooms. Our accommodation are not self-catering but coffee, tea, mugs and a kettle is provided in each of the huts.

Our camping sites are level, shaded and grass-covered with ample ablution, washing and braai facilities. Our communal braai area proves to be the gathering place after a day of fun in the sun.

Group Cabin - The Galleon
The Galleon is a single structure with two separate cabins situated 30 meters from the beach. The first cabin is two-roomed and sleeps 7 where the second sleeps 4 people. Each with an En-suite bathroom consisting of shower, toilet and basin as well as adequate storage space. Additional beds can be accommodated if required. The cabin is aimed at group accommodation or for two families. There is own designated parking, a private braai area and large veranda.

Family Chalets - The Bireme, Dromon & Dakar
Large single-roomed chalets nestled under shady trees with En-suite bathrooms consisting of shower, toilet and basin. The chalets sleep 4 with a double and two ¾ beds. Additional beds can be accommodated if required. The cabins are aimed at families or small groups and can easily accommodate 6. Own parking and braai area is provided.

Bungalows - The Schooner & Frigate
Large two-roomed bungalows with on–suite bathroom consisting of shower, toilet and basin. Each bungalow has a large patio with an exquisite view of the ocean . The bungalows sleeps 4 with a queen-size and two ¾ beds. Additional beds can be accommodated if required. The bungalows are aimed at families or small groups. Own parking and braai area is provided.

Duo Huts - The Dory, Caravel, Cutter & Corvette
Cosy single-roomed hexagonal huts tucked away under the trees with a double bed and En-suite bathroom aimed at individuals or couples. Small verandas with comfy chairs allow for relaxation in the shade. Own parking and braai area is provided.

Camping

Scattered between the large trees and huts are levelled and well shaded campsites with allocated electricity points for our camping guests. Campsites vary from small, single-tent sites to large caravan sites. Camp sites are configured to also facilitate group bookings. Large ablution blocks are there for the campers and hot water is provided via traditional “donkeys”. Washing up facilities (wash basin and tap) are scattered between sites, huts and houses and are there for the use of all guests. Private and beautiful communal braai areas allow for great interaction. The restaurant offers a limited but scrumptious menu and is available to all guests.

Activities at/nearby Montego Resort

Swimming & Sunbathing
The main gate of Montego is a mere 20 meters from the wide unspoiled beach and a safe swimming bay with beautiful rock pools, at low tides. Here one can lie and sunbath shaded from the wind or swim in the warm tropical waters of the Indian Ocean protected by the nearby Chongoene reef.
The natural gap in the reef, next to the bay, allows the waves to roll in onto the beach allowing the more energetic to play in the waves to their hearts’ content.

Whale & Turtle Watching
From June to October the hump back whales appear in the sea in front of Montego on their migration routes. Montego provides a lovely viewing deck where they can be seen spouting their plumes, broaching and flapping their large pectoral fins and tails as they play.
From time to time loggerhead turtles can also be seen feeding in front of the reef.

Fishing
With the sandy beaches, accessible reefs, with its coves and gullies, as well as the variety of offshore reefs,fishing of all kinds are catered for at Montego. Good rock and surf fishing is within walking distance with excellent catches reported right in front of the resort.

Safe launching of boats through a natural gap in the reef in front of Montego, is available. This allows the ski-boat fishermen the chance to tackle with the sought after game and large bottom fish species. With the Chongoene reef running parallel close to the beach and the natural launch site, Montego is especially ideal for kayak fishing.
Montego supports catch and release fishing practice.

Sightseeing & Photography
Mozambique is diverse in its history and traditions and provides for unbelievable natural, architectural and cultural sightseeing and photographic opportunities. The wide open beaches, meandering tracks, villages, towns and monuments allow for unlimited opportunities and amazing views. The natural wonders of the African sunrise and sunsets never fail to entrance the nature photographer.

Reef and Beach Combing
The Chongoene reef at Xai-Xai stretches for miles and miles. At low tide the molluscs gatherers can be seen all along the reef eeking out a living. This is a safe time to exploring all along the reef. The abundance of sea and plant life in the rock pools are amazing and allow for splendid photography. Protected tidal pools allow for a cooling dip before the next stage. Please ensure you have good shoes with strong soles as the reef can have very sharp protrusions. At high tide the the same area of pristine beach allows for interesting beach combing. Although many shells are damaged by the rocks some splendid examples survive for the lucky beachcomber.

Bird watching & Hiking
The beautiful unspoiled beach and pristine dune forest that goes on for miles in either direction allows for wonderful hiking and photography experiences. The pristine natural environment of the area allows for an abundance of bird life and is thus a bird watchers paradise. The beaches are flat for most of the time, then a few coves, then a rocky outcrop, then laden with washed up shells, endless dunes, all making for a memorable hiking and photography experience.

Restaurants & Dining out
Dining can be an interesting affair with the choice of “formal” restaurants and traditional informal eateries. Various restaurants are available within the four kilometers of the beach road into Praia with a wider selection available in Xai-Xai. Here one can enjoy a variety of traditional and exotic cuisine. Local seafood and chicken recipes with Portuguese and local influences are very popular. Most establishments sell a wide variety of local and imported beer, wine and malts.

Listed below are just a few:
Pirate`s Point Restaurant (Montego Resort)
Blue Dolphin Restaurant (Best Pizza in Town)
3M Restaurant in Xai Xai town
Peter George’s Chongoene Holiday Resort,
Haley, 2km south down the road

Shopping
Shopping in Mozambique can be a strange but very interested affair, as traditional and open air markets are now competing with modern shops and shopping chains like SaveRite, Builders warehouse, Shoprite etc. Other than fish and garden produce shopping is best done in Xai-Xai town itself. Most product and services like banks, telecoms, fuel, clothing, furniture, pharmacies, convenience stores, bottle stores, hardware, motor spares etc are adequately available in both the formal and informal sector.

Mozambique is known for its seafood and bread so make sure you visit the local bakeries where you can even buy “Hertzog koekies”, Do visit the well stocked fish markets but remember to be early.

For a very interested but sometime taxing shopping experience you have to visit the municipal open air markets. Make sure you know your prices and if you are prepare to haggle then you can find anything and everything, from the finest designer clothes to old rusted nails. As in the rest of Africa, sidewalk commerce is well practiced in Xai-Xai.

Some selective shopping opportunities are also available at Praia do Xai-Xai, at the beachfront and the circle at the entrance to the village.

Scuba diving & Snorkeling
Xai-Xai is recognized as a premier diving and snorkelling destination in Mozambique. With the Chongoene reef touching the beach at Pirate’s Point at Montego, excellent snorkeling opportunities exist on the inside and outside of the reef. Various offshore reefs exist in the area that provide the fish and other marine life that divers come to enjoy.