Ibo Island Flights

Please download our PDF for additional information.

FLIGHTS TO PEMBA:

If you are picking up your SA Airlink OR LAM flight tickets at Johannesburg International Airport, please have your reference number available and redeem your tickets at the SA AIRLINK OR LAM check in counter.
If there are any problems with your check in or with your tickets, please contact
Jo-Anna Collard in our central reservations office based in Cape Town, South Africa on +27 82 418 8802 OR +27 72 522 0119.

IF TRAVELING VIA MAPUTO ON LAM:

It is approximately an hour's flight from Johannesburg to Maputo.
Whilst on board ensure you receive and complete a Mozambique entry form.
On arrival in Maputo you must disembark form the plane taking all your hand luggage with you. Your luggage in the hold remains on board.
You must cross the tarmac following the signs “transito”.
On entry into the terminal, you must queue up to receive your boarding card for the next leg of the journey. Ensure you have the stub from your boarding card from Johannesburg to Maputo to give to the LAM staff. You may not be in the same seat for the next leg of the journey.
Whilst in the queue your passport and completed landing card will probably be collected by an official and taken to passport control.
Once you have your new boarding card proceed round the corner to passport control. Here you must pay US$25 – US$35 per person in cash for your visa (SA residents do not need visas). We would advise on small notes. You will probably have to wait a while whilst the visa is processed.
Once your passport has been returned to you, you go through the door marked “transito/transfers” and you will be guided back to the plane.

Departing from Pemba: please have US$3 – US$5 per person available for ‘stamp duty’ when passing through security after check in.

ARRIVING IN PEMBA AND TRANSFERS TO IBO ISLAND:

You will arrive at Pemba International Airport in the Cabo Delgado province of northern Mozambique – the gateway to the Quirimbas Archipelago.

You will disembark the plane and walk across to the small Pemba arrivals room. If you are booked on a direct flight to Pemba (i.e. not via Maputo) you will need to clear customs, and immigration formalities before leaving the arrivals area. If you have flown via Maputo you will normally have cleared formalities there. [If you are flying via Maputo you may have to clear immigration or customs before proceeding to Pemba. Follow notes above]

Please do note that should customs officials suggest that your luggage or paper work is not in order it could indicate that they are hoping for some form of ‘extra’ payment. Stay calm and do not part with any cash. You have rights as a tourist to import your goods temporarily so stand your ground in a firm but polite way.

Once you have collected your luggage and cleared formalities you will be met by a representative of Ibo Island Lodge who should be holding an Ibo Island Lodge sign board: His name is Oscar Soares and his contact number is +258 82 661 9500.

In the unlikely event that you are not met, please call Jo-Anna Collard directly (based in head office in South Africa) on + 27 21 702 0285.

Depending on the time of your air transfer to Ibo Island, the Ibo Island Lodge Representative will either escort you directly to the plane or to the waiting room for your flight to Ibo Island. In the event that there is no immediate connection, you will have the choice of transferring to the Pemba Beach Hotel in their bus for refreshments, or do an optional city tour of Pemba if time allows.

*All transfers, day facilities, city tours, drinks or meals ordered in Pemba or at the hotel are to your own account and must be settled before departure to Ibo Island.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING AIR TRANSFERS TO THE ISLANDS:

NB: Please note that there is a strict restriction of 15 kg per person of SOFT luggage including hand luggage. If this is not adhered to, the pilot may be forced to leave the bags behind.

In an effort to keep the cost of the air transfers reasonable, the lodges in the region co-operate to share daily schedules where ever possible. The rate you have been quoted is therefore ‘a seat in a plane rate’ rather than a charter rate, which means that guests fit into the combined lodge requirements of each day as opposed to a private plane charter. Private charters are available on request at the time of booking Ibo Island Lodge, but are more expensive.

The final flight schedules to the islands are usually only confirmed on the day of travel, and therefore you must understand that occasionally there are changes in these times or situations where you may have to be transferred to the Pemba Beach Hotel to wait for a later re-schedule.

The Quirimbas Archipelago is a remote and special destination and we do everything within our control to transfer our guests to Ibo Island as quickly as possible upon arrival in Pemba.

Should you wish to charter your own plane or helicopter to Ibo Island, this is possible but needs to be booked at the time of confirming your lodge booking.

All flights affords guests a chance to take a scenic flight over some of the Quirimbas Archipelago and it is breathtakingly beautiful and always a highlight.

*Any increases concerning flight transfers will be passed on to the guest as these are beyond Ibo Island Lodge's control.
* All flights are subject to standard aviation safety laws and weather conditions.

The air strip at Ibo Island is a grass strip in good condition, and you will be met by a member of the lodge team. If for any reason there is no one there to meet you (unlikely), please wait for a vehicle to arrive to collect you. It is a 40 min walk to the lodge, so please rather wait.