Murrebue Lagoon
Pemba (Cabo Delgado) - Mozambique
Spot Type
Flat
Water
Crystal Clear
Beach
Sand
Rider Lever
beginner
Spot characteristics
Spot Type
Flat
Rider Skill
beginner
Crowd
No People on the Spot
Beach Type
Sand
Water Quality
Crystal Clear
Tide Influence
All tide levels with different conditions (chop - flat - wave)
Description of Murrebue Lagoon (Mozambique)
Murrebue Lagoon in the northern reaches of Mozambique is one of those kitesurfing destinations that genuinely deserves a place on the list of spots to visit before anything else gets in the way. The crystal clear water and the quality of the African light reflecting off the lagoon create a setting that is striking from the moment you arrive, and the conditions that the spot delivers across different tide states give it a versatility that keeps sessions varied and interesting across an extended stay.
At low tide the lagoon opens up into a vast expanse of flat and shallow water stretching for kilometers in every direction, with sandbanks emerging across the riding area that add an element of navigation and creativity to what would otherwise already be an excellent flat water session. The freedom of riding across a shallow lagoon of this scale, with clear visibility to the sandy bottom below and no crowds to work around, is the kind of experience that flat water enthusiasts specifically travel to find.
As the tide comes in, the character of the spot shifts entirely. The lagoon develops a lively chop that changes the feel of the riding, and for those willing to venture further out, the reef sits approximately 3 kilometers from the shore and offers a wave break that is safe enough to session properly while still delivering the kind of ride that makes the paddle out worthwhile. Having both a world-class flat water option and a reef wave within the same spot and accessible on the same day depending on the tide is a combination that very few destinations anywhere in the world can genuinely offer.
The result is a spot that works across virtually every kitesurfing style and preference. Beginners and freestyle riders will find the low tide lagoon as forgiving and enjoyable as any flat water spot in Africa, while wave riders and more adventurous kiters have a reef session waiting for them as soon as the tide cooperates. That range of experiences within a single location is ultimately what puts Murrebue Lagoon in a category of its own in this part of Mozambique.
For further info you can read the related blogpost:
North Mozambique: the Undiscovered Kite Paradise
"There are very popular kite destination and there are some which are unknown treasures to go kiting to."
Spot Gallery (10)
Spot best suited for
Spot profile
Travel spot
The typical kite travel destination, it is known for its great conditions, and kiters from around the world come here for their vacations.
Adventure spot
That dream place out of the normal touristic routes. Once you reach it, you feel in paradise, it can be anything extraordinary, a hidden gem, remote and fascinating.
Equipment
Shorty for the cold season (from June to September)
Wind Conditions
Main wind directions
% of Windy days per month
Wind Speed Range
From 13 to 25 Knots
Suggested sizes
8 - 9 mt
10 - 11 mt
12 - 13 mt
14 mt and above
Forecast on Windy.com
Dangers
At low tide, there are areas with a completely safe sandy bottom. Some spots have rocks and around these areas there it is plenty of sea urchins, but they are very clearly visible and distinct from white sand areas. At high tide, the bottom is not reachable so no particular dangers.
Location
Closest City
Pemba (Cabo Delgado)
How to get There
Drive out of Pemba past the airport in direction of Mecufi, After 1 km past the crossroad to Mecufi hit the road down to the beach. There are several places to stop along the beach, the best is at Il Pirata, where you can also stay or just have great Italian food at their restaurant. There are different accomodation places on the beach including the same Pirata.
Access
To reach the spot it is needed 4x4 car. Various places to stop and a couple of restaurants on the beach to have good lunch in between the sessions.
What to do besides kitesurfing
Pemba is the nearest city and serves as the main urban reference point for riders based at Murrebue. Accommodation in the city tends to be more budget friendly than the options directly on the beach, but for anyone whose primary reason for making the trip is the kitesurfing, staying at Murrebue rather than commuting in from Pemba each day is strongly advisable. The time saved and the immediacy of waking up next to the lagoon make the difference in price worth paying for a kite-focused trip.
Pemba is worth visiting for an evening out, with restaurants and nightclubs concentrated around Wimby Beach providing a lively enough scene to make the short trip into the city a natural way to break up a longer stay at the lagoon. The contrast between the isolation of Murrebue during the day and an evening on Wimby Beach gives the trip a pleasant rhythm that prevents the remoteness of the spot from feeling limiting after several days.
For those with an appetite for broader exploration, the surrounding region has two destinations that stand out as genuinely worth organizing trips around. Ibo Island and the Quirimbas Archipelago offer a level of historical character and natural beauty that is rare even by the standards of northern Mozambique, and spending time there adds a dimension to the overall trip that goes well beyond the kitesurfing. Pemba itself has Portuguese colonial ruins and traditional markets that can be comfortably covered in a half day and provide a compact but rewarding window into the history and everyday life of this corner of Africa.
Video about Kite Spot
This amazing video was made by Charlotte Consorti and Bruno Dubosq during their visit to Murrebue lagoon in 2015. The video, part of their 'KITESURFING PARADISE' series on youtube, shows the beauty of the lagoon and its changing colors and nuances during the different tide moments.