Mussulo's main draw is its beaches. The lagoon side — facing the mainland — offers calm, warm, shallow water that is ideal for swimming and wading, and is where most of the beach bars and restaurants cluster. The ocean-facing side is quieter and wilder, with open Atlantic swells and long stretches of nearly empty sand.
Boat trips are easy to arrange from the restaurants and lodges along the lagoon. Local fishermen sometimes offer informal tours, and it is worth asking around. The island itself is long and narrow enough that walking along the shoreline is one of the best ways to explore — early mornings are particularly peaceful before day-trippers arrive from Luanda.
Birdwatching along the lagoon edge can be rewarding. Herons, kingfishers, and various waders are regularly seen in the reed margins and mudflats at either end of the island. The mangrove patches near the northern tip shelter both birds and juvenile fish.