Mozambique is located in the south of Africa along South Africa, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Zambia. To the east, the country borders the Indian Ocean, with the island of Madagascar on the other side. The original inhabitants were Bantu peoples, but this quickly evolved due to the location of the country, close to the Indian Ocean. Moreover, there was also a lot of Arab influence on Mozambique. For example, the country takes its name from Sultan Ali Musa Mbiki, from the Ilha de Mozambique. However, the strongest influence comes from Portugal, which colonized the country from 1505. The most spoken, and only official language, is still Portuguese, although it is usually as a second language. The country has been independent since 1975, but only since 1993 has there been a relatively stable presidential administration. Mozambique is 36th in the world ranking in terms of area, comparable to Turkey. There are five major rivers and four major lakes. The climate is tropical with two seasons: the wet season is from October to March, and from April to September it is dry. The largest cities are the capital Maputo, Inhambane, Beira and Chimoio. Check topmbadirectory for how to get to Mozambique.
Top 10 places of interest in Mozambique
#1. Ilha de Mozambique
The coral island “Ilha de Mozambique” is located along the north coast of Mozambique. For four centuries this was the epicenter of Portuguese East Africa, and that mix of European, Arab and Indian cultures is still visible. Mass tourism has not yet taken hold here, and when you wander around here it seems as if time has stood still. Nature is a real attraction. You can go snorkelling between mangroves, or visit Makuti Town, which is located below sea level. During the season you can even spot whales! In the shops you will find old silver jewellery, antique pottery and pieces of old stained glass windows.
#2. Gorongosa National Park
The Gorongosa National Park has a long history. Before the civil war in Mozambique, the park was already a hunting reserve and a national park. Now the government is working with the Carr Foundation/Gorongosa Restoration Project, an NGO from the United States, to rebuild the park. Thanks to the balance found between the needs of humans and animals, the park is now reviving. And sustainable tourism contributes to this. We also work closely with the local community to meet their needs. Without their support, tourists would not be able to enjoy all the beauty that the 4000 square kilometer park has to offer. Check simplyyellowpages for mass media and culture of Mozambique.
#3. Quirimbas Archipelago
Near the border between Mozambique and Tanzania, there are 32 coral islands off the coast of the port city of Pemba: the Quirimbas Archipelago. The largest island of this archipelago, Ibo, was once a busy place as a trading center. Now peace has settled. The pristine soft, white sand beaches are the ideal backdrop for a diving excursion. You then end up in undoubtedly one of the most beautiful locations in the world, with undamaged coral reefs because this paradise is so difficult to reach. In the evening you can wander over wide avenues between the dilapidated villas. On the island of Quirimba you can visit coconut plantations. On Rola you can marvel at the gigantic crabs that feast on coconuts at night. They shake them out of the tree themselves and then crack them with their enormous scissors.
#4. Inhambane
In the south of the country we find the picturesque town of Inhambane. Persian and Muslim traders have been landing here since the 11th century. The town is surrounded by Inhambane Bay, an inlet of the Indian Ocean. In this port city you will find authentic, colonial buildings in the center. And the old cathedral lends itself as the ultimate place to admire fantastic panoramas. Numerous stalls in the streets of Inhambane and in the lively market sell all kinds of merchandise, which is brought ashore in the morning by dhows (traditional, Arabian sailing ships).
#5. Limpopo National Park
This former hunting reserve, together with the famous “Kruger Park” in South Africa and the “Gonarezhou National Park” in Zimbabwe, forms the “Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park”. The fences across the borders were taken down piece by piece to give the animals free rein again in the immense natural park of more than 3 million hectares. If you want to go on safari, this is definitely the right place! You can encounter 150 species of mammals, 500 species of birds and an estimated 100 species of amphibians here. People and animals live side by side here, as you can see when you bump along the country roads. You can also spend the night here in the new Machampane tent camp.
#6. maputo
Maputo has been the capital of Mozambique since 1898, although it was still called Lourenço Marques until independence in 1976. With over a million inhabitants, Maputo is one of the largest cities in the country. In the Fere de Populare area you can enjoy the vibrant nightlife, while during the day you can feast your eyes on the eclectic architecture in the city. The town hall and the pearly white cathedral are definitely worth a visit. You can also walk over the largest suspension bridge in Africa, which runs between Maputo and Katembe. For those who like to soak up some culture, there is the Mozambique National Library, the Museum of Natural History and especially the Associação Núcleo de Arte.
#7. Inhaca
Between Maputo and the Indian Ocean is this small island of 52 square kilometers. The approximately 6,000 inhabitants live mainly from agriculture and fishing. Visitors can stay in one of the two hotels on the island, or if they prefer to spend the night less luxuriously, they can also set up their tent on the camping site. Inhaca village is about a five minute drive. The island is well known for its ecotourism and research, both on land and in the coral. Many diving excursions are offered for enthusiasts.
#8. Praia de Tofo
Once a small fishing village, today Praia de Tofo has grown into an international tourist attraction, ranging from luxurious 5-star resorts to backpacker accommodation. There are riding stables to ride into the sunset on the beach on horseback, and Dino’s Beach Bar made the top ten sexiest bars in the world in 2008. However, what most people mainly come for is the marine life. This is one of the few places in the world where people can meet the whale shark in person.
#9. Bazaruto National Park
This protected National Park is spread over six islands and a very large piece of ocean. The seven communities that live here, about 3,500 inhabitants, are mainly fishermen who live on what nature provides for them. However, the park attracts many tourists. Since 2011, 5 hotels have therefore committed themselves to making the most of sustainability and to allow the income to flow back to the residents, among other things by giving them work. The islands have a varied landscape, from sand dunes and forests to a savanna and lakes. In the ocean, the last surviving group of Indian manatees (dugong) lives among the dolphins and whales.
#10. Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi is one of Africa’s Great Lakes and is located at the border triangle between Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique. Since 2011, the part in Mozambique has been officially declared a reserve. It is the third largest and second deepest lake in Africa. Moreover, the variety in fish species here is greater than anywhere else. The fish are joined by crocodiles, hippos and monkeys, as well as a significant population of African Fish Eagles. It is therefore this breathtaking nature that attracts tourists. The beaches are also ideal for resting, but adventurers can also indulge in the various water sports.
