Mozambique borders with five African countries and 2,500 km of Indian Ocean so has obvious potential as an extension to a safari holiday in one of the land-locked African countries. The mighty Zambezi River crosses the middle of the country and effectively divides it in two.
To the north the country is at its most basic with poor roads and little infrastructure. Ilha do Mocambique, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site, is one of Mozambique’s treasures but the journey is either expensive or arduous. The south, however, has seen a concerted effort to raise the standards and opportunities for international travellers. The colonial Portuguese coastal city of Maputo is certainly an eye-opener. Here the atmosphere is positively buzzing and Mediterranean with street cafes, tree-lined boulevards and good restaurants.
Without a shadow of a doubt, at this stage of redevelopment it is the coast which, deservedly, provides the reason to visit Mozambique. The beaches are unbelievable beautiful; long stretches of empty, palm-backed sand, lapped by the ocean. Off the coast is the Bazaruto Archipelago, consisting of the islands of Bazaruto itself, Benguerra and Magaruque.
The potential of these islands was recognized a few years ago and they have developed ahead of the rest of the country. Here the international visitor will find not only fabulous scenery but also excellent places to stay in the style of ‘barefoot luxury’. The birding, as in the rest of the country, is fantastic but offshore the ocean calls. The diving, snorkelling and game fishing here rank amongst the best the world can offer. In particular the Bazaruto area supports a tiny but viable population of one of the planets most fascinating creatures, the greatly endangered dugong, a whale like mammal.
As Mozambique redevelops tourist opportunities will increase and we will keep our clients up to date with this. At present, however, the coast is more than enough reason to make a visit.
