Get to Know Breathtaking Mozambique and its Lifestyle
With pearly white beaches and azure waters, Mozambique offers some of the most marine rich coastlines in Southern Africa and is fast becoming a popular place for travellers to enjoy their tropical island getaway.
With warm water from the Indian Ocean lapping in waves it’s no wonder tourists flock to this destination but the real show stoppers are the Bazaruto Archipelago and Quirimbas Archipelago islands lying just offshore.
Enjoy the island life Mozambique has to offer – snorkel, be lazy in the sunshine or set sail on a luxurious cruise on its beautiful clear waters. Although Mozambique is filled with beaches, it’s a great destination for safari tours as there are various national parks, like Gorongosa National Park, which has a reputation for its diverse array of wildlife.
Climate & When to Visit
Mozambique has a tropical climate with warm temperatures stretching all year-round. April through to September is the dry season with cooler temperatures at night. December through to March is the wet season for Mozambique and causes some roads to become impassible at that time of the year.
The best time to visit the city capital, Maputo, is during December and January.
Maputo
With its Mediterranean-style architecture, Maputo claims the title of being Mozambique’s capital city. Well known as an Ivory and slave trade centre in the colonial years, Inhambane was the centre of trade for the then Portuguese East Africa.
Not to be missed is the massive municipal market where local woman vends an array of seafood and spices. Maputo’s former name was Lourenco Marques, which was the name of the Portuguese sailor who landed there in 1544.
The beaches just outside Inhambane are well known by locals and holidaymakers alike for their close proximity to various scuba diving reefs. Today can be spent at leisure enjoying the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, taking a dive to explore the abundant marine life, or browsing the busy “Mecado Central” (central market), or exploring the beach on horseback.
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi stretches to around 563 km, making it the ninth-largest lake in the world and the third-largest and second deepest in Africa.
Lake Malawi is also home to more species of fish than any other lake which includes 700 types of cichlids. Cichlids are little, colourful fish which flicker in the shallows.
It’s often described as the “Lake of Stars” because of the many fishing boats drifting on the water at night, with their lanterns visible from shore.
Vilankulos
A small, coastal town in Mozambique lying in the Vilanculos District of Inhambane Province, is a town called Vilankulos. Named after the local tribal chief, Gamela Vilankulo Mukoke, this town has been growing immensely over the last decade because of its tourism infrastructure.
Vilankulos is the gateway to Bazaruto Archipelago – a cluster of six islands off Mozambique’s coast. It’s a tropical paradise for fisherman, beach lovers, and scuba divers alike.
Places to Explore in Mozambique
Bazaruto Archipelago
Bazaruto Archipelago, known for its white-sand beaches, is a cluster of six islands found off the coast of southern Mozambique. The islands lie within the Bazaruto National Park and the coral reefs found around the Santa Carolina and Magaruque islands help protect the rare marine animals inhabiting the area.
Fun Fact: Bazaruto and Benguerra are the two largest islands.
Quirimbas Islands
Just off the northern coast of Mozambique inside the Indian Ocean, is the Quirimbas Archipelago. Many of the islands form part of the Quirimbas National Park, well-known for its coral reefs and waters home to whales, dolphins, and endangered dugongs aka sea cows.
Quirimbas National Park
Located in the Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique is the Quirimbas National Park. This protected area, established in 1971, encompasses the southern part of the Quirimbas Islands. It also covers a large area of the mainland, covering a total of 1430 km².
Gorongosa National Park
The Gorongosa National Park is a preserved area found in the Great Rift Valley and is home to hippos, lions, and elephants. Lake Urema and the wetlands and rivers surrounding it attract flocks of water birds.
Maputo Special Reserve
The Maputo Special Reserve is located about 100 km southeast of Maputo, on Maputo Bay. Originally proclaimed in 1932, the reserve stretches across 1040 km² of land.
The reserve, formerly known as the Maputo Elephant Reserve, was opened to protect the ecosystems and wildlife of the Maputaland area. It also forms links between coastal, marine, and inland areas.
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