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	Mozambico

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Mozambique Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Tofo Beach Tofo Beach Abdul R. Mozambique is located in Southern Africa along the coast of the Indian Ocean between Africa and Tanzania. It also shares a border with Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Zambia. The former Portuguese colony was once a premier destination for wealthy European tourists. Civil war, however, destroyed much of the country's infrastructure leaving tourists, let alone the local population, with sparse options. The warring factions, Renamo and Frelimo, came to terms on a peace agreement in 1992 and the country has since enjoyed a renaissance among adverturous travelers. It's proximity to South Africa has resulted in a steady influx of investment into tourism facilities along the south-east coast of the country. Mozambique has some of the best beaches on the East African coast, offering azure waters, coral reefs and subtropical islands. Tourists are flocking to hot spots such as Tofu, Vilankulos and the Bazaruto Archipelago. The capital Maputo is located in the very south of the country, a stones throw from the South African and Swazi borders. Scheduled buses ply the 6-hour route from Nelspruit and Johannesburg (8 hours) to Maputo. Heading into Swaziland, minibuses leave Maputo every hour just east of the central market. Bill's Bus now offers convenient service between Swaziland-Maputo-Tofo Beach. While run-down, dark and somewhat unnerving, the capital Maputo is not without it's charms. The picturesque train station, designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1910, is just one of many beautiful spots around the city that speak to the country's European influences. For a more traditional feel, the bustling central market teems with life - especially seafood. Prawns are a Mozambican specialty and fisherman bring them in by the truckload around dusk. A definite highlight is the Maputo fish market, located on north end of Avenida Marginal. This is the first stop for local fisherman who unload the best of their catch here before heading into town. The market is surrounded by small bars and restaurants that will cook your purchase for a small fee - which may or may not include a few of your shrimp! Heading north out of Maputo most travelers make their first stop in Inhambane, which is the transit point for the beautiful beaches in Tofu. Inhambane is a non-descript, sleepy little town. A wide boulevard sweeps through the middle of town where you can find the main market, small shops and absolutely phenomenal fresh bread. Internet is available in Inhambane, just ask around to see which one is open. Power shortages limit availability. Minibuses run regularly from just behind the market to Tofu (10,000 meticals in 2004). Tofu consists of a pristine mile-long beach, complete with gorgeous sunsets and amazing surf. Several backpacker lodges have been set up along the beach with dorms, singles and camping. Few travelers venture far past Tofu. The surf/dive mecca of Vilankulos lies approximately 300 km up the highway from Tofu. Part of the Bazaruto Archipelago this beautiful area allows travelers to sail under the night skies on traditional dhows, go big game fishing or simply enjoy the surf. The Northern stretch of Mozambique, from Beira through to the Tanzanian border is as rough as it gets. Lonely stretches of surprisingly decent highway give way to dusty one-horse towns. Once the dust clears however towns such as Pemba, la Ilha de Mocambique and the Querimba Archipelago offer a phenomenal glimpse into a much less frequented part of Mozambique. Regular luxury bus service makes travel in this area a relatively easy proposition. Be forewarned that travel in Mozambique is not all fun and games. Tourists are frequently pulled aside and asked for their documents so be sure to carry at least a photocopy of your passport at all times. More importantly, millions of landmines remain scattered throughout the countryside. Do not walk off the beaten path. Annual flooding means that areas that were once considered safe are off limits. And like in any big city, use common sense to avoid being rendered a victim. Crime isn't abnormally high in Mozambique but big, dark cities aren't always friendly so be on guard at night. Do so and you'll quickly find that Mozambique is one of the friendliest places in Africa. Locals will welcome you with massive smiles and shouts of Bom Dia! Don't miss out on this amazing piece of Africa. _______Getting Around Edit This view of maputo beach view of maputo beach Yawat Djamen William The bus is about the best means of getting around Mozambique. There are buses running between major towns usually once a day at least. There are three main private companies and each has express lines (which means less slow not particularly quick). Where the roads are well maintained this is a good way to go. Where the roads are in rough shape (and that includes nearly all rural areas) you'll probably have to use converted passenger trucks called chapa-cems (short for 'tin one-hundreds' and usually just called chapas) to get around. LAM has flights inside Mozambique connecting Maputo Beira Tete and other cities. Flights are frequently delayed or cancelled; baggage is frequently lost or tampered with. There are also twice-weekly flights between the capital and the Bazaruto Archipelago. Sabin Air a private charter airline can fly you just about anywhere you like though it's more expensive than LAM. If you're driving your own vehicle in Mozambique the police have a reputation for finding problems trivial and imagined with vehicles for which large 'fines' are imposed. If you're polite have your vehicle and papers in strict order and obey all the road rules you stand less chance of being hassled. Cars can be hired in Maputo and Beira where several major and a few local agencies have depots. The airport is about 1km north-west of the city centre. Taxis and buses are available. The train station and minibus depot are at the southern edge of the city. [Add Local transport mode] Pauline Bannon Edit This Looking for a cheap way and the quickest way to get from mozambique to south africa. we are entering from malawi. around 25th july 08. 3 girls. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 07793710666 address: Flat 0/1 6 Rupert Street email: paulinebannon@yahoo.co.uk __________Getting There Edit This Flights to Mozambique Maputo: LAM- Mozambique Airline, the national carrier and biggest airline in the country link Maputo with Johannesburg, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Durban and Lisbon. Nampula / Pemba: LAM operates 3x weekly flights to Nampula, Pemba from Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and 2x weekly flights from Nairobi (Kenya). Flights from DAR operate every Tue, Thu and Sat and from NAIROBI operate every Tue and Sat. The best convenient options to get to Mozambique include flying to Nairobi or Dar es Salaam and connecting with LAM flights to Mozambique. ___________Economy Edit This Economy—overview: Before the peace accord of October 1992 Mozambique had been devastated by civil war and was one of the poorest countries on the globe. Prospects subsequently improved and with its solid economic performance in 1996-97 Mozambique has begun to exploit its sizable agricultural hydropower and transportation resources. Foreign assistance programs help supply the foreign exchange required to support the budget and pay for imports of goods and services. The restoration of electrical transmission lines to South Africa and the completion of a new transmission line to Zimbabwe (permitting the giant Cahora Bassa hydropower plant to export large amounts of electricity) proposed construction of a natural gas pipeline to South Africa and reform of transportation services will greatly improve foreign exchange receipts. The Mozambique and South African Governments are developing the Maputo corridor linking the port of Maputo with Witbank South Africa. In the past few years more than 700 state enterprises have been privatized including the country's largest commercial bank and a number of sizable manufacturing firms. Other pending reform measures are the reform of tax collection and the facilitation of private enterprise in the transportation energy and telecommunications sectors. GDP: purchasing power parity—$14.6 billion (1997 est.) GDP—real growth rate: 8% (1997 est.) GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$800 (1997 est.) GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 35% industry: 13% services: 52% (1996 est.) Inflation rate—consumer price index: 5.8% (1997) Labor force: NA by occupation: 80% engaged in agriculture note: in 1993 47% of the wage earners were employed in industry 28% in transportation and communication; traditionally a large number of Mozambicans work abroad Unemployment rate: NA Budget: revenues: $324 million / expenditures: $600 million including capital expenditures of $310 million (1996 est.) Industries: food beverages chemicals (fertilizer soap paints) petroleum products textiles cement glass asbestos tobacco Industrial production growth rate: NA Agriculture—products: cotton cashew nuts sugarcane tea cassava (tapioca) corn rice tropical fruits; beef poultry Exports: total value: $226 million (f.o.b. 1996 est.) commodities: shrimp 40% cashews cotton sugar copra citrus partners: Spain South Africa Japan Portugal US Imports: total value: $802 million (c.i.f. 1996 est.) commodities: food clothing farm equipment petroleum partners: South Africa 38% US Japan Portugal France Debt—external: $5.7 billion (December 1997) Economic aid: recipient: ODA $NA Currency: 1 metical (Mt) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: meticais (Mt) per US$1—11 635.0 (January 1998) 11.543.6 (1997) 11 293.8 (1996) 9 024.3 (1995) 6 038.6 (1994) 3 874.2 (1993) Fiscal year: calendar year _________People Edit This Niassa lake population Niassa lake population Gianni Morselli Population: 18 641 469 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 4 129 779; female 4 232 091) 15-64 years: 53% (male 4 807 742; female 5 043 299) 65 years and over: 2% (male 177 895; female 250 663) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: 2.57% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 43.52 births/1 000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 17.81 deaths/1 000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1 000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 120.26 deaths/1 000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.37 years male: 44.22 years female: 46.55 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 6 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican Ethnic groups: indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan Chokwe Manyika Sena Makua and others) Europeans 0.06% Euro-Africans 0.2% Indians 0.08% Religions: indigenous beliefs 50% Christian 30% Muslim 20% Languages: Portuguese (official) indigenous dialects Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 40.1% male: 57.7% female: 23.3% (1995 est.) __________Beaches Edit This Mozambique, a country spoilt with white beaches and pristine reefs, is a definite favorite amongst all divers from across the world. Mozambique can most certainly compete with other top class dive destinations and what makes this country so unique and special is that it is not over crowded by tourists and travelers. Still free from mass tourism, Mozambique offers excellent diving and its friendly communities welcome divers and travelers from all around the world. Mozambique is bordered by South Africa and Swaziland to the South, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi to the west and by Tanzania to the north. The 300 km channel between Mozambique and Madagascar is called the Mozambique Channel. The outstanding geographical feature of Mozambique is its long, pristine coastline washed by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Most of the population of Mozambique lives off the sea and more then 60% of the country's population lives along the coast. Mozambique has a population of over 16 million and this is made up predominantly of ten different ethnic groups. Mozambique also hosts some wildlife but unfortunately up to now we do not know all the species and their numbers. Most of the designated wilderness areas are very remote for both tourists and the average traveler. The numbers of wild life has drastically been reduced though mainly to the scars that the civil war of Mozambique has left on the region. Mozambique is indeed blessed with beautiful scenery on land as well as under the water. The Mozambican coastline that stretches for approximately 2500km's meets with the warm waters of the Indian Ocean that hosts beautiful untouched and pristine reefs. The beaches are clean and palm fringed making it every holiday makers dream especially when you add the lovely warm weather. Mozambique is working extremely hard to regain the visitors it once had many years ago before the civil war. The people of Mozambique are warm and friendly and they work just as hard as the government to welcome tourists and to sell their country. Mozambique is a favorite amongst divers as divers of all levels can experience great diving and exploring on the reefs of Mozambique that offers you from manta ray cleaning stations to the gentle giant whale sharks. February is known in Mozambique to be the hurricane month. Though diving can still take place there may be days that the weather will affect the visibility severely. ::::::::Bazaruto archipelago Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Paradise Island Paradise Island sandra steyn The Bazaruto Archipelago is on the spectacular southern coast and also is a national park and number one destination in Moçambique. The main islands making up the archipelago are Santa Carolina, Bazaruto, Benguerra and Magaruque. Accommodation is predominately top end lodges, many offering activities such as diving, surfing, fishing and other watersports in the clear blue waters. ::::::::::Beira Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Macuti beach at sunset Macuti beach at sunset Sulemane Hosseni The Port of Beira is situated on the Pungoe river estuary. It is the second largest port in Mozambique with 12 quays. Beira has always been essentially a transit port, handling the import and export cargoes from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and other countries in the region. The Beira Corridor has a road and railway connection to Zimbabwe. The city was founded in 1891. It has become a real hub and a good place to arrange formalities etc. before you move on. The town has banks, hotels, restaurants and some interesting shops. One of the most interesting landmarks is the Cathedral of Beira constructed in part using stone from the historic sixteenth-century fort of Sofala. Apparently Sofala’s fort of San Gaetano, erected between 1505 and 1512 from imported Portuguese stone, was one of the first structures built by white men in Southern Africa. The fort was on the southern side of the Pungwe River and like the rest of Sofala has now been flooded by water. The most fashionable part of town is Macuti Beach, with its famous lighthouse. Some of the more expensive accommadation is in bad need of repair, however. Beira is a good base for going to the Grand etang forest reserve. ____________Practical Information Edit This Beira is probably the second most important city in Mozambique. It's served by the countrys only airline LAM. LAM airlines has 2 737's used for daily service only. Beira can also be reached by car, although the roads are demanding and should only be traved by day. Shipping and rail service seem to be operating on a regular basis. _________Nightlife and Entertainment Edit This When the sunsets in Beira, you won't have to wander far before you hear the music and laughter of the nightlife. A suprising array of music is enjoyed by all Africans in this fairly large city. Beer and wine is available as well as chicken, rice, and potatos. Most of the hot spots are located outdoors with cabana like structures. Service is generally at a very relaxed pace but can be accerated with a few kind words in Portuguese and a good tip "after" each drink. A mixture of many nationalities makes for an intersting evening. And many people speak english and love to talk to foreigners. Nightlife is enjoyed best (more safe) in a group. ::::::::::Gorongosa game reserve Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Gorongosa Lion Gorongosa Lion Richard Baker Located in Northern Mozambique, the Gorongosa is one of Africa's famous wildlife areas. It can be pretty tough getting there, and even impossible in the rainy season, but the trip is worth the effort. The park is open to day visitors for a fee of $20.00. To get to Gorongosa, take the EN6 out of Beira towards Chimoio. At 128km approximately from the airport bridge, Beira is Inchope, which marks the border with Manica province. The road to Gorongosa is north of the junction and signposted from there. The park was founded in 1921 when an area of bush measuring about 1000 km2 was set aside for the protection of native animal species and the establishment of a game reserve. The park became one of the most popular game reserves of Southern Africa until the civil war of 1983. Inside the park you may be lucky enough to see lion, leopard, elephant, hippo, buffalo and many other species. Sadly the rhino which were once present in the park are thought to have been completely exterminated during the war. The park consist of three major ecological zones - the Rift zone, the Zambezi valley and the coastal plain of the Indian Ocean. Within these zones are various habitats including forests, waterfalls and flood plains all with their individual flora and fauna. It is thought that there are more than 500 species present in the park including more than 300 large mammal species. :::::::Ibo island Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Without a doubt one of the highlights of Southern Africa, Ibo Island could likely compete as one of the most picturesque places on the Continent. Accessible by dhow or chartered plane/helicopter, the former seat of Mozambique's capital, is a amazing mix of Swahili, Arab and Portuguese cultures. Though run-down, the island was sparred by the war and remains an absolute gem. Part of the Querimba Archipelago, Ibo is home to several ancient forts, centuries old Hindu temples and coconuts galore. You can easily spend days walking throughout the dusty streets, admiring the beautiful architecture and absolutely brilliant sea. Accomodations on the island include Ibo Island Lodge (high-end) and Cinco Portas (more reasonable). Both provide meals. Choices for food outside of these two establishments are limited to a few, local haunts which have limited menu options, but are a good way to meet the very friendly islanders. Ibo is worth a trip if only for the adventure of getting there. If traveling by dhow and you're lucky enough to find transportation headed for the coast you're only half way there. Once you've reached the coast you'll have to wait for high tide, which often means an overnight stay under the great big baobob (or simply ask at the small shop for a place to crash). Semi-regular dhows ply the waters to Ibo. With good wind and calm waters its a one-hour journey but as this traveler found out, with neither it can easily amount to a five hour marathon! The alternative is to head to the Pemba Beach Hotel and book a flight with the their travel agency. It is truly one of the gems of Africa. ::::::::Inhambane Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Fishing at Barra Lodge Fishing at Barra Lodge M. Mulliner Inhambane is a photographers dream; it possesses a unique charm that can only originate from a rusty old town with delapidated buildings and neglected maintenance. It is worth exploring the fascinating mix of African, old-world Portugese and muslim cultures. While little more than two main roadways, Inhambane offers a comforting break on the journey north to Beira, or to the beautiful beaches of Tofo. The main boulevard, directly opposite the ferry port, offers small shops, the central market, some banking services (no travellers cheques) and possibly the best fresh bread in all of Mozambique. Accomodations in Inhambane are limited as most tourists head east towards Tofo. Minibuses leave from behind the Market regularly - 15,000 Meticais one-way. Inhambane also offers decent Internet access at 50,000 per hour, though regular power disruptions may mean a lost email or two :::::::::Inhassoro Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Inhassoro is a small fishing village situated opposite the Isla de Bazaruto, the northernmost island of the Bazaruto Archipelago. The village is the last coastal resort before the main road swings away from the coast and northwards to Beira. The village survives mainly on fishing, but has a few shops, a couple of old hotels that date back to colonial days, a hospital and a market. There is a hotel on the beach with chalets. The restaurant here is set beneath a canopy of Mahogany trees and has good inexpensive food. The beach here, like most of Mozambique’s beaches, is of clean pristine white coral sand. There is easy access to the islands of the archipelago, a national park, where the visitor will find more than 180 species of birds and freshwater crocodiles. The reefs and beaches are protected but offer some spectacular diving. Boats may be chartered in the village for those wishing to visit the islands. "Copyright © 1998-2005 WhereToStay, www.wheretostay.co.za. All rights reserved." Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://www.wheretostay.co.za/information/moz/in/inhassoro :::::::: Maputo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo Maputo, formerly known as Lourenco Marques after a Portuguese explorer who landed here in 1544, is the capital of Mozambique. Located in the far south-west of the country, it is easily reached from neighbouring Swaziland and South Africa. The city was founded in the 18-th century but not much from that period remains today. The biggest historic attraction in town in the Portuguese fortress, built in 1787. A more recent landmark is the Mousinho de Albuquerque Square in the centre of town. The beautiful Train Station is definitely worth a look. It was built in 1910 by an architect from the Eiffel school in Paris. Neither the war of independence nor the fighting between the governmant and RENAMO which began in the early 1980s occurred in the city so unlike other pasts of the country Maputo escaped largely unscathed. A peace treaty was signed in 1992 officially bringing the war to an end. Maputo is full of life. Mozambicans love to party and Maputo is a great place to listen to live music, dine on phenomenal fresh prawns in pili-pili sauce or simply wander through an art gallery or two. Accomodations in town include two backpacker lodges. The Base, run by an extremely welcoming staff, is located in the heart of the city and is a perfect base for venturing around Maputo. Small but clean, The Base offers small six-bed dorms, singles and doubles. As an added bonus, the balcony offers great views of the Indian Ocean. Fatima's, a few blocks away, offers a similar bunch of amenities with questionable results. If anything is certain, you will not go hungry in Maputo. No matter your budget there are enough choices to keep everyone happy. Need to eat on the cheap? Check out one of the many markets where a plateful of stew with Pap (maize meal) will run you less than $2. The local fish market, located on the north end of Avenue Marginal is one of the best places in all of Africa for fresh fish and seafood. Every evening around dusk, local fisherman haul their catch into the market where discerning buyers scoop up as much as they can carry. Several bars and restaurants on the market premises will cook whatever you buy for a small fee. Another fantastic option in the centre of town is the Feira Popular. This amusement park cum restaurant haven is probably the only place on earth where you can get amazing prawns pili-pili, a cold beer and a round or two of foosball or bumper cars. Entry into the fairgrounds is 5,000 Meticals and is well worth it, day or night. Be sure to take a taxi after dark. :::::::::Massingir Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Massingir Dam in the Rio Elephantes is a developing Tourist area. It provides access to the Parque Nacional do Limpopo. Stay over in the Park at the Campsite or at Covane Community Lodge. ::::::::::Morrungulo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Morrungulo Morrungulo Bernadette Beautiful palm beach. Lodges on the shore. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://www.pontamorrungulo.co.za ::::::::::Pemba Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see On the north coast, at the mouth of a huge bay, is Pemba - another top destination with a range of watersports on its stunning waters, beautiful beaches and coral reefs. Some say the Pemba coast has the most beautiful beaches in the world. _________Getting There Edit This For an international travellers, the best way to get to Pemba is by coming down to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and connecting a LAM flight at DAR to Pemba. LAM Mozambique Airlines -www.lam.co.mz operates direct flights from DAR to Pemba. However Pemba is also served by LAM flights from Maputo (capital of Mozambique) and from Johanesburg (South Africa). :::::::::::Quelimane Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Camara Municipal Camara Municipal Jorge Leite Quelimane (pronounced kelly-monney) is reached by air from Maputo on a one hour flight on LAM. Airport is small. Roads are fair. Town is typical small tropical town, with a mixture of old colonial Portugese buildings and newer shanties. Situated on the river banks, the main industry is prawn fishing. There is a great beach about 20 minutes drive to the East - the back sand road through the coconut plantations is the best. ::::::::::Tofo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Tofo Beach Tofo Beach Located just east of Inhambane, Tofo offers nice beaches, nice surfing and excelent diving. There are several backpacker places: camping for 100,000 Meticais, dormitories for 200,000, though prices tend to change alot. Also there's an internet cafe (2,000 Meticais per minute). Probably the main attraction of Tofo is it's marine life. There are three diving centers, they keep their prices at exactly same level: 360 South African Rand for a first dive, more dives you make - cheaper it gets. You are gauranteed to see Manta Rays and lots of other 'big fish'. Snorkeling is also available, mostly to swim with huge Whale Sharks. Storms and cyclons are quite frequent in the area, so it may be wise to check weather beforehand. ::::::::Vilanculos Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Vilankulos Vilankulos Bernadette Located on the shores of the Indian Ocean, in inhambane province is une fof the most importante destinations in Mozambique. Vilanculos is nice place too dive, and relax with the family. Vilanculos offers hotel accomodations and restaurants in a third world style. Electricity and water are available during only certain times of the day see more. The night life is alive and well offering music and drink through out the night at one of the local discotheques. Formerly a favorite destination of the rich and many movie stars, Vilanculos lost its appeal from 1975 through 1993 during the civil war fought in Mozambique. The airport is open to medium size aircraft, and ground transportation is available. :::::::::Xai-xai Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Praia do Xai-Xai Praia do Xai-Xai Karel Nitsch The town of Xai-Xai is situated on the Limpopo River is a sprawling settlement of houses, markets and shops. History: Xai-Xai is the name of Gaza´s sun-in- low, his father colled Dlamine Nt´chai-´Nt´chai. Gaza was one of Nguni King´s, brother of Sobhuza, the first King of actual Swaziland. Tourists generally only stop off for supplies in Xai-Xai with the real attraction being the beach situated about 10 kilometres to the east. The bay has a coral reef running about one kilometre off shore which offers protected waters for swimming and snorkelling. The coastal town has become a little run down of late but it has some thriving restaurants, a campsite and a new hotel is to be completed towards the end of 1999.