Mozambique is a wonderful, under-discovered tourist destination. Discovered by Vasco da Gama in 1498, it was a Portuguese colony for almost 500 years, becoming independent in 1975. Now, with civil strife a thing of the past, more and more travellers are seeking cheap flights to Mozambique to take in all of its bounty.
With 2,500km of coastline on the Indian Ocean, the turquoise waters are just heaven for diving, snorkelling, fishing and sailing.
Bustling Maputo, the capital, has a Mediterranean/African vibe with colonial-era buildings, botanical gardens, and an art museum. The colonial era capital was Ilha de Mozambique, a tiny island and Unesco World Heritage site. Reached by bridge from the mainland, it has a mix of Portuguese and Muslim architecture, and fort that dates back to 1522.
For barefoot luxury, head to the Quirimbas archipelago in Northern Mozambique. A string of 32 coral islands teeming with marine life, the southernmost 11 are included in the Quirimbas National Park. Quirimba Island with its sugar-soft and palm-fringed beaches is the place to go for a secluded and exclusive holiday.
To the south, the Bazaruto Archipelago is a protected national park; five islands with no tourist infrastructure, just as nature intended.
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The climate varies in the different regions of the country, but generally the inland areas are slightly cooler, although more humid than along the coast in the rainy season. Winter is the dry season lasting from April to September, and is the best time to visit the country. The southern parts of the country are generally drier and less tropical than the north, with temperatures along the coast averaging 27 degrees Celsius. The rainy season coincides with the heat and humidity from October to March, with average coastal temperatures of 31 degrees.
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Peak Season:
May to October is the dry season. The weather is cooler and drier with temperatures in the mid-20s. Our summer - June, July and August – are Mozambique’s coolest months. This is the most popular time for travellers to seek Mozambique flights to go on safari as the animals gather around the water holes then.
Off Season:
The rainy season lasts from November to April. The weather during this time is hot (temperatures in the mid-30s) and it is humid.
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LAM - Linhas aéreas de Moçambique and Air Corridor fly domestically. There are several private minibus companies offering good connections throughout the central and southern regions of Mozambique.
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- Maputo (once known as Lourenco Marques after the Portuguese trader who explored the area in the 1500s) is the capital. Some of the tourist must-sees include Jardim Tunduru, the botanical gardens, designed in 1885 by Thomas Honney, a renowned English gardener, has both indigenous and exotic plants, and the Railway Station, a gorgeous domed and pillared building designed by Gustave Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame. The National Art Museum houses a fine collection of Mozambican art. There is also an artists’ workshop there which can be visited. The Museum of the Revolution chronicles the country’s colonial past and its fight for independence.
- Some of the best beaches at this end of Mozambique are Macaneta, Ponta do Ouro (renowned for scuba diving), Ponta Malongane, and 40km (25 miles) out to sea, Inhaca Island. Tofo and nearby are very popular surfing spots.
- Maputo Reserve, a major elephant sanctuary, is part of a programme that includes the parts of Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa covered by the Libombos mountain range.
- Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque and Santa Carolina islands are part of the Bazaruto Archipelago, just 30km (18 miles) off the coast, a national park with beautiful beaches and good diving, surfing, rock and fly-fishing.
- Ibo, was, before Pemba, the provincial capital (until the 1950s in fact). The Fort of St John the Baptist is where the Portuguese detained political prisoners, but it is now a happier place, where local craftsmen produce jewellery.
- The Quirimbas Archipelago in northern Mozambique is a string of 32 coral islands. Quirimbas National Park was established in 2002 with the involvement of the World Wildlife Fund. The 7,500 sq km park (between the mainland, ocean, inter-tidal and islands) is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world with sea turtles, dugongs, humpback whales and dolphins as well as lions, leopards, elephant, buffalo and several types of antelope.
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Maputo International (MPM) (Maputo) is 3km (1.8 miles) northwest of the city.
Beira (BEW) is 13km (8 miles) from the city.
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Visitors must have all tickets and documents necessary for return or onward journeys, as well as sufficient funds for their duration of stay. If coming for business or touristic purposes, a visa can be obtained on arrival (at airport only) valid for a maximum of 30 days; extensions are possible. The fee is US$25.
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British passport holders require a valid passport and a visa.
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