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MORE ABOUT MOZAMBIQUE
Mozambique is becoming the place to go
to as more people discover its stunning beaches, excellent diving and magical
offshore islands. There are many types of activities you can do in
this beautiful African country, including snorkelling around the Bazaruto
Archipelago, sailing on a dhow through mangrove channels or lazing under the
palms in the Quirimbas Archipelago. A popular sightseeing trip for tourists is
to take an off-beat safari in the wilds of
Gorongosa National Park
and, of course, being Africa, you can do an infinite variety of wildlife
safaris.
The Ilha de Moçambique, (Mozambique Island) is not to be
missed. It's the former capital of Portuguese East Africa and is truly unique in
atmosphere and environment. You can wander along cobbled streets past stately
colonial-era buildings, drink a café espresso at one of Maputo’s lively sidewalk
cafés or have a drink at a jazz bar. There is a 3.5 km causeway connecting the
Island with the mainland and transport between the two is reasonably frequent.
Chapas and buses take you to the southern tip of the island, from where it’s a
short walk north through the makuti (reed) town to the old colonial stone town.
VILANCULOS
Our projects are located in Vilanculos (also spelt Vilankulo)
which is based in the Inhambane province of Mozambique.
Vilanculos is a coastal paradise, rich in culture, but with a rural, rustic
feel.The main attractions are their endless white sandy beaches and beautiful
coral reefs. It is a haven of tranquillity and an ideal location for
snorkelling and scuba diving. Divers have witnessed humpback and bottlenose
dolphins, humpback whales, marine turtles and many large fish such as
barracudas and marlins.
Vilanculous is also home to the coastal wildlife sanctuary; the reserve
covers 25000 ha of land and sea and is ranked one of the top biodiversity
hotspots in Africa. The reserve consists of a variety of coral reefs,
swamps, savannah and wetlands.
There are plenty of activities going on in the local area such as sailing,
horse riding, snorkelling, diving and deep-sea fishing. For those who want
to immerse themselves in the local culture, a spot of shopping for local
hand-made crafts at the markets will go down a treat!
MAPUTO
Maputo is the capital of Mozambique and is renowned as one of the mot
beautiful capital cities in Africa. It's a coastal city with Mediterranean-style
architecture influenced by its history with Portugal. It's a lovely city to
meander in down flame-tree-lined avenues and a great way to pass the time of day
is to sit in a sidewalk cafe and watch the world go by. Men dressed in Jellabas
congregate in doorways to chat and women dressed in very colourful clothes sell
spices at the massive Municipal Market. The aromas of the spices and the bananas
stacked on carts in the shade assault the senses and you really know you are in
Africa!
Maputo has a lot to offer in the way of museums, shops
and markets, and you should definitely make sure you spend some time here -
you'll love it.
GORONGOSA NATIONAL PARK
Gorongosa National Park offers
something for everyone interested in African
wildlife and spectacular scenery. There are
lions, elephants, buffalos, and many kinds of
antelope, with frequent sightings of sable,
impala, oribi, bushbuck, reedbuck, kudu, nyala,
waterbuck, and (less frequently) zebra,
hartebeest and eland. Lake Urema and its
waterways support healthy populations of
crocodiles and hippos.
The park’s birdlife is fantastic! About 400
species have been sighted in recent years. Many
are endemics or near-endemics prized by birders.
The Green-headed Oriole, for example, is found
in southern Africa only on Mount Gorongosa, and
the Moustached Warbler has been sighted at
Chitengo and on the mountain.
SOME FACTS ABOUT MOZAMBIQUE
- Full name: The Republic of Mozambique
- Population: 22.9 million (via UN, 2009)
- Capital: Maputo
- Area: 812,379 sq km (313,661 sq miles)
- Major languages: Portuguese (official), Makua-Lomwe, Swahili,
other indigenous languages
- Major religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs, Islam
- Life expectancy: 47 years (men), 49 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 metical (plural meticais) = 100 centavos
- Main exports: Seafood, cotton
- GNI per capita: US $370 (World Bank, 2008)
- Internet domain: .mz
- International dialling code: +258
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