The country’s dramatic landscapes, spectacular wildlife and ancient heritage provide great opportunities for both eco and cultural tourism. The country is home to some of the friendliest locals in Africa, despite the hardships they have endured over the last few decades. Even with a language barrier, travellers are always greeted with a warm smile, the defining feature of any Mozambican.
The Quirimbas Archipelago (or ‘Ilhas Quirimbas’ as they’re known in Portuguese) are a beautiful string of islands, often fringed by gorgeous beaches, which lie about 2,500km from Maputo. This is an isolated and remote area, it’s probably the last stretch of East African coastline where the marine environments and beaches are ecologically pristine and largely unexplored.
The coastal town of Vilanculos is the gateway to Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago – a chain of four large islands: Bazaruto, Benguerra, Santa Isobel and Santa Carolina (formerly known as Paradise Island). A marine national park covers most of the archipelago, protecting the exquisite marine life in these turquoise seas.
