Once blighted by poverty and war, Mozambique has emerged in recent years as one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the world. And this transformation is easy to understand once you become privy to the information that the sand dune island of Bazaruto has become the playground of the super rich. Word is that all the 52 of the 50sq m beachside plots in the private Vilanculos Wildlife Sanctuary have been snapped up for holiday homes by investors ranging from the Oppenheimer family of South Africa to Elton John. But to put it in a nutshell, Mozambique has far more to offer than that single prestine island.
In the capital, Maputo, the once bullet riddled buildings have been reconstructed and the rich and famous are once again thronging the streets. Hand-painted signs adverstising seafood restaurants straddle the streets and pathways with promises of lobster, giant prawns, fresh calamari and cold South African beers and wines.
On the coastline hotel buildings are sprouting up and the port of Beira boasting of 2,500km of sandy beaches is a dream come true for lovers of cheap sea food, colourful reefs and sea teeming with an amazing array of fish.
For water sports lovers, Mozambique’s islands offer delightful surprises. There is simply so much to do. The reefs, for a start, are spectacularly unspoilt. Divers to locations like Two Mile Reef might see in one day what most expect elsewhere to see in a week – from enormous whale sharks to rare multicoloured nudibrancs. Snorkelling is on untouched reefs and turtles nest on nearly all of the islands.
Full name: The Republic of Mozambique
Population: 19.5 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Maputo
Area: 812,379 sq km (313,661 sq miles)
Major languages: Portuguese (official), Makua-Lomwe, Tsonga, Shona, Swahili
Major religions: Indiginous beliefs, Islam, Christianity
Life expectancy: 41 years (men), 43 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 metical (plural meticais) = 100 centavos
Main exports: Seafood, cotton
GNI per capita: US $310 (World Bank, 2006)
Internet domain: .mz
International dialling code: +258
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