Mozambique – the dream of Africa

Mozambique combines the heart and soul of Africa and will charm you with its unique magic. Imagine walking down a soft sandy beach, looking into the deep turquoise blue of the water, and resting in the shade of a palm tree. If you are getting closer to the water, you might be lucky and see a manta ray peacefully swimming by.

The country in the southeast of Africa is, to put it simply, a paradise. You might feel like Robinson Crusoe when you discover the lonely beaches or go out snorkeling in the corals just before the beach.

The country borders South Africa in the south, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi in the east, and Tanzania in the north. The official language is Portuguese, but you will also get far with Bantu or Suaheli if you speak it.

The country is a bit of a hidden treasure since it is rather complicated to get there in the first place. The visa guidelines are rather strict, and you need them before departure. There aren’t many direct flights to the country, and it might be cheaper, to travel to South Africa or Tanzania and take the bus to Mozambique. If you choose the latter option, you might need more documents for your trip and should get in touch with the embassy first.

Once you have arrived, you will notice that a lot is being done for tourists, and not only in a good manner. Several tourist spots have been developed in the last years with rather high prices for food and shelter. If you are traveling through the country, it is better to look for the local shops apart from the hot spots of tourism.

In the middle of the country is the “Ilha de Mocambique”, the former capital of the Portuguese colony. It is a small island-based upon a coral reef. In 1498, the famous seafarer Vasco da Gama met the sheik of the island, which followed the occupation in 1506 by the Portuguese. If you want to see the island you have to drive over a narrow bridge that is 3km long. It is one lane only with some possibilities to make way for the oncoming traffic and you only have to pay, if you want to leave the island.

While you are driving over the bridge you can already see the colonial houses appear on the horizon with the clear influence of the Portuguese. A lot of the buildings have been overgrown in the last decades and the town has its own style, which you will never forget. Next to colorful houses, ruins, and a lot of plants, you can visit the oldest church in Africa, dating back to 1579.

You will find traces of the past all over the country. If you are not that interested in Safaris and want to see the culture, you can get a local guide who will show you the region with all its secrets.