Mozambique Accommodation | Lodge and Hotel Beach and Island Vacation Destination

Our Mozambique accommodation hotel and lodge portfolio are mainly island lodges and resorts with the exception of Maputo where we feature a few comfortable hotels situated on the beachfront in the capital of Mozambique. The island lodges are mostly small and intimate, situated in idyllic areas on the small tropical islands in the Bazaruto and Quirimbas Archipelagos. Our Mozambique hotel & lodge portfolio includes some of the best beach accommodation available in Africa.

The Mozambique accommodation options range from the ideal romantic honeymoon retreats to exciting family beach resorts. Activities include sailing, scuba diving, snorkelling, fishing, horseriding, canoeing and relaxing on the beach.

Mozambique offers some of the most spectacular tropical beach holiday opportunities in Africa and it is the ideal combination to a safari in Africa's wildlife areas.

Maputo:
Located near the very southern tip of the country, Maputo was once renowned as a beautiful city and rated by world travellers alongside Cape Town and Rio. But after almost 20 years of war and deprivation the capital is very rundown today, with crumbling buildings and dirty streets. Nevertheless, it's still an interesting place, with a very lively atmosphere. And the place slowly but surely improves. Old-timers say Maputo is already regaining some of its old charm. The oldest historic site is the fort, where you can patrol the ramparts, look at the old cannons or just sit and rest in the grassy courtyard. A must-see is the train station, designed and built in the early 1900s by the same Eiffel who gave us the famous tower. Recently renovated, it looks more like a palace, with polished wood and marble decorations, topped by a gigantic copper dome.

Other highlights include the Botanic Gardens; the National Art Museum, which has a fine collection of Mozambique's best contemporary artists; and the lively Municipal Market, where fruit, vegetables, spices and basketwork are sold.

Bazaruto Archipelago ( Marine National Park):
Located about 10km (6mi) off the coast, the Archipelago is one of the most beautiful places on the continent, complete with azure waters, sandy beaches, palm trees, pristine coral reefs, plus tropical fish to goggle at and big game fish to catch. The whole area between the mainland and the 150 fathom mark is now protected as a world-class conservation area. If you stay at one of the posh lodges, transfer by speedboat is available for around US$100 return. Rather cheaper are dhows, which can be got at Vilankulo on the mainland.

Dugongs, lumbering sea grass eaters, are found living in shallow waters along the world's tropical coasts. Here in Bazaruto, however, they seem to have found the resources and protection they need to survive. The pristine sea grass beds of this extensive tropical archipelago are home to the largest remaining population in Eastern Africa, helping make this newly extended protected area a global marine conservation priority.

A ridge of large and picturesque sand dunes dominates the narrow chain of islands that make up the Bazaruto Archipelago. Extensive tidal flats and inland saline lakes support a wide variety of seabird species, including Palearctic waterbird migrants and 26 species of waders. The dunes and woodlands harbor such mammals as the samango monkey, lesser bushbaby, red duiker, and four-toed elephant shrew.

The real wealth of Bazaruto, however, lies in the full range of tropical marine ecosystems found within this varied seascape. Spectacular coral reefs and rich pelagic waters hold over 2,000 species of fish, 100 hard and 27 soft coral species, four whale and five dolphin species, and 20 species of crustaceans. The extensive sea grass beds support all five of the marine turtle species plying the waters of the Western Indian Ocean as well as the largest and only viable dugong population along the eastern African coast.

Pristine for most of this century, the five islands that make up the Bazaruto Archipelago are considered ecological gems. The islands, located within the Mozambique Channel 500 kilometers north of Maputo, received some measure of formal protection in 1971 when three were declared a national park. After years of active lobbying and technical assistance, on November 27 of last year, hope for permanent protection of this outstanding conservation area soared when the government gazetted an extension to the national park. This decision effectively doubled the area under protection to 1,400 square Kilometers and incorporated the remaining islands and surrounding waters. The park is now one of the largest in the Indian Ocean and represents a critical milestone in global marine conservation.

The Quirimbas:
The Quirimbas Archipelago stretches for 100 kilometres along the Mozambique coast. These tropical islands contain some of the richest coral reefs in the world and provide habitat for an abundant array of marine life. The Quirimbas Archipelago consists of 32 tropical coral islands stretching from Pemba (the capital of Cabo Delgado Province) to the Rovuma River, which forms the natural frontier between Tanzania and Mozambique. The area has never been developed and remains an unexplored tourist paradise.

The southernmost 11 of these tropical islands and a vast expanse of mainland forest are included in the Quirimbas National Park - a conservation effort to preserve and protect the area.

Tete Corridor:
Tete province is well known as the location of the colossal Cabora Bassa dam, but this province is also rich in minerals, such as coal, iron, fluorite and gold. Tete is one of the hottest parts of Mozambique as it lies on a plateau 500 m above sea level.

Xai-Xai:
The provincial capital of Xai Xai is 224 km from Maputo and the nearby beach (10km) is a popular tourist destination. The Limpopo river flows to the south of the town in a wide, fertile plain where predominantly rice is cultivated. Praia do Xai-Xai. The massive reef running parallel to the beach provides natural protection against the strong waves at high tide and forms several small pools at low tide. At low tide, the reefs are invaded by women and children gathering shellfish, which they sell to appreciative tourists.

Inhambane:
Inhambane province is characterized by its extensive coconut palms and cashew trees. This province has one of the most famous tourist destinations of the country; the Bazaruto archipelago. The Portuguese established a permanent settlement and trading post at Inhambane in 1534, making it one of the oldest settlements in Southern Africa.

This province has innumerable famous beaches, amongst which are: Praia de Zavala (11 km from Quissico), Praia de Závora (85 km south of Inhambane), Baía dos Cocos ( Coconut Bay) and Praia do Tofo (22 km east of Inhambane), Praia da Barra (20 km north of Inhambane) and Pomene (174 km north of Inhambane).

Beira :
The provincial capital, Beira, has about 350 thousand inhabitants and is built on a plain below sea level. The city spreads along the coast from the port to the lighthouse in the Macuti area. Beira's best beaches are found between the Clube Náutico and the lighthouse.