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Nampula & Mozambique IslandNampula, Nacala & Mozambique Island, Northern Mozambique |
Mozambique Accommodation |
 The Nampula Province is where you will find Ilha de Moçambique, translated and often referred to as Mozambique Island. This was once the most important town in Mozambique due to the trading accross the Indian Ocean. North of here is the Bay of Nacala, the second deepest natural harbour in the world and an important port. Between the two is Chocas beach, well known throughout Mozambique. Inland towards the Malawi border you will find beautiful green mountainous areas covered with tea plantations. This area is arguably one of the most beautiful in Mozambique but little visited by tourists due to the lack of good road infrastructure. The main airport serving this area is at Nampula where there are regular connections fom Maputo, Beira and Pemba. Car hire is possible from Nampula and is probably the easiest way to expore this area at the present time. An alternative method is by boat transfers up and down between Mozambique Island, Chocas beach and Nacala Bay. There are airstrips at Nacala and on the mainland near Mozambique Island where chartered planes can land, and shceduled flights may be coming in the future. Please enquire for up to date information. NampulaNampula is the third largest city in Mozambique after Maputo & Beira. Flights connect daily with Maputo, Beira and Pemba. From Nampula airport it is possble to hire a car to visit the coastal areas and Mozambique Island. The city of Nampula first came to being as a military post and has increased in importance as an administritative centre for northern Mozambique with the decline of the island Ilha de Moçambique and later when the railways connecting Nacala Port with Zimbabawe and Malawi were built. Things to see and do in Nampula:
Mozambique Island (Ilha de Moçambique)Mozambique Island was once the singularly most important town in Mozambique used as a commercial settlement by merchants, particularly Arab merchants, to trade along the entire Mozambican coastline. The island is easily accessible by vehicle via a concrete bridge over 2km long built in the 1960's. It is possible to hire cars in Nampula and Nacala, and also to arrange charter flights to and from Lumbo situated on the mainland just a few kilometres from the bridge to Ilha. NacalaNacala is the worlds second deepest natural harbour, and the deepest in Africa. It has developed for shipping since 1951 and is now an important port with rail links to neighbouring countries and road links to Nampula southwest of Nacala and Pemba & Montepuez to the north. The diving in Nacala Bay is a paradise of coral reefs just waiting to be discovered and the sheltered and warm waters of the bay offer ideal conditions for beginners. The diving lodge situated at the well known Fernão Veloso beach also specialises in free diving. The restaurant here is open to the public on Sundays so if you are staying elswhere it is worth a visit for Sunday lunch (you won't find roast beef on the menu but the calamari is excellent). GurueGurue, situated inland towards the border with Malawi at Milange, is a beauticul green and mountainous tea plantation area. Tourism here is limited due to it's location and the difficulty in transport for tourists to visit. |
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