Maputo
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To the North is the Province of Gaza, to the South, South Africa, to the West is Swaziland and to the East the Indian Ocean. Maputo offers urban tourism in the beautiful capital the Country and the Province. It is renowned for its wide avenues lined with red acacias and lilac jacaranda trees and offers the visitor not only sun and sea, on the magnificent beaches on the Indian Ocean coast but also trips to the interior to visit the natural park of Maputo, the dam of the "Pequenos Libombos" or as an alternative, the idyllic village of Namaacha. The Bay of Maputo, together with the rivers Incomati and Maputo define the limits of the capital. The Ilha da Inhaca, in front, is considered World Biological Heritage because of the magnificent multicolour coral reefs and the number of rare species of fish to be found in the waters.
Places to go
Inhaca Island
Inhaca is a settlement in Mozambique, on the subtropical Inhaca Island (Ilha da Inhaca in Portuguese) off the East African coast. Inhaca settlement is centered on a missionary station located about 32km east of Maputo.
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The Inhacazul Lodge and Pestana Inhaca Lodge are the main destinations of travellers from where different excursions are often undertaken, including scuba diving and snorkelling outings. Backpackers mostly visit a catering camping area within walking distance of the landing jetty, and are required to take bottled water and their own tents. Inhaca village is within a 5 minute drive from the camp where there are two restaurants, two bars, a grocery store and a marketplace. The Island can be visited by means of a Ferry which departs from the Porto de Pesca, Maputo at 8:00 and returns at 15:00 every Saturday and Sunday. Travellers reach the island's landing jetty at high tide, but have to wade some sandy shallows during low tide. There are also return flights that depart from Maputo airport and these 18 seater planes reach the island airstrip in fifteen minutes.
Maputo Elephant Reserve
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Off the beaten trail, 79 kilometres south of Maputo, lies Maputo Elephant Reserve, an unspoiled region of vast, rugged beauty. The Maputo Elephant Reserve is potentially one of Mozambique's most important natural treasures. Its coastline, unique plant, animal life and it's closeness to the capital makes this area a tourism highlight. The Maputo Elephant Reserve should be visited by those travellers with 4x4 vehicles, as agents do not currently operate in the area. As Mozambique opens its borders to international tourists once more, in the wake of the civil war and a newly-booming local tourist economy, the thrill of visiting the Maputo Elephant Reserve lies in its unspoiled nature. The reserve forms part of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area, a collective of national parks from South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland. The park has over 200 elephants. Visitors may expect to drive on trails through the bush that is punctuated intermittently by marshes, rolling grasslands and forests along that thrive along the two rivers in the park. A visit to the Maputo Elephant Reserve also richly-rewarding for bird-lovers – the lakes of the park teem with many varieties of southern African birds. Zebra and antelope roam the plains, while crocodiles and hippos inhabit the watering holes and lakes.
FIND MORE PLACES TO GO AND INFORMATION ABOUT MAPUTO IN TOURISM WEBSITES PROVIDED IN LINKS SECTIONS BELOW: