http://travel-to-mozambique.blogspot.com/2011/10/mozambique-cities-beira-nampula-maputo.html
Mozambique Cities Beira , Nampula , Maputo , Pemba
Travel tips for your trip to Mozambique Hotel Maps Famous Places in Mozambique helps you to make your trip to Mozambique in the holiday a Splendid One
Beira
Beira is one of the cities of Mozambique. It is in fact a port city situated in Mozambique. Beira is the capital of the Sofala Province placed on the Mozambique Channel. The Mozambique Channel is situated at the mouth of the Pungwe River. Beira, Mozambique serves as a port for countries like Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
There are several options for sightseeing in Beira. The major tourist attractions in Beira are its cathedral, lighthouse and Macuti Beach. The Macuti Beach is sparkling at night and is the best place for a walk or stroll. There are many other places of great human, architectural and nature value in Beira in Mozambique.
If you move towards the east of Beira, you will find various beautiful and pristine white-sand beaches. These beaches are fringed by numerous small villages. The main occupation of the people staying here is fishing. So, if you are in this place at the right time, you might spot some fishermen coming home with their catches.
One of the leading tourist spots in Beira is the Gorongosa national park. There are a few rangers in this park aided by the Government of Mozambique. A safari around the Gorongosa national park is preferred by many tourists. Trekking is also very popular over here.
Dining is a delightful experience while you are in Beira. Some of the eateries that you must not miss are the Nautico's for food and sea, Biques and Pappas and Kanimambo. These restaurants serve several traditional African dishes as well as some South African cuisines. Tivoli and Grande Hotel Beira are the best accommodations of Beira.
Another place that you should visit when in Beira is Savane. Savane is a small area with a camp, restaurant and a beach outside Beira. Water is very transparent in this area and the food that you can savor in the restaurant is delicious. A boat trip in Savane is great fun.
Rio Maria is also one of the major tourist attractions of Beira. Rio Maria is an estuary and its natural beauty is alluring to tourists coming from all parts of the world.
Nampula
Nampula is the commercial center of Mozambique. The city of Nampula is littered with banks, hotels, tennis clubs and supermarkets. You will also find large glass-fronted stores selling expensive motorcars in Nampula, Mozambique. Nampula has many things to offer to tourists.
Sightseeing in Nampula is a great experience. There are several fascinating tourist attractions in Nampula. The skyline of Nampula is dominated by the twin cupola called Cathedral de Nosa Senhora da Conceicao. The locals of this industrial city call it 'Gina Lollobrigida'.
Nampula in Mozambique is positioned in the middle of rolling hills and rising mountains of the interior. Initially, Nampula was set up as a regional center. This happened in the year 1967 when the Portuguese government transferred the army headquarters from Mozambique Island to Nampula.
Nampula is located in eastern Mozambique and is the capital of Nampula Province. It is placed on a railroad that runs east to the port of Lumbo and the Mozambique Channel is opposite to it. Nampula is the trade center of Mozambique. The produce of the land includes cotton, vegetables, corn, peanuts and forest products.
Nampula can be reached easily. There are convenient modes of transportation to reach the city. The transportation system within Nampula is also very good. You can get into Nampula by car from the neighboring provinces of Mozambique, if you want. Cars can be hired to reach Nampula.
There are many tourist spots in Nampula. The main cathedral of the city is worth a watch. This cathedral is large and domed. Museu Nacional de Etnologia is another attractive site. This museum has an awesome collection of artifacts including masks and musical instruments. You will find a Makonde cooperative workshop at the back of the museum.
Shopping is great fun in Nampula. You can buy some affordable items from the market vendors of Banco Austral or else. Do not miss fine dining and drinking while you are in Nampula.
For accommodation, you can go to the Milenio or Girassol. The services of these hotels are excellent. You will get comfortable rooms with A/C, free Internet access, excellent breakfast and great restaurants in these hotels.
Nampula is the best base for exploring the rest of Mozambique.
Maputo
Maputo is the capital of Mozambique. The city of Maputo is bordered by the Maputo Province. Maputo, Mozambique is situated on the western side of Maputo Bay. This is at the mouth of the Tembe River. Maputo in Mozambique is an ideal tourist destination. Maputo has a conditional type of climate. Winter season is dry from April to September and the temperatures are as high as 30°C from December to March.
Sightseeing in Maputo is the best part of your Mozambique tours. There are several tourist attractions in Maputo for you to explore. Some of them are:
Jardim Tunduru
Jardim Tunduru is a botanical garden set up in the year 1885. Jardim Tunduru was launched by a well known Englishman called Thomas Honney. The Jardim Tunduru botanical garden is located behind the Statue of Samora Machel.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Conception
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Conception was built in the early 1900s by the Eiffel who built the famous Eiffel tower of Paris. Cathedral of Our Lady of Conception is an impressive structure built in a tall single spire.
Maputo Elephant Reserve
The Maputo Elephant Reserve is also called Reserva Especial de Maputo. This reserve is one of the leading tourist spots in Maputo. The Maputo Elephant Reserve is located at 79 km south of Maputo. This elephant reserve is a part of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area, which is an international conservation project joining areas of Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland. Some of the animals that you can spot here are elephants, leopards, antelopes, crocodiles, hippos and side-striped jackals. Many species of birds can also be noticed over here.
Inhaca Island
Inhaca Island is located at a distance of 40 km off the coast of Maputo. The Inhaca Island is marked by beautiful beaches, coral reefs, a historic lighthouse and a marine biology museum. You will also find large areas of protected forest in this island. Game fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving are the popular games of the island.
City Hall
The City Hall houses the chambers of the Mayor. City Hall was built in classical style in the year 1945.
The Iron House
The Iron House was designed by Gustave Eiffel. It is completely made up of steel walls and roofs.
Pemba
Pemba is one of the leading tourist destinations of Mozambique. Pemba is the capital of the Cabo Delgado Province in the north of Mozambique. Pemba, Mozambique is the port town of the country. It is located on the southern side of the world's third-largest natural bay.
Pemba in Mozambique has a population of around 100,000 people. It is the most important center in Northern Mozambique. The entire town is marked with banks, supermarkets and excellent restaurants. Pemba was built over rolling hills. Most of the people staying in this part of Mozambique live in wooden huts set amongst numerous thick baobab trees.
Pemba was discovered by the Niassa Company in 1904 as Porto Amelia. This name was kept after a queen of Portugal. It was renamed Pemba at the end of Portuguese rule in the year 1975.
Sightseeing in Pemba is a wonderful experience. Pemba is renowned mainly for its Portuguese colonial architecture. Pemba is also the ideal tourist destination for you if you are interested in water sport activities. Pemba is the best place for diving enthusiasts. The coral reefs that lie close to the shore are very impressive.
There are several other tourist attractions in Pemba that you can explore.
Most of the tourist spots in Pemba center around the beaches of this town. Pemba has got an amazing marine life. If you are lucky, you can swim in the waters with dolphins as company. If you are in the Ibo Island of Pemba you can indulge in all the adventure related activities.
If you want to go for some shopping, visit Souk Souk or the authentic local market situated in the center of Pemba. Here, you can buy some items of arts and crafts as well as traditional silverware. These articles are sold in the Souk Souk at an affordable rate.
For Scuba diving, do pay a visit to Nacole Jardim. Over here, you can dive and explore the stunning marine life. There are guides available in Nacole Jardim for your convenience.
The best time to visit Pemba is between the months of May and November. At this time, Pemba experiences a dry season. As the rainy season runs from December to April, it is better to avoid Pemba during that period. Rainfall is irregular and the weather is hot and humid during the rainy season.
Pemba can be reached very easily via air or land. Visit Pemba if you want to have a memorable holiday.