Its rich history and paradise landscapes make Ilha de Moçambique an interesting destination. Even though it is only 1 km² - it has a lot to offer. Permanent population of 14,000 people live mainly in the part called Makuti Town, where the roofs are made from the sun-dried leaves of the coconut palm. The other part of the island is called Stone Town, due to the colonial architecture left over from the Portuguese settlement.
Everybody have heard about Mozambique, but not necesary about the small Island of Mozambique, to which the country owes its name. In the XVI c. it used to be one of the most important ports on the trade route from Africa to Asia and Europe. It's located at the north coast of Mozambique in Nampula Province. The Island of Mozambique is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Once you get to the capital of Mozambique - Maputo, you can take a flight to Nampula. From there the best way is to come by taxi or organised car. The trip will take around three hours but don't worry the views on the way are amazing:) It's also not as expensive as anybody would imagine to pay for 3 hours drive f.ex in Europe. The best way would be to organise the car with your hotel before you come. There are also cheeper options like taking the bus, but the trip will take much longer. You can also take a plane from Nampula to nearby Lumbo Airport.
You can go all year round, but be aware that June, Jully and August are colder months. Tempreatures during the day are around 25 C, but the day is short and at nights can be cold. On the other hand, summer months (December, January and February) can be super hot. They say that summer is a rainy season but I wouldn't be worried about it - the rain can be instense but doesnt last long. I would reccomend April and May as the best months to visit, as the higher temperatures drop a bit down but the ocean is still warm after the summer, still expect temperatures above 30 C.
5 days should be enough. You'll see all what's interesting around and mix it gently with some leisure time. I reccomend also, once you are in Moz, to check out other amazing destinations like: Maputo and nearby Reserva dos Elefantes, Vilanculos and Bazaruto, Tofo, Gorongosa Park, Lake Malawi or just continue to Kruger Park in Sounth Africa that's just 100km from Maputo.
If you are a fan of trips that are out of the beaten track, and don't mind some effort of getting to the place, than believe me you will fall in love with Ilha. The locals are nice and smily, they even insist on taking photos with them, so if you are a photography enthusiast better prepare an extra battery. The leftovers of the colonial architecture are stunning. Some of them were transformed to luxury lodges, so if you are tired after walking around just jump to the pool or hang out with the drink at your hotel's lobby.
I highly recommend to go for a guided tour with the local guide. You can either split it for two days, or like us, do a part at the morning and the rest after lunch. The history of the place is very interesting as it used to be one of the main ports of the trade route between East Africa and the rest of the world. You will see the buildings that used to be prisons for the slaves waiting for a transport, that are now transformed to cafes, shops and hotels. The local museum has exhibits dating XVI century, from which you can even find the Ming Dynasty vases.
You definatelly must go for island hopping tour with the traditional dhow boat. The nearby islands like Goa, Sette Paos and Coral are paradise and provide a great snorkling sites as well as white sandy beaches. On Goa you can climb old lighthouse for stunning views, and on Coral you can enjoy fresh fish prepared on the bonfire, as well as snorkling in the lagoon.
Below you will find some more photos from the trip. Ilha is one of my favorite places in the world. I highly recommend visiting it for its beautiful architecture and the paradise islands that surround it.
Thank you for reading my post. I hope it will encourage you to take a trip to some more remote and hidden parts of the world like amazing Ilha. If you have any questions or need some recomendations don't hestitate to write to me.
All photos © Aga Rossi 2019
Sources:
Map of Mozambique: comersis.com
Map of Ilha de Mocambique: ilhablue.com
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