Mozambique

Mozambique, whose coastline extends from

South Africa to Tanzania, is known for its pristine, less-traveled beach destinations along the Indian Ocean. Accessible mainly by flying, there are several small beach resorts offering fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving, and small safari camps with simple accommodations.

Mozambique is a country in Southeast Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest. It is separated from Madagascar by the Mozambique Channel to the east. The capital and largest city is Maputo (known as “Lourenço Marques” before independence).

The country’s climate is tropical with a wet season from October to March, and a dry season from April to September. The climate does change based on the altitude. Along the coast, rainfall is heavy. During the wet season, cyclones are common.

Portuguese, the official language, is spoken by 40 percent of the population. 30 percent speak it as a second language. Only about 10 percent speak it is a primary language. There are several different bantu languages, including, Makhuwa, Sena, Swahili, Ndau, and Shangaan.