Mozambique

Overview

Mozambique lies in East Africa on the Indian Ocean coast, bordered by Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Eswatini, with a coastline stretching about 2,500 kilometers. Portugal administered the territory as a colony until 1975, and following independence the country endured a civil war lasting nearly a decade and a half (1977-1992), which severely set back economic and infrastructural development. Portuguese remains the official language today, though numerous local Bantu languages are also spoken, and the country is one of the largest Portuguese-speaking states in Africa. The population is religiously divided among Christian, Muslim, and traditional animist belief systems.

Mozambique Island, a former colonial capital, with Portuguese- and Arab-influenced architecture, including Fort São Sebastião, the oldest surviving European-built structure in Africa, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1991. Maputo, the current capital, with Portuguese colonial-era buildings, including the railway station reportedly designed by the offices of Gustave Eiffel, serves as the country's political and economic center. The Bazaruto Archipelago, along the coast, with its sand dunes and coral reefs, is one of the best-known destinations for coastal tourism in Mozambique. Gorongosa National Park, whose wildlife population was nearly wiped out during the civil war and later successfully restored through international conservation efforts, stands as one of the region's most significant wildlife recovery success stories.

The waters around the Bazaruto Archipelago, home to one of the last significant populations of dugongs along Africa's eastern coast, offer excellent diving and snorkeling. Tofo Beach, on the mainland coast, has become known for regular sightings of whale sharks and manta rays, making the region a popular destination for the diving community. In Gorongosa National Park, populations of elephants, lions, and numerous other large mammals continue to grow as a result of conservation programs, making the country an emerging destination for safari tourism. Local cuisine blends Portuguese and African influences, with piri-piri chicken, chicken grilled in a spicy marinade, an internationally recognized dish of Mozambican origin.