Mainland Coast

”‹Northern Mozambique's coastline is a paradise for those wanting a relaxing holiday away from the crowds. This is a remote and unspoilt destination with luxury lodges set on stunning sandy beaches that stretch for miles. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean are perfect for swimming and this coast has some of the best snorkelling and diving in the world.

The main town and gateway is Pemba, a former colonial outpost with building and wide avenues lining the bay. This is reputed to be the world's largest inland bay. The entrance is just 2 kilometres wide and opens out to a vast expanse of water covering about 375 square kilometres with a uniform depth of 24 metres.

Ilha de Mozambique is another colonial gem in this region. It was the capital and an important trading centre under Portuguese rule and today is a quiet and atmospheric island and a World Heritage Site. Among the many historic buildings are the 16th Fort Sao Sebastiao, the elegant neo-classical hospital and the Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Baluarte built in 1522 and widely considered the earliest European building in the Southern Hemisphere. The island is just 3kms long and between 200 and 500 metres wide, and is linked to the mainland by a 3km bridge.