Northern Mozambique

The north of Mozambique boasts attractions similar to the south's but tourist development is less advanced and overall it has a wilder and more adventurous feel. The main hub of upscale tourist development is the Querimba Archipelago, which is studded with resorts offering excellent game fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and other water-based activities. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the former capital of Ilha do Mozambique is a fascinating urban landscape of atmospheric alleys and Portuguese architectural gems dating back to the early 17th century. The Makonde of the northern interior are renowned for their ghoulish masks and ...

The north of Mozambique boasts attractions similar to the south's but tourist development is less advanced and overall it has a wilder and more adventurous feel. The main hub of upscale tourist development is the Querimba Archipelago, which is studded with resorts offering excellent game fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and other water-based activities. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the former capital of Ilha do Mozambique is a fascinating urban landscape of atmospheric alleys and Portuguese architectural gems dating back to the early 17th century. The Makonde of the northern interior are renowned for their ghoulish masks and oddly surreal sculpture style. The main terrestrial wildlife attraction is the vast and remote Niassa Wildlife Reserve that extends over four million hectares of untouched bush country studded with massive granite outcrops, hemmed in by the Lugenda and Rovuma Rivers, and inhabited by the country’s largest populations of lion, elephant and other large mammals including the endangered African wild dog. Lake Niassa, on the Malawian border, is the third-largest in Africa and very scenic.

About the Expert

Philip Briggs has written or contributed to 50-plus editions of Bradt, Insight, AA and Berlitz guidebooks to African destinations.