Ilha De Mozambique

The vibrant and truly unique Ilha de Mozambique (Mozambique Island) is an island in the Nampula Province in Northern Mozambique with an enviable historical heritage that's unmatched in the rest of Mozambique, and indeed the rest of Africa. Declared a World Heritage site due to its rich history and culture, it has become one of Mozambique’s ‘must go’ places. 

It was the capital of Mozambique for nearly four centuries under Portuguese colonisation before the move to Lourenco Marques (now Maputo), and had been used as a major base for the Arab traders since around the 8th century, long before the arrival of the Portuguese. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The tiny island is only 3 kilometres long and very narrow. It is connected by a concrete bridge with the mainland and is said to be crowded by 16,000 inhabitants, most of them living in bustling Macuti Town. Stone Town occupies the northern half of the island and is much grander than Macuti town in the south, but both are UNESCO listed because of their significant architecture and cultural tradition. 

The fascinating mix of African, Arab and European culture and history is displayed in the churches and mosques, beautiful colonial buildings with thick walls and small traditional houses, the imposing fort, the old Portuguese houses (some dating back to the sixteenth century), the well-maintained, interesting museums and above all in the local population, their culture and their incredibly varied faces. There is a colourful and vibrant feel to the island with all the hustle and bustle, yet you can still feel the charm, sophistication and culture. 



Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.
Jack Kerouac