Mozambique Holidays
Fast becoming a tourist hotspot, Mozambique itself has put its previous political battles firmly in the past and has become positively cosmopolitan, with roadside cafés, street musicians and wine bars now the norm. However, just a short drive will lead tourists to more secluded, peaceful beach resorts and lodges, offering the best of both worlds.

Weather
The weather in the coastal regions of Mozambique tends to be quite steady and sunny, hovering around the mid to high twenties for around half of the year. However, this rises during the rainy season, from December to April, when it can feel quite uncomfortable.

February is known as “hurricane” month, so although substantial hurricanes cause damage to the area only rarely, tourists should be made aware that it could affect their holiday.
By Day
Mozambique offers some of the world’s best diving and deep sea fishing, the warm waters of the Indian Ocean being home to dolphins, whale sharks, tuna, marlin sailfish and wahoo. Despite its recent move from an area of political unrest to tourism, many of the beaches are, as yet, relatively uncrowded and peaceful.

Due to its location and excellent network of roads, however, it is just as easy to drive into Maputo for a slice of urban African life, or alternatively, down into South Africa to go on safari. A trip out to the neighbouring island of Ibo is also worthwhile.
By Night
Although many beach resorts will offer their own entertainment such as beach barbeques and live music, Maputo of course has a variety of bars, cafes, restaurants and venues, should you prefer something a little less laid back. One of the advantages of Mozambique is the variety of entertainment options you have available to you.Top Attractions
• Maputo Elephant Reserve – drive your 4x4 through this reserve and see its elephants, hippo, crocodile, zebra and gazelle

• Fort Sao Sebastian – a complete fort, built around 1600. A great lesson in history for children and adults alike

• Isle of Ibo – once the capital of Mozambique, the island boasts ancient forts, Hundu temples and absolutely stunning beaches.
Events
Mozambique Independence Day (June), Labor Day (September)Local Flavours
Perhaps unsurprisingly, food in Mozambique has a heavy Portuguese influence, with staples such as rice and maize, as well as potatoes, cashew nuts, onions, peppers, paprika and garlic introduced to the country by its Portuguese settlers.

The dishes themselves tend to be dominated by fresh seafood, which is, of course, abundant in Mozambique. Stews and chicken recipes, enhanced by spices, nuts and coconut are popular, as are the fresh fruit which grows in the area; delicious puddings often being made with papaya, pineapple and rice.
History
As with most of this region, early settlers in the area had been Arabs, who were establishing spice trading posts. The Portuguese reached Mozambique in 1498, although back home, Portugal was much more interested in establishing trading outposts in India and the Far East.

The British had made inroads into colonising Mozambique by the twentieth century, providing a networked railway system, although overall governance was still with the Portuguese, who emigrated to their colonies throughout the world in large numbers, after World War II.

In 1962, Mozambique led an uprising against Portuguese rule, and the country was finally granted its independence in 1975. Unfortunately, the Mozambican Civil War commenced in 1977 and lasted until 1992 during which time, over 900,000 people died in combat or from starvation and over five million driven from their homes. It is only in recent years that the country has returned to a state of stability.
Size & Location
Mozambique, a country located in southeast Africa, has a landmass of around 801,590 sq km, almost twice the size of California. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Swaziland.