From Quinga to Mecufi: General Information
Location: From Quinga to Mecufi, encompassing the whole of Nampula Province
and the very southern part of Cabo Delgado Province. Home of the Makua people.
Main Localities: Quinga and Mongicual, Nampula, Ilha de Moçambique, Nacala,
Memba Bay and Mecufi.
Nampula, Capital of the Nampula District
This is a fascinating part of the country. Nampula is Mozambique's
3rd largest city, a fast growing centre with an up lifting feel to it.
The geography is quite different here from the rest of the country. Huge
volcanic granite rocks - iselbergs - protrude from the earth creating
the most amazing, dramatic landscapes.
Historically the Nampula province has a lot to tell; the settlement of
the Portuguese on Ilha de Moçambique (World Heritage Site),
the great natural port of Nacala and the centralised position of the
province means it acts as a hub for Southern Africa.
Surprisingly Nampula has not yet a great deal of tourism development,
this is mainly due to the long road access from South Africa, difficult
road from Malawi and the airport only receives domestic flights. This
is due to change, as International Airport status is now being granted,
this will improve access and bring more development to this region.
The country side is beautiful, and fertile, the sea side areas are stunning
(Mia Couto, a famous Mozambique writer, agrees). Nacala Bay and the surrounding
area is a rare jewel and offers fantastic diving.
Services: All main banks and ATM machines are broadly available. There are some good supermarkets, a good variety of general supplies and a large open market on the outskirts of town. A brand new Nampula Commercial Centre has opened almost opposite the Cathedral, where you will find a four star hotel and restaurant, coffee shop, large internet café, ATM machines, pharmacy, designer' clothes, DVDs and so on.
Moti-Rent-A-Car operates in Nampula, Nacala and Pemba and it is a great option to explore the northern part of the country (see General Information on Mozambique).
Communications: Full cell phone reception. TDM: +258 (0) 6 212443
Internet Café: TDM offers internet access at their new shop in
the Nampula Commercial Centre and there is another Internet Café just down the road from this centre;, Primavera
(av. Eduardo Mondlane). A third one is about to open opposite Residential
Brasilia.
Emergency Contacts:
- Hospital: +258 (0) 6 213001
- Police: 199
- Fire Brigade: 198
- Airport: +258 (0) 6 213100
Quinga and Mongicual, Nampula Province
The roads to Quinaga and Mogincual are in bad condition, we decided
not to travel to those two localities. We travelled from Angoche to Nampula,
then to Ilha de Moçambique and Nacala.
Fim do Mundo used to operate as a seasonal bush camp in Mongicual, but
this is now closed.
Services: Banks and ATM's are not available here, nearest place is Angoche. There are small shops and open markets in both places.
Communications: Full cell phone reception and TDM: +258 (0) 6 470005
Emergency Contacts:
- Hospital: +258 (0) 6 720211 (Angoche)
- Police: 199
Ilha de Moçambique (Mozambique Island), Nampula Province
A narrow, 3km bridge links this fascinating island to the mainland. Ilha de Moçambique operated for many centuries as a meeting point in Eastern Africa. Here the local Makua people, saw the introduction of a stronghold Muslim tradition, and a large Hindu community. Christianity arrived with the Portuguese missions in the earl 17th century.
In the late 16th Century it acted as the Capital of Portuguese East Africa (until end of 19th century, when the capital was transferred to Lourenço Marquez - Maputo today).
Today, footprints of all of the above, as well as some smaller ethnic groups that came and went, are found on the walls of dilapidated houses, fortifications and monuments spread throughout the island. Many of those architectural gems have been beautifully restored using traditional methods. The fort São Sebastião is now being cleaned and it will soon undertake restoration work. The Palace building is opened as a museum where colonial artifacts and ways of life are portrayed. The cities information centre is on the ground floor of this building.
Ilha de Moçambique has a very good secondary school and lots of teenagers are sent here to study from all over the province.
Makuti Town is the old stone town. After the Portuguese withdrew from the country, this part of town was taken over. Unfortunately the confusion over ownership of the old, abandoned colonial buildings, resulted in their dereliction. New homes, poorly built with the use of modern materials are packed close together in Makuti Town.
There is no natural supply of fresh water in the island; previously this problem was overcome by the use of cisterns. Today the island is densely populated and water is pumped from the main land. Many existing problems of sanitation, health and hygiene have been slowly dealt with for the sake of the tourism industry. Unfortunately some of the beaches are still used as an open public toilet.
Ilha de Moçambique was declared World Heritage site in 1991 by the UNESCO.
Chocas Mar is a long beach about 40km north of Ilha de Moçambique across the Mussoril Bay (see Roads and Services for this sector). The main part of the beach front is very built-up with small, modern holiday homes. There is a lodge in Chocas Mar (see Accommodation for this sector).
Please, refrain from buying shells, dried coral and ornamental fish, sold here
Services: Few banks and ATM machines are available on the island.
Communications: Full cell phone reception. TDM: +258 (0) 6 610131
Internet access available at the TDM office.
Emergency Contacts:
- Hospital: +258 (0) 6 610173
- Police: 199
- Fire Brigade: 198
Nacala Town and Port, Nampula Province
Nacala Bay offers some of the best scuba diving we have experienced in the Country with a large variety of soft and hard corals, and a dramatic topography (see Dive Sites for this sector).
The Port of Nacala is one of the best natural harbors on the eastern coast of Africa. It is today an actively busy port. The port has been recently privatized and many plans for future development are now taking shape.
Nacala airport was used as an air base during past conflicts. It is the second best equipped airport in the country, with 2 paved landing strips measuring over 3km.
Fernão Veloso Bay and Quissimajulo Beach are popular spot for bathers. Great places to spend the day.
Another interesting place to explore is Ilha Crusse, 14km, south of Nacala. The 'Island' is actually linked to the main land during low tide. There is a small fishing community in the area.
Nacala-a-Velha, The Old Nacala is located over the northwest side of the bay. It has a few shops and market, but little attraction for tourists, beiong there are places of outstanding beauty to be found.
Services: All main banks and ATM machines are widely found in the centre
of town.
There is a good variety of shops, supermarkets and open street markets.
A couple of good restaurants, bars and night entertainment can be
found in town, on the way to the Port. Only one or two hotel developments
focus on the foreign tourist market, and a few establishments are busy
with local businesses and long stay contractors.
Communications: Full cell phone reception. TDM: +258 (0) 6 526918
Internet Café: available at TDM
Emergency Contacts:
- Hospital: +258 (0) 6 610173
- Police: 199
- Fire Brigade: 198
Memba Bay, Nampula Province
Driving north of Nacala (4x4 needed, See Roads and Services for this sector), past Nacala-a-Velha, about 120km away, is Memba Bay. The presence of the Portuguese is very prominent in Memba, where the urbanization and colonial architecture still stand and many are in use. The town and market are busy and you very seldom find tourists wondering about.
The bay is beautiful and there are other small bays and secluded beaches to explore a short drive away. One of those places is Baixo Pinda an extraordinary coral reef plateau that extends out to sea for 5km and is over 10km wide. There is a beautiful light house, positioned high up the hill overlooking the "Baixo" where it is possible to camp (authorization from the Maritime Administrator in Nacala or Memba is adviseble). It is possible to charter diving or fishing boats from Nacala (see Dive Operators for this sector).
Services: No banks or ATM machines found here. Memba has a few very basic shops and a busy market. This is an activity fishing zone.
Communications: Full cell phone reception. TDM: +258 (0) 6 550000/1
Emergency Contacts:
- Hospital: +258 (0) 6 610173
- Police: 199
Mecufi, Cabo Delgado Province
This is a small village located on the southern part of Cabo Delgado and only about 50km from Pemba. There is a nice beach and sand dunes to the north and some mangrove trees. Not an ideal beach for swimmers.
Services: No banks or
Communications: Very week cell phone. No other communication
Emergency Contacts:
- Hospital: +258 (0) 6 610173
- Police: 199