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Posted on Thursday, 4 March 2010 |
 Up until 1974 Mozambique, on the South Eastern coast of the African continent, was a Portuguese colony. Prior to that it is thought that Arab traders and nomadic African tribes moved around this fruitful coastline trading together. It is possible that that the name Mozambique came from the name of an ancient Arab chief 'Musa al big'.
The famous Portuguese explorer Vasco di Gama first set foot in the country we now know as Mozambique in 1498. By 1510 the Portuguese had extended their control all the way along this African coast and although slavery existed prior to their arrival, they made a commercial enterprise out of the export of vast numbers of the fittest and strongest young men and women.
This is Mozambique's legacy, a painful history shared by many nations on the African continent and beyond. This legacy can still be seen in the cities and towns, especially the capital city of Maputo, that still bear the architectural style of ancient Portugal and follow a very European layout of wide boulevards and city parks.
The natural beauty of Mozambique is however, all it's own. With something in the region of 2000 kilometres of Indian Ocean lapped coastline, finding an quiet spot on the beach is certainly not going to be a problem.
Despite years of turbulent civil war, which culminated in a devastating flood, Mozambique has settled once again into a more peaceful paradise and has long been removed off many of the world's government list of dangerous places. The most likely problems that you are going to have in Mozambique are traffic incidents.
Although naturally all travellers to far flung places who like to explore off the beaten track are exposed to higher risks than usual and have to execute a level of vigilance than your average tourist.
The tourist industry is basking in this period of calm security and is stretching its wings to prepare for a new wave of visitors to the country. However Mozambique is approaching tourism with an entirely fresh and modern approach. It is not looking backwards, longingly, at some European wish list of what a holiday resort should be or trying to be anything that it is not. No one is trying to recreate the Costa del Sol on the East African coast, thank goodness.
It doesn't need to. With miles and miles of pure white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters abundant with marine life and, on land, a biodiversity that is exceptional there is no need to create anything, it is already there. Where else can you find coastal forests, wild bush land, wildlife like lions, elephants, hippos, and leopards and never-ending blue seas full of exotic marine life.
What Mozambique has found is that it can offer viable, luxury, eco-tourism. Which just about ticks all the boxes of what the modern day tourist is looking for. We are in an age of conservationism and yet we are not prepared to give up our new found luxuries.
We want white sandy beaches, private villas, swimming pools and an untouched remoteness in which to relax but we want it in high style. We want luxury but we want it with a conscience and it seems it is possible to find it.
It's an opportunity for some countries in Africa to not just match some of the better known beach holiday destinations in the world in terms of facilities but to eclipse them. |
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Bedrooms: 1; Sleeps: 2
Price p/n: €792.35 |
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Bedrooms: 3
