The islands of Ibo and Ilha de Moçambique,once bustling Swahili trading posts, nowhave colonial houses overtaken by stranglerfigs, eerie and enticing in equal measure.Until recently, the mainland has remainedcompletely off limits for all but the mostintrepid of travellers, but the two gameparks of Gorongosa and Niassa are nowopen to visitors. Newborn lodges are findingtheir feet and are real gems with originalideas and outstanding service. Elephantroam unfettered by boundaries, lion can be heard roaring at night, and with no light pollution to hide them, the stars sparkle against an ink black sky. With anincreasingly good network of flights,Mozambique is slowly coming to life - inour opinion, this is an ideal time to visit. Mozambique is wild, beautiful and undeveloped. Miles of palm-fringedwhite beaches stretch along the coast. Tinyvillages on the edge of the sand have papayatrees shading grass huts and dhows mooredup in the mangroves. Offshore, idyllicarchipelagos such as Bazaruto andQuirimba are surrounded by coral reefs withbeaches that are breeding sites for turtles.62Mozambique

Find out more For suggested itineraries and practicalinformation about travel in Mozambique,please see page 71.www.audleytravel.comInteractive maps and features, further suggested itineraries,accommodation, climate information and articles written by our specialists.Discuss your plans with our Mozambiquespecialists 01993 838 560?Niassa Game ReserveOne of Africa's wildest reserves.Spectacular scenery and goodwalking country.Gorongosa National ParkA legendary park in the 1960s before the civil war. An extensive relocationprogramme is leading toincreasing game numbers.Bazaruto ArchipelagoAn archipelago formed by sand dunes rising from the sea.A stunning beach destinationwith world-class diving andsnorkelling.321Ibo IslandAn ancient Swahili town withnow-crumbling mansions, forts,churches and markets. Eerie and atmospheric.Quirimba 6ArchipelagoA breathtaking collection of coralislands. Luxury accommodationand excellent diving.Ilha de MoçambiqueThe former capital ofMozambique and largelyunchanged since its constructionthree hundred years ago. AUNESCO World Heritage Site.54Mozambique63123456Audley in MozambiqueWe have been operating in Mozambique for many years and have seen it grow from a beach-only destination with two lodges tothe safari circuit it offers now. It is currentlyone of the most exciting African countries as national parks are becoming accessible,flight networks taking shape and tentedcamps opening. We can recommend three types of itinerary: a stand-alone beach holiday, anisland hopping trip or a safari and beachcombination. If you'd like a week on thebeach there are lots of options, fromecolodges to luxurious hotels. For islandhopping, the Quirimba Archipelago is perfect,as you can combine time spent soaking upthe history and culture of Ibo Island with astay at a beach retreat such as Medjumbe.Those wanting to combine safari and beachcan fly with ease between the coast and theNiassa Reserve and Gorongosa NationalPark. Both are wild reserves where theemphasis is on walking and exploring ratherthan ticking off the big five.AccommodationEach year new camps and lodges are opening in Mozambique. We find this abonus as they tend to have fresh designs,original ideas and staff with lots ofenthusiasm. On the coast, accommodationranges from exclusive private islands such asVamizi to simple ecolodges such as Guludo.Mozambique is the master of the 'barefootboutique' hotel with several properties suchas Azura, Coral Lodge and Benguerra in thisbracket. All offer excellent cuisine and a high standard of accommodation. The tworeserves of Niassa and Gorongosa only haveone tented camp in each to date althoughwe are expecting this to change. Both campsoffer knowledgeable guides, comfortabletents and are in remote wilderness areas.Quirimba beachLocal Ibo lady