Mozambique is on the south-eastern coast of Africa, bordering Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia to the north; Zimbabwe to the west; South Africa and Swaziland to the south; and the Mozambique Channel to the east. The capital, Maputo, is in the south, near the coast.
It has grown into one of Africa’s most desired holiday destinations, owing to its outstanding snorkeling, delicious cuisine and pristine 2,500km coastline.
The coastline of Mozambique is blessed with long stretches of beach and isolated islands lining the warm Indian Ocean. These are the playgrounds of the adventurous and weary; seeking rejuvenation, water sport activities and seafood served under the stars.
From the coastal plains inland, the land changes abruptly from a narrow palm studded strip of beach along the coast to a broad belt of savannah and woodland then forested mountains. Forty percent of the territory has an altitude rising to 200 meters; Cabo Delgado, Nampula and the interior of Inhambane, are plateaus of 200 To 600 meters and further on between Manica and Sofala the land forms mountains with heights above 000 meters.
The highest points of the country are in the mountainous region located by the border, and most of the country’s rivers flow eastwards to the Indian Ocean.
Mozambique is also one of the world’s new sanctuaries. It is investing in the recovery of its wildlife, with a great variety of nature reserves, and it is likewise devoting resources to tourism, with high quality hunting safaris, but at the same time working to develop greater
awareness of the environment.
Experience Mozambique’s natural wealth, best displayed in its turquoise seas, glittering white fringed archipelagos, and numerous seaside and island resorts, the rich Portuguese-influenced traditions, and its mouth-watering cuisine and colourful culture.
It's is a land full of life and hidden beauty, stretching from the endless pristine beaches of Tungué Bay in the far north to the diving enthusiasts’ paradise at Ponta de Ouro in the south. In between there are the paradise islands of Cabo Delgado; Mozambique Island, a World Heritage Nature Reserve with its centuries of history and culture, nature’s gift of Inhambane, where migrating whales pass by without fail, and the beach at Xai Xai, where delicious fresh oysters whet the appetite for more.
In the towns and cities that seem so familiar to us, a great diversity of history and cultures is melded into the architecture, and the pulse of daily life can be felt, from the bustle of the markets to the striking handicrafts, from the museums to the bars and restaurants.
Situated on the southwestern coast of Africa, Namibia borders Angola and Zambia in the north, South Africa in the south and Botswana in the east, Namibia covers 824,292 sq km (318,259 sq mi).
Part of the allure of Namibia is that it's four countries in one. Four different landscapes, each with its own characteristics and attractions. The most definitive is the Namib, a long coastal desert that runs the length of the country and is highlighted with migrating dune belts, dry riverbeds and canyons. The central plateau is home the majority of Namibia towns and villages and is divided between rugged mountain ranges and sand-filled valleys.
Next is the vast Kalahari Desert with its ancient red sand and sparse vegetation. Finally, Kavango and Caprivi, blessed with generous amounts of rain and typified by tropical forests, perennial rivers and woodland savannahs.
Because of the regional climatic differences within the country,Namibia has a broad variety of plant species from desert and semi-desert vegetation to subtropical plants. Most of country is savannah with low scrubs and grasses prospering in the arid conditions. With rain, these same areas often spout various wild flowers, though seldom for long. In contrasting form, the Caprivi and Kavango regions support a great deal of aquatic plant life and leafy vegetation along the many waterways and riverbanks. But no mention of Namibian flora would be complete without the Kokerboom or quiver tree and the Welwitschia, one of the oldest plants known to man.
A critical and beautiful part of Namibia's story is the extraordinary variety of wildlife found here - a story best told in Namibia's many national parks, reserves and conservancies. For a predominately arid country which is predominately arid, Namibia boasts one of the greatest wildlife populations in the world, some species are truly unique, many are rare, and a few whose lineage goes back long before the first ancestors of mankind evolved. Hundreds of mammal species roam freely here, and thanks to the variety of habitats across Namibia, it's quite easy to customize your wildlife experience accordingly.
Namibia is a paradise for birding enthusiasts. With habitats ranging from the dunes of the Namib, coastal wetlands and vast areas of savannah to the floodplains and waterways of Kavango and Caprivi, Namibia's birding checklist boasts 676 of Southern Africa's 887 species.