Island of Mozambique

The Island of Mozambique, a tiny coral island off the northern coast connected to the mainland by a long causeway, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of extraordinary historical depth, the place that gave the whole country its name. For centuries a key Swahili trading port and then the capital of Portuguese East Africa, it is a hauntingly atmospheric crossroads of cultures. Its Stone Town holds grand but faded colonial mansions, churches and the imposing Fort of Sao Sebastiao, while a Macuti Town of reed-and-thatch houses reflects its living African community.

History

Pottery shows the town was founded no later than the 14th century, by tradition by Swahili people from Kilwa, and by the 15th century its rulers had ties with Angoche and Quelimane; in 1514 Duarte Barbosa found a Muslim population speaking the same Swahili as Angoche. The island takes its name, and the country its own, from Ali Musa Mbiki, its sultan in Vasco da Gama's time. The Portuguese set up a port and naval base in 1507 and built the Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Baluarte in 1522, considered the oldest European building in the Southern Hemisphere; Fort São Sebastião followed in the 16th century, the Stone Town became the capital of Portuguese East Africa and a missionary centre, and in 1607 and 1608 Dom Estêvão de Ataíde beat off Dutch attacks. The island traded in slaves, spices and gold on the route to India, until in 1898 the capital moved to Lourenço Marques, now Maputo, and it is a World Heritage Site (Wikipedia, Island of Mozambique).

What's there

• The Stone Town - the faded colonial mansions and churches.
• The Fort of Sao Sebastiao - the great Portuguese fortress.
• The Palace and Chapel - the historic governor's palace museum.
• The mix of cultures - the Swahili, Arab, Indian and Portuguese heritage.

When to go

May to November, the dry season, for the most comfortable weather; the island is atmospheric year-round, and its compact size makes it easy to explore on foot over a day or two. The northern location means it is often combined with a wider trip to the northern coast or the Quirimbas.

Practical notes

Much of the stone town is in advanced decay, with collapsed roofs beside restored buildings, and facilities are limited to a few guesthouses; the causeway is single-lane and the island is small enough to exhaust in two days. As a uniquely atmospheric, multicultural historic island, it is one of Africa's most evocative places.

Nearby

The mainland at Nampula and the northern beaches are reached by causeway.

Key facts