Mozambique, a southern African nation of mystique, exotic beaches, and legends, is a new addition to the roster of countries Renedian riders experience. Traveling here is on Renedian’s Cape Town to Victoria Falls: All Paved Route so here are a few facts to help you get acquainted with it.

Africa Tours MozambiqueGovernment

  • Mozambique gained independence from four centuries of Portuguese rule in 1975.
  • After a civil war lasting from 1977 to 1992, the country has remained a relatively stable presidential republic and multi-party democracy.
  • Approximately 29 million people, mostly from Bantu descent, live here.
  • The country’s pragmatic foreign policy have fostered good relations with neighbouring countries and development partners.

Geography

  • Mozambique covers 812,379 sq km (313,661 sq miles)
  • The long Indian Ocean coastline beckons with popular beaches, turquoise waters, swaying palms, and offshore marine parks.
  • Mozambique is in southeastern Africa with the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini (Swaziland) and South Africa to the southwest.
  • The Quirimbas Archipelago is a 250 km stretch of mangrove-covered coral islands.
  • Two topographical regions, divided by the Zambezi River, define the landscape. North of the river, the narrow coastline moves to inland hills and plateaus, climbing to rugged highlands further west. Broad lowlands, the Mashonaland plateau and Lembombo Mountains lie south of the river.
  • The climate is tropical with a wet season, prone to cyclones, from October to March and a dry season from April to September.

Economy

  • A growing economy is based largely on agriculture. Industrial sectors are growing, primarily in food and beverages, chemical manufacturing, and aluminum production.
  • In 2012, large natural gas reserves were found, which could have a huge impact on the economy.
  • Mozambique remains one of the poorest countries in the world.

Culture

  • Portuguese is the official language, spoken by up to half of the population. Common native languages include Makhuwa, Sena, and Swahili.
  • Christianity is the largest religion (about forty-six percent) with significant minorities following Islam and African traditional religions.
  • Each woman averages 5.27 births. There are three physicians for every 100,000 people.

Education

  • Education is compulsory through primary school but many cannot attend due to family obligations. Enrolment rates are increasing but few graduate.
  • There is limited space in the country’s universities. Institutes also exist to give vocational training. Students can attend higher education in Portugal.

Wildlife

  • Since 1975, seventy percent of the wildlife has been lost, many decimated by the civil war. Poachers, forced into illegal activity by extreme poverty, have killed more than 10,000 elephants in Mozambique’s nature reserves since 2011.
  • The savannah and dry woodland habitats near the border of South Africa’s Kruger National Park are home to elephants, impala, duiker, springbok, kudu, and ostrich.
  • Wattled cranes and a wide variety of migratory birds as well as the killifish find refuge in the waters of Banhine National Park.

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