Mozambique.

Mozambique is a southeast African country on the Indian Ocean — 2,500 km of coastline, two major island archipelagos (Bazaruto and the Quirimbas), a Portuguese colonial legacy that shapes the food and architecture, and some of the least-crowded beaches in the western Indian Ocean. It was a Portuguese colony for nearly five centuries, gained independence in 1975, then spent 16 years in a civil war that ended in 1992. Today it's one of the warmest, most welcoming, and least-visited countries in southern Africa: Portuguese is the official language, Bantu languages like Xitswa, Macua, and Sena are spoken at home, and the food is a mix of African, Portuguese, and Indian Ocean trade. The coast is the headline — white sand, coral reefs, the warm Mozambique Channel, and the chain of archipelagos that draw most of the country's visitors.

Where to go. The country splits into three travel regions. The southern coast (Maputo north to Inhassoro) is where almost all international tourism happens — the Bazaruto Archipelago, Tofo, Inhambane, Maputo. The centre holds Beira and Gorongosa National Park. The north (Pemba and the Quirimbas) is wilder, more expensive, and harder to reach. Our where-to-go guide breaks them down and tells you which suits which kind of trip.

What it costs. Mozambique is mid-priced for southern Africa — cheaper than Kenya or Tanzania safaris, more expensive than Malawi or Zambia. A 10-day mid-range trip is usually $2,000–3,500 USD per person including internal flights and day trips; backpacker is half of that, private-island lodges multiples of it. See our trip-cost breakdown for honest numbers.

What we cover: we operate from Vilanculos on the southern coast, gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago, and Tofo, two hours south. Other regions — Maputo, Pemba, the Quirimbas, Niassa — are wonderful but outside our patch. If you want a full national itinerary, we'll tell you who to talk to. For deeper guides see our 10-day itinerary, 14-day itinerary, best beaches, islands, food, and flights.