7. MOZAMBIQUE
Mozambique is a Southern African country bordered on the north by Tanzania, west by Zambia, south by Zimbabwe and east by the Indian Ocean.
10 Interesting Facts about Mozambique
1. The capital of Mozambique is Maputo. Maputo was founded in the late 18th century, and named after the Portuguese trader, Lourenço Marques, who first reached the area in1544.
2. Mozambique gained its independence from Portugal in 1975.
3. Why would a country’s flag have the symbol of a weapon? The flag of Mozambique generates a lot of controversy because one of the symbols on it is an AK-47. Citizens want it changed because the weapon is like a symbol of violence.
The Mozambican flag was originally the flag of FRELIMO, the revolutionary army responsible for their independence and the main political party today.
4. Even though there are over 40 languages spoken in Mauritius, the only official language is Portuguese.
5. Mozambique is internationally known for having a very rich and beautiful marine life.
6. Mozambique is home Mount Mabu where the “Google Forest” was discovered by scientists in 2005 using the Google Earth software. This rain forest has been found to have new species of plants and animals.
7. There is a house in Maputo made of only iron. This iron house was imported in 1892 for the Governor Rafael Jàcome de Andrade who never moved in because it was too hot! Today the iron house is fully air conditioned and is now the office of the National Directorate of Cultural Heritage.
8. Mozambique is a rich multicultural country with culture mixes between Africa, China, India and Portugal.
9. Though the staple food of Mozambique is maize porridge with meat and/or vegetable stew, it is known for its rich seafood and said to have the best tasting prawn and shrimp in the world.
10. Mozambique is home to the famous Gorongosa National Park, which has been referred to as one of Africa’s finest parks with a large number of carnivores and herbivores.
10 Things to do in Mozambique
1. Visit a National Park. Mozambique has a number of national parks that you can plan a trip to like the Banhine National Park in which you can come across lions, impala, crocodiles, leopards, ostriches, hippos and the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park where you can see dolphins, sharks, turtles, rays, dugong and numerous species of whale and birds.
2. Check out turtle nestling in Ponta Mamoli where female turtles between November and March come to lay eggs and go back to see.
3. Rent a Quad Bike to explore the villages in the island.
4. Go scuba diving.
5. Go swimming with the friendly dolphins in the blue waters of Ponta da Ouro.
6. Go snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of Tofu Bay and mingle with the whale sharks.
7. Think of going on a culinary adventure, enjoying the best of hot, grilled and spicy seafood. Take note of the word “Peri-Peri” which means “spicy-spicy”, that is the typical characteristic of Mozambican food.
Be sure to also taste the local sea food delicacy called “Matata”; a stew made with clams and peanut sauce.
8. Charter a private helicopter for an exclusive aerial view of the beautiful beaches and islands of Mozambique; notable islands are Bazaruto, Santa Carolina, Bangue, Benguerra and Magaruque.
9. Retreat to a beach. Mozambique has some of the finest beaches with their palm fringes, white squeaky-clean sand and turquoise waters… really beautiful!
10. Visit Niassa Reserve which is part of Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve. This eco system is rich with thousands of elephants and buffalos. You may also get to see other animals like the lion, leopard, hippo, kudu, bushbuck, impala, wildebeest, waterbuck, reedbuck and the spotted hyena.
