The most northerly of the country is the home of the Makonde group of people, who are concentrated on the Mueda Plateau.
Characteristics of the province
Area: 77,867 sq. km
Borders: Tanzania to the north, Nampula to the south, Niassa to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east.
Main products: Marble, clay, graphite and hard woods
Population density: 16 inhabitants / sq. km
Most represented ethnic group: Makonde and Macua
Pemba
Nacala is located in the north of Mozambique, 2,700Km north of Johannesburg; 2,700km north of Maputo and 900Km east of Blantyre. The nearest international airport is in Nampula, 200km away. Nampula province is well renowned for its baobab trees or imbondeiro as is called in Mozambique. Nampula is a commercial centre and is bordered on the North by the Provinces of Cabo Delgado and Niassa, by Zambezi in the South and West and by the Indian Ocean on the East.
Zambezia is an agricultural region of extensive coconut and magnificent tea plantations.
Characteristics of the province
Area: 105,008 sq. km
Borders: Nampula and Niassa to the north, Sofala to the south, Malawi and Tete to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east.
Main products: Coconut, tea, shrimp and precious stones.
Population density: 30 inhabitants / sq. km
Most represented ethnic group: Chuabo and Macua
Quelimane
This province, essencially agriculturally based, is an important producer of a wide range of fruits and vegetables.
Characteristics of the province
Area: 61,661 sq. km
Borders: Tete to the north, Inhambane and Gaza to the south, Sofala to the east and Zimbabwe to the west.
Main products: Gold, mica, fluorite, chalcopyrite, tobacco, citrus and vegetables.
Population density: 11 inhabitants / sq. km
Most represented ethnic group: Shona and Sena
Chimoio
Sofala is one of the richest Mozambique provinces producing primarily shrimps and sugar.
Characteristics of the province
Area: 67,218 sq. km
Borders: Tete and Zambézia to the north, Inhambane to the south, Manica to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east
Main products: Shrimp, sugar and hard woods
Population density: 20 inhabitants / sq. km
Most represented ethnic group: Sena and Ndau
Beira
Inhambane province is chacterised by its extensive coconut palms and cashew trees. This province has one of the most famous tourist destinations of the country: the Bazarauto archipelago.
Characteristics of the province
Area: 68,615 sq. km
Borders: Sofala and Manica to the north, Gaza to the west and Indian Ocean to the south and east.
Main products: Cashew, coconut and tangerines
Population density: 19 inhabitants / sq. km
Most represented ethnic group: Tsua (Tsonga) e Chope
The city of Inhmabane
The province of gaza is just southern Mozambique. Gaza province is know as the "granary" of Mozambique due to the fertility of the Limpopo valley where there is extensive cereal and rice cultivation.
Characteristics of the province
Area: 75,450 sq. km
Borders: Manica to the north, Maputo to the south, South Africa to the west and Inhambane and the Indian Ocean to the east.
Main products: Cashew, cotton, rice and maize
Population density: 16 inhabitants / sq. km
Most represented ethnic group: Changana (a sub-division of Tsonga).
Xai-Xai
Famous becaused of Delagoa Bay (Baía do Espírito Santo) where the capital, Maputo, is located, this province has a rare charm provided by the contrast between urban and rural ways of life.
Characteristics of the province
Area: 23,576 sq. km
Borders: Gaza to the north, South Africa to the south, Swaziland to the west and India Ocean to the east.
Main products: Citrus, sugar diatomite, bentonite and limeston.
Population density: 44 inhabitants/ sq. km
Most represented ethnic group: Tsonga.
The city of Maputo
After the creation of the ministry of tourism in 2000, designated conservation areas came under its jurisdiction for toursim purposes, which includes all present and future national parks and reserves and enclosures in the country. The aim was to give more emphasis to the exploitation of these areas for tourism and the development of ecotourism.
