Ilha de Moçambique & Nampula

The World Heritage Island of Mozambique and the gateways of Nampula and Nacala.

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Hero image: Island of Mozambique — Stig Nygaard, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Ilha de Moçambique, the Island of Mozambique, is a small island off the Nampula coast linked to the mainland by a long bridge. Its historic town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was for centuries the capital of Portuguese East Africa.

Nampula is the main inland hub for the region, and Nacala is a port town on a deep natural bay further up the coast.

Main towns and places

Ilha de Moçambique

Ilha de Moçambique is a small island off the coast of Nampula province, linked to the mainland by a long single-lane bridge. Its stone-built historic town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the beaches of Mossuril Bay lie across the water on the mainland. Read the Ilha de Moçambique guide.

Nampula

Nampula is the largest city in northern Mozambique and the capital of Nampula province. It is the main inland transport hub for travel to Ilha de Moçambique and the northern coast. Read the Nampula guide.

Nacala

Nacala is a port town on a deep natural bay on the Nampula coast. It has an international airport and beaches around the bay. Read the Nacala guide.

Destination guides in Ilha de Moçambique & Nampula

• Ilha de Moçambique — heritage island
• Nampula — city and gateway
• Nacala — port town

Nearby regions