Tete province is Mozambique’s Zambezi country: a hot, dry interior with a busy provincial city on the river and, upstream, the Cahora Bassa dam and one of Africa’s largest artificial lakes. Visitors come for the river and lake, fishing and a sense of distance from the coast.
This guide explains the two main bases and who they suit. It does not list places to stay, prices or availability.
In this guide
How Tete & Cahora Bassa is laid out
Tete city sits on the Zambezi, with bridges linking the two banks and road links towards Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Upstream, the town of Songo overlooks the Cahora Bassa dam. The lake behind it stretches far to the west, and accommodation around it is widely spread along the shoreline rather than concentrated in one place.
Tete
Tete is a working city on the Zambezi, with an airport and services.
It works if you need a practical base for business travel or onward overland journeys.
It works less well if you want a holiday atmosphere; Tete is hot and business-focused.
Read the full guide: Tete travel guide.
Cahora Bassa
Cahora Bassa covers Songo and the lake shore, where the attraction is the water: fishing, boating and big-sky scenery.
It works if you want lake fishing and a remote, water-focused stay.
It works less well if you want to base yourself in one town and reach several places easily; lakeside stays are spread out, and access to some is by boat or long road journeys.
Read the full guide: Cahora Bassa travel guide.
Check before you travel: Fishing rules, dam-area access and boat operations may be regulated. Confirm current rules locally before you go.
Do you need a car?
Yes, or arrange transfers. Tete has an airport, but reaching Songo and the lake shore generally means road travel, and some lakeside stays are reached by boat.
Which base suits you
| If you want… | Base yourself in… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Business or onward travel | Tete | City services and road links |
| Fishing and the lake | Cahora Bassa (Songo and the shore) | Lake access; stays are widely spread |
What to do next
Once you have chosen a base, read its destination guide for what to see, when to go and how to get there, then browse places to stay in the region. The Tete & Cahora Bassa region guide gives the wider picture, and our Mozambique accommodation guide explains how to choose between regions.
Destination guides in this region:
Sources
Travel advice and access notes were checked on 19 September 2026. Park rules, border hours and transport change; check the official source before you travel.
Browse Tete & Cahora Bassa accommodation
Browse Tete & Cahora Bassa places to stay in our accommodation catalogue, or start from all Mozambique accommodation.