Historic attractions in Mozambique are centered around the country’s 400 years of Portuguese colonial occupation, with little to see from earlier times due to the mud-wall construction of most early Middle Ages and medieval towns. The country’s sublime natural beauty along its coast and interior is at its best in the protected national parks and ecostyems with varied biodiversity areas holding everything from savannahs to wetlands and rainforests.

Church of Nossa Senhora de Baluarte

Set on historic Ilha de Mozambique, Nossa Senhora de Baluarte church is the oldest European religious building in the entire southern hemisphere. Built in the mid-16th century decades after Vasco da Gama laid claim to Mozambique for Portugal, the Manuelino-vaulted structure is found just outside the island’s Sao Sebastiao fort in solitary splendor on a promontory overlooking the ocean.
Address: Ilha de Mozambique, Mozambique
Phone: n/a
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Sao Sebastiao Fort

Fort Sao Sebastiao on Isla de Mozambique was constructed by early Portuguese colonists in 1588, although it wasn’t finished for another 62 years due to interruptions caused by Dutch attacks on the island. For the next 200 years, it repelled raids by the Arabs, the British and the French with batteries of cannons, many of which are still in situ. Inside the massive walls you’ll find a chapel, an ancient hospital and a huge cistern built to contain enough drinking water to withstand a siege. The fort itself is still in fine condition.
Address: Ilha de Mozambique, Mozambique
Phone: n/a
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Church of the Misericordia

Built in the 16th century, the Church of the Misericordia is located close to the old hospital, now the home of Ilha de Mozambique’s Museum of Sacred Art. Both the church in typical Middle Ages Portuguese style, and the museum are taken care of by the House of Mercy nuns. The museum has displays of religious carvings, art and frescoes, including a 17th century carving of Saint Isabel, a former Portuguese queen.
Address: Ilha de Mozambique, Mozambique
Phone: n/a
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Cathedral of Our Lady of Conception, Inhambane

Historic, sleepy Inhambane is home to a number of low-key architectural delights, including the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Built by the Portuguese in the 18th century, the religious edifice is set in Inhambane’s historic Old Town close to the harbor. The tip of its towering spire is accessible by ladder, which gives magnificent views over the ocean and surrounding countryside to those brave enough to attempt the ascent.
Address: Inhambane, Mozambique
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Maputo Fortress

One of the oldest buildings in the capital, Maputo’s fortress is located adjacent to the old fishing harbor and dates back to the early 18th century. Used as a base for the infamous slave trade, the fortification came under attack several times by French pirates and was used as a prison during the 19th century. Nowadays it’s the home of the Museum of Military History in the capital and is listed as a Mozambican Cultural Heritage site.
Address: Maputo, Mozambique
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Maputo Iron House

One of the most iconic buildings in all of Africa, the Iron House was designed by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the French architect who designed the Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty. Constructed in 1892 entirely of steel as a residence, the house was never occupied due to its unsuitability in the humid, hot climate. It’s now located near the Tunduru Botanical Garden and houses the National Directorate for Cultural Heritage.
Address: Maputo, Mozembique
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Mozambique National Museum of Art

The National Museum of Art displays a varied collection of engravings, paintings, sculptures, and other works dating from the 1950s to the present day. Leading Mozambican and foreign artists who lived and worked in the country are represented.
Address: Avenida Ho Chi Minh, Maputo
Phone: +258-21-302-264
Website: n/a

Gorongosa National Park

Set in the center of the country, Gorongosa National Park was once on the list of Africa’s premier safari destinations. During the 1980s civil war, its resident population of lions, hippos, rhinos, and buffaloes was decimated, resulting in a post-conflict international effort to reintroduce and restore the species to their glory. Nowadays, the park’s mixture of jade-green wetlands, savannahs, fever tree forests, and palm dotted landscapes are again home to indigenous fauna, with breeding programs advancing year by year.
Address: near Beira, Mozambique
Phone: n/a
Website: http://www.exploregorongosa.com/

Mozambique National Ethnographic Museum

One of the most fascinating attractions in Mozambique is its ethnic diversity, comprising of seven major and dozens of smaller tribes. The National Ethnographic Museum in Nampula is a must for those eager to learn more about the culture, traditions and heritage of the different groups. The museum displays traditional artifacts of the indigenous people and has on-site craftspeople creating carvings and jewelry.
Address: Nampula, Mozambique
Phone: n/a
Website: n/a

Zambezi River Delta

One of the great African rivers, the Zambezi joins the sea along the northern part of Mozambique’s Indian Ocean coast along with the smaller Save, Buzi and Pungwe rivers which also drain the vast Zambezi basin. Although the delta area has been much diminished by the controversial building of the Kariba and Cahora Bassa dams, the wetlands remain an important habitat for indigenous wildlife, especially birds. Lions, cheetahs, leopards, hippos, hyenas, and jackals return to their original habitats, while monitor lizards and Nile crocodiles can be seen. The floodplains are a haven for migratory bird species including storks, cranes and pelicans.
Address: Mozambique
Phone: n/a
Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zambezi