Inhambane

Covered by large coconut plantations and famous for the production of cashews, coconuts and sweet tangerines, the province of Inhambane is one of the main tourism centres in the country today.

 

Inhambane is the capital city of the province and was originally founded by Swahili traders. The town grew as a slave port and ivory trading centre in the 18th century under mostly Indian control. It was destroyed in 1834 by Soshangane (a general of the Zulu King Shaka), but grew rapidly in the second half of the century, from which period its cathedral and old mosque date.
Old History

 

About 2 000 years ago the expansion of the Sahara desert led to a mass migration of Bantu-speaking people southward, replacing or assimilating scattered groups of San hunter-gatherers on the way. The Karanga, or Shona became the dominant group in the region and were trading with Arab dhows as early as the 10th century. The Arabs brought beads, salt, cloth, ceramics (and later guns) in exchange for gold and particularly ivory. The Arabs increased their influence until the arrival of Vasco da Gama who, in his quest for supply points for Portuguese vessels en-route to India, anchored his four ships off Inhambane Bay in 1498. His men made landfall during inclement weather and approached a settlement where the locals told him in the Bitonga dialect to come out of the rain: 'Bela khu Nyumbani'. The Portuguese incorrectly thought they were being told the name of the region, and so Inhambane got its present name.

 
 
Today, Inhambane town is the hub to resort and beach areas such as Tofo and Barra, mainly concentrating on fishing and tourism. A haven for divers, with prestine reefs and plenty of healthy corals and megafauna.

The town itself oozes old town charm and romanticism, yet with its unique architecture and old derelict buildings amongst newly painted shops with MCell and Dochem signs displayed on walls and windows it speaks true Mozambican.