Niassa Province

The largest and the most sparsely populated region, it offers breathtaking views and scenery.

Area: 122,176sq.km
Borders: Tanzania to the north, Cabo Delgado to the east and Lake Niassa to the west.
Population Density: 6inhabitants/sq.km
Most represent ethnic group: Makua, Yao and Nyanja.
Main Products: cotton, maize, sorghum, hard woods and semi-precious stones.
Traditions: music is their cultural tradition. They use blown instruments made from dry and hollowed calabashes, that produces a sound like the trumpet. They play in groups of people with different sizes of calabashes.

The game reserve and the immense Lake Niassa where water sports and fishing activities are possible are places to spend some time.

Lichinga, the capital, is located on the plateau of the same name. The surrounding countryside is characterised by extensive pine forests.
There are a few places to stay in town, like Residencial Rival and Pousada Lichinga, which is the cheaper and Quinta Capricornio, an organic farm with a restaurant and tranquil lodge. There is other ones also.
Bueno, the Internet café in town, on Via Matama, Bairro Popular

In Mandimba, Cuamba, there is a few affordable accommodation places

Wildlife
Niassa Reserve to the north of the province is famous for its large numbers of elephants. There are also buffalos, giraffes, zebras and antelopes. Amazing scenery. You can stay at Chipandje Chetu, a community wildlife conservation area, 150km north of Lichinga. At Luwire or/and Mecula, a tented huntig camps.

Lake Niassa, still unspoiled, is obligatory if you want to have a real Africa experience. Is the 9th largets lake in the world and the 3rd in Africa and one of the few places in Mozambique that shows you a magnificent sunset on the water. A very reach marine life with about 1000 different species of fish including species of the famous cichlid fish, renowed for their colourfull apperance. Long sandy beaches, small coves within cliffs and rocky outcrops along the shore line. Bird life is maginficent with is Kingfishers, flock of gulls, cormorans and eagles that fish on the lake. You will need a 4x4, or take the chance to go in by local transport (trucks), take everything that you will need with you. The road to the lake passes trough unique and picturesque scenery.
You can find accommodation at any of these small fishing villages, Meponda (42 Km from Lichinga), Metangula (138km) and Cóbué (190km) where you can buy delicious fresh fish and drink refreshing coconut milk.

You can stay at Chuwanga Beach Lodge near Metangula. There is another guest house there and in Metangula. In Manda, on the shore between Cobue and Metangula, an wilderness place, there is an eco-lodge, Nkwichi Lodge. Not cheap. The access is done by road from Lichinga to Metangula, 70km over tarred road in excellent conditions until Maniamba and the last 25km is over dirty of an approximately 2 hours drive.

Also, there is in the Lake for accommodate you, the Injati Yoyela Guesthouse, very nice and cheap, Complexo Cetuka, and The Backpackers, behind C. Cetuka parking, very small but affordable.

Twice a week the famous "Hala Steamer" on Lake Malawi passes Metangula and Cobue on its way to Likoma Islands, Nkhata Bay and Monkey Bay in Malawi.

Alternatively you can save time by flying into Lichinga. There is also airstrips in Metangula and in nearby Llikoma Islands in Malawi.

There is train line linking Nacala Port to Malawi. Leaves every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 05.00am. They have a stop in Cuamba. In 1st class is about 17,ooUsd a person. Has a/c, running water and shower.

Please note that some of this information could be wrong by the time you get to some of these places especially the northern provinces, so…in that case our apologies.

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