Mozambique beckons with its coastline and swaying palms, its traditions, its cultures, its vibe and –most of all – its opportunities for adventure. This enigmatic southeast African country is well off most travelers’ maps, but it has much to offer those who venture here: long, dune-fringed beaches, turquoise waters abounding in shoals of colourful fish, well-preserved corals, remote archipelagos in the north, pounding surf in the south and graceful dhows with billowing sails. Most safaris to Mozambique incorporate a bush experience, visiting the untamed Transfrontier Peace Park and/or the Maputo Elephant Reserve. You also get to experience Mozambique’s rich culture and colonial past in the towns and cities visited during safaris, as well as the exotic cuisine and abundant fresh seafood of this beautiful country.

Add to this colonial-style architecture, pulsating nightlife, an endlessly fascinating cultural mix and vast tracks of bush populated with elephants, lions and birds galore. Discovering these attractions is not always easy, but it is unfailingly rewarding. Bring along some patience, a tolerance for long bus rides and a sense of adventure, and jump in for the journey of a lifetime.

Mozambique stretches for 1,535 mi (2,470 km) along Africa’s southeast coast. Tanzania is to the north; Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to the west; and South Africa and Swaziland to the south. The country is generally a low-lying plateau broken up by 25 sizable rivers that flow into the Indian Ocean. The largest is the Zambezi, which provides access to central Africa