Bazaruto Archipelago View Map The Bazaruto Archipelago is a group of six islands in Mozambique, near the mainland city of Vilankulo. It comprises the islands of Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Banque, Santa Carolina (also known as Paradise Island) and Shell. The group belongs to Vilancolos District of Inhambane Province. The islands were formed from sand deposited by the Limpopo River, which has since shifted its course. Tourist attractions include sandy beaches, coral reefs and opportunities for surfing and fishing. The archipelago became a National Park in 1971. Santa Carolina is just 2 miles by 0.3 miles in size - a true rock island with deep channels which has three beautiful beaches with coral reefs close to the shore. The island, also known as Paradise Island for obvious reasons is regarded as the ‘gem’ of the islands forming the Bazaruto Archipelago which is a proclaimed marine national park that boasts sensational beaches and magnificent scenery. Beira View Map Beira is the second largest city in Mozambique, lying in the central region of the country in Sofala Province where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. It holds the regionally-significant Port of Beira which acts as a gateway for both the central interior portion of the country as well as the land-locked nations of Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. Beira was originally developed by the Portuguese Mozambique Company in the 19th century and directly developed by the Portuguese colonial government from 1947 until Mozambique gained its independence from Portugal in 1975. Lake Niassa View Map Maputo View Map This is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues. Today it is a port city on the Indian Ocean, with its economy centered around the harbour. Coal, cotton, sugar, chromite, sisal, copra and hardwood are the chief exports. The city manufactures cement, pottery, furniture, shoes and rubber. The city is surrounded by Maputo Province, but is administered as its own province. Nampula View Map Nampula is the capital city of Nampula Province in Mozambique and the third largest city in Mozambique after Maputo and Beira. It is home to the Mozambique National Ethnographic Museum, several markets, cathedrals and mosques.  It is also the center of business in northern Mozambique. Nampula has a few western style hotels and restaurants. It also has an airport and is a transport hub for local transport in Northern Mozambique. Quelimane View Map Quelimane is a seaport in Mozambique and is the administrative capital of the Zambezia Province and the province's largest city. It stands 15.5 miles from the mouth of the Rio dos Bons Sinais (or "River of the Good Signs"). The river was named when Vasco da Gama, on his way to India, reached it and saw "good signs" that he was on the right path. The town was the end point of David Livingstone's famous west-to-east crossing of south-central Africa in 1856. Tete View Map Tete is a word for "reed". Tete is the capital city of Tete Province in Mozambique. It is located on the Zambezi River, and is the site of a half mile long suspension bridge. A Swahili trade centre before the Portuguese colonial era, Tete continues to dominate the center-west part of the country and region, and is the largest city on the Zambezi.