Soccer
Mozambicans may have been fascinated by the results of 800 m star Lurdes Mutola at the start of the millennium, but it's soccer above all that brings the crowds together, in front of the television of course, but also on any wasteland in the country. Soccer is played everywhere! Locals follow the major European championships and international competitions, if they can't take part in them. Mozambique has only qualified for the African Cup of Nations three times (1996, 1998 and 2010), and never for the World Cup. But the passion is alive and well!
Activities in contact with nature
For tourists, the most popular activities in Mozambique are water sports. While hotels offer swimming pools (generally small ones), Mozambique is particularly well equipped for scuba diving.
Diving and snorkeling. The south of the country is ideal for deep-sea diving, where visibility is not always excellent at 15 m due to the presence of numerous phytoplankton, but where you can swim with whale sharks, dolphins, manta rays and turtles. You can also enjoy this experience by snorkeling: you just need to be a good swimmer to follow the animals, which swim relatively fast on the surface, and be familiar with the mask, snorkel and flippers to track the animal once in the water. To the north, the Bazaruto and Quirimbas archipelagos offer diving in coral lagoons rich in schools of fish and varied fauna.
Big-game fishing and spearfishing are also very popular sports in Mozambique. In fact, many lodges, particularly in Inhambane province, have been set up primarily to cater for big-game fishing enthusiasts. Marlins, tunas, swordfish, barracudas... catches of several tens of kilos are not uncommon, and some lodges are proud to have broken world records at one time (now surpassed). The various types of fishing practised are coarse fishing, fly fishing and underwater hunting. Today, most hotels and fishing centers encourage tag-and-release fishing. Fishing trips are relatively expensive: expect to pay around €300 per day per boat. Finally, they are open to all levels, from beginners to enthusiasts who take part in international competitions.
Board sports. Surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing enthusiasts will find some great spots. Barra, Guinjata Bay, Inhambane, Ponta d'Ouro and Tofinho, south of Tofo, are the best waves in Mozambique. It's best to bring your own equipment. But often alone in the water, this is the promise of a dream surf trip!
Kitesurfing and windsurfing are also practiced at Ponta d'Ouro and Praia do Bilene, whose windswept lagoon offers dream conditions, but also and above all at Vilankulos, renowned for its calm lagoon.
Hiking. While there are very few places equipped for horseback riding, hiking is mainly practiced in the Chimanimani mountains to the east. The national park is only accessible on foot, and is made up of numerous walking and trekking trails. These are organized around the Bundi River, which divides the park into two parts, sometimes accelerating into a torrent or waterfall, before lingering in the gentle, polished lair of a few natural pools... Extremely isolated and wild, Chimanimani Park will appeal to nature lovers in search of exclusivity. Around Gurué, in the center of the country, you can also take a stroll through the tea plantations.
