Gaza Province has a fusion of modern and ancestral traditions turning it into a multi-cultural and multi-lingual province expressed through food, cloth, music, dance and handcrafts.
Info supplied by www.xaixai-mozambique.com
The province is famous for its
cuisine of prawns, grilled chicken with munyassi (mafura oil), xiguinha
de cacana (mandioca/cassava dish), tihove (mealie dish), grilled fish
and mussels. Traditional beers are produced with cashews and amarula.
COASTAL AREAS
The coastal area is about 150km long, offering good conditions for recreational fishing, swimming, windsurfing, jet skiing and scuba diving. The beautiful popular beaches of Bilene, Zongoene, Xai-Xai, Chongoene, Chizavane, and Chidenguele have sunny white sandy beaches, idyllic sunrises and sunsets, shells, whales, dolphins and turtles. Most have boat launch sites and areas protected by reef. Chidenguele and Bilene also have magnificent inland lakes. The area is also perfect for beach weddings.
XAI-XAI & CHONGOENE
•
The City of Xai Xai, 250km north Maputo, is the capital of Gaza
Province and is situated on the banks of the Limpopo river. It is a
bustling town with markets, shops, restaurants, bars, petrol stations,
banks and a post office.
•
Praia do Xai Xai (Xai-Xai Beach) is approximately 12km from the main
town. It has long sweeping beaches with safe swimming. Xai Xai beach was
a busy holiday destination in the 1960/70's but hotels were
abandoned
during the war days.
• Xai Xai & Chongoene beach is coming back to life with accommodation from rustic to luxury, restaurants, bars and gorgeous beaches. Two reefs running parallel to the shore offers good snorkelling, swimming and rock & surf fishing. Fishing charters, whale watching and quad tours are the order of the day.
WHAT TO DO
• Perfect for a pub crawl with 8 bars/restaurants along the beach road or find your favourite and settle in for a  long lunch or festive night out.
• Deep sea fishing charters at Blue Dolphin Resort and Reef Resort.
• Explore the abandoned Chongoene Hotel. Enter at your own risk as the building is getting more dilapidated.
• Wenela
Tidal Pool/Blow hole/Praia Velha – a quiet place to relax around a
natural tidal pool where a tunnel runs under the reef, with a hole in
the reef above that at certain times of the tide gives a blow hole
effect.Main beach – A reef protects this beach which makes for safe
swimming at low tide.
• Chongoene Beach – Similar to the main beach with the protection of a reef, but more quiet and beautiful.
• Dune 6 – Take a drive into the dunes and have sun downers
with a 3600 view.
• There are many beautiful churches in the area. Nossa Senhora de Lourdes is located in Chongoene village (turn off at the Chongoene intersection to Chibuto). Cathedral Chidenguele is located in the heart of Chidenguele. Xai Xai city also has a beautiful church located opposite Barclays.
ZONGOENE RIVER MOUTH
• North-side – follow the red sand road from the fish market in Xai-Xai town. It is a fun 4×4 adventure alongside the Limpopo River to the river mouth.
• South-side – follow the red road from Chicumbane – not as adventurous but can enjoy the peaceful river mouth and Zongoene beach.
CHIDENGUELE
• 70km north of Xai Xai, the EN1 winds to its closest with the Indian Ocean, only 5km away. Here lies the tiny, sleepy village of Chidenguele (meaning “The Highest Point” in the local, Chope language). It has its name is emblazoned proudly in white stone on the hill behind the sandy soccer field.
•
5km from the main road and Chidenguele Village, is Lake Nhambavale.
Resorts situated around the lake offer numerous water sports. Given its
importance, the lake hosted the canoeing competitions of the 10th
African Games that took place in 2011.
•
2km away is the Indian Ocean where visitors can enjoy beautiful
beaches, watch and take pictures of whales, turtles and other marine
animals. The local communities are well-known for their hospitality and
offer varied services. A wide range of accommodation is available.
CHIZAVANE
•
Chizavane is a small village between Xai-Xai City and Chidenguele (40km
north of Xai-Xai). The road to the beach and resorts is a hard sand
road so access to resorts by 2×4 is possible.
• Praia de Chizavane offers a wide open swimming beach, that is peaceful and seldom filled with many people, providing privacy to all holiday makers. Safe jogging or walking along the shore can be enjoyed for kilometres alongside the undisturbed nature and tranquillity of the ocean. Enjoy fishing from the mussel invaded reef exposed during low tides and accessible by foot. An opening in the reef allows boats to be taken out into the deep sea.
CHIDENGUELE – WHAT TO DO
•
Lake Nhambavale - enjoy the numerous resorts around this large freshwater lake.Beach
– a few resorts at various places along the beach to relax and a have
lunch.
• The famous Kings Pools are situated here – for safe swimming and snorkeling and good rock and surf fishing.
•
The
landmark Bao Paz Lighthouse is situated in Chidenguele. It can be
accessed by vehicle or by foot. Take a 3km adventurous, scenic walk
where you will pass 3 freshwater lakes en-route to the Bao Paz
Lighthouse, that is built on a massive sand dune where you can relax and
enjoy a spectacular 360 degree view.
•
Deep sea fishing charters at Sera Lodge.
• Horse riding and a couple of spas can be found at Chidenguele. Ask at your lodge.
CHIZAVANE – WHAT TO DO
• A few resorts along the beach were you can enjoy the views and tempt your taste buds at friendly restaurants.
•
A reef protects the beach and makes
for safe swimming at low tide.
• Deep sea fishing charters at East Africa Safaris
BILENE
• Bilene is situated about 180km from Maputo. Before independence the village was known as San Martinho. This small town is situated along the edge of the 27km long Uembje Lagoon.
• The Uembje lagoon is an ideal family spot with its pristine stretches of white sandy beaches and shallow calm water which allows for safe swimming and has a large selection of resorts along its shores offering a range of accommodation, restaurants and activities such as water sports, fishing charters, ferries across the lagoon, canoeing on the lakes, bird watching, horse riding and snorkeling and festive bars.
• Bilene is a popular water sports destination, including jet skiing, waterskiing, parasailing, paddle ski’ing, canoeing, windsurfing, fishing, kayaking, snorkelling in the lagoon as well as whale watching and fishing in the ocean.
• Large populations of flamingos and various other water birds frequent the area in the summer months searching the shallow fringes of the water for food.
• The
beautiful ocean beach can be reached by 4×4 and Turtle Rock is a treasure to
visit.
• Deep Sea fishing is available at a number of places.
• There is also a large market in Bilene where you can buy fresh fruit & veg, curios and tropical clothing.
CONSERVATION AREAS
• Limpopo National Park (transfronteir park). Located
in the Districts of Massingir and Mabalane Chicualacuala it has
untouched forest formations with the Big Five (lion, elephant, rhino,
leopard, buffalo).
• The Massingir Dam, the second largest in Moz, is on the Rio dos Elefantes on the southern border of the Limpopo National Park. An area of stunning vistas, birdwatching and fishing and is famous for fishing tigerfish and boat safaris. Also an ideal stop-over destination.
• Banhine National Park Located in the District of Chigubo and focused on tourism, it has several species of birds and has beautiful open savannas with ostrich, buck, bush pig, impala, leopard and many others.
• If you would like to add a few days of
bush to your beach holiday, then these lush areas are a good place to
visit.
• Tigerfish fishing and boat tours on the Massingir dam
• A wide range of animals can be found in private reserves and the
national parks.
• There are a few resorts in these areas that will look after you well
CHILEMBENE/MANJACAZE
For the historians among you, these areas; have interesting monuments relating to Samora Machel, Eduado Mondlane, and battle sites from the Moz/Port war.
MARKETS
There are a multitude of markets and roadside stalls selling a wide variety of items such as fresh fruit and veg, fish, prawns, crabs, capulanas, clothing, electrical and electronics, plumbing. etc. The main Xai-Xai Market is behind Saverite, turn at the traffic lights at Saverite. Browse through the colourful capulanas and have a shirt or dress made for you by one of the industrious seamstresses at the market. There is a huge second hand section where you can find some really good deals and a lot still have their original price tags on them. The main fish market is on the road  that goes to the Limpopo south-side river mouth and here you can get the wholesale price on all the delicious sea food.
TOURS
If you would like tours to any of these places, or would like a sober designated driver, contact Nelio from Gaza Tours on +258 84 235 9157.