The Kirimbas Archipelago is a national park in Northern Mozambique, near the border with Tanzania. The chain consists of more than 30 islands stretching from Pemba in the south to the city of Palma in the north. This archipelago is one of the best and little known places in the world for fishing and especially diving: underwater there are vertical cliffs up to 400 m deep! And the southern islands of the archipelago are overgrown with mangrove forest, and 11 of them form the territory of a national park with a total area of ​​7500 square meters. km.

Once upon the islands lived only fishermen. Later, due to its location on the Arab and then Portuguese trade routes, the archipelago, called the islands of Sao Lazaro, began to cause more interest. Before Mozambique gained independence from the Portuguese in 1975, only 4 islands were inhabited, but in recent years their number has increased. The National Park was founded in 2002

The islands of Kirimbas are still little known to tourists. But little by little their glory as a luxury resort is growing. Beach lodges here are much smaller than what we usually call a resort hotel, but they are all new. Personnel are not yet everywhere in the archipelago, schooled to such an extent as to read the thoughts of customers (for this it is better to go, for example, to the Bazaruto archipelago). But here it is possible to find accommodation at a relatively low price.

The islands of the archipelago

The whole archipelago stretches for about 200 km along the African coast, so it matters where you are going .The main island of the archipelago - For, it is in the southern part, in the national park, relatively near Pemba .Near For there are the islands of Kirimba, Kilalea, Mefunvo, Matemo .Mejumbe is located much further to the north, outside the territory of the national park, and the amazing Vamzi is quite far away, almost in Tanzania .Considering that the capital of Mozambique is located in the very south of the country, it is easier to plan a trip to such islands as Vamzi, via Tanzania .

Isbo Island

Isbo Island is not like the rest of the islands of the archipelago .It is quite large and interesting not only with mangroves, palm trees and corals, but also with its historical sights .Here is one of the two oldest settlements in Mozambique (the first is on the island of Mozambique) .Arab traders established contact with local residents as far back as the 7th century, and before the arrival of the Portuguese, the fort Forma de Cisterna was built here .In 1502 g .Here Vasco de Gama visited, and since 1761 .The island was used as a transshipment base in the trade of slaves and ivory .Today, for only the ghost town of colonial times remains on .

On There are several hotels, including quite democratic at the price of .For example, a single room in the guesthouse Miti Miwiri, which occupies a colonial building in the middle of the Old Town, will cost 65 USD per day (November 2014 .) .Also on the island there are a couple of good restaurants where you will get real Mozambique food: coconut rice, fish, squid, beans and homemade piri-piri .An excellent entertainment will be a trip to the dô to Banco d'Araya - a beautiful sandy island in the middle of the ocean .Traveling at 7 o'clock, if negotiated alone, will cost you about 1500 MZN (November 2014 g .) .

Vassily Island

Vamazi Island is located in the northernmost part of the archipelago, and it is perhaps the most isolated and stunning island in the entire archipelago: it is long and narrow, and on both sides of it stretch the wonderful sandy beaches of many kilometers .In memory of the Portuguese there remained a church, a fort, several wells and a lighthouse .The only exclusive hotel on the island offers guests small villas and real top-class houses scattered along the beach at a considerable distance from each other .Full service includes transfers (scheduled and chartered) from Pemba and Dar es Salaam .

Matemo Island

The island of Matemo lies 6 km from the coast and 100 km north of Pemba, and its area is approximately 2,400 hectares. This is one of the islands that form part of the national park. There are abundant palm trees, and there are beautiful virgin beaches. In addition, there are two villages on the island. On Matemo there is a chic resort hotel with chalet-houses 10 m from the beach, a restaurant-bar and a swimming pool. The hotel offers transfers by plane from / to Pemba, included in the price of the accommodation (flight time is half an hour).

Mejumbe Island

Something similar can be seen on the private island of Mejumbe, only here the beach huts are even closer to the shoreline .Mejumbe is a very small island, where only there is sand, very scarce vegetation and a very old unused lighthouse .And, of course, the hotel is about a dozen bungalows with an intimate atmosphere in the style of "Robinson chic", which is ideal for newlyweds and single romantics .Mejumbe also has another attractive feature: here comes a lot of birds, especially terns and different species of herons .The possibilities for diving on the island depend on the tides, but a short boat ride has several impressive basins and almost untouched coral reefs .You can fly to Mejumba from Pemba in one hour .

Kilalea Island

A small coral island of Kilalea, which also belongs to the national park, has the only luxury hotel with nine villas. The local shore is decorated with small secluded sandy coves, and they are surrounded by reefs, ideal for snorkelling and diving.

Practical information

You can get to the islands in many ways. The most convenient to get to the territory of the national park - first to Pemba, and from there by using the hotel transfer. The cost of a boat trip from Ibo to neighboring Matemo / Kilalea / Guludo is about USD 100 (2005). The most budgetary of all options is to get from Pemba by a daily bus to Kisangi (about 6 hours), and from there to dhow to Ibo (2-12 hours depending on the wind).