"Mozambique offers an untamed landscape of astonishing diversity, an interior rich in historical remains, a coastal gateway to some outstanding diving spots, and a broad, hospitable welcome"
-- Bradt Travel Guides

Northern Mozambique, which encompasses the three northern Provinces of Niassa, Cabo Delgado, and Nampula, is a vast region rich in culture, history and harboring a rich environment. Visitors can follow in the footsteps of Dr. Livingstone during his journey to the "Lake of Stars" as he called Lake Niassa in 1865. The historic islands of Ibo and Ilha de Moçambique are still reminiscent of their former glory as major trading posts with other parts of Africa, India and the Middle East. As a sign of its distinctive characteristics, Ilha de Moçambique (Mozambique Island, the former capital) was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

Mozambique is a mosaic of different cultures, languages, and customs. Mozambique’s population consist of 16 major ethnic groups, the largest of which are the Makua, located primarily in Northern Mozambique, and making up about 40% of the indigenous population of the country. Another group found in the north, the Makonde, are known for their intricate wood carving, which is unsurpassed in the area.

In terms of music, marrabenta is perhaps one of the best-known forms of music throughout Mozambique. Largely urban in nature, marrabenta is a lively blend of percussion and guitar. Northern Mozambique also has its own distinctive musical culture, from the traditional Makonde wind instruments (called lupembe), to more folkloric pop groups, such as Eyuphuru, which gained recognition through a 1989 recording on Peter Gabriel"s Real World label.

Northern Mozambique offers some of the most untouched wilderness on the continent. The region offers a unique combination of pristine coastline, clear fresh waters (and endemic species) of Lake Niassa, and an untamed interior with distinctive and diverse wildlife.

Specific regional conservation efforts include:

Niassa Reserve
First established in 1964, the Niassa Reserve is one of the largest protected miombo forest ecosystems in the world. The core area of the reserve encompasses 15,000 square kilometers, while its buffer zones add another 17,000 square kilometers. The total area is about twice as large as South Africa's Kruger National Park and contains Mozambique's largest concentration of wildlife, including three endemic species Niassa wildebeest, Boehm's zebra, and Johnston's impala. Large populations of elephant and sable can be found as well as many other animals from birds to mammals and even the endangered black rhino.
The reserve is managed by an innovative public-private partnership in which the Government of Mozambique retains ownership of the land and wildlife resources, with a private company, the "Sociedade de Gestão e Desenvolvimento da Reserva do Niassa," managing the reserve.

Quirimbas National Park
Created in 2002, this stunning park protects 7,500 square kilometers of the region's rich coral reef, mangroves, coastal forest, and woodland as well as wildlife such as turtle, dugongs and elephant. It is not only the largest marine protected area in Africa (encompassing 1,500 square kilometers, which include eleven coral islands and 100 kilometers of coastline) but also an excellent example of community involvement in conservation. While the Government of Cabo Delgado Province and local non-governmental organizations (such as KARIBU and GECORENA) played a key role in initiating the park, they could not have done so without the leadership of the region's 40 communities who wished to protect the natural resources upon which the livelihoods of their 55,000 residents depend.
The Quirimbas National Park lies within the Quirimbas Archipelago, which includes 32 coral islands extending from the capital of Cabo Delgado Province, Pemba to the Rovuma River, which separates Mozambique from Tanzania.

Other Conservation Initiatives in Northern Mozambique
A private initiative, the Maluane project, has been operating since 1988 to protect three islands, a coastal strip and a 33,000 hectare wildlife safari area in the far north of Mozambique through a series of conservation projects and low-impact tourism.
Text Courtesy of Northern-Mozambique.com