Ibo – this is the main one of 31 lovely islands in the Quirimbas Archipelago. Ibho was once a major trading post for slaves and ivory and was an important town during the Portuguese rule. The remains of three forts, a cathedral and numerous palatial homes are wosrth seeing. The waters off the coast are home to coral reefs, sea turtles, colourful tropical fish, dolphin, whales and the rare dugong

Mozambique Island – was proclaimed a World Heritage Site in 1991 and it lies four kms off the coast of Mozambique. For hundreds of years it was a major tadigng port. The island was completely fortified by the Portuguese and it is a fascinating town of huge architectural appeal, with strong Arabic and Indian influences

Pemba – further to the north, in the province of Cabo Delgado, was once known as Porto Amelia. Though the name may have changed, the unspoilt natural beauty of this coastal town has remained unchanged over the years.

Local tradition says that if all the ships in the world anchored within Pemba’s 13,000 hectares of land-locked water there would still be room for more ships. Looking down from the town over rolling hills, a mix of modern buildings and wooden huts set amongst thick forests of baobab trees, the view of this beautiful blue bay is not easily forgotten.

The most popular destination here is Wimbi Beach and popular pastimes include diving on the coral reefs and boat trips on offer. Don’t miss a visit to the market which is nearly two kms long and has thousands of stalls selling everything from spices to bicycle spares. Being the most important centre in northern Mozambique, there are banks, patisseries, supermarkets and restaurants. Most of the visitors to Pemba fly in to the local airport, or arrive overland from Malawi. It is a cosmopolitan place frequented by a range of people from wealthy businessmen to backpackers.