BESIDE THE SEA
Ponta do Ouro is famous for its diving, with crystal blue waters full of dolphins, turtles, and mantas. The town is also popular with surfers making the trip from Maputo or over the border in South Africa.
To the south of Mozambique, at the very end of the strip, lies a stunning coastline, backed by casuaurina trees, with dolphins and sharks in the blue beyond. Ponta do Ouro, meaning “tip of gold" is a town in the extreme south of Mozambique just 15km north of the border with South Africa. The area is famous for its stretching beaches, offshore diving and deep-sea fishing.
Getting to the town is a challenge however, with no tarred road and time consuming chapas taking 3-4 hours of uncomfortable bumpery, 4x4s are a preferred option. Ponta Do Ouro lies 120km south of Maputo along a sandy road. The journey can be broken up with a guided tour through Maputo Special Reserve, which is home to elephants. In the town, there are a few family-run companies offering accommodation and a handful of companies that specialize in diving tours, offering deep sea diving as well as shark diving at certain sites.
There is a dolphin research center run by a team of passionate conservationists who specialize in collecting data and educating people about the marine mammals. They offer a chance to swim with wild dolphins, whilst also learning about their habitat. Whales are seen regularly during season, which is usually from June to November. It is also possible to see mantas and turtles too, with some companies offering the chance to view nesting turtles.
Unsurprisingly the town is a popular destination for South African divers as well as surfers in Maputo province. And there are a number of Shebeen (local pubs) in the town, offering the local beer, 2M and Laurentina, which some argue rivals world famous beers. The town is also home to the famed Tiopo Tinto Rum, which is locally produced and has a slight vanilla flavor, and goes best with pineapple or raspberry juice. Pintos Place is the local disco, offering a night of dancing and socializing for those who want evening entertainment after a day on the waves.
There are a number of lodges and hotels offering accommodation, with a few of the hotels having pools as well as opportunities for diving and dolphin swimming. Getting around the town is not difficult and mostly done by foot; however, there is also the chance to hire a quad bike, which is the preferred options for tourists, especially on hot days, which are unsurprisingly common
BESIDE THE SEA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Review: Economy
Much to Gain
Despite numerous years of considerable economic growth, Mozambique has been unable to retain its wealth and bring more than half of its population out of poverty. Developing one of the world's largest gas reserves and becoming a regional exporter of energy may be the solution.
read articleFocus: Aluminum
Foil Plans
Mozambique is the second-largest producer of aluminum in Africa and the 14th in the world. Since 2000, it has been producing aluminum for export, and in 2015 Midal Cables opened a factory near Mozal; the country's largest aluminum smelter. This could be the start of a Mozambican aluminum value chain.
read articleInterview
Ben James, Managing Director, Baobab Resources
TBY talks to Ben James, Baobab's Managing Director, resident in Mozambique. A geologist by training, Ben has been directly involved with the development of the Company's Tete Project from a greenfields iron ore discovery to an asset on the verge of corner-stoning Mozambique's nascent steel industry.
read articleFocus: Aluminum
Aluminum Legacy
Mozambique is the second-largest producer of aluminum in Africa and the 14th in the world. Since 2000, it has been producing aluminum for export, and in 2015 Midal Cables opened a factory near Mozal; the country's largest aluminum smelter. This could be the start of a Mozambican aluminum value chain.
read articleInterview
Hon. Jorge Olívio Penicela Nhambiu, Minister, Science and Technology, Higher and Technical Vocational Education (MCTESTP)
TBY talks to Hon. Jorge Olívio Penicela Nhambiu, Minister of Science and Technology, Higher and Technical Vocational Education (MCTESTP), on bringing science and technology to rural areas and increasing research in the country.
read articleFocus: E-government + E-bau
Digital Decisions
Between 2015 and 2016, Mozambique fell five positions in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index. The government is investing in the GovNET and e-BAU platforms to facilitate procedures and cut the costs of acquiring business licenses and improving services provided to the public.
read articleReview: Health
Time for a check-up
Mozambique's healthcare budget rose to $561.5 million in 2015, an increase of 1.1% on expenditure in 2014, accounting for 10.2% of the state budget. Total healthcare expenditure in 2014 was $477.5 million. The Ministry for Health oversees the sector and is responsible for setting the budget each year.
read articleInterview
Dr. João M. Carvalho Fumane, Director General , Hospital Central de Maputo (HCM)
TBY talks to Dr. João M. Carvalho Fumane, Director General of Hospital Central de Maputo (HCM), about the range of services on offer and what is being done to further excellence in the health sector
read articleInterview
Hon. Jorge Ferrão, Minister, Education and Human Development
<span style="line-height: 1.6em; background-color: initial;">TBY talks to Hon. Jorge Ferrão, Minister of Education and Human Development, on the goals of the ministry, the role of local languages, and tackling teacher absenteeism.</span>
read articleInterview
Prof. Doctor João Leopoldo da Costa, Rector, Instituto Superior de Ciências e Tecnologia de Moçambique (ISCTEM)
TBY talks to Prof. Doctor João Leopoldo da Costa, Rector of Instituto Superior de Ciências e Tecnologia de Moçambique (ISCTEM), on the perils of the internet on education and the quality of its high school.
read articleReview: Tourism
Mozambeach
With white-sand beaches, scuba diving, and game reserves among its wide range of accommodation, Mozambique is a goldmine for tourism. However, to attract the number of tourists the country is aiming for, and entitled to, it will have to compete with its considerably more popular neighbors.
read articleReview: Legal
Smart Choices
Foreign investments are sources of capital, foreign exchange, and technical know-how for developing countries such as Mozambique. Over the past three decades, Mozambique has been successfully striving to ensure a favorable legal framework for foreign private investment.
read article