Volunteer and Travel in Mozambique
Volunteering in Mozambique
Mozambique truly is one of the most beautiful places on the East African coast with it's supremely white sandy beaches warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. After years of civil war Mozambique has started to really progress in it's tourism and eco-tourism activities and with developing health care and education systems there is a promising future for this once desperately poverty stricken nation.
Our volunteer projects focus on the two areas the country is working really hard on to improve and that is education and child care. We have a preschool teaching project working with children and adults and our childcare initiative revolves around care for orphans within various communities in Mozambique.
For other volunteer opportunities in Africa please take a look at Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
About Mozambique
On the South-east coast of Africa, just above South Africa, lies this former Portuguese colony. Its costal regions host sunning beaches, and the occasional hippo, as well as world-renowned diving sites and claim to be one of the best places on earth to see the whale shark – the biggest fish in the world. And for adventure seekers, the Zambezi region in the north is considered one of Africa’s final frontiers.
After years of civil war, Mozambique has seen peace now since 1992 and while the economy is strengthening, It remains one of the poorest and most underdeveloped countries in the world. With low life expectancy and high infant mortality rates. Volunteer in Mozambique's Community projects, which are invaluable and make a real impact on the lives of the people here. Mozambique’s unemployment rate is estimated at 21%, with over 65% of the population living below the poverty line.
The average life expectancy of the population of Mozambique is 41 years. Mozambique is a country has many infectious diseases, which tourists should be aware. Diseases which can be contracted through eating food or drinking tap water are bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever. Malaria is hugely prevalent in Mozambique and plague is a risk in some locations. HIV / AIDS is also rife, with an estimated 13% of the population living with the disease, approximately 110,000 people die from HIV / AIDS and related illnesses in Mozambique every year.
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Diving
Mozambique offers some of the best diving in southern Africa with warm waters, varied and abundant marine life, uncrowded and uncommercialized sites and excellent visibility. The most popular location is the Bazaruto archipelago that has outstanding diving and snorkeling opportunities, including Manta Reef, Two-Mile Reef, Vengies, Rainbow Runner Reef and the Greek Temple. The waters offshore of the Inhambane area are also a snorkeling and diving paradise with pristine reefs and an abundance of manta rays and whale sharks. During the winter months (June to September) there is a chance of close-up encounters with the migrating humpback whales. Situated almost 25 miles (40km) off the coast of Maputo, Inhaca Island is a popular destination boasting beautiful beaches, some of the Mozambique Channel's best coral reefs, a historic lighthouse, marine biology museum and large areas of protected forest.
Fishing
Mozambique offers some of the world's best fishing and some of the most challenging big game fishing in southern Africa, particularly around Guinjata Bay and the deep waters of the Mozambique Channel. Marlin, sailfish and other huge fish weighing over 1,000 pounds (454kg) can be caught, however a catch and release system is encouraged to protect the natural resources. A number of centres along the coast also offer rock, surf and fly-fishing.
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
Mozambique's wildlife population was all but decimated during the 14 years of war preceding 1990, and the country's parks have been battling to restore their game reserves ever since.
To achieve the conservation sustainability of Limpopo National Park, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe joined up three national parks crossing their borders to produce the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. A total of 147 species are known from the area, with a population of 3 000 white rhino present in the Kruger Park is the biggest anywhere, while the 300 black rhino is the second largest population. 1,500 lions, 2,000 spotted hyaenas, 8,320 elephants, 32,000 Burchell's zebra, 2,200 hippos, 5,000 giraffes, 1,500 warthogs, 17,000 buffaloes, 3,500 kudu, 1,500 waterbuck, 14,000 blue wildebeest and over 100,000 impala. It's a vast area which is largely undiscovered and is far less developed than the likes of the Serengetti.
