BEIRA ACCOMMODATION, INFORMATION AND HISTORY
GORONGOSA NATIONAL PARK
MUZIMU LODGE
Muzimu Lodge is Gorongosa’s flagship safari camp — a place where authentic wilderness, thoughtful design, and outstanding hospitality come together in one of Africa’s most extraordinary landscapes. Set along a curve of the Mussicadzi River, it offers a deeply immersive base from which to explore the park’s diverse ecosystems and wildlife. Our Canvas Tents : Raised above the ground and discreetly positioned along the riverbank, Muzimu Lodge’s six tented suites are designed in classic East African style, offering a quiet, elegant retreat after a day in the bush.
CONTACT MUZIMU LODGE : Cell / WhatsApp +27 71 389 1140 : res@gorongosasafaris.com
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION IN BEIRA
JARDIM DAS VELAS HOTEL
Across the road from the beautiful Indian Ocean
Situated on the beach front, our Mediterranean style lodge offers comfortable accommodation. A short distance from the airport and City Centre, Jardim Das Velas is across the road from the beautiful Indian Ocean. We have 6 Double Rooms and 6 Family Rooms, all of them en suite, with ceiling fans, air-conditioner, fridge, coffee & tea making facilities, cable TV and Wi-Fi.
CONTACT JARDIM DAS VELAS HOTEL : Tel: +258 23 312209 or +258 23 311033 : ardimdasvelas@gmail.com
282, Av. das F.P.L.M. Beira - Mozambique
TCHEZANY GUESTHOUSE
Tchezany Guesthouse is a cozy retreat located in Dondo, Sofala Province, Mozambique. This guesthouse offers a serene and spacious environment, ideal for travelers seeking comfort and tranquility. The property features eight bedrooms and nine bathrooms, accommodating up to eight guests. Amenities include a fully equipped kitchen, dedicated workspace, free on-site parking, television, and air conditioning. The surrounding natural beauty enhances the peaceful atmosphere,
CONTACT TCHEZANY GUESTHOUSE : Cell +258 85 811 6585 : ardimdasvelas@gmail.com
Dondo, Nhamayabwe Beira Sofala, 2100, Mozambique
MiHOTEL MONTE VILLAGE - MONTE VILLAGE GUEST HOUSE
3-star beachfront hotel/guest house. featuring a restaurant serving African and international cuisine, a garden, a sun terrace, and free on-site private parking. Located in Beira, 2.3 miles from Beira Railway Station. Monte village Guest House has a playground. Beira Airport is 6.2 miles from the property.
CONTACT DETAILS FOR MiHOTEL MONTE VILLAGE : Tel +258 87 109 0101 or +258 84 109 0101 : montevillage20@gmail.com
BEIRA TERRACE HOTEL
The Beira Terrace Hotel is a great midscale accommodation option located in the city of Beira, Mozambique, offering a unique beachfront experience on Avenida Marginal. With 121 spacious rooms, the hotel offers a variety of accommodations including standard, twin, executive and presidential rooms to suit the needs of all guests.
CONTACT BEIRA TERRACE HOTEL : Tel 00258 87 56 58 177 : hotelbeiraterrace@gmail.com
recepcaobeiraterrace@outlook.pt Address Marginal Avenue, Beira 2200, Mozambique
GOLDEN PEACOCK RESORT HOTEL
Located on the beach, Golden Peacock Resort Hotel offers a luxurious retreat with activities like water skiing and shopping on site. Unwind in the sauna or steam room, indulge in aromatherapy treatments, and stay connected with free WiFi. Try your luck at the casino and enjoy other recreational amenities including an outdoor pool and a sauna. Additional amenities at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access, an arcade/game room, and gift shops/newsstands. A complimentary full breakfast is served daily from 6:30 AM to 10 AM. Make yourself at home in one of the 190 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars. Rooms have private balconies.
CONTACT GOLDEN PEACOCK RESORT HOTEL : Tel +258 85 222 2777 : brgprh@gmail.com
THE HISTORY OF BEIRA
Beira is the capital of Sofala province and the biggest town in central Mozambique, Beira is Mozambique's second biggest city and harbour situated at the mouth of the Pungoe River. Sofala lies 45 kms to the south of Beira and was an Arab trading post from the 10th centuary. In 1498 Vasco da Gama, as well as other Portuguese explorers and sailors, entered the estuary of the Pungoe River to try and find out the truth of whether gold was present in the Sofala hinterland. Only in 1887 was a military fort built at Beira. This was when colonial expansion began in earnest by European powers and led to Portugal taking steps to defend her trading outposts. Beira was named after the Portuguese crown prince Dom Luis Filipe, who was born about this time and whose title was Prince of Beira.
Beira is renowned for its seafood and seedy nightlife. Beira is a reasonably pleasant place with a compact central area, exciting harbour-town vibe, attractive colonial-era architecture and stretch of coastline Health warning : Beira is reputed to be alive with the Malaria mosquito, so bring bug sparay and mosquito netting
THE RAVAGES OF WAR
Beira Pool 1975
Beira Pool 2007
Grande Hotel 1975
Grande Hotel 2007
Beira lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungwe River meets the Indian Ocean.
Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006. It holds the regionally significant Port of Beira which acts as a gateway for both the central interior portion of the country as well as the land-locked nations of Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi.
Beira was originally developed by the Portuguese Mozambique Company in the 19th century, and directly developed by the Portuguese colonial government from 1947 until Mozambique gained its independence from Portugal in 1975.
Before Mozambique's independence from Portugal, as a city of Portuguese Mozambique, Beira was noted for its well-equipped seaport, one of the major facilities of its kind in all East Africa, tourism, fishing and trade.
The city prospered as a cosmopolitan port with different ethnic communities (Portuguese, Indian, Chinese, Bantus such as the Sena and Ndau) employed in administration, commerce, and industry.
A large English-speaking population was the result of being a favourite holiday destination for white Rhodesians.
One reminder of this is the Grande Hotel, built by the Portuguese, near the shore of the Indian Ocean.
By 1970, the city of Beira had 113,770 inhabitants. After independence from Portugal in 1975, many white ethnic Portuguese left the city. Mozambique was ravaged by a civil war from 1977 to 1992, opposing Marxist FRELIMO, which controlled the government, to the rebels of RENAMO, descending to near total chaos in a couple of years.
The famine, disease and poverty-stricken country collapsed. In Beira, the famous Grande Hotel was occupied by around 1,000 homeless Beirans, and by the end of the civil war it was in near-ruins. The 2000 Mozambique flood devastated Beira and the surrounding region, leaving millions homeless and severely damaging the local economy. It is currently home to over 3,500 squatters.
Tourism is a potential industry for Beira, but returns are limited. Potential tourist attractions include the cathedral, lighthouse, Macuti Beach and the Grande Hotel Beira. North of the city is the former Gorongosa National Park. There are few restaurants or hotels of a tourist standard and security is poor in some areas. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beira,_Mozambique
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