Beira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. It had a population of 412,588 in 1997 and 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 to 1975, when Mozambique become independent from Portugal.
The city was established in 1890 by the Portuguese and soon supplanted Sofala as the main port in the Portuguese-administered territory. Originally called Chiveve, after a local river, it was re-named to honor the portuguese crown prince Dom Luiz Filipe who, in 1907, was the first member of the royal family to visit Mozambique. Traditionally the portuguese crown prince carried the title of Prince of Beira a historical province of mainland Portugal. The Portuguese built the port and a railway to Rhodesia, Portuguese families settled in the newly-founded locality and started to develop commercial activities. With the growth of the village, in 1907 the Portuguese Crown elevated Beira to the status of city (cidade). Since 1891 as the headquarters of the Companhia de Moçambique (Mozambique Company), the city's administration passed from the trading company to the Portuguese government in 1942. In 1966, the construction of a new railway station was completed. 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.
PLACE TO VISIT
Savanna Beach (20-30 km out of town) ask around if someone is going. You could venture and take a chapa heading in the direction. You have to take a little boat across to the beach, worth the effort. Water is cleaner than Beira and waves are better. Good fishing. Simple restaurant with nice atmosphere.
Gorongosa (200-300 km) in Sofala Province. Once a very well known park. Now starting to recover, good investments. Good challets and food.
Rio Maria (10-15 km). When traveling from Macuti to Airport, turn right at Monte Verde and take the sandy road. At Rio Maria is a nice river and sea. No facilities there. Don't get car stuck in mud close to beach. Very relaxing.
EAT
Biques is a camping and bar/restaurant about two km out of the centre of Beira. Worthwhile the trip but not so easy to find. Terrace overlooking the sea, excellent food and drink. Pooltable. This place is popular with locals and tourists.
Papas best food in town, also expensive. Close to Hotel Tivoli.
Nautico good simple food, normally quick, nice views of the sea, swimmingpool. Need to pay small entrance fee of 10Mtn if non-member.
Wings chinese/portuguese cooking. Inside Macuti Housing Complex, park outside. Good food, can take a while if the restaurant is full. Aircon inside and nice seating area outside. Chicken with cashew and pineaplle or the Bife Cremoso is nice.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - Beira International Airport (BEW) is about 10km out of the town, and can be easily reaced by bus and taxi.
The airport has a shop, bar, restaurant and post office.
There is a departure tax of U$12 (U$30 if travelling out of Africa), payable after check-in.
By road - The main road between Zimbabwe and Beira is in good condition. The Zimbabwe ecomony relies heavily on this route and it carries many trucks and buses, mostly overloaded. Road travel is best done by daylight as many pedestrians and animals are hard to see after dusk.
