Massinga is both a destination and a point on the route to Reserva Nacional de Pomene. Complexo Tongogara is located in the town; the Pomene protected area lies in Massinga District. If you are looking for accommodation in Massinga, you can distinguish between the town itself and continuing onward to the surrounding area. The route and the historic sites give the trip different focal points: the journey, the landscape and cultural remembrance.
Getting to Reserva Nacional de Pomene
Coming from Maputo or Beira, you reach Massinga via the EN1. From there, the route continues for another 50 kilometres along an unpaved road to Reserva Nacional de Pomene. This stretch of road is a distinct part of the journey that you should take into account when planning your trip. As road conditions can change, it is advisable to check them before continuing.
The surrounding landscape
Reserva Nacional de Pomene includes vegetated dunes, savannas, mangroves and wetlands. The different habitats create a varied landscape within the protected area. Its beaches are also well known: white sand and clear water define them, and they attract tourists every year. Thus, the area around Massinga features both protected landscapes and coastal areas.
Lighthouse, river and history
The Pomene lighthouse stands at an elevation of 110 metres, at the highest point in Reserva Nacional de Pomene. Another activity mentioned is canoeing on the Mudocha River, which is considered ideal for it. These two features show different sides of the protected area: the elevated lighthouse and the river as a place for an activity on the water.
A historical landmark in Massinga is Complexo Tongogara. It is located in Massinga, in Inhambane Province, and honours Josiah Tongogara. The complex preserves the story of his death in a traffic accident in Massinga on 26 December 1979. It offers a different point of interest when choosing where to stay than the landscapes around Pomene: in town, the focus is on the remembrance of a specific person and a specific historical event.
Massinga within the wider destination of Inhambane
The wider destination of Inhambane features other, distinctly different natural environments. Zinave National Park lies in the northwest of the province, along the Save River, and forms a transition between humid tropical and dry areas. Its main attraction is the gallery forest along the Save, which is home to a variety of tree species and large mammals. Bazaruto Archipelago National Park offers a different focus: it lies on the coast of Vilankulo and Inhassoro districts and extends across five islands—Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Santa Carolina and Bangué. Its landscapes include beaches, natural pools of turquoise water and large parabolic dunes of white sand; flamingos live in the saltwater lagoons.
Discover more destinations
Go to the main travel overview: Inhambane.
