Mozambique offers stark contrasts from dry tropical arid land to unspoilt island paradises off the coast of the Indian Ocean. With just three main National Parks, the most inviting features are its pristine islands of the amazing Quirimbas and Bazaruto archipelagos with endless white beaches. The surrounding waters are filled with some of Africa's most unspoiled coral reefs and are havens for snorkelling and diving in crystal clear waters – seeing whale shark above and manta ray below. Experience oases of luxury pinned on the edge of the known world, perfect for family holidays, honeymoons and beach breaks.

You will also encounter a people struggling to maintain a fast recovering economy which suffered many turbulent years under civil strife and further depleted by natural calamities as raging floods and prolonged drought. Mozambicans are putting their shattering past behind them and are rebuilding their country at a remarkable pace.

Beyond stunning beaches and islands, Mozambique offers plenty to see, including the World Heritage site of Ilha de Mozambique with its rich colonial as well as slave trade history, charming colonial architecture and colourful local cultures. Years of civil war took its toll on the Mozambique's infrastructure - it's not easy to get about overland - and most of its wildlife was eaten. Now three national parks have been established and fences are down along the border of South Africa's Kruger National Park: animal numbers are beginning to recover.