Before the war, Beira, 450 mi/725 km northeast of Maputo, was a busy port filled with goods destined for Zimbabwe (both rail and road service run between Beira and Harare, Zimbabwe). The government's reconstruction efforts have been slow in reaching the city, which now lies in some disrepair.
Beira, Mozambique's second largest city, still has good beaches (the farther north you go, the better they are) and adequate hotels, making it a jumping-off point for scuba divers and those interested in deep-sea fishing. There is very little of interest for tourists in Beira itself—one day is more than adequate to visit its cathedral, Central Market, the faded yet still-charming old houses of the Praca do Metical area, and perhaps the ruins of fort San Caetano in Sofala, the ancient trading port about 25 mi/40 km south of Beira.
Beira is the main gateway to nearby Gorogosa National Park.
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