Lichinga is the capital of the province of Niassa, in Mozambique.
Understand
Get in
By plane
Regular flights by LAM come to the airport in Lichinga.
By train
After a long hiatus, upgrading of tracks have returned train services to Lichinga. For now (2017) however, there are only four services from Cuamba each month. 1 Lichinga station is located about a kilometre south of the main square.
By car
A main road heads north to Lichinga via Mandimba on the Malawi border, or west from the coast at Pemba.
By bus
Local transport is available going in and out of Lichinga.
By boat
It is possible to travel across Lake Niassa (Lake Malawi), though international travelers must legally enter through a border post and have the appropriate documentation (visas, etc. depending on nationality). Once on the Mozambique side, local transport would need to be arranged.
Taking the Ilala ferry is certainly a once in a lifetime experience. Sleeping on the upper deck of this second world war ferry and watching the sunrise over far rolling hills along the Mozambican and Malawian coast is breath taking. You can enter the ferry from any of the harbors where the ferry arrives. The stops and times of departure can be found under the following link Schedule[formerly dead link].
IF you plan to visit Mozambique, you should get off at the harbor in Metangula. Make sure to leave a couple of days for a stay at Mbuna Bay logde. If you contact them ahead of time they will pick you up at the harbor and drive you to the lodge. It's a truly beautiful place (see further below). They will also be able to give you information on your further travels in Mozambique and probably even give you transport the Lichinga.
Get around
Lichinga is small enough to get around by foot, or via bicycle taxi or other local transport.
See
Do
Buy
A good number of stores are available offering food both local and international, construction supplies, clothing, electronics, etc.
Eat
A number of restaurants catering to a wide range of budgets is available.
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
Sleep
- 1 Montebello Hotel Lichinga, Avenida Filipe Samuel Magaia, ☏ 258 21 480 505, ✉[email protected]. Singles from $140.