Located about 10km (6mi) off the coast, the Archipelago is one of the most beautiful places on the continent, complete with azure waters, sandy beaches, palm trees, pristine coral reefs, plus tropical fish to goggle at and big game fish to catch. The whole area between the mainland and the 150 fathom mark is now protected as a world-class conservation area. If you stay at one of the posh lodges, transfer by speedboat is available for around US$100 return. Rather cheaper are dhows, which can be got at Vilankulo on the mainland.

About 500km (310mi) north-west of the coast, the Zambezi River is dammed by the Barragem de Cahora Bassa. It was built in the 1970s, one of the largest civil engineering projects in Africa. Today, it is still a grand sight. Set in stunning scenery at the head of a magnificent gorge, the dam has created Lago de Cahora Bassa, a vast lake 270km (170mi) long, stretching back to the confluence of the Zambezi and the Luangwa Rivers on the border with Zambia.Although it's become a white elephant - operating far below capacity due to damage suffered during the civil war - it's developing into a tourist attraction. So far, the amenities are minimal, and about the only thing you can do here (besides take in the magnificent views) is take a tour of the dam (with the obligatory trip to the turbine room). You can get there by car, but there's also a bus that runs between Songo, the dam's service town, and Tete, the nearest large town, which is 150km (95mi) to the south-east down the Zambezi River. Before visiting, however, you'll need permission to visit, obtainable in Tete. There are serviceable rooms available in Songo.

The long, beautiful beaches of Tofu and Barra were legendary years ago and are fast regaining their former fame. Tofu is more accessible and more developed, with a hotel and holiday cottages. Barra is harder to reach but quieter, with a better setting: clean sand dunes with surf on one side and mangroves and palm groves on the other, where parrots and monkeys do their tropical stuff. Once South African fishermen stop driving along the beach in ugly 4WDs, it will be perfect. The beaches are accessible by car (though a 4WD really does come in handy for the last few kilometres of sandy road) and chapas, which go all the way to Tofu but stop 4km (2mi) short at Barra village school, from where you can get a guide to show you the way to Barra Beach.