About Inhaca
Inhaca Island Profile
Inhaca Island Profile:
The 52km² Inhaca Island is situated at 26°S, 33°E, and separates Maputo Bay (Baía de Maputo) to the west from the Indian Ocean off its eastern shores. The island's irregular coastline approaches mainland Machangulo Peninsula at Ponta Torres at the South end of the island where a 500 metre-wide land gap and deep tidal race separates the two headlands.
Just a few thousand years ago, the island formed part of the continent of Africa. Then changing sea levels and wave action eroded a channel that eventually set Inhaca "adrift" in the Indian Ocean.
The larger animals like African elephants and hippo’s gradually died out due to lack of food on the "island", and today the island’s wildlife consists of the pristine mangroves and underwater marine reefs and about 300 species of birds.
The few small island populations on Inhaca subsist on local island fishing and agriculture. At low tide women harvest crabs, oysters and fish from the islands western shallows (some of which you can buy to cook for your evening meal..!). At high tide the men and their small dowl fishing boats leave the island for deep sea fishing in Maputo bay or go out to sea.
Geographical features:
The highest point above sea level is the 104m Mount Inhaca on the north-eastern shoreline.
The south-western peninsula is known as Ponta Punduine while Ponta Torres to the south-east approaches the mainland.
Two inland swamps occur at the northerly airstrip area and southern Nhaquene respectively.
Besides Inhaca, the locals main settlement on the northwestern shore, there are five smaller island native settlements around the island including Inguane, Ridjeni, Nhaquene and Tobia.
In "Administrative" terms Inhaca Island is a municipal district of the municipality of Maputo, while the Machangulo peninsula, south of the island is included under the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area and is part of the district of Matutuíne, Maputo Province.
Inhaca Island - Bay Location....
If you look at the Maputo Bay photo below - you can see the City of Maputo in the lower Lefthand corner (about 7 o'clock) - The you can see the island of Inhaca just to the right the top of the Photo (about 1 o'clock)...
The distance across Maputo Bay from the city to Inhaca Island is about 35Km.
Weather Info
To obtain the latest Weather conditions over Maputo and Inhaca Island you can try the following Maputo Weather link: http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/MZXX0003.html - This site will give you a 5 day forecast and Radar photo over the island.
Or you can get a 10 Day Forecast here: http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/tenday/MZXX0003?from=36hr_topnav_business