PEMBA AND THE REGION NORTH TO THE RIO ... - MozGuide

Entering Chipandje Chetu and staying at Uzuzu has to be arranged beforehand with the
Provincial administration of forest and wildlife in Lichinga.
Contact: Serviços Provinciais de Florestas e Fauna Bravia:
Phone: + 258 (271 20 977
Fax: 20557
Chipandje Chetu Conservation Area, Tel: + (271) 20917. Fax: + (271) 20557, Email:
zambezihunters@yahoo.com
Where to Eat in Lichinga.
O Chambo. Dona Argentina puts together excellent and good value-for-money meals at her
small place next to the Mercado municipal. It is a good idea to warn her that you are coming.
Tel: + (271) 21354.
Restaurante Planalto. Near the Hotel Girassol. Call Dona Sarah, + (271) 20385.
Quinta Capricórnio. Used to do a mean Goat stew, cheeses and yoghurts, but not sure
whether this has been continued under the new cooperative-style of management.
Hotel Girassol. Really good food, particularly the ‘all you can eat’ buffet breakfasts.
What to see in Lichinga.
Perhaps this is what Tijuana in Mexico was like 50 years ago, without the coast, so don’t
expect grandiose cathedrals or crumbling castles.
The following sites can be covered on foot in a couple of hours:
Bank (Banco Austral) and ABC Cinema.
The Banco was built (like most of Lichinga) in the 1950’s with furniture and fixtures to match.
Next door is the Cinema ABC which is a large art-deco structure big enough to swing an
Airbus in. Sometimes offers movies but mostly used for church services and the odd beauty
contests. On some public holidays a wooden stage is erected in the adjacent park for live
music concerts and other events.
Stunning Art-deco government buildings are also off the main Praça da Independência and
recall an era when style took precedence over functionality. Nearby the Catedral de
Lichinga is an imposing white edifice which has a bell tower and mean-looking bell which is
never used. For a humbling and moving experience, join one of the Sunday morning masses.
The Golden Nights disco should be open at least once per month and if it is don’t miss
moving with the masses to Mozambican Samba and any Boy/Girl bands that happen to be in
vogue that week.
Estação de Comboios. Lichinga's train station is a nice little reminder of Manueline
architecture in the middle of nowhere. The platform is a short way out of town, but don’t rush
to buy a ticket to Cuamba, there are currently only one or two goods trains per month – top
speed 15kph!
Parque das Crianças.
The wreck (quite intact) of a downed Dakota airplane lies in the corner of a children’s park just
off the main traffic ‘praça’.
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