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  nhambane is bordered to the north by the provinces of manica e sofala, to the south and east by the Indian ocean,and to the west by the province of GAZA,and is considered as perhaps one of the best quality tourist regions in Mozambique.
Apart from the excellent beaches stretching all along the coast , and the famous tourist destination the Archipelago of Bazaruto , the interior holds natural parkswhere various species of wildlife can be observed.
n the city of Inhambane , capital of the province,the visitor can visitor can visit the local museum and monuments and places theat are testimony to the prisence to the people that have passed thuough this land.
 he main ethnic guoups are the Mastshwa, Bitonga and Chopi.
 When Vasco da Gama rounded Africa in the late 1400s he pulled into this beautiful protected bay to replenish stocks and to explore. He took an immediate liking to the place and its people and named it Terra de Boa Gente or ¡®Land of the Gentle People¡¯. It took another 40 years before the Portuguese established a trading post and settlement and sadly the people of Inhambane¡¯s friendliness was rewarded by lives spent in slavery. Thousands were taken away by this inhumane practice which continued well into the last century.
Inhambane, which is one of the oldest settlements on the East Coast, was an important port and although large ships seldom call here any longer, it still has the largest fleet of working dhows in the country. In the old quarter of town is the 170 year old Cathedral of our Lady of Conception where a rusted (and somewhat perilous ladder) leads to the top of the spire, offering a grand view of town and harbour. Also take in the old governor¡¯s house on the waterfront, the fascinating railway station (it has a workshop filled with old stream trains and memorabilia and men clanking away on old machinery) and the mercado which sells a colourful array of spices, prawns, fishes, vegetables and cashew nuts. You can also take a dhow trip across the harbour to Maxixe.
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