Before the war, Beira (pop. 350,000) was a busy port filled with goods destined for Zimbabwe (both rail and road service run between Beira and Harare, Zimbabwe). The government's reconstruction efforts have been slow in reaching the city, which now lies in some disrepair.
Beira, among Mozambique's largest cities, still has good beaches (the farther north you go, the better they are) and adequate hotels, making it a jumping-off point for scuba divers and those interested in deep-sea fishing. There is very little of interest for tourists in Beira itself—one night is more than adequate.
450 mi/725 km northeast of Maputo.