Information on Bilene, Mozambique, Africa

The beach resort of Bilene is situated about one hundred and fifty (150) kilometres to the northeast of Mozambique's capital, Maputo. During the years of Portugeses occupatin, the village was known as San Martinho. The small town is situated along the edge of the twenty seven (27) kilometer long, and eight kilometer wide Uembje Lagoon, and the beachfront is accessible through a long drive, which is suitable only for 4x4 vehicles. Bilene serves as a good stop over point for those travelling to destinations such as Xai Xai, Inhambane and the Bazaruto Archipelago. It is the closest Mozambican beach resort to Johannesburg, and attracts many South African visitors during the holiday seasons. The Uembje lagoon is an ideal family spot with its pristine stretches of white sandy beaches and shallow calm water which allows for safe swimming. Bilene has become a particularly popular water sports destination, and sets the scene for various sports including jet skiing, waterskiing and parasailing, and visitors hoping for a more relaxed variety of activities will find pleasure in the paddle ski's, canoes and windsurfing equipment available for hire. Other popular activities in Bilene include decent fishing, sailing, diving both in the lagoon and the open ocean, kayaking, snorkeling as well as whale watching and boat rides on the lagoon. Large populations of flamingos and various other water birds frequent the area in the summer months searching the shallow fringes of the water for food, adding a true tropical paradise feel to the region. Within the village a number of good restaurants and bars can be found, and there is a regular disco which operates over weekends. There are a number of shops, all fairly basic, as well as a market. There is also a petrol station located a short distance from the village.