Xai-Xai () is a city in the south of

Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Mal ...

. Until 1975, the city was named João Belo. It is the capital of

Gaza Province Gaza is a province of Mozambique. It has an area of 75,709 km2 and a population of 1,422,460 (2017 census), which is the least populous of all the provinces of Mozambique. Xai-Xai is the capital of the province. Inhambane Province is to t ...

. As of 2007 it has a population of 116,343.

History

Portuguese rule

Xai-Xai, formerly João Belo, developed in the early 1900s, under Portuguese rule, as a companion port to Lourenço Marques (now

Maputo Maputo (), formerly named Lourenço Marques until 1976, is the capital, and largest city of Mozambique. Located near the southern end of the country, it is within of the borders with Eswatini and South Africa. The city has a population of 1,08 ...

), though its economic significance was never on par with Mozambique's largest city. Before independence from Portugal in 1975, Xai-Xai was known as João Belo, in the

Overseas Province of Mozambique Overseas may refer to: * ''Overseas'' (album), a 1957 album by pianist Tommy Flanagan and his trio *Overseas (band), an American indie rock band * "Overseas" (song), a 2018 song by American rappers Desiigner and Lil Pump * "Overseas" (Tee Grizzley ...

. João Belo grew and developed under Portuguese rule as a port, agricultural and industrial centre (

rice Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly '' Oryza glaberrima'' (African rice). The name wild rice is usually used for species of the genera '' Zizania'' and ''Porteresia'', both wild and domesticate ...

and

cashew The cashew tree (''Anacardium occidentale'') is a tropical evergreen tree native to South America in the genus ''Anacardium'' that produces the cashew seed and the cashew apple accessory fruit. The tree can grow as tall as , but the dwarf cul ...

were harvested and processed), a provider of services, including a district hospital and banking, and an administrative centre. Tourism was also important with beaches and hotels. In 1970, the city had 63,949 inhabitants.

Post-independence from Portugal

It was hit hard by the 2000 Limpopo floods, with some buildings under water. However, shortly after the waters receded the town was opened for business again.

Geography

Xai-Xai is located close to the

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by ...

, on the

Limpopo River The Limpopo River rises in South Africa and flows generally eastward through Mozambique to the Indian Ocean. The term Limpopo is derived from Rivombo (Livombo/Lebombo), a group of Tsonga settlers led by Hosi Rivombo who settled in the mountaino ...

. It is from the capital,

, and is in a wide, fertile plain where rice is grown. It is at an elevation of . Xai-Xai is situated from Donguene, from Macandene, from Chiluane and from Tavene.

Climate

Xai-Xai has a

tropical savanna climate Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a tropical climate sub-type that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories ''Aw'' (for a dry winter) and ''As'' (for a dry summer). The driest month has less than of p ...

( Köppen climate classification ''Aw'').

Attractions

Xai-Xai is a bustling town with markets, shops, restaurants, bars, petrol stations, banks, and a post office. A few blocks from the central market, there is an open-air furniture factory, located underneath several cashew trees. The beach of Praia do Xai-Xai, approximately 12 km from Xai-Xai, has been a popular tourist attraction since Mozambican tourism, originally under Portuguese administration, was first developed before 1975. A coral reef running parallel to the shore offers good snorkeling and protects the beach from strong waves. In addition, the Wenela Tidal Pool, south of the town, includes a natural tunnel and blow hole that links the pool to the

. Right on Praia de Xai Xai Beach there is a giant rock pool that forms at medium and low tides that is up to 200 metres long, forming a giant safe pool for families and swimmers.

Demographics

Transport

Xai Xai was served by the gauge

Gaza Railway The Gaza Railway is a narrow gauge railway operating in southern Mozambique from Xai-Xai (former Villa de João Belo) via Manjacaze junction (53 km) with branches to Chicomo (37 km) and Mauela (50 km). It was constructed in the ...

, which went to the city of

Manjacaze Manjacaze (''Manxakadze'') is a town in the province of Gaza, Mozambique. It serves as the administrative center of Manjacaze District. Demographics Economy The town formerly had a cashew processing plant, which was shut down in the early ...

and beyond. It lies on the EN1 road which connects with the roads from the Namaacha and

Ressano Garcia Ressano Garcia is a small town in the Maputo Province, Mozambique. The town is adjacent to Komatipoort in South Africa. The town has around 11,200 people living in it. Transport Both road and rail cross the border here from Mozambique into Sou ...

borders. It is possible to travel to Xai-Xai by charter flight from Maputo. In 2017, the

People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones an ...

pledged $60 million to build an airport in Xai-Xai. That airport was inaugurated in 2021 and is served by one airline,

LAM Mozambique LAM - Mozambique Airlines, S. A. (LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique, S. A.) or Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique, Ltd., operating as LAM Mozambique Airlines ( pt, LAM Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique), is the flag carrier of Mozambique. The airline ...

Gallery

Beach in xaixai.jpg, Praia do Xai-Xai Xai-Xai train station (9493131901).jpg, Xai-Xai train station Prawns at Xai-Xai market.JPG, Prawns at Xai-Xai market

Sister city

Cascais Cascais () is a town and municipality in the Lisbon District of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera. The municipality has a total of 214,158 inhabitants in an area of 97.40 km2. Cascais is an important tourist destination. Its marin ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of the ...

References

{{Provincial capitals of Mozambique Limpopo River Populated places in Gaza Province Provincial capitals in Mozambique