From Wikitravel

Ibo Island is part of the Quirimbas Islands, north of Pemba in Mozambique, and is called Ilha do Ibo in Portugese.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Buy 7 Eat 8 Drink 9 Sleep 10 Get out

Understand

The island has intriguing historical and fascinating sites, hosting one of the most ancient settlements in Mozambique, after Ilha do Moçambique. As early as AD600 Arab traders had established contact with the local inhabitants and subsequently established fortified trading posts along the coastline. Via these trading posts slaves, gold and ivory were shipped to the Arab world. The Fort of Forma de Cisterna was constructed by the Arabs even before the Portuguese occupation.

Vasco da Gama rested on the island in 1502. At the time of the first Portuguese contact these islands were called the Maluane Islands because the local population generally Muslim traders designed woven cloth - both in silk and cotton and dyed with local indigo. This cloth was called Maluane, and was much sought after on the mainland.

When the Portuguese first arrived in the Quirimbas, the main trading centre in the archipelago was on Quirimba Island, to the south of Ibo. The Portuguese attacked Quirimba Island in 1522, because the trading Muslims of Quirimba refused to trade with the Portuguese Christians, and intended probably to eliminate them as trading rivals. The town was set alight and destroyed, dhows sunk, some 60 Muslims killed and much looting took place with large amounts of ivory and other trade goods seized.

For many years from 1590 Ibo Islands was used by the Portugease as a springboard for trading in slaves and ivory. By the end of the 18th century, Ibo was regarded to have been the second most important Portuguese trading centre in Mozambique after Ilha do Mozambique. Throughout the 18th and 19th century the population of Ibo Island and the adjacent regions were consistently under attack from Dutch and Madagascar forces. As a result of the attacks the Fort of São João Batista (St. John Baptist) was completed in 1791.

In 1902 the capital of the District of Cabo Delgado was transferred from Ibo Island to Port Amelia, currently the city of Pemba. The town on Ibo gradually depopulated and is now effectively a colonial ghost town, featuring mangroves, beaches, coral and palms.

Get in

Ibo Island can be reached by plane from Pemba; see the article on that town for details on how to reach the area from further afield. Alternatively by boat, mainly from surrounding islands or the mainland.

• By plane: 25 minute flight from Pemba. Return fare from Pemba: US$180 return. If stuck, arrange through Ibo Island Lodge.
• By speed boat, to or from either Matemo / Quilaléa / Guludo (min 2 pax): US$100. Arrange though Ibo Island Lodge.
• By truck and dhow: From Pemba catch a truck Quissanga (6 hours, fare?), and then take a dhow (sailboat) to the island (2 to 12 hours, depending on the wind, fare US$2 per person) (info: 2005).

Get around

See

Do

Buy

Eat

• Casa De Janine: see under 'Sleep' below.
• Local unnamed bar and restaurant on Ibo Island, serving local cold beer and food, such as seafood. Remember to make reservations as soon as you arrive, since food is made to order and can take a while to cook.

Drink

Sleep

• Casa De Janine run by a French Expat who has lived on the island for years. Travellers reported that they stayed in a little room at her place right on the beach, and that the food was a highlight with shrimp, grilled fish, or some amazingly tasty and huge coconut curry crab every night.
• Ibo Island Lodge, P.O.Box 30661, Tokai, 7966, Cape Town., Ph: +27 21 702 0643, Fax: +27 21 702 0644, [1]. Due to open in late 2006. It is said to be located right on the prime waterfront site, where (according to the lodge's website) 'romantic dhows sail out to sea on each high tide, and to offer a classic island experience, and with just fourteen luxury rooms assures guests of exceptional service and flexibility. These rooms are housed in three magnificent mansions each over a century old with walls a meter thick and high lofty ceilings.' Fees: US$280 per person sharing per night.

Get out

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!