Xai-Xai () is a city in the south of Mozambique. 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 The Portuguese Empire ( pt, Império Português), also known as the Portuguese Overseas (''Ultramar Português'') or the Portuguese Colonial Empire (''Império Colonial Português''), was composed of the overseas colonies, factories, and the l ...

, as a companion port to Lourenço Marques (now Maputo), 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 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 cult ...

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, on the Limpopo River. It is from the capital, Maputo, 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 ( 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 The Witwatersrand Native Labour Association (WNLA), more popularly Wenela, was set up by the gold mines in South Africa as a recruiting agency for migrant workers. Eventually, it comprised a large organisation with its own depots, buses and aeropl ...

, south of the town, includes a natural tunnel and blow hole that links the pool to the Indian Ocean. 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, which went to the city of Manjacaze and beyond. It lies on the

EN1 road The EN postcode area, also known as the Enfield postcode area,Royal Mail, ''Address Management Guide'', (2004) is a group of eleven postcode districts in England, within seven post towns. These cover parts of northern Greater London (including ...

which connects with the roads from the

Namaacha Namaacha or Naamacha is a town in southern Mozambique, lying 80 kilometers west of Maputo on the border with Eswatini. It is located in the Lebombos area. It is known for its colonial church and for its waterfall. The town of Namaacha lies in ...

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 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 airlin ...

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 tourism in Portugal, tourist de ...

, Portugal

References

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