Xai-Xai () is a

city A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...

in the south of

Mozambique Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in Southeast Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Afr ...

. 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 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 () is the Capital city, 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 1,088,449 (as of 2017) distributed ov ...

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

rice Rice is a cereal grain and in its Domestication, domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice)—or, much l ...

and

cashew Cashew is the common name of a tropical evergreen tree ''Anacardium occidentale'', in the family Anacardiaceae. It is native to South America and is the source of the cashew nut and the cashew apple, an accessory fruit. The tree can grow as t ...

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, caused by four weeks of heavy rainfall accompanying Cyclone Leon-Eline, leaving some buildings under water. However, shortly after the waters receded the town was opened for business again.

Geography

At an elevation of , Xai-Xai is located 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 mou ...

, close to the

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of the water area of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia (continent), ...

, and in a wide, fertile plain where rice is grown. It is from the capital,

, and is 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 ...

(

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

''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. Xai-Xai Beach, 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 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 t ...

, 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 Colonialism, colonial Church (building), church and for its waterfall. ...

and Ressano Garcia 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. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

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

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, Estoril Coast. The municipality has a total of 214,158 inhabitants in an area of 97.40 km2. Cascais is an important tourism in Port ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

References

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