Located on the Mozambican coast, opposite the Island of Mozambique, Lumbo played a strategic role in the trade link between Africa, India and Europe. This historic port was one of the country's main maritime and rail transport hubs, contributing to the region's economic growth.
Lumbo was also the railway terminus of a branch of the Nacala Line, opened in 1924 to connect Nacala to Cuamba, a 538-kilometre route. The line branched off at Monapo, with a 42-kilometre stretch heading east until reaching the small Lumbo peninsula. This railway infrastructure was crucial for the flow of goods and the development of the coastal area.
In addition to the railway, Lumbo had an airfield, the terminal of which, in neo-traditional style, is now in ruins. Along the peninsula, you can still see the remains of old holiday homes, hotels and railway buildings, once symbols of the region’s economic dynamism.
In its heyday, Lumbo was a meeting point for cultures and a centre for trade that strengthened relations between continents. Today, despite the abandonment of part of its infrastructure, it continues to be a fundamental part of Mozambique’s economic and cultural history, bearing witness to the richness of its maritime and railway past.
(By Rafael Langa)
