Name and Location

The Ibo Island Lighthouse (Farol da Ilha de Ibo) is a minor coastal beacon located on Ibo Island in the Quirimbas Archipelago, Cabo Delgado Province, northern Mozambique. The official coordinates are 12°19′54.2″ S, 40°37′22.9″ E.

Construction and History

The lighthouse's construction date is unknown, but it likely dates to the late-19th or early-20th century when the Portuguese colonial administration fortified Ibo as a trading post. Very little archival information has been published about this light.

Architecture and Materials

The structure consists of a single-storey masonry base with an attached small tower (details unconfirmed). The estimated height is 5–8 meters above ground level. The construction materials are reportedly local stone or cement render over brick or rubble core, with the tower possibly being metal-clad (requires on-site verification). The exterior finish is whitewashed in traditional Portuguese colonial style.

Light and Navigation

The focal height of the light is unknown, likely 8–10 meters above mean sea level. The nominal range is not published, but it is presumed to be up to 5–8 nautical miles. The characteristic of the light is not officially recorded, possibly a fixed white light by acetylene or solar-powered beacon. Automation status is believed to be unmanned/automated or disused; no resident keepers are present.

Accessibility and Visiting

The site is on public land near Ibo town, but access may be restricted due to the base being locked or in private use. Permission from local port authorities or community leaders is recommended. Visitors can combine guided tours with walking tours of Fort São João, the former slave market, and local villages.

Notable Views and Landscape

Ibo Island is characterized by low, sandy beaches, limestone outcrops, and dense scrub. The lighthouse overlooks shallow reef flats frequented by dugong and sea turtles. At low tide, one can wade out to tidal pools rich in invertebrate life.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local fishermen tell of a "ghost light" seen some nights along the reef, said to be the lantern of a drowned Portuguese officer. During Mozambique's war of independence (1964–1974), the lighthouse area served briefly as an observation post for colonial forces (requires archival confirmation).

Technical and Operational Details

Navigation: appears on some local charts as a minor aid, but its current operational status is unconfirmed. Managing authority: probably Mozambique Ports and Railways (CFM – Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique), which oversees most Mozambique lighthouses.

Further Information

• OpenStreetMap entry: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/251177832
• NGA List of Lights – Volume VI: Indian Ocean (see Mozambique section)
• UNESCO Tentative List: “Quirimbas National Park and Ibo Island”
• Mozambique Ports and Railways (CFM) official website