Sometime before the Portuguese reached the area, the Karanga had invaded Inhambane and formed a number of local chiefdoms.

[2] When Vasco da Gama rounded Africa in the late 15th century, he pulled into Inhambane to replenish stocks and to explore.

In 1505, a ship sent by Francisco de Almeida was shipwrecked south of the town, but the Portuguese gained an initial meeting with the Karanga chiefs.

[2] The port gradually grew as an ivory and slave trading centre, particularly in the eighteenth century under mostly Indian control.

However, in the 20th century the status of the town declined and the economic situation worsened as Maputo (called Lourenço Marques before 1975) became the main centre.

Giant manta rays, whale sharks, turtles and other marine life are regularly seen and there are many professional scuba diving operations throughout the province.

[6] Inhabame is twinned with: Inhambane has/had a narrow gauge railway that was terminated before its full extent was realised.