Maputo: Formerly Lourenco Marques
Maputo, the capital and the largest city of the South African country of Mozambique, was formerly known as Lourenco Marques, a name it derived from the Portuguese explorer who landed in the place in 1544. Maputo is Located in the far south-west of the country, and as such, boosts of excellent connectivity and is easily reached from neighbouring Swaziland and South Africa. Fortunately, the civil war in Mozambique was largely fought outside the city, and unlike the other parts of the country, Maputo remained almost totally scar-free.
The city skyline ranges from colonial-era mansions to modern high rises; unfortunately, the dominant ones are the anonymous Stalinist-style low rises. The city also has its own share of slums. What is interesting is that unlike many other African cities, the city centre is small and filled with broad tree-lined avenues. The city is full of life and optimism, and much like the whole of Mozambique, Maputo likes to party, dance, and eat prawns. Perhaps, the most underrated of all the Maputo tourist attractions is the city’s nightlife.
Places to Visit in Maputo
The old colonial era buildings are perhaps the best of Maputo tourist sights. The most imposing among these is the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Conceiao (Our Lady of Conception) which once formed the nucleus of Lourenco Marques. Another structure worth visiting is the very beautiful Central Train Station, built in 1910 by an architect from the Eiffel school in Paris. The city centre is a wonderful place for walks and the offshore Inhaca Island is one of the best destinations in South Africa for divers and snorkelers.
Maputo: Travel tips, languages spoken, cuisine
Maputo is generally very safe for tourists, but it is advisable that certain areas be avoided after dark. Needless to stay, usual precautions such as keeping valuables out of sight, etc., need to be taken. While visiting game areas, one should (and rightly so) follow the guide’s instructions and not feed anything to wild animals. While snorkeling or scuba diving it is essential that all basic precautionary methods are taken. The official language of Maputo is Portuguese; however, Makua-Longwe, Tsonga, Shona and Swahili are also spoken. English would, in most cases, get you through. Note that beside the local currency—Meticals (MZN)—American dollar (USD) and South African rand (ZAR) are also pretty common. The local cuisine draws influences from Middle Eastern, African, Indian, Portuguese, Hispanic and African cuisines. Further, these cuisines can be found in their purer forms in different areas of the city. Seafood is aplenty.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Maputo is from March to September. During Christmas and Easter, and the month of August, Maputo is thronged by thousands of tourists from neighbouring South Africa.
Best way to reach Maputo
- By Air: Maputo has a well-equipped international airport, and is well connected to the regional air-travel hub of Johannesburg.
- By Rail: Maputo is connected to South Africa by rail.
- By Road: Maputo is well connected to all national and regional destinations and popular attractions. Further, Maputo offers comfortable transport options for almost all of the nearby Mozambique attractions.
Accommodation
The Maputo accommodation scene is very active and wide enough to cater to all budgets and needs. Further, many local and international tour operators offer Maputo vacation package tours. These tours cover most of the Maputo tourist destinations, but do not carry the element of risk and adventure that going solo does.