Things to do in Maputo, itinerary and travel tips

The Maputo Special Reserve is a natural reserve where we can contemplate, at its maximum exponent, the richness of the ecosystem that characterizes the African savannah.

This protected area has unbelievable landscapes, populated by elephants, giraffes, hippos, among other large mammals. There is also a multitude of bird species to delight birdwatching lovers.

Less touristic than Kruger Park, it allows for a slightly more exclusive and more immersive experience.

Just one hour from the Mozambican capital, you can visit the Maputo Special Reserve on your own, by renting a jeep (4×4). But if we prefer to be more comfortable, we can hire a tour that will give us greater assurance of finding the best the park has to offer, as well as some extra security.

One of the city’s iconic buildings, the Maputo railway station, which began construction in 1913, has a distinctive architecture that made it one of the city’s main postal cards.

This was, moreover, distinguished by major publications as one of the most beautiful stations in the world. In 2016, Times magazine ranked it as the third most beautiful in the world.

If viewed from the outside it sets a striking scenario, inside it provides an authentic foray into the past, where old machines document old times.

In addition, the station also has a museum, open between 10 am and 5 pm, where we can continue our journey into the past, admiring the old locomotives and machinery.

Admission to the museum costs 50 meticais (0.7 €).

This monument ia a replica built according to the original shape of the fortress. Its origin dates back to the colonial era, more precisely to the eighteenth century, and its construction, for military purposes, was the first of its kind in that bay.

Its history is long, having been attacked and sustained considerable damage and subsequently rebuilt over and over again. Still, in that place, we can find pieces of documented history in artifacts, statues, cannons and more. In the 70’s this building was used as a war museum.

It is less than a kilometer from Central Railway Station, making sense to visit both sites one after the other.

Just 700 meters away from Nossa Senhora da Conceição fort is one of the most symbolic places in the history of Mozambique, Praça da Independência.

Despite not having much to do or see, there is the beautiful building, the Maputo City Hall, guarded by the statue of one of the heroes of independence, Samora Machel, who later became Mozambican president.

After visiting Independence Square, you only have to walk two hundred meters to reach the Iron House, a work of Eiffel, prefabricated in Belgium, which is not suited to the country’s climate.

This iconic building that has served various purposes throughout its history is nowadays the seat of the ministry of culture and tourism, open to the public and free to visit.

Inside we can contemplate the sublime architecture and also some artifacts that document the medieval times of Mozambique.

Right next door we find the Tunduru Botanical Garden, which we can enjoy while we relax a little. It has a great diversity of local flora and some architectural elements with significant historical value.

To Know Maputo in its essence we will have to immerse ourselves in Mozambican culture and art. Visiting FEIMA, a local handicraft and gastronomy fair, is precisely that.

There we can find the best and most genuine Mozambican forms of expression. Various art forms, local delights but, above all, authenticity.

This open-air market, which blends its handicraft colors with the green of the trees, is the right place to find the souvenirs we are missing. Just remember that in order to make a good deal, we have to have the patience to negociate prices to an acceptable level, especially when we are tourists.

Kruger Parkis likely the most popular wildlife park in Africa.. With an almost complete sample of African fauna, it is absolutely fantastic. Lions, elephants, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, there is everything you may wish to see.

Despite being in South Africa, the park borders Mozambique and is only 120 kilometers from Maputo. Visiting the Mozambican capital, having opportunity and time, is undoubtedly a must on our list of things to do in Maputo.

From the city it is possible, as in the case of the Maputo Special Reserve, to visit the park through an organized tour or by renting a car. However, in the case of Kruger Park, and unlike the Special Reserve, the path is less demanding, so a normal car will give for the expense.

Once there, we recommend hiring a guide who can take us to the right places to find what we were looking for.

Although very associated with seafood, Mozambican cuisine is very rich and diverse.

Lobster, shrimp and crab are among the most appetizing and popular amongs visitors, but they should not miss the opportunity to try other snacks such as Matapa.

There is no shortage of places to immerse yourself in the local flavors and there are several suggestions that will not disappoint the expectations of anyone, even the most optimistic travelers. We suggest a visit to the fish market, where there are several options to eat, in restaurants such as Miramar, Sagres, The Zampi, Coqueiro or Goa, which are also good options for traveling through Mozambican cuisine.

Inhaca Islandis just 30 kilometers from Maputo and couldn’t be left off our list of things to do in Maputo.

You can visit it by boat but public transport options are not recommended and, at the very least, unpredictable. In this case we suggest hiring a tour to avoid surprises and wasted time.

This island paradise has a lot to explore and for that we recommend a stay of 2 to 3 days so you can know what Inhaca has to offer and also relax a little.

There, and in the immediate vicinity, there are some points of interest such as the beach of Farol, Portuguese island, virtually untouched, Ponta de Santa Maria, for snorkeling, and the village of Inhaca, where we can taste the snacks of the area, in one of the many restaurants to choose from.

Ponta do Ouro is undoubtedly one of the best places in the country for water activities. Whether for diving, surfing or otherwise, this bustling coastal area offers a bit of everything.

Just 100 kilometers from Maputo, it could not be excluded from our list of suggestions.

A visit will surely be worth the time and money invested and, given the opportunity, we should not miss visiting the much less busy nearby Ponta Malongane, 8 kilometers north of Ponta do Ouro.