Maputo

Mozambique's capital, with Portuguese-style streets, a domed railway station and the Central Market; take a boat to Inhaca Island or head south to Maputo National Park to see elephants.

Maputo is Mozambique's capital and largest port, on the west shore of Maputo Bay at the country's southern tip, about 80 km from the South African border and about 70 km from the Eswatini border; in colonial times it was called Lourenço Marques. The city is made up of the seaside Baixa (lower town) and the upland districts of Polana and Sommerschield. The Baixa holds the Central Railway Station, the Central Market, the fortress and the Iron House, and is best explored on foot; the city center has Independence Square, the cathedral and the Tunduru Botanical Gardens; Polana has the Natural History Museum, the Polana Serena Hotel and many restaurants; and the Marginal seafront road leads north to Costa do Sol and the fish market. Avenues lined with flowering jacarandas, Portuguese colonial buildings and modernist architecture together create a distinctive streetscape. The climate is subtropical: May–October is the cool, dry season and the best time to travel, while December–March is hot, humid and rainy, with occasional tropical cyclones. From Maputo you can take a boat to Inhaca Island for snorkeling, cross the bridge to Catembe for seafood, or drive a 4x4 to Maputo National Park to see elephants and sea turtles. Maputo International Airport has flights to and from Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Doha and elsewhere, and the drive from Johannesburg takes about 6–7 hours. In town, use licensed taxis or ride-hailing apps and avoid walking at night; photographing government buildings, police or soldiers from the street can cause trouble. Allow 2–3 days. Must-try food includes piri-piri chicken, prawns, maize porridge with crab in coconut milk, and the local 2M and Laurentina beers.

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