Maputo Overview

Overview

Maputo, formerly known as Lourenco Marques after a Portuguese explorer who landed here in 1544, is the capital of Mozambique. Located in the far south-west of the country, it is easily reached from neighbouring Swaziland and South Africa .

The city was founded in the 18-th century but not much from that period remains today. The biggest historic attraction in town in the Portuguese fortress, built in 1787. A more recent landmark is the Mousinho de Albuquerque Square in the centre of town. The beautiful Train Station is definitely worth a look. It was built in 1910 by Gustave Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame.

Most of the city's infrastructure (and architecture) was destroyed during the nearly thirty year of war that began with the Portuguese independence movement in 1962 and continued after independence in 1975. A peace treaty was signed in 1992 officially bringing the war to an end. Maputo, like most of the country, was left in shambles. The once picturesque capital is now home to shelled apartment buildings, bullet scared houses and absolute darkness once the sun sets. Dreary images aside, Maputo is however full of life. Mozambicans love to party and Maputo is a great place to listen to live music, dine on phenomenal fresh prawns in pili-pili sauce or simply wander through an art gallery or two.

Accomodations in town include two backpacker lodges. The Base, run by an extremely welcoming staff, is located in the heart of the city and is a perfect base for venturing around Maputo. Small but clean, The Base offers small six-bed dorms, singles and doubles. As an added bonus, the balcony offers great views of the Indian Ocean. Fatima's, a few blocks away, offers a similar bunch of amenities with questionable results.

If anything is certain, you will not go hungry in Maputo. No matter your budget there are enough choices to keep everyone happy. Need to eat on the cheap? Check out one of the many markets where a plateful of stew with Pap (maize meal) will run you less than $2. The local fish market, located on the north end of Avenue Marginal is one of the best places in all of Africa for fresh fish and seafood. Every evening around dusk, local fisherman haul their catch into the market where discerning buyers scoop up as much as they can carry. Several bars and restaurants on the market premises will cook whatever you buy for a small fee. Another fantastic option in the centre of town is the Feira Popular. This amusement park cum restaurant haven is probably the only place on earth where you can get amazing prawns pili-pili, a cold beer and a round or two of foosball or bumper cars. Entry into the fairgrounds is 5,000 Meticals and is well worth it, day or night. Be sure to take a taxi after dark.