Most international flights to/from Mozambique use Maputo's airport . See the [wiki=a6d3bea3fa66775952e080b90bb0c4f1#Get in]Mozambique[/wiki] page for more information.
*LAM [url=http://www.lam.co.mz]]operates a high number of domestic flights within Mozambique.
*TAP flies non-stop from Lisbon.
*SAA [http://www.flysaa.com[/url] operates two flights a day from Johannesburg to Maputo and SA Airlink has five flights a week from both Durban and Cape Town.
*Ethiopian flies non-stop from Addis Ababa.
Taxis from the airport to town should be around 500 Metecais (approx US$18). Hotels generally send their buses to meet flights, but only if they have passengers on the flight with bookings at their hotel. Local SIM cards can be bought at the shop near the exit from the terminal where there is also a bank.
Rail services to Maputo are slowly improving, altough the lines currently operating are of limited use to tourists. An exception is the daily service from [wiki=3ae8ef41ea5e784980ede87f8894ae37]Ressano Garcia[/wiki] at the border with South Africa, it is a convenient way of traveling here from [wiki=33416c1d32d3c19771d09bf215c7b514]Johannesburg[/wiki] and [wiki=f3aed7b995946431dd27c6d71901dd96]Pretoria[/wiki] as daily trains connects with the city of [wiki=27f239fe818b759b0e34a3995318b1dd]Komatipoort[/wiki] across the border.
The highway from Johannesburg to Maputo is very good. From Johannesburg, take the N4 towards Nelspruit (about 400 km). From Nelspruit, continue following the N4 to Komatipoort, the last town on the South African side (about 100 km). Just past Komatipoort is the Lebombo/Ressano Garcia border post. NB: current car registration papers (or good facsimile thereof) and third party insurance are required to get a car past the border. Insurance can (only?) be purchased at the border. On the Mozambican side, just follow the N4 (now called EN4) for a further 80 km or so to reach Maputo.
Also easy access from Manzini in Swaziland, around 186 km. With minivan/taxi the cost from Manzini to Maputo is around US$8 with luggage (price per October 2006). The drive time, including getting visa at the Namaacha border post, is 4 hrs. The price for visa is US$66.
From Durban, on the KwaZulu Natal coast (South Africa), Maputo is 600 km away and best approached via the Golele border post into Swaziland. The shortest route from Golele into Mozambique is at the Goba border post.
Lebombo/Ressano Garcia Border Control
The border control can be very intimidating to new (and even returning) visitors to Mozambique. As you drive into the Mozambican side of the border, you will have many people rushing to your vehicle (some even looking quite official) and then directing you to perform this or that activity. The goal is probably to intimidate you so that you use their services (expertise) to expedite the border crossing, which they do. They will then suggest that you pay them a fee that you believe is fair for all this.
In essence, the role of these helpers is to "fast track" your queue through the border control, meaning that they kinda bump the ordinary traveller out of the queue. This is done with the tacit approval of the border officials--implying that they are part of the tactic, and they quite possibly also receive some gain from it.
Depending on your standpoint, it may be viewed as encouraging an activity that is not entirely legal but expedites your passage, or something you are vehemently opposed to.
[wiki=a6d3bea3fa66775952e080b90bb0c4f1#From_South_Africa]From Johannesburg[/wiki]
If you are a little adventurous, it is possible to cycle by means of a mountain bike from Maputo to Ponta do Ouro. But be warned that you will have to push your bicycle for about 30 km through thick sand. The trip is well worth it, and the look on the locals faces when they find out where you are going is not to be missed.
Be warned though that it can be dangerous at times so try to travel in a group.
Any number of small cafes serve simple dishes and juices that are affordable. Unless you are adventurous, stay away from most roadside stalls especially if they are serving meat. Safe roadside fare includes cashews (usually fire roasted without salt served in small paper cones), fried bean cakes called Bhajia, uncut and unwashed fruits (cut and wash yourself with bottled water), and soft-serve ice cream. Expect to pay between Mt 15 and 50 (US$0.60-$1.50).
The fruit from roadside stands is usually fine, especially if it has a hard peel, which most do (banana, mango, pineapple, tangerine, papaya etc.). They expect to sell the fruit by the kilogram, so be prepared for strange looks if you want just a couple of individual fruits. Prices change with what's in season, except for bananas, which are always available - a couple of bananas should set you back 5 or 10 MTn.
The smaller cafes will have egg sandwiches, fries, grilled chicken, small pastries, and simple hamburgers. Expect to pay between Mt 15 and 75 (US$0.60-$3).
Do not lose sight of your credit or debit cards or they may be cloned. Rather always pay cash at any restaurant.
*Cantinho do Brasil Av. Vladimir Lenine 1057. Good Brazilian snacks and feijoada. A good place to enjoy a snack, good coffee and good internet.
*Gelati Av. Julius Nyerere 794. Good ice cream, on its own or served with Crepes.
*Mercado Janeta corner of Av. Vlademir Lenine and Av. Mao Tse Tung. Many food stalls located inside the market with a standard roster of dishes, consisting of a lot of starch, a piece of meat, and a lot of sauce. For starch you can choose rice or, occasionally, xima; for meat, chicken or beef; popular sauce options include peanut curry and guisado, a kind of tomato stew. 40-60 Mt. Food is generally only served at lunch; at dinner a few places will be open but you'll be eating leftovers. If you want drinks, however, there are plenty of options at all hours.
*Zambezia Av. Mao Tse Tung, just east of Av. Vlademir Lenine. Very good Zambezian chicken, with coconut milk and spices. Convenient to Fatima's.
*Twingo Av. Vlademir Lenine, close to Av. Agostinho Neto, next to the Mimmo's. Broad and fairly inexpensive menu (the prato do dia is particularly cheap) with a good bakery.
Gracianna In the Parque dos Continuadores, which is bound by Av. Mao Tse Tung, Av. Armando Tivane, and Av. Martires de Machava, one block west of Av. Julius Nyerere. Mozambican food, generally around 150 - 180 MTn. Quite tasty. Try the mucapata.
*Mamma Mia Also in the Parque dos Continuadores, right next to Gracianna. Mozambican and Italian dishes, all very tasty. Slightly more expensive than Gracianna.
*Mimmo's, two locations, one on Av. 24 de Julho and Av. Salvador Allende, the other on Av. Vlademir Lenine near Av. Agostinho Neto. Mostly Italian menu. Tuesday features half-price pizza (takeout only) and commensurately long waits.
*Chicken Piripiri near the corner of Avda. 24 de Julho and Avda. Nyerere serves grilled chicken and also very good prawns. Famous, and in a posh location; the chicken also costs twice as much as it would from a takeout joint.
*Mercado do Peixe The fresh fish market. Behind the Sasol Garage on Av. Marginal, you chose you own prawns, clams, crab, Grouper, Coral and Rock cod, Squid and a galaxy of other tropical fish still flapping at the market, then retire to one of the many small restaurants behind the stals where they are cooked beautifully. Everyone's favourite Sunday afternoon.
*Mundo's next to Avenida Hotel on Av. Julius Nyerere. Multiracial meeting place with bar and restaurant, including pizza. Lots of televisions tuned to sport from South African channels. Internet free for 30 mins. per day, after that for moderate charge.
* Restaurante Escorpiao, in the Feira Popular (in the Baixa district). Has a huge menu, a decent wine list (by Mozambican standards) and caters to moderate budgets. Not fancy, frequented by locals. Delicious arroz mariscos (seafood stew with rice). Soggiest vegetables in town; for better Portuguese-inspired fare, try Restaurante Cristal, Costa do Sol or Monte Alentejano.
*Good, mainly seafood, restaurant on the seafront.
1908, Av. Eduardo Mondlane and Av. Salvador Allende. Decent food in a very nice old building.
* Cristal, on Av. 24 de Julho, intersection with Av. Tomas Nduda. Very popular with the Portuguese. A mostly expensive and mostly Portuguese menu. Try the acorda.
*Monte Alentejano, Av. Julius Nyerere, just down from Av. 24 de Julho. Another popular Portuguese place.
* Costa do Sol restaurant, on Av. Marginal in Costa do Sol (5 km north of Maputo by the sea - take a taxi, they will wait and bring you back). Icon over 70 years old. Average seafood in low-key atmosphere. Booking recommended at weekends and if you want an outdoors table. ☎+258 21 450115. Also has a few rooms.
* Restaurant Sheik, part of the Sheik entertainment complex. Offers high-end Chinese and African cuisine in an elegant atmosphere. The disco below has dancing, drinks, and fun until the wee hours of the morning.
* Zambi, on the bay in the center of town, a few kilometers south of Club Naval. Modern, sleek eatery, good menu selection. Big terrace in the front overlooks the road to the bay, with an open kitchen dining room inside. Worth the money (which is still cheap by western standards!).
* Filini, restaurant and bar, located in the Radisson Blu Maputo, offers exquisite italian cuisine in a stylish atmosphere. Straight forward simply cooked italian food. Friendly and fast-paced unpretentious service. Wide selection of wine.
A hip dance club. Expect to be blown away by the architecture, the dancing, the buzz, if not the prices.
* Xima's bar, on Av. Eduardo Mondlane, is popular with the locals and has live music on the weekends.
* Africa Bar nightclub is on Av. 24 de Julho near Av. Karl Marx.
* Gil Vicente is a bar attached to the Gil Vicente theatre, across from the 'Jardim Tunduru.
* Centro Cultural Franco-Mozambicain has live music and cultural events.
* Central Train Station houses a jazz lounge on weekends.
* Feira Popular is in the Baixa, and houses many bars and restaurants.
* Dolce Vita Av. Julius Nyerere 800. New, upmarket bar with blue lighting.
* Havana Bar a bar during daytime and a disco at night.
* Coconuts a dicotheque in front of the beach. An amazing vibe.
Hotel Continental, Av. Filipe Samuel Magaia 177, Maputo, [mailto:info@hotelcontinentalmaputo.com], ☎ +258 2130 2155 Fax: +258 2130 2155, [url=http://www.hotelcontinentalmaputo.com].]Small single rooms from US$60. Double and Twin rooms for only $70. This hotel was newly renovated in July 2013. All rooms have private bathroom, air-con, television, and wifi. It is situated in the historical 'baixa' area of Maputo just a short walk from many of Maputo's most famous attractions.
*Fatima's Place, 1317 Mao Tse Tung Avenida, Maputo, [mailto:fatimas@tvcabo.co.mz fatimas@tvcabo.co.mz[/url], ☎ +258 82 4145730, +258 82 3070870, Fax: +258 1300305, [url=http://www.mozambiquebackpackers.com].]Dorms from US$20 (as of Sept 29/11). Many people really enjoy this place, but it has more of a party atmosphere and is quite a bit larger than Base Backpackers. Some have found the staff and the other guests to be quite standoffish. Others have had more serious issues such as being forced to pay for bookings they did not agree to. It's a bit out of the main part of downtown, but still a very easy and generally safe walk to the business district. Fatima's also offers shuttle service to Fatima's nest in Tofo beach, around 7-8 hrs north of Maputo. While this bus is very convenient, it can also be extremely dangerous and the motorist has stolen from expat passengers in the past. Take at your own risk. One free internet computer available. Daily shuttle to Tofo $25.
*Pensão Martins, Av. 24 de Julho 1098, Maputo, [mailto:info@pensaomartins.com[/url], ☎ +258 2130 2155 Fax: +258 2130 2155, [url=http://www.pensaomartins.com].]Double and Twin rooms for less than $100. This famous pensao is perfectly situated nudged between the Baixa and Museu, with these two popular areas of Maputo right at your door step. All rooms have private bathroom and rates include breakfast.
*The Base Backpackers, 545 Avenida Patrice Lumumba ☎+258 21 302723, not so great rooms, balcony with a view over the sea, 1 computer with internet - separate pay, a small room with a tv and news, a self-service fridge and kitchen facilities. Members of the staff can be extremely flaky, and told a guest whose laundry was not returned clean as promised, "It's not my problem, it's your problem." The place needs to be sprayed for bedbugs, and needs to undergo a total renovation, but its one positive quality is its central location. The dorms become very hot during the spring and summer due to a lack of a fan. US$10. Base is small, with only two small dorms, so you should call ahead for a reservation. If you are traveling by yourself, you could walk up and get lucky, but there are no guarantees. If you find their email address online, don't use it to make a reservation. They do not respond to email reservations. Daily shuttle to Tofo $21.
*Manico Camp (Inhaca Island), Inhaca Island, Maputo, [mailto:info@manicocampinhaca.com[/url], ☎ +258 2130 2155 Fax: +258 2130 2155, [http://www.manicocampinhaca.com]. Located at the point of Inhaca Island closest to Portuguese Island, Manico Camp offers a range of accommodation options and easy access to those with their own boats.
The only Guest House or B&B right in the centre of Maputo. Comfortable rooms with air-con, roof fans, cable television, tea & coffee station, and refreshing pool. Maputo's Restaurant and Bar area is just metres from the door
* Fantastically located on the leafy Av. Patrice Lumumba on the incline between the Baixa and Museu. Comfortable rooms with air-con, cable television, tea & coffee station, and a refreshing pool with amazing views of the city. Maputo's Restaurant and Bar area is just metres from the door
*
* VIP Grand Hotel Maputo is a conference-hotel near the commercial centre of town, the Feira Popular, the ferry to Catembe. The rooms are pleasantly clean and modern with good wireless internet included in the room rate, but service is poor, and food is awful.
*Ambitiously marketing itself as a boutique hotel this small establishment doesn't quite live up to the fancy website. Still the kitsch Arabia theme is something different, all you can eat breakfast and modern (if impractical) bathrooms make this a reasonable choice. Avoid the cheapest rooms which are down in the dank and airless basement. Wifi available for a charge.
* A 30 minute drive from downtown Maputo. On the banks of the Matola River, spacious rooms in a thatched complex. Air conditioned rooms. Braai and self catering facilities. Breakfast included in the price. Ample and secure parking for your boat and caravan. Swimming pool. Dstv and fridge in room.
Catembe Gallery Hotel, [url=http://www.catembe.net/].] 14 luxurious rooms that are individually decorated by leading Mozambican artists. Inconvenient to find, approximately 45 mins from the CBD (via crowded public boat, then taxi), located on a remote dirt road on the opposite side of the bay. It has a bar, beach, library, pool table and swimming pool. Internet access is available. Rates start from about €60, up to €380, depending on type of room selected.
* Hotel Cardoso, [url=http://www.hotelcardoso.co.mz/[/url].] Opposite the traffic circle from the Natural History Museum. Recently refurbished and is a solid 4-star hotel although things often tend to go wrong. Staff fluent in English. A great garden to have a drink in and watch the sun set over the Baixa and Rio Santo. Doubles with a river view and airconditioning were US$140 or more in May 2009.
* Hotel Polana, [url=http://www.serenahotels.com/mozambique/polana/home.htm[/url].] The grande dame of Maputo hotels, a colonial era masterpiece by Sir Herbert Baker, famed South African architect (who also did the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town). As close to perfection in service, food, pool, view, etc. as can be found in Maputo. Doubles from US$217. Good place to have a drink, or to have lunch in the Tea Room.
* Hotel Avenida [url=http://www.hotelavenida.co.mz[/url].]5-star hotel on Avenida Julius Nyerere. Has large and fairly comfortable rooms. Rooftop pool and bar for excellent sunsets and a good way of appreciating the rather confusing geography of Maputo. Several restaurants (Thai, Greek, Indian and pub style) within a few minutes. Hotel shuttle to and from the airport available. Free access to the Internet. Rooms from around US$170 (April 2009) including good breakfast but really the only thing that is 5-star about this hotel is the price.
* Radisson Blu Hotel [http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-maputo[/url] An international hotel chain, the 5-star Radisson Blu boasts a 12 storey building with 154 rooms in one of the city's trendiest spots on the marginal road along the beach. This new property features a striking design, ocean views and is one of the best hotels in the city. There are several restaurants and bars across the road. Free Internet for guests and delegates. The hotel hosts, an ocean view bar, a Filini restaurant (offering exquisite Italian cuisine in a stylish atmosphere) and a lounge bar. Nightly rates starting at U$220.
Since in Africa internet connectivity costs are rather high, and hotels might provide it charged extra, or limited complimentary data packages, it might be nice to know that there are a few places in Maputo that offer you wi-fi access.
Among them, you can find them in:
* Marisqueira Sagres, next to Nossa Casa.
* Southern Sun Hotel, on Avenida Marginal - good wifi coverage in the bar and lobby.
* Clube Marítimo, on Av. Marginal, opposite the Fish Market.
* Dolce Vita, on Avenida Julius Nyerere.
* Nautilus, both on the corner of Avenida 24 de Julho and Avenida Julius Nyerere, and in Maputo Shopping Center
* Surf, on Jardim dos Namorados (Avenida Friedrich Engels)
* Café Sol, on Sommerschield II neighborhood (past the University Main Campus, on Avenida Julius Nyerere)
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list.
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