100% Africa !

What was previously known as Lourenzo Marques, located in the extreme south of Mozambique, at the mouth of the Santo River, 90 km’s from the border of South Africa. Maputo’s a sprawling capital city with a bustling harbor and a population of about two million people! The city was called Lourenco Marques until the country’s independence in 1975. It has been the capital of Mozambique since 1898 is now called Maputo.
It was once one of Africa’s most beautiful and fashionable cities, with impressive skylines of tall buildings, and a cosmopolitan Portuguese/African atmosphere. The Polana Hotel buzzed with chatter of socialites and nightclubs thumped til the early hours of the morning.
Unfortunately, in the Mozambique war in the 1970’s and 1980’s, threw this prosperous African city into chaos and poverty, and when peace finally came, the proud city was in disrepair. Litter lay everywhere, major services including water and electricity were out of commission, and immigrants crowded the buildings.
Slowly recapturing some of its former glory, Maputo has still not managed to reach the romantic heyday of the 60’s and early 70’s. Multi-million dollar mansions overlook the sea whilst massive slums ring the city, and with dilapidated concrete high rises standing next to beautiful Portuguese villas, the gap between rich and poor is vast.
But don’t be fooled. There are amazing things to be seen in Maputo. The most important landmark being “Our Lady Of Conception” or the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Conceiao – the nucleus of the original settlement. Another building to definitely be visited is the Central Railway Station, which looks more along the lines of a palace for kings, rather than a siding for commuters! Whilst the bustling market is also worth a visit, with stalls selling a wide range of fresh food – you’ll find heaps of cashew nuts and chillis. Not to mention some of the excellent restaurants serving peri-peri prawns, wash it down with a cold Laurentia beer. Or visit the infamous Fere de Populare, with dozens of bars and discos, Mozambicans dance into the night to seductive Latino beats.
For most visitors however, Mozambique’s incredible coastline is the main attraction. Unfortunately, with the cyclone hitting Maputo’s beach in 2007, most of it was washed away so it’s not really advisable to swim in the ocean. But for a true tropical island holiday, rather look at the picture-postcard islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago.
And with a regular ferry service, it will take you from Maputo’s fishing harbor to Inhaca Island, a favourite for divers and snorkelers. Otherwise head south to Maputo Elephant Reserve – a sanctuary for elephant, hippos, crocs, side-striped jackal and antelope. But remember that you’ll need a 4×4 to get through on the sanctuary’s bumpy roads, and with no restaurants or lodges in the reserve, you’ll need to ensure you’re accommodation is ready after your amazing trip through the sanctuary.
A brief stop-over in Maputo on the way to the Bazaruto Archipelago or Quirimbas Archipelago is highly recommended. With a couple of upmarket hotels in the city, the best being the Polana Hotel, with a grand view over the harbor, the tea gardens, the large, inviting pool and the Victorian lift.