Maputo - Culture

Located near the very southern tip of the country, Maputo was once renowned as a beautiful city and rated by world travelers alongside Cape Town and Rio. But after almost 20 years of war and deprivation the capital is very rundown today, with crumbling buildings and dirty streets. Nevertheless, it's still an interesting place, with a very lively atmosphere. And the place slowly but surely improves. Old-timers say Maputo is already regaining some of its old charm.

The oldest historic site is the fort, where you can patrol the ramparts, look at the old cannons or just sit and rest in the grassy courtyard. A must-see is the train station, designed and built in the early 1900s by the same Eiffel who gave us the famous tower. Recently renovated, it looks more like a palace, with polished wood and marble decorations, topped by a gigantic copper dome.

Other highlights include the Botanic Gardens; the National Art Museum, which has a fine collection of Mozambique's best contemporary artists; and the lively Municipal Market, where fruit, vegetables, spices and basketwork are sold.

Maputo, formerly known as Lourenco Marques has wide red acacia and lilac jacaranda flowering tree lined streets and a mixture of different architectures. It was also considered in 1975 (when the Portuguese settlers left Mozambique) as one of the most beautiful cities of the world, but civil war has taken its toll. Maputo is divided into a lower or business city and an upper or residential city. The old Portuguese city was built during the Portuguese colonial period and is now surrounded by a thatch city which houses the many refugees who flocked here during the civil war. Places of interest to visit include the Catholic Cathedral, the City Council Chambers, the Tunduro Gardens (the botanical gardens with its fine cycad collection), the Railway stations (build in 1910) and the Fortress (which is the oldest building in Mozambique Maputo Elephant Reserve. 

Situated 79 km south of Maputo on the road to Ponta do Ouro via the ferry to Catembe, or 112 km from Maputo via the Boane road. The Maputo Reserve is famous for its elephant herds. Flamingos can also be seen on the large inland lakes near the sea. 30 km to the north of Maputo is located the village of Marracuene, which overlooks the Incomati River. It is possible to catch the ferry across to the other side and then to drive for 8 km along a sandy/muddy road to the beach. Alternatively, you can take the boat from the Complexo Turνstico Macaneta that takes you on a scenic twenty minute trip down the Incomati River round to Macaneta beach. Mozambique, a crossroads of civilizations, cultures and landscapes, influenced from the early days by Arab traders, Portuguese colonials and then, torn apart by over 20 years of civil war. With a new found peace, and a fast growing economy recently reopened to tourism, Mozambique offers the explorer a wealth of treasures in the form of natural beauty, un-spoilt coconut palm lined tropical beaches, remote villages, unique architecture, seafood and sunshine. 

Namaacha is at the border to Swaziland, 80 km west from Maputo and at an altitude of 600m. This is the ideal spot to rest. It is surrounded by pine and eucalyptus forests and a scenic waterfall with picnic site 3 km from the town is recommended. The Hotel dos Libombos offers excellent accommodation and meals. Maputo is a city of wide, acacia lined avenues and tall buildings overlooking Maputo Bay and the Indian Ocean. One of its more distinctive characteristics is a remarkable wealth of architecture ranging from the classical Bauhaus design to a robust Luso-Iberian colonial style making it one of the most unique cities in Africa. Maputo now sports a lively and growing restaurant scene and a wealth of tourist destinations. The climate ranges from tropical to subtropical. In 1998 there was adequate rainfall virtually throughout the country, and the expected El Nino-induced drought did not take place. There was flooding in some areas; however, overall agricultural production was expected to rise slightly, facilitating the recovery and stabilization of the rural population following the long years of war. The rainy season broadly coincides with the hot months, between November-March, though most provinces have some rain over 7-9 months of the year. Winter is in July-September, but in the coastal areas the average temperature does not fall below 12oC.

Traditional music is widely played in Mozambique. The Makonde in the north are noted for their wind instruments, known as lupembe. In the south the Chope musicians play the marimba, a form of xylophone found throughout Southern Africa, and are famous for their marimba orchestras. Modern music flourishes in the cities. Marrabenta is perhaps the most typical Mozambican music - with a light style inspired by traditional rural majika rhythms

Mozambique has a rich artistic tradition which, incredible as it may seem, continues to thrive after decades of colonial occupation and civil war. Today Mozambique produces some of the finest art in Africa. The sculpture of the Makonde people from the north is recognised as one of Africa's most sophisticated art forms. A number of talented painters have emerged since the 1950s. Probably the most famous is Malangatana, who has exhibited throughout the world. The country is well known for its murals, many of which can be found adorning walls in Maputo. The largest and most famous is near the airport, 95m (310ft) long and reflects many stories and images of the Revolution.

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