According to Extrareference, the capital of Mozambique, the city of Maputo, of course, has not yet fully recovered from the sad consequences of the civil war, but still retains some charm. It will be interesting to see the Tunduru Botanical Garden, the Museum of Natural History in the style of Gothic architecture, the Military Museum (Fort Señora da Conceiçan), the National Art Museum, the Maputo Special Reserve and the Museum of Marine Biology. Beira is the second city of Mozambique, famous for its cozy colonial-style streets and special atmosphere. Here it is worth strolling through the shops and cafes of the main square of Pras, visiting the bright and authentic Chunga Moyo market, the Cathedral, and the “bounty” Praia de Macyti beach with red and white lighthouses. The small island of Ile de Mozambique or simply Ile, located just 3 kilometers from the mainland of Mozambique, is one of the most visited places in the country. It is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its well-preserved examples of colonial architecture. Pay attention to the chapel of Nossa Señora de Baluarte, the oldest building in the Southern Hemisphere, the palace and chapel of Sao Paulo, the medieval fort of San Sebastian and the Palace of Sacred Art. The tiny island of Matemo is also not to be missed, this place is recognized as one of the best for diving on the planet. However, besides it, there are many other interesting dive points in Mozambique, for example: Brindle Bass Ridge with reef sharks, Greek Temple and Manta Ray Reef with green turtles, Lighthouse Point with underwater tunnels, Turtle Ridge with barracudas and Five-Mile Reef with beautiful corals and Zambezi sharks. The Bazaruto Archipelago, which is the National Marine Park, considered one of the most beautiful places in Mozambique. Here, on 150 uninhabited islands, you can immerse yourself in unity with delightful tropical nature, see world-old coral reefs surrounded by a myriad of vibrant marine life, and, finally, find the Southern Cross in the clearest sky of the Southern Hemisphere. Mozambique travel packages often include visits to neighboring countries, this is a great option to diversify your vacation and see more interesting places of this distant continent.
National cuisine of Mozambique
The long-term colonization by Portugal was not in vain for Mozambique, the local cuisine has absorbed the traditions of both Portuguese and ancient African cuisine, combining them into bizarre combinations. Fish dishes are especially popular among tourists in Mozambique. Be sure to try pork and beef rolls with sweet bread – “Pãozinho”, a shrimp dish with rice and “cassava” leaves – “Matapa”, marinated in a mixture of onion, garlic, lemon, chili and vinegar shrimp “Camarão National” and “Kakana ” is an original local vegetable with an indescribable bitter taste. Many Mozambican dishes are served with the traditional “Piri-Piri” sauce, which mainly consists of the hottest chili, be careful! Local beers are very popular in Mozambique, especially beers such as 2M (doish-em), Laurentina Clara and Manika, and also produced in neighboring countries. Strong alcohol in the form of vodka or gin is available everywhere. The local analogue of vodka is cashew tincture “cashu” with a sour taste.
Transport
Due to the remoteness of this direction, tourists from Russia who wish to visit Mozambique will have to make two or even three transfers when flying to this country. Direct flights to Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, operate from almost all African countries, but the most convenient and popular are flights from South Africa (Johannesburg Airport) from South African Airways and Linhas Aereas de Moçambique. You can get to the African transfer point in Johannesburg by air carriers such as Qatar Airways (via Doha) or Lufthansa (via Frankfurt). Please note that departure from Maputo International Airport will incur a fee of USD 10-20 per person. The most comfortable and fastest option for domestic travel in Mozambique is by plane. The airline Linhas Aereas de Moçambique provides flights to all major cities of the country. The railway runs in the north of the country near the border of Malawi – from Nampula (Nampula) to Cuamba (Cuamba). Trains also run from Kenya (Harare) to Beira, and from Johanburg (South Africa) via Swaziland to Maputo. Due to the low quality of services, trains are not a popular transport among foreign tourists. Most of Mozambique’s settlements are connected by buses and “chapas” (local minibuses), this is a budget option for getting around, especially if you know the price in advance and don’t let money-hungry drivers “get rich” on you. Taxis operate in major cities in Mozambique, but they do not have a meter and the fare must be negotiated in advance. Payment is made only at the end of the trip. In the morning, taxi drivers often inflate prices several times.
