Maputo, formerly known as Lourenço Marques, named after a Portuguese explorer who landed here in 1544, is the capital of Mozambique. Most of the city's infrastructure (and architecture) was destroyed during the nearly thirty years 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. Today the city is slowly recreating some of its former glory.
We will meet at the beautiful Railway Station, which is definitely an architectural highlight of Maputo. It was built during 1908-10 and designed by engineer Alfredo Augusto de Lima. The remarkable bronze dome, founded specially for the building, was constructed in South Africa and its assembly was an innovation for that time.
We will walk from the Praça dos Trabalhadores to Mercado Central, a place with an immense diversity of colours and aromas. After that, we keep on walking towards the classic and sophisticated café Continental, where you will have a chance to taste the famous “pastéis de nata” and an expresso coffee.
We will go to the Maputo Fort, one of the most visited attractions in the city. It was originally built in 1721 and destroyed and rebuilt by many people, in several occasions. You will have an opportunity to do a trip to the past, reviving old stories of corsairs and sailors. After that, we will walk back to the Railway Station, enjoying the ambience of the Maputo quayside.
The Kingdom of Swaziland is a land offering a unique taste of Africa. Despite being the smallest country in the Southern hemisphere, Swaziland more than makes up for its lack of size with a hugely diverse range of attractions and activities.
As one of the few remaining Executive Monarchies in Africa, culture and heritage are deeply engrained in all aspects of Swazi life, ensuring an unforgettable experience for all who visit. As well as the rich culture, the overwhelming friendliness of the people makes all visitors feel truly welcome and very safe. Add to that a stunning landscapes of mountains and valleys, forests and plains; plus wildlife reserves across the country that are home to The Big Five, and you have all that’s best about Africa in one small but perfectly formed and welcoming country.
Our Guide will pick you up at your hotel in Maputo (please organize a packed breakfast from your hotel). We shall head towards the Lebombo Mountains, via the Lomahasha border post, to the city of Manzini, where we will stop for a coffee and a look at the local markets, before heading on to the Ezulwini Valley.
Visits include Swazi Secrets, Mantenga Craft Center and Guava Gallery to view Swazi jewellery and art, then on to Mantenga Cultural Village, where you will appreciate the history and culture of the legendary Swazi Nation. To the beat of echoing cowhide drums, traditional Swazi dancing is performed by a talented group of dancers in a nearby boma. An optional short walk can be taken to the waterfall that holds much bird and wildlife.
You will also visit the arts & craft attractions at Malandela’s Homestead or Gone Rural, House of Fire and the Swazi Candle Factory where clients can view the decorative art of candle making, after which you will make the return journey home via Goba. Lunch is either at Malandela’s or at the Candle Factory.
The Maputo Special Reserve covers an area of 700 km² located in the Maputo Province, South of the capital. The protected region is rich in flora because of the fertile soil, with a mix of environments ranging from savannah, closed forest and coastal vegetation (bordering the Indian Ocean), including giant dunes.
Once famous for its vast herds of elephants, (now fewer in numbers), that migrated along the River Futi from the Tembe Reserve in South Africa along the Futi Corridor, it has also hippo and crocodile as residents, with flocks of migratory flamingos and pelicans and many other bird species.
The highlight of this African experience is camping near the beach and camping near the Lagoons watching birds and hippo.
After the pick up at your hotel in Maputo at 05:30 AM (please organize a packed breakfast from your hotel) we will cross the Maputo estuary to Catembe on ferry boat, where you will get a superb view of Maputo City.
We will Safari in the reserve for approximately 4h. In the Reserve, we will travel in 4x4 sand tracks, through areas of forest, as it thins out into open woodlands and grassplains, where a huge variety of animal species can be observed, such as elephants, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest and red duikers.
We will have a light picnic lunch break in the bush, thereafter, we Safari to the lagoons where we can watch the hippos. But one of the best attractions of the park is its rich and abundant birdlife. African jacana, black coucal, Mongolian plover, eagles and storks are some of the species to watch. Pelicans and flamingos are present during the wet season.
We will Safari until approximately 17:30pm, Maputo Reserve gate closing times, and then return trip to Maputo. Estimated time of arrival at Maputo city will be around 20:00 PM.
The Kruger National Park is the second largest national park in Africa and the biggest in South Africa, covering 360 km North to South and 65 km from East to West. You have the scenic beauty of the Limpopo River to the West, the lush Mpumalanga to the South and Zimbabwe to the North. The Park has nine gates, and is home to the famous Big Five, with a huge amount of biodiversity and wildlife. Internationally recognized as a first class destination, it is at the top of the list for any wildlife enthusiast. Enjoy your vacation and come with us on the adventure of a lifetime!
The Guide will pick you up at 05:30 AM, in your hotel in Maputo (please organize a packed breakfast from your hotel) and depart towards the South African border where he will assist you with border formalities. We will arrive at the Park at approximately 08:00 AM. We will slowly drive through the park and some off-road routes, stopping for lunch at the Park rest camps or picnic areas. After lunch, the Safari continues until the park gates close, approximately at 17:30 PM. The estimated time of arrival to Maputo city is 20:30 PM.
This important southern Indian Ocean port lies less than 100km (60 miles) from neighboring Swaziland and South Africa. With its subtropical climate, beautiful sheltered bay and blend of Portuguese architecture, African spontaneity and Indo/Portuguese/African cuisine, Maputo has retained much of its colonial mystique. Nightclubs swing to samba rhythms until dawn and a host of quiosques serve galinha piri-piri (chicken piri-piri), matapas (a cassava-leaf dish), and some of the best batatas fritas (fried potato chips) in the world. Hundreds of sidewalk cafés, dozens of nightclubs and the odd suitably sleazy strip joint complement the vibrant atmosphere of this capital city that feels more Latin American than African.
Modeled on Portuguese harbor cities such as Lisbon and Porto, Maputo’s wide avenidas (avenues) are lined with pavements inlaid with black-and-white stone mosaics. Laid out in a grid pattern in 1847, the ‘long’ avenues extend at right angles to Avenida da Marginal while the ‘short’ avenues traverse Maputo Hill away from the bay. Her you can feel the fusion of wildlife culture and coast.
The city tour includes stops at the Fortress, Central Market, Museum of Natural History, Railway Station, which is definitely an architectural highlight of Maputo and the curio market (Feima). We will also pass by the City Hall, the Botanical garden and the Iron House, built by Gustave Eiffel. You will be given time to do some curio shopping en route.
Maputo, formerly known as Lourenço Marques, named after a Portuguese explorer who landed here in 1544, is the capital of Mozambique. Most of the city's infrastructure (and architecture) was destroyed during the nearly thirty years 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. Today the city is slowly recreating some of its former glory.
We will meet at the beautiful Railway Station, which is definitely an architectural highlight of Maputo. It was built during 1908-10 and designed by engineer Alfredo Augusto de Lima. The remarkable bronze dome, founded specially for the building, was constructed in South Africa and its assembly was an innovation for that time.
We will walk from the Praça dos Trabalhadores to Mercado Central, a place with an immense diversity of colors and aromas. After that, we keep on walking towards the classic and sophisticated café Continental, where you will have a chance to taste the famous “pastéis de nata” and an expresso coffee.
We will go to the Maputo Fort, one of the most visited attractions in the city. It was originally built in 1721 and destroyed and rebuilt by many people, in several occasions. You will have an opportunity to do a trip to the past, reviving old stories of corsairs and sailors. We will stop for lunch in a local restaurant and after that, we will walk back to the Railway Station, enjoying the ambience of the Maputo quayside.
Bilene is a small resort town lying 140 kilometers northeast of Maputo in the province of Gaza. This village, known during colonial times as São Martinho, is an amazing boating and water sports venue.
This peaceful town lies on the large Uembje Lagoon with about 8km wide and 27km long and reaching depths of 50 meters. This calm and clear lagoon is separated from the open sea by a narrow, sandy spit which makes the waters being slightly salted. This is a perfect and enjoyable getaway for a day out of Maputo. Here you can you can enjoy a relaxing dip in the lagoon’s crystal clear waters with shades of blue and surrounded by a fine white sand and a long strip of sand dunes.
We will enjoy a light lunch and then return to Maputo.