CLIENTS wanting a new
and different weekend
getaway? If they like
urban culture, a tropical
atmosphere, the arts
and great food and beer,
Maputo may be the answer,
especially with two current
specials in the SA market
(see boxes inset).
While it isn’t immediately
obvious to the naked eye
when one walks through
the streets, behind the
somewhat run-down facades
lies a fortune in history, art,
sculpture, jazz and crafts
waiting to be discovered.
The services of a good tour
guide can transform a short
trip to Maputo into a very
special experience.
How about a walking tour
focusing on the art and
architecture of Maputo?
Maputo a Pé, conducts
walks (as much or as little
walking as the clients want),
taking in the houses and
commercial buildings of a
group of ’70s architects’
Afrotropicale style, Pancho
Guedes being the most
famous of them. A visit
to the studio of Gonçalo
Mabunda provides a
treasure trove of sculpture
created from unearthed
and disarmed munitions
dating back to the wars
of Mozambique’s recent
past. The art gallery and
the Institute of African
studies (where Ruth First
was assassinated and a
memorial stands to her
memory) may also be seen.
Contact Jane at
jane.flood@gmail.com.
A city tour gives another
perspective on the city.
Book a half-day tour through
Dana Tours (see Travelinfo,
or call +258 21495514, or
go to www.danatours.com).
Guests will visit, among
other sites, the Museum
of Natural History, the
beautiful Railway Station,
the Fort, the market, and
the Steel House designed
by Gustav Eiffel.
Dana Tours also offers
full-day excursions, one to
the Macaneta Peninsula,
30km north of the city,
where visitors spend the
day at a beach lodge, and
another to Inhaca Island
for a day of sun, sea and
snorkelling. The latter
includes a stop at the
Marine Biology Museum.
A catamaran day-trip on
board uMoja, to Xefina
Island, just off Maputo,
transports guests into the
tropical blue. Anchored off
the island, they will enjoy a
beautifully prepared lunch
and drinks, and dinghy trips
to the island bring them to
a white powder beach for
sunbathing, swimming and
snorkelling. This catamaran
trip is ideal for small groups
of around 20 people.
Go to www.
maputoyachting.com
or facebook @maputo.
yachting, or call
+258 84 900 9899.
Super-special from SAA
SAA has a great Maputo
super-special, available
to agents in G class on
GDSs. Johannesburg
to Maputo return is
priced from R3 071, all
inclusive. That makes
Maputo flights similar in
price to Cape Town flights!
SAA currently has three
flights a day between
Johannesburg and
Maputo, departing JNB
mid-morning, lunchtime
and a night flight. Flying
time is just 50 minutes.
Save 35% with Thompsons
Thompsons Holidays
is offering a generous
Maputo special deal,
incorporating three nights
in a sea-facing room at
the Southern Sun Maputo
from R6 409pps. This
represents a saving of
R3 400 per person on
the regular price! The
deal includes SAA flights
ex-JNB, including taxes.
It also includes breakfast
daily, complimentary
WiFi and free transfers
between airport and hotel.
Maximum two kids stay
free when sharing with
parents. Valid for travel
until March 31, 2018.
Prawns, prawns, prawns!
South Africans visiting
Mozambique always (quite
rightly) make a beeline for
prawns and other seafood.
Zambi is a hugely popular
seafood restaurant on
Avenida 10 Novembre,
with beautifully cooked,
mouthwatering fish and
seafood of every type. Book
at +258 8433 92624.
Ask your tour operator to
arrange a lunch at the fish
market, where your clients
can enjoy an authentic
seafood lunch.
