Maputo - facts & numbers

Location & size of Maputo

Maputo Municipality comprises the city of Maputo along with Catembe and several islands (Xefina Grande, Inhaca, and dos Portugueses). It spans an area of 346.77 square kilometers and is neighbored by Marracuene district to the north; Matola municipality to the northwest and west; Boane district to the west; and Matutuíne district to the south. The Maputo metropolitan area, which includes Matola municipality, has a populace of 1,766,823 inhabitants. Maputo city has held the status of a province since 1980 (distinct from Maputo Province, which covers the southernmost part of Mozambique excluding the city of Maputo) and also functions as an autonomous local entity.

Geography  of Maputo

Maputo lies to the south of the Espírito Santo Estuary, which receives the Tembe, Umbeluzi, Matola, and Infulene rivers, and to the east, the city faces the Bay of Maputo. The urban development spreads over diverse geographical features including coastal cliffs, slopes, valleys, and coastal plains. The majority of the city sits atop a coastal escarpment that is bound between the city of Matola and the Infulene River to the west, and a stretch of escarpment, dune systems, mangrove ecosystems, and the Incomáti River to the east.

Climate of Maputo

Maputo experiences a dry tropical climate with the warmer season running from November to April and the cooler season from May to October. Rainfall is higher during the warmer months, specifically between November and March.

Administrative Organization of Maputo Municipality:

Maputo Municipality is divided into seven autonomous units: KaMpfumo, Nlhamankulu, KaMaxaquene, KaMavota, KaMubukwana (urban districts), and KaTembe and KaNyaka (municipal districts), together hosting a population exceeding one million inhabitants.

Population size: 

The city has a diverse population that exceeds 1 million inhabitants, with the metropolitan area housing significantly more

Official Language: 

Portuguese is the official language, with local languages such as Tsonga also widely spoken among the populace.P

Maputo intl. Airport & seaport

Maputo International Airport connects the city to the rest of the world, with frequent flights, especially to South Africa. The city's economy is anchored by its port, the largest in Mozambique, which facilitates significant trade in commodities like coal, cotton, sugar, chromite, sisal, copra, and hardwood. 

Currency: 

The currency used is the Mozambican Metical (MZN). See the current value in our currency converter.

Safety: 

While Maputo is generally considered safe for tourists, it's advisable to take standard precautions against crime, especially at night and some notorious places in the city. Seek local advice before walking around the city especially at night.

Voltage and Frequency: 

The standard voltage is 220-240V with a frequency of 50Hz. Travelers should ensure their electrical devices are compatible or bring a voltage converter if necessary. Plugs and Sockets: The power sockets in Maputo are of Type C, F, and M; visitors may need adaptors for their electronic devices.

Public Transportation in Maputo

1. Public Transport: The most common forms of public transportation in Maputo are minibuses, locally known as "chapas," which operate on set routes throughout the city.

1. Taxis: Taxi services are available in Maputo and are considered a safer but much more expensive option for getting around, especially for tourists. Some taxis have a fixed price (on a table) for the most common routes. Alweays ask for the price in advance.

1. Rail Transport: The city's central railway station, Estação Central de Maputo, is an architectural landmark connecting to regional and suburban destinations. Urban connections are unreliable and often not suitable for tourist

1. Buses: There are public buses operating in Maputo, offering more structured routes compared to the chapas; however, they may be less frequent.

1. Ferries: For crossing the bay to areas like Catembe, ferries are a popular mode of transport and offer an alternative to driving around the bay or using the new toll bridge. There is also a ferry to Inhaca island.

Distance Maputo to South Africa by road:

The primary border post between Maputo and South Africa is the Lebombo Border Post on the Mozambican side ( Resano Garcia), known as the Komatipoort Border Post on the South African side. The distance from Maputo to the Lebombo/Komatipoort Border Post is approximately 90 to 100 kilometers (about 55 to 62 miles). The driving time for this distance is generally around 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on traffic conditions, roadwork, and the time it takes to pass through the border control facilities. However, travel times can vary, especially considering potential delays at the border due to customs and immigration procedures, or during peak travel times when there might be more travelers crossing between the two countries.

Maputo international dialing code

The correct international dialing code sequence for Maputo, Mozambique, is as follows: Start with 00, followed by Mozambique's country code, which is 258. After that, you dial the area code for Maputo, which is 21, and then the local phone number you're trying to reach. So, the entire dialing format to Maputo would be: 00 258 21 followed by the local phone number.Example: 00 258 21 XXXXXXX 

For cellular phones in Maputo, Mozambique, the process is similar to landlines but with different area codes specific to mobile networks. When calling a mobile phone in Maputo you'll still start with international exit code and follow it with Mozambique's country code. Instead of an area code, you'll use the mobile network code.Here's how to dial a mobile phone in Maputo from Germany:

1. Dial exit code: 00

1. Dial Mozambique's country code: 258

1. Dial the mobile network code: This typically begins with '8' , for example, '84', '85', '86', etc.

1. Finally, dial the recipient's mobile phone number.

So, the complete dialing sequence for a mobile phone might look like this:00 258 84 XXXXXXX