How to Find Cheap Hotels in Maputo Mozambique

With a population exceeding 1.5 million people, Maputo is Mozambique's largest city as well as its capital and principal port. Located in Southeast Africa on the Indian Ocean, Maputo is a cosmopolitan city with a friendly, thriving street life of markets and vendors. A former colony of Portugal, Mozambique lies just to the north of South Africa. English is widely spoken in the southern portion of the country where Maputo is located.

Things You'll Need

• A visa
• A computer with Internet access for making reservations

Instructions

Find Cheap Accommodations in Maputo, Mozambique

1. Get in touch with Mozambique Tourism at 27-11-803-9296 or book your hotel online through their Web site (see Resources below).

2. Explore booking accommodations at a hotel along the Avenida de Marginal at the shoreline of the Indian Ocean. While many of the high-end hotels are located here, hotels not directly on the waterfront usually offer fairly cheap rates.

3. Consider one of Maputo's 'campismos,' or campgrounds. The city attracts a number of backpackers and makes an effort to provide them with suitably cheap but decent accommodations.

4. Examine staying at one of Maputo's many hostels. Most are located in the heart of the city and give the visitor a chance to experience first-hand the many cultural influences that give Maputo its multi-ethnic character.

5. Consult a local agent for a short-term rental of an apartment; many of these apartments are owned by out-of-towners who rent them for short stays.

6. Look among the many budget hotels clustered along the Avenida 25 de Septembo; these hotels compete for the tourist dollar and most offer rates of approximately $50 per night.

Book Your Passage to Maputo, Mozambique

1. Fly to Maputo Airport on one of the several regional carriers that serve the city. Catch a connecting flight through South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Swaziland, Zimbabwe or Portugal. There is no direct service from outside Africa.

2. Consider driving to Maputo from Johannesburg. The road is good the entire length of the 250-mile trip. Use either a rental or one of the bus lines to experience the Southern African countryside.

Tips & Warnings

• You can obtain your visa upon your arrival in Mozambique for a price of $25.

• No regularly scheduled sea travel exists to Maputo. Private vessels are allowed to moor in the city only after securing advance permission.

• Discuss with medical personnel the necessary vaccinations as well as preventive measures for malaria, which is widespread throughout Mozambique.

• Drink only bottled water and carry a copy of your passport at all times.

• Consider travel health insurance as Mozambique does not have reciprocating healthcare arrangements with other nations.