Travel Guide > Africa > Mozambique > Maputo
Maputo is the capital and largest city in Mozambique with well over 1 million people living in the city and about 1,8 million in the metropolitan area. Being about 130 years old, it is located along the coast in the southern tip of the country, at the west side of Maputo bay at the mouth of the Tembe River. It is the cultural, economical and industrial hart of the country and is also of interest for travellers. Its not only a lively mix of several ethnic groups like Arabian, Indian and African people. it also has great Portugese colonial building styles to show. The city often is the starting point for travellers who wish to explore more of the country and is an easy bustrip from South Africa.
Maputo has a hot and humid climate with temperatures usually around 30 degrees during most of the year except the somewhat cooler months of June and July when it is still around 25 degrees Celcius during the day. The hottest months of December to February are also the wettest months with some serious downpours possible. Although hurricanes can hit Mozambique severely, because of its southern location, Maputo faces less problems.
Maputo International Airport (MPM) serves as the international gateway to the country and LAM Mozambique Airways is the national airline. International destinations include flights to and from Durban, Johannesburg and Nairobi. Other airlines serving the country are South African Airways (Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town), TAP Portugal (Lisbon, Johannesburg), Air Zimbabwe (Harare) and Kenya Airways (Nairobi). Swaziland is served as well.
LAM Mozambique Airways flies between Maputo and Beira, Chimoio, Inhambane, Nampula, Pemba, Quelimane, Tete and Vilanculos. Air Corridor has flights betweenMaputo and Beira, Nampula, Quelimane and Tete.
Maputo is easily reached by bus from South Africa, among which are daily buses to and from Johannesburg along good roads.
This is version 2. Last edited at 6:11 on May 15, 08 by GeoBot (+54). 3 articles link to this page.

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