| Mozambique |
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| City: |
Maputo |
| Country: |
Mozambique |
| Submitter's Name: |
Rikke |
| Nationality: |
Denmark |
| Arrival Date: |
April 2008 |
| Date Submitted: |
April 19, 2009 |
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Depending on location, Maputo is noisy or calm, busy or quiet. The streets are chaotic, but beautifully lined with shady trees. The weather is sunny - ranging from humid and hot in Summer to cool and windy in Winter. |
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Mozambicans are wonderful people, easy-going, talkative and curious. There seem to be few problems with religious or racial intolerance, and as a woman you are generally met with respect. The city is generally safe to walk, though it is not advisable to do so after dark and/or in deserted areas. Do not walk with a flashy bag or bring valuables along. |
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| Maputo is expensive in terms of housing, but offers wonderful places to live. 3000 USD is not uncommon for a big house (4-5 bedrooms), apartments for 700-900 USD can be found. If you are looking for a place, ask around for an intermediary who can get in touch with owners and show you places. |
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Empregadas or empregados are common. Maids, drivers etc. The minimum wage for security guards is about 2000 MZN. A good maid should earn 3000-5000 MZN. Expats generally pay more than locals do. Be prepared to teach your empregada how to do things. |
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If you have an internet connection, use Skype to call abroad. The two cell phone companies are Vodacom and Mcel. The connection is pretty stable. Most locals have Mcell and calling between the two companies is expensive! Satellite or cable tv is available, so is (relatively) high-speed internet. The connections seems pretty stable, TDM seems to have more down time than TV cabo, but ask around. I have not seen other English language newspapers than South African ones. Use internet to keep updated. Or learn Portuguese - local papers are an interesting read! Postal service is supposedly reliable if you have a post box. |
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It is very important to learn Portuguese as few Mozambicans speak English well. There are great language schools: Anarkaly and Contacto are used by the embassies, Instituto de Linguas offers individual or group classes and Centro de Estudos Brasileiros is a cheap but good alternative. Many instructors also work freelance, so ask around or post an ad. |
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Tap water is unsafe to drink. The easiest option is to get a filter (a ceramic filter can be bought here - or even a Brita filter to be attached to the tap). Filter the water and boil the amount you need for drinking. Bottled water can be bought as well, but keep in mind that all the bottles end up in the heap of trash not far from where you live! There is no recycling here. Most houses have a tank as supply is not 24/7. Gas for cooking can be bought at gas stations. If you are looking for a bottle, go to the Galp shop at Karl Marx, turn around the corner to Josina Machel and ask the women in the street. Electricity is in some houses to be bought as credit for your cell phone. What this means is, that in some houses you have to go to a shop and buy credit (you get a receipt with a number that is punched into a box in the house), rather than receiving a bill once a month... I didn't know how else to describe it. It's a great system, by the way, for a developing country. Neither water, nor electricity is very expensive. |
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The local currency is the Metical - Meticais in plural. Setting up an account can be done. The documents required are usually: DIRE; NUIT; a house rental contract stating your address; passport(s); and a letter from employer. ATMs are aplenty, so it may not be worth it. Go for Standard Bank or Barclays as they allow you to take out larger amounts. Exchange currencies in exchange houses. If going to a bank, get a form at the counter, fill it out, get in line and be prepared to wait. |
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There are plenty of good private clinics. Nelspruit in SA is 3 hours away for surgery and specialist treatment. There are some well-stocked pharmacies, and the Swedish Clinic imports from Europe/SA. |
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Driving in Maputo can be frustrating as the general rule is "me first". It takes time getting used to, but makes you a better driver. Pot-holes appear in the rainy season making driving much more interesting. Public transportation is crowded, consisting of buses and minibuses - it is cheap, relatively safe (depending on the driver's skills). Taxis are plenty and cheap as well. |
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Shopping can be a hassle: many things can be bought here, but quality is generally low and the prices are high. Many expats go to Nelspruit for a weekend of shopping. Food can be bought in supermarkets or at the local market. There are many beauty parlors and places to get a good massage. That is definitely a pro! |
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There are sports clubs, gyms, etc. For swimming, join a pool. Maputo has a lively music scene, lots of theater and dance shows, and a couple of cinemas showing mainly American movies. You will not be bored unless you try really hard! |
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| Iba-vet will take care of all your pet's needs. |
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See too: |
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Maputo is a great location: SA offers shopping and many great tourist places from only 3 hours away. Swaziland has great hiking options. Mozambique is famous for it's beaches and diving. Get out of the city and explore - Mozambicans are the nicest people you'll ever meet! |
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City Description
Healthcare