Formerly named Lourenco Marques after the Portuguese trader, the city became alive in the 18th when it was linked by a railroad to Pretoria in South Africa and in 1907 it became the country’s capital. It is a vibrant and colourful city full of markets and old colonial buildings interjected with modern office blocks, a maze of hidden treasures.

Famous for its fresh crab curry and peri peri chicken, it is a great stop off before the islands to sit and people watch. This vibrant city is full of fantastic restaurants and buzzing nightlife so go and explore in the evening.

Maputo is a great for anyone looking for a stop-over destination as you make your way to the coast.