After boarding the Sinfonia in Durban and sailing along Mozambique's coastline, we cruised through Delagoa Bay, approaching Maputo from the north and passing Xefina Island (sha fee nah). From the Sinfonia's deck the island seems barren, but on Xefina are the ruins of a couple of gun batteries (built by the Portuguese to defend Maputo during the first and second World Wars), a munitions building (still containing bombs!) as well as the Portuguese Jail used to incarcerate political prisoners and other unwanteds up to 1975. Like Robben Island, Xefina had also for a period been used as a leper colony. The island currently has about 50 permanent residents who live in a fishing village.
As the MSC Sinfonia passes the Costa do Sol and enters the harbour, passengers get onto the deck to see the views of Maputo.
Here's Maputo's Fishing Harbour. The green area on the left is Praça 25 de Junho and to the right of it is the old Portuguese Fort (if you go on the City Tour you'll visit it).
The excitement builds and the cameras are clicking away as the MSC Sinfonia docks at Maputo Harbour.
The "Red Towers" (or "Torres Vermelhas" in Portuguese), 2 high rise residential buildings (22 floors).
Passengers on the viewing deck looking at what Maputo has to offer.
Sinfonia passengers taking in the view of Maputo
View of Maputo's Fishing Harbour from the Sinfonia
Ships in Maputo harbour
It was good to see a fair amount of activity in Maputo's river harbour.
The Mol Unifier Majuro chugging along Maputo's Harbour river.
Transmaritima offers a ferry service between Maputo and the adjoining city of Matola.
A ship named "Bazaruto" in Maputo Harbour
That green patch on the right is Praça 25 de Junho
The QSM Dubai is a cargo ship built in 1978, and owned by QSM Dubai Ltd, based in Al Garhoud Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
QSM Dubai docked and being offloaded in Maputo Harbour.
This locomotive was one of the first to use the railway line between Lourenzo Marques & Pretoria, from its opening in 1895 until 1940.
Enjoy some intense bargaining at Maputo's Malanga Market. Delicious cashew nuts - avoid buying wooden articles because of the woodworms, and not everybody likes their photographs taken (especially if you're not buying from them!).
The Fort of Maputo is the most popular attraction in the city. It is alternatively known as the Fort of Lourenço Marques or the Fortaleza da Nossa Senhora da Conceição. Built between 1851 and 1867, the fort stands on the site of the original mud and pole stockade. The fort houses the remains of Ngungunhane, last great chief of the Nguni tribe, and still contains plaques glorifying Portugal's colonial conquests as well as artillery.
Natural History Museum in Maputo
As part of the city tour, we visited Maputo's Natural History Museum (note the ubiquitous hawkers in the foreground of the photo).
The world's only collection of elephant fetuses ... macabre
Makonde tribesmen would put a dummy in their mouth to indicate that they don't want to speak to people.
Savage nature...a lion attacking a zebra.
A two-headed goat.
And at the end of a day touring Maputo, we return to the MSC Sinfonia, docked at Maputo harbour. What a pleasure to visit cities without the hassle of having to pack and unpack in hotels.
This visit to Maputo took place on the 2nd February 2010.
