Maputo Safety Guide
Health, security, and travel safety information
Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before your trip.
Healthcare
What to know about medical care in Maputo.
Maputo's healthcare ranges from well-equipped private clinics to busy public hospitals. Tourists usually rely on private facilities for routine issues.
Clinica Sommerschield and Hospital da Matola handle emergencies, dental work, and lab tests. Both accept major travel insurance.
Farmácia Popular and MEDISS branches stock common medications. Pharmacists usually speak Portuguese and some English. Anti-malarial prophylaxis is sold over the counter.
Travel insurance with medical coverage is strongly recommended. Proof is often requested at private clinics.
- ✓ Bring prescription medicines in original packaging plus a doctor's letter.
- ✓ Keep digital copies of insurance cards on your phone for faster check-in at Maputo clinics.
Common Risks
Be aware of these potential issues.
Pickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded markets and on crowded chapa buses.
Informal minibus taxis swerve abruptly and traffic lights are sometimes ignored.
Malaria risk is moderate year-round but lower in central Maputo near the ocean breeze.
Scams to Avoid
Watch out for these common tourist scams.
Men in plain clothes flash an ID, claim you crossed a closed street, and demand on-the-spot payment.
A friendly local invites you to watch a simple cup-and-ball game, then pickpockets you while you're distracted.
Hawkers at the airport exit sell unregistered SIM cards at triple price, claiming the kiosk is closed.
Safety Tips
Practical advice to stay safe.
- • Download the Bolt app before arrival. Fares are fixed and drivers are GPS-tracked.
- • Avoid unmarked taxis parked outside Maputo restaurants after 10 p.m.; use hotel-ordered cars instead.
- • Stick to well-lit venues such as Coconuts Live or 1908, then take a registered taxi directly back to your hotel.
- • Watch your drink being poured. Spiking incidents are rare but have been reported in crowded Maputo nightclubs.
- • Swim at Costa do Sol or Catembe where lifeguards are present. Avoid isolated stretches past the ferry dock.
- • Leave valuables in hotel safes, beach bag theft happens while swimmers are in the water.
Information for Specific Travelers
Safety considerations for different traveler groups.
Solo women travelers report feeling comfortable in central Maputo by day. Evenings are smoother with a companion or trusted taxi.
- → Sit inside restaurants rather than roadside tables when dining alone.
- → Choose Maputo hotels in Polana or Sommerschield neighborhoods for 24-hour reception and reliable taxi ordering.
Homosexuality is legal in Mozambique; anti-discrimination laws exist.
- → Book Maputo hotels that advertise as LGBTQ-friendly to ensure smooth check-in for same-sex couples.
- → Nightlife venues such as Coconuts Live and Jazz 1908 are welcoming. Avoid discussing orientation with strangers on crowded chapas.
Travel Insurance
Protect yourself before you travel.
Private clinics in Maputo require upfront payment or proof of insurance before treatment. Evacuation to South Africa is expensive.
Ready to plan your trip to Maputo?
Now that you've got the research covered, here's where to go next.