Transportation in Maputo

Maputo moves on three main tracks: the bright-yellow chapas that weave every neighborhood into one long conversation, metered taxis that wait outside hotels for moderate fares, and ride-hailing apps like Bolt and Yango that cost a fraction of a taxi when the network is steady. First-timers should download the apps before leaving Wi-Fi; chapas are cheap and authentic but you'll need small notes and a sense of direction, wave when you see your destination, hop off fast. Taxis are the comfort option. Yet always insist on the meter or agree the fare before the door shuts. The ones parked at tourist hotels often quote "special" prices that aren't. From Maputo International, the simplest move is a pre-paid taxi from the official rank just outside arrivals, moderate price, fixed by zone, no haggling. Skip the freelance drivers who meet you inside the terminal; they're the classic trap. If you're traveling light and adventurous, the airport chapas leave from the main road outside the gate and cost next to nothing. But they only run until early evening and you'll need to know your stop in advance.