Segment: Maputo: History & Culture
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane & Nigel Ruck
Date: November 18th, 2018

On the northern borders of South Africa lies Mozambique, a rapidly developing country well worth a visit. Maputo, the country’s capital, is an absolutely stunning city with an incredible history.

• The Mozambique economy is quickly improving, with the country emerging from the challenges of a terrible civil war that ended over 25 years ago.
• The country is growing rapidly, becoming known for its exports of seafood and agriculture, as well as its expanding tourist market. This is helped by the spectacular coastline along the country.
• One of the city’s main landmarks, the train station, is both a spectacle and a great insight to the town’s history. Designed by a Portuguese man named Mario Veiga, the building is over 100 years old and very much operational.
• The Natural History Museum is an interesting attraction, taking natural history and making it a little bit weird. The museum is home to an incredible collection of taxidermy, featuring animals from all around the region – including those of the big 5.
• The museum features a collection of elephant foetuses, ranging from 1 month to 21 months. With 2000 elephants killed during a land clearance 100 years ago, hunters collected the foetuses for scientific purposes. This display is the most comprehensive display of elephant foetuses anywhere in the world.
• Mozambique’s recent history has meant that it has been protected from many issues that have ravaged other parts of Africa, such as poaching -  the reserves in Mozambique have been far better protected than some.