Mozambique Museums

(Mozambique, MZ, South-East Africa)

A visit to a country's top museums is of ten the mainstay of many visitor's travel itineraries. In Mozambique, the majority of the principal cultural offerings are located in the capital city of Maputo. The best-known of these is the long-established Museum of Natural History (Museu de História Natural) on the Praca Travessia do Zambeze, which stands next to the Jardim dos Professores.

Outside of Maputo, there are far fewer museums and similar attractions around Mozambique, while those that do exist tend to be quite small. Nevertheless, they often offer a real glimpse into the life and history of the people who live in that area.

Museum of the Revolution (Museu da Revolucao)

Address: Avenida 24 de Julho, Maputo, Mozambique, MZ, Africa
The interesting Museum of the Revolution recounts the story of the country's determined struggle to gain independence from its Portuguese colonial rulers. Exhibits are spread over four floors and include maps, photographs, weapons and uniforms, providing a real glimpse into the guerilla resistance movement that swept through Mozambique in the 1960s and finally led to independence being granted in 1975.
Open hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 09:00 to 12:00, 14:00 to 18:00, Saturday - 14:00 to 18:00, Sunday - 09:00 to 12:00, 15:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge

Museum of Natural History (Museu de História Natural)

Address: Praca Travessia do Zambeze 104, Maputo, Mozambique, MZ, Africa
Tel: +258 21 490879
The long-established Maputo Museu de História Natural houses a wealth of exhibits, including taxidermy specimens of sharks and dugongs (a large marine mammal). This attraction is also known for its unusual display of elephant foetuses and its pleasant garden, complete with colourful mural. The museum itself is housed within a beautiful colonial building that has been carefully restored.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 09:00 to 15:30, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children, free admission each Sunday

National Museum of Money (Museu Nacional da Moeda)

Address: Praca 25 de Junho / Rua Consiglieri Pedroso, Maputo, Mozambique, MZ, Africa
Also referred to as the Casa Amarela, or Yellow House, because of the distinctive appearance of the building, the Museum of Money dates all the way back to the 1860s. Visitors will be able to explore the history of Mozambique's currency from the earliest times, when barter tokens were used as a preliminary type of coinage. On display are an array of notes and coins, showing the evolution of Mozambican money over the decades.
Open hours: Tuesday to Thursday - 09:00 to 12:00, 14:00 to 16:30, Friday - 09:00 to 12:00, Saturday - 09:00 to 12:00, Sunday - 14:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

National Museum of Ethnology (Museu Nacional de Etnologia)

Address: Nampula, Mozambique, MZ, Africa
Nampula's National Ethnographic Museum is one to look out for, being home to a fascinating collection of artefacts and relics. These exhibits include everything from handcarved wooden masks to traditional musical instruments. Capital of the state of the same name, the city of Nampula contains many additional attractions, such as mosques, churches, cathedrals and markets.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday -14:00 to 16:30, Sunday - 10:00 to 16:30
Admission: charge

Maritime Museum (Museu Maritimo)

Address: Ilha de Mocambique, Mozambique, MZ, Africa
Located on the Ilha de Mocambique, on the northern side of the country, the Maritime Museum stands alongside the Church of the Misericordia, as well as the Palace and Chapel of Sao Paulo. Inside visitors will find displays documenting the region's seafaring history and heritage, while conveniently next door is the local tourist information office.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge

Geology Museum (Museu da Geologia)

Address: Avenida Martires de Machava / Avenida 24 de Julho, Maputo, Mozambique, MZ, Africa
Tel: +258 21 498053
Another notable cultural offering in Maputo, the Geology Museum has recently enjoyed some much-needed renovation work and stands on the corner of the Avenida Martires de Machava and the Avenida 24 de Julho, between the Post Office and the Hotel Villa das Mangas. Many stones, minerals and fossils are on display here, along with a relief map with a geological twist, depicting the country's landscape. Just a stroll away is the Praca Travessia do Zambeze and its Museu de História Natural.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 09:00 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday - 09:00 to 14:00
Admission: charge