After a spectacular two days of safari expedition, we enjoyed a comfortable morning at sea. The wild, sandy coastline of southern Mozambique glided past as National Geographic Orion made her way towards the Beira estuary, where we arrived just before lunch. The weather change from South Africa was dramatic—we left behind the refreshingly cool air of the Dolphin Coast, and were welcomed into the near-tropics.
As we sailed northward, we prepared to trade our South Africa safaris for the next chapter of our expedition: water sports! We are approaching clear tropical waters, so snorkeling and diving will begin very soon. The morning saw a busy time out on deck, as we sorted out snorkel gear. The Sun Deck was a sea of fins, masks, snorkels, and skin suits, and we were all soon kitted out. The weather was so gorgeous and the seas so calm, several guests were tempted to dive in right then and try out their gear.
After lunch, National Geographic Orion came to dock in Maputo. We all then embarked on tours of the capital city. The very first sight, just as soon as we left the port, was of the railroad station—a stunning green and white structure designed by the famous architect Gustav Eiffel, of Paris fame.
Some guests opted for a Maputo city tour. A knowledgeable local guide treated us to the oft-attacked Maputo Fortress, built by the Portuguese in the 19th century. We then drove though the bustling downtown core, which clearly showed the infrastructural improvements and increased economic activity that has moved this country forward over the past five years. This ride was followed by a stop at the gorgeous turn-of-the-century building hosting Mozambique’s Museum of Natural History. The final visit for this group was a large local crafts market, featuring batiks and wooden handicrafts.
The other guests boarded buses for a short ride to the Mafala neighborhood. Mafala is often compared to Harlem in New York City or Soweto in Johannesburg. It was home to many of Mozambique’s finest artists, intellectuals, and leaders, including the first president, Samora Machel. It was a fantastic tour. Our expert local guide, Ivan, took us through the narrow alleyways of Mafala to visit the homes of poets and politicians. We had a brilliant visit to a primary school, where we saw many of the thousand students diligently at work on their lessons. Our tour ended with a fabulous performance by a group of women singers, whose agility at jump rope—feet barely leaving the ground as the rope flew beneath them—astonished us all. It was a stunning performance, and we left Maputo in very high spirits at our privilege to witness this dynamic culture.
This evening, we welcomed aboard National Geographic Emerging Explorer Andrea Marshall. Andrea founded the Marine Megafauna Foundation, which aims to protect the marine life of this area, including manta rays and whale sharks. We’re all going to sleep tonight hopeful of seeing some of these beautiful animals tomorrow while snorkeling, Zodiac cruising, or scuba diving.
