What's on in Maputo, Mozambique through the year

Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Cyclone season (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — Mozambican Heroes' Day, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Mozambican Heroes' Day

  3 FebNational holidayClosures

  The 3 February holiday centres on the Heroes' Square monument on the airport road. Offices and banks close, and it falls in the wettest, hottest stretch of the year. Source ↗

Still on: Cyclone season (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Cyclone season (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Cyclone season (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  The dry season

  1 May – 30 Sep · usually

  Cooler, drier months when the humidity drops off and the sand roads down to Ponta do Ouro and the Maputo reserve are reliable again. It is the local high season for a reason.

• Festival

  AZGO Festival

  15–31 May · usuallyMajor festival

  The city's main international arts and music weekend, staged outdoors on the edge of town with a fashion and talks programme alongside it. The venue has moved more than once, so check before booking. Source ↗

Busy — Independence Day, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Independence Day

  25 JunNational holidayClosuresCrowded

  The 25 June holiday closes everything official and fills the Praca da Independencia. It sits in the middle of the cool dry months, which makes it one of the better days to be walking the city. Source ↗

Still on: The dry season (1 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Nature

  Humpback whales

  1 Jul – 15 Oct · usuallyWhale season

  Humpbacks move up the southern Mozambican coast through the winter and are watched from the boats and the dunes at Ponta do Ouro, a few hours south of the city.

Still on: The dry season (1 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: The dry season (1 May – 30 Sep (usually)), Humpback whales (1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: The dry season (1 May – 30 Sep (usually)), Humpback whales (1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Humpback whales (1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Hazard

  Cyclone season

  15 Nov – 15 Apr · usually

  Systems out of the Mozambique Channel mostly make landfall well to the north, but the far south still gets the rain bands and the flooding that follow. Most weeks pass without incident. Source ↗

Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Cyclone season (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))