Unpacking which are the best airlines that fly out of Cape Town and Joburg direct to Maputo. Once in Maputo Uber and taxi services are easy and accessible, as we explore below.
Mozambique is a fantastic beach destination (with a beautiful side order of a bush break too), promising to be one of the best travel destinations for locals looking for an easy getaway that doesn't require a long-haul flight.
When booking a package that includes flights there is often a substantial markup margin added to accommodate any possible fuel price increases, currency exchange rate changes and more... so if you have the time and the patience, it is always best to book your flights yourself, earning you the travel points as well as allowing maximum flexibility.
In order to save you some time searching for information about travelling from South Africa's major airports: Cape Town and Joburg to Mozambique, below we will outline some of the best and most affordable options.
As always, google will be your best friend for the latest updates and, with their flight search tool, will give you the most up-to-date booking information.
Flying from Cape Town to Maputo
The direct flying time is about 2.5 hours, but if you opt for the more frequent flying dates that include a stop at O.R. Tambo, you will double that time to about 5 to 6 hours, and save approximately R1,000 on a given day.
Airlink
Airlink is great because it offers a direct flight and was also ranked as South Africa's most punctual airline in 2022, with 95% of flights departing within 15 minutes of the scheduled time.
This is not always the cheapest flight option but with Mozambique promising a very affordable getaway option once there, perhaps this is compensated for. Average return flights will set you back about R8k, depending on the day of the week & the month in which you travel.
Website | Booking page
There are a few configurations for non-direct flights from Cape Town. In this instance, it may make the most sense to break the journey up and find the cheapest flights from Cape Town to O.R. Tambo and then from O.R. Tambo to Maputo.
Flying from Johannesburg to Maputo
The flying time from O.R. Tambo is just over 1 hour ( 1 hour and 7 min to be precise - but as we all know, flight times are rarely ever precise).
Airlink is also a wonderful option for direct flights from Joburg, and there is more frequency here than out of Cape Town. However, the airlines below also offer flights and are worth looking at for a price comparison.
Most flights are morning flights, but there are a few options with afternoon or evening flying times as well during the week - so keep an eye on those arrival times. It is also always best to check with your destination property what time their offered transfers will take place so that you can book a flight that aligns well with that.
LAM | Mozambique Airlines
This is the national carrier for Mozambique, and it flies with the most frequency between the 2 hubs. There are 120 flights each month.
Website | Booking page
SAA | South African Airlines
Our national carrier flies 30 times each month between O.R. Tambo and Maputo, with mainly morning flights.
Website | Booking page
Other airlines that do fly between the 2 destinations are Turkish Airlines; Ethiopian Airlines; Air Namibia; and Kenya Airways.
Arriving in Maputo
Once in Maputo getting to your accommodation or to the location of your transfer (such as the Maputo Marina) is very straightforward as there is a good taxi network within the capital.
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