Residencial Horizonte

The reception was poor and the service wasn’t friendly. I booked a room, but when I arrived they didn’t have it and didn’t apologize, just tried to justify it. You also wait a long time for them to open the gate so you can park. It’s noisy there, and the kitchen workers make noise too.

The rooms were spacious, and a worker helped carry our luggage up to the third floor. There’s no elevator, so the stairs made for a refreshing workout. Reception was good, though the language barrier caused a little trouble. Breakfast was average but filling and halaal. The capital is extremely crowded, and getting to the hotel was difficult. Parking was very tight for our Toyota hilux, but relatively safe. An armed guard meets you at the gate, and there are surprisingly many armed guards around the city. Given its location, the hotel was okay.

The hotel is clean, centrally located in Maputo, and feels safe. Breakfast is served and it’s Halal. There are plenty of inexpensive places to eat nearby, so I’d recommend it. A few things to know about Maputo itself: traffic can be a problem, with people driving their Japanese imports as if they’re rallying. As a South African, I found that many people didn’t understand English, so learn some Portuguese or get a tour guide if you’re going out. Crime can be an issue, though not as bad as Cape Town or Johannesburg, for example. It’s also noisy late into the night because the hotel is beside a main street, which could bother light sleepers. The photo below shows a view from one of the suites.

For what I paid, this is the best hotel I’ve stayed in. The place is very, very clean, the beds are comfortable, and there’s air conditioning in the rooms. I’d just like more variety at breakfast.