The Natural History Museum was established in 1911 and has been enshrined in a magnificent Manueline architecture style building since 1933; built by the City Council.

It is arguably one of the city’s most visited sites by both national and international visitors. It was initially regarded as a Provincial Museum, then Museu Dr. Álvaro de Castro, and following the independence, it was renamed Natural History Museum.

Under the Eduardo Mondlane University management, its aim is to provide naturalistic and ethnographic information. The naturalistic information is provided through the display of zoological specimens, usually placed in settings that simulate their natural habitats.

Among its collections, the zoological collection stands out, displaying a large
variety of embalmed mammals (200), birds (10,137), insects (176,527), invertebrates (1,250) and reptiles
(150). Among the specimens on display, there is a collection, probably unique in the world, of elephant fetuses ranging from one month to 22 months old.

The outdoor area of the Maputo Natural History Museum features a garden with murals painted by Malangatana including statues and educational panels about dinosaurs.

Opening hours

• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Contact

Rua dos Lusíadas, Praça Travessia do Zambeze, No. 104
Maputo, Mozambique
Telephone.: +258 21 485 401

Website: https://mhnm.uem.mz