TRAVEL TIPS

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF FOREIGN EMBASSIES AND CONTACT DETAILS, IN SOUTH AFRICA

Any traveller, to any country in the world, should be aware of the fact that there is always some element of danger involved. It would be naive to believe that one can just pack one's bags and take off into the "wild blue yonder"! Part of the lure and excitement of traveling to Africa, is the underlying primitive pulse of danger traditionally associated with Africa! However ... 
You do not actively wish harm to befall you! Whether you decide to travel with a reputable tour operator or tour guide, or if you are "going it alone" here are some hints on how to protect yourself in Africa.

IF Hiring a Vehicle:

Health Precautions

for more detailed information go to Health Tips

Crime:

The crime rate is high in South Africa at the moment. However, most tourists who are victims of crime, have not followed the simple basic rules of safety that should be observed in any strange country one is visiting. While no-one can guarantee 100% safety, the following sensible advice should be followed:

Hijacking:

Hijacking of vehicles is on the increase in South Africa. Observe the following precautions. 

FOREIGN EMBASSIES IN SOUTH AFRICA

TRAVELLING TO MOZAMBIQUE THROUGH LEBOMBO BORDER POST, KOMATIPOORT

IMPORTANT NOTICE (For more detailed information on Mozambique, go to www.mozambiquehappenings.co.za

PASSPORT

You need a passport valid for at least 6 months after you intend leaving Mozambique. Visitors can be asked to provide proof of outgoing travel documents or sufficient funds to provide for their needs during their stay.

The law requires you to carry identification at all times and you may be asked to produce your documents by the police. Rather than carry original documents, make a copy of your passport and other important documents and have them NOTARISED and store your original documents safely.

VISAS

Citizens of all countries except Malawi, Mauritius and South Africa need an entry visa to visit Mozambique.
Visas must be obtained at Mozambican diplomatic embassies and missions spread around the world before entering the country.
Allow at least 7 days for this
Visas can be arranged at the Kosi Bay border, if necessary.
It is advisable to request a receipt , as a “visa” at the Kosi Bay border comes in the form of an entry stamp which is valid only
for Ponta do Ouro and surrounds (not for travel further North).

For contact details see Embassies & Consulates. Visas are obtainable at Ressano Garcia Border Post as well as Kosi Bay

VEHICE REQUIREMENTS

CURRENCY

There is no restriction on how much money can be brought into the country. If you bring in more than the equivalent of US$5000,00, then you must fill in a declaration form at the customs desk at the entry border. This is so that you will be allowed to leave with more than US$5000,00 at the end of your holiday. Money can be exchanged for meticais at banks and Bureau de Change branches. It is advisable to change your money before entering Mozambique.
Avoid using the private people at the border trying to tempt you to exchange with them, not only is it illegal, but you stand a very good chance of being ripped off.
Foreign currency can be used to settle transactions, in fact some vendors prefer this sort of transaction, but this is more applicable in the southern parts of Mozambique.

NB;PLEASE TAKE NOTE: When ordering foreign exchange, it is mandatory that clients also complete the attached travel declaration form.
Foreign currency will only be processed on production of a valid air ticket, passport, and proof of residential address.

BORDER CROSSING POINTS INTO MOZAMBIQUE FROM:

MALAWI : Cobue, Intre Lagos, Mandimba, Zobue.
SOUTH AFRICA : Komatipoort/Ressano Garcia, Ponta do Ouro/Kosi Bay
SWAZILAND : Namaacha/Lomahasha
TANZANIA:- Namuiranga/Mwambo Border hours 06h00-18h99 (Crossing Rovuma River on a max 10 ton motor ferry at high tide)
ZAMBIA : Chassacazita, Zumbo
ZIMBABWE : Machipanda, Mukumbura, Nyama-panda.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS CLICK HERE

Inoculations (CLICK HERE)against disease like hepatitis, tetanus yellow fever etc are not required to enter Mozambique. It is recommended however to consult your own doctor before your trip and it would be wise to take precautions against diseases such as hepatitis, malaria (very important), tetanus and also yellow fever. If on your return home you do not feel well then notify your doctor that you have been in Mozambique with possible exposure to these diseases. CLICK HERE FOR MORE

WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE BORDER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE; Do not utilise the people on the side of the road. Not only is this illegal but you stand a very good chance of being ripped off.

SOUTH AFRICAN SIDE
Enter the border building and complete a vehicle temporary export document and gate pass, have them both stamped Proceed to immigration, with your passports, where they will be stamped.
You will then be allowed through the South African side to the Mozambican side of the border crossing
MOZAMBIQUE SIDE
You will receive a gate pass on entering Mozambique, make sure that you obey the directions and signals of the border officers and that you stop or park where they show you. Proceed to the immigration building.
Do NOT to let the locals, help you, with the paperwork. Customs officials are not allowed to receive money, but helpers are, so they work together.
This means that together they will go through your belongings, to find something, to make you pay for, where as the customs officials on his own is less likely to go through your belongings.
All passengers plus the driver must personally go through passport control at the immigration desk on the right as you walk in. in order to be allowed to enter Mozambique. You will have to pay R12.00 per passport.
The driver will take the gate pass and temporary export permit to the customs deck across the room get them stamped and pay 27 000mts road tax (Rands not accepted).

Normal cameras and personal goods do not need to be declared, although if you are uncertain, ask.
If you are taking anything of high value or electronic equipment through. declare the items.
Items like laptops must be declared AND TAKE NOTE, fill in a seperate form for each person. I have had an experience where I entered Mozambique with a friend and we declared our two laptops on one form. I exited 3 days before my friend from Kosi Bay border post,with no problem and he exited from Ressano Garcia 3 days later. When he went through customs they asked him where the other laptop was and no amount of explanations sufficed.
They stated that he had sold the other laptop and was liable for R5000,00 duty. It cost him a bribe of R100,00 to avoid this blatant manipulation and threat.

Very important -make sure that you have your 3rd party insurance.
Exit the building and find a customs official, usually dressed in a blue uniform, with orange pull-over, he will check your vehicle to see that no forbidden goods or plants are being brought into Mozambique. He will sign your gate pass. This form you hand to the officer at the gate, who will then allow you through into Mozambique.

You are allowed to take through, 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 250 grams of tobacco, 1 litre of spirits, 2.25 litres of wine, 50 mls of perfume and goods not exceeding the equivalent of US$200,00.
No drugs, firearms, ammunition or explosives may be taken into Mozambique.
For fuel requirements click here

RESSANO GARCIA TO MAPUTO

Maputo from Ressano Garcia is 120 km's on the freeway and has 2 toll gates before entering Maputo.
Be very careful to keep to the speed limits, as if you transgress the speed limits, you are liable to a fine, of roughly R500,00, for your failing to do so.
Do not cross solid white lines and wear your seat belts, front and back seats.

After 45Km you will come to the first toll gate, you will need to pay R25.00, you can pay in US$ or Meticais or SA Rands.
After another 35Kms you come to a set of traffic lights. Turn, LEFT.
After 10Kms you will come to the second tollgate, Pay R5.50.
After travelling about 3Kms, you will see a sign to Xai-Xai, just before you cross over a large bridge. You go straight for Maputo or turn left for Xai Xai and the Lagoon Coast to Inhambane.

As you enter the outskirts of Maputo, the first time visitor, is confronted by the chaos and mayhem of Maputo traffic, let alone the "kamikazi" taxi drivers, who will push in front of you with no regard whether they bump you or not. They are a law unto themselves and you should do your best to ensure that you do not become involved in an accident.
The closer you get to Maputo itself the more you will have to keep your eyes peeled for traffic lights.
There is normally only one light per intersection and that is on the lefthand side of the intersection. If you go too far over the white line you won't see the traffic light as you would have gone too far past it.
You finally with much concentration enter Maputo after the big traffic circle on the AVENIDA 24 DE JULHO.
Give way to the right at traffic circles and traffic on the circle has the right of way.

At the end of Av 24 de Julho you turn left into AV. JULIUS NYERERE. After two blocks AV.EDUARDO MONDLANE will be on your left.
If you should choose to travel down this avenida do not do a "U" turn as it is forbidden and strongly enforced.
Four blocks further on on the right is the well known Polana Hotel on your right.
Beyond the Polana are the offices of the President of Mozambique, you are not allowed to photograph these buildings and if you are walking,
make sure that you are on the opposite side of the street to them.

HISTORY OF MAPUTO

FROM KOSI BAY BORDER TO PONTA DO OURO AND PONTA MALONGANE AND MAMOLI

Kosi Border Time: 08h00 - 17h00
When you arrive at the border from Manguzi on the South African side, if you don't have a 4x4, you can arrange to have your motor car placed in secure parking, at the border post for the duration of your stay. The cost is.R20.00/R30.00 per vehicle per day and there is a 24 hour guard.
Make arrangements for a border shuttle pick up before hand if you are in a motor car.
You will need a 4x4 or at minimum a 2x4 diff lock.
Remember to let your tyres down for driving in soft sand. How much to deflate depends on the size of your tyre and the load you are carrying, there is no hard and fast rule. A rule of thumb is to deflate until you can see a discernable bulge (not too big) at the bottom of your tyres. Remember you can always deflate some more, but if you don't have a pump you cannot re-inflate.

Depending on your experience of driving in soft sand, it may be better to have at least 2 vehicles if you are not all that experienced at driving in soft sand. This is in case you get stuck and you need help. Take a towrope in case.

For fuel requirements click here

ROADS

There are an estimated 29,810km (18,631 miles) of roads in Mozambique.
Maputo with Beira are connected by tar (paved) road which is having upgrading works done.
Beira and Tete are also connected by tar road.
Road travel in southern Mozambique is much better now and possible by ordinary vehicle in a lot of places.

There are regular Bus services covering most of the country. Converted passenger trucks known as Chapas. provide the only passenger service in the more rural areas. Make sure you carry your own carry food and water on these and other long journeys. There are occasional controls on the roads to check papers, especially in the north and near the border with Zimbabwe.
Bus travel is reasonably reliable and by far the cheapest form of transport in the country, but is VERY ROUGH and is NOT for the squeemish traveller and DEFINITELY NOT for women travelling alone.
Taxis are rarely available outside large towns.
Cars can be hired from international and national agencies in Maputo and Beira. Only cash is accepted.

Landmines may make travel on the less well used roads outside of the main towns a risk, so up-to-date travel information should be obtained before going into remote areas
Driving after dark can be a high risk and dangerous because of poor road conditions in some areas, the poor maintenance of many vehicles in the country (e.g. no headlights or rear lights), as well as the threat imposed by livestock that graze on roadsides.
Hijacking is more probable after dark as well.

FUEL

Petrol gets more expensive the further north you go. It's advisable to fill up at the garage just before, the Komatipoort/ Ressano Garcia border, and at Manguzi before the Kosi Bay Border, as there is not always petrol at Ponta Do Ouro. Unleaded fuel is not always readily available north of Maputo.
There are reasonably reliable filling stations in Maputo, Macia, Xai-Xai, Inhambane, Maxixe, Massinga, Vilanculos and Inhassoro on the road to Beira.
A very wise precaution is to fill up at Xai-Xai, as the filling station at Quissico is not always reliable.
Diesel is about the same price in Mozambique as it is in SA (sometimes even cheaper).
Carry extra fuel so you don't get stuck without petrol!!

RAILWAYS

There is no railway connection between Maputo and Beira, however Beira and Tete are linked.
There is also a rail link between Lichinga and Nampula and further east at Monapo, there is a junction, with the northern line going to Nacala and the southeastern one stopping at Moçambique.
Trains also run from Maputo to Goba and Ressano Garcia.
Most trains have three classes. There is no airconditioning, very few sleeping coaches and no dining cars.
For seats it is necessary to book well in advance and train services are sporadic with many schedule disruptions.

USEFUL PHRASES