What to know before you leave….
Time difference
Mozambique is GMT +2.
Visa formalities
Visas are required by everyone except citizens of South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Botswana. However, please check the list on the official consulate website as it may be updated at any time. Visas are limited to 30 days.
It is imperative that there be at least two blank pages in the passport for the visa stamp.
Your passport must be valid 6 months after you leave Mozambican territory.
The visa is valid for three months. It costs $ 50
Upon leaving the country you will have to pay an exit tax of $ 28 per person.
Note: foreign drivers are required to have an international driver’s license in addition to their national license.
Useful contacts
MOZAMBIQUE EMBASSY IN FRANCE
82, RUE LAUGIER
75017 PARIS
Tél : 01 47 64 91 32
Fax : 01 42 67 38 28
E-mail : embamocparis@compuserve.com.
Open Monday to Friday from 9h30 to 12h00.
MOZAMBIQUE EMBASSY IN BELGIUM
Bld Saint-Michel 97
1040 ETTERBEEK
+32 2 736 25 64
+32 2 736 00 96
+32 2 732 06 64
ambamoz@yahoo.fr – mozambiqueembassy@yahoo.com
http://www.mozambiqueembassy.be
MOZAMBIQUE EMBASSY IN SWITZERLAND
13, rue Jean-Antoine-Gautier, 1201 Genève.
Tél. : (00-41) 022-901-17-83.
E-mail: mission.mozambique@bluewin.ch.
Open Monday to Friday from 9h to 13h and from 14h to 17h.
MOZAMBIQUE EMBASSY IN USA:
1525 New Hampshire Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20036.
Tél. : (202) 293-7146 ; section consulaire : 293-7146 ext. 230.
E-mail: embamoc@aol.com (embassy) and mozambvisa@aol.com (consulate).
Open Monday to Friday from 9h to 13h, except on public holidays (USA and Mozambican)
Health
Health services are not available everywhere and may not correspond to Western standards. Costs in private institutions are very high so make sure you have a good medical insurance. Don’t forget your first aid kit!
It is essential to follow an anti-malarial treatment. We advise you to consult your doctor or an approved centre who will indicate the most appropriate prophylaxis to take. This is a zone 3. We also recommend that you bring mosquito repellent ointment and/or sprays (Malaria is transmitted by mosquito bite).
Although the vaccine against yellow fever is not obligatory we encourage you to get inoculated against it, as well as typhoid and hepatitis A and B. Your vaccinations against diphtheria, polio and tetanus must be kept updated. This recommendation applies to all destinations worldwide.
Water is treated, but it will be safer to drink mineral water, which can be found in all supermarkets and shops. If you leave the cities, we recommend taking along mineral water or boil the water.
Money
Mozambique’s currency is the metical (plural – meticais). As of mid-2006, the ‘metical nova família’ (new family metical) was introduced, at a rate of 1000 old meticais to one new metical.
All major towns have ATMs, often operated by Banco Internacional de Moçambique (BIM), and all accepting Visa, but not MasterCard.
You can change US dollars cash at most banks (though not at most BIM branches) without paying commission, and South African rands are widely accepted in southern Mozambique. Travellers cheques can be changed only at Standard Bank (minimum US$35 commission per transaction, original purchase receipt required).
Banks
Mozambique’s commercial banks – Banco Standard Totta de Moçambique, Banco de Fomento, Banco Austral – ABSA, Banco Internacional de Moçambique, BNP/Nedbank, BCI, BDC, BMI, Novo Banco, BIC – have foreign currency exchange services at their main branches.
Banks are open from Monday to Friday between 08h00 and 15h00.
Post offices
Open from Monday to Friday, between 07h45 and 12h00 and from 14h00 to 17h00 and Saturday mornings. There are also EMS, DHL and FEDEX services.
Cost of living
Compared to its neighbours, Mozambique is expensive. Food products imported from South Africa and an underdeveloped tourism infrastructure, particularly in the north, explain these high prices. As far as accommodation is concerned, there are very few mid-range choices as a local middle class is almost non-existent.
Upon arrival: Visa $50 + immigration tax $2.5 + airport tax $8 per person
Upon leaving Bazaruto National Park: Park fee $10 / person.
A meal in a restaurant: between 120 MZN and 800 MZN
A bottle of wine in a restaurant: at least 250 MZN
A continental breakfast: 50 MZN
A local beer (0.5 l): 30 MZN
A short drive by “Chapa” (local taxi): 10 MZN
An “official” taxi ride in town: minimum 50 MZN
Internet 1 MZN per minute
Tipping
Tips are not mandatory but are of course much appreciated when justified. The amount varies depending on the quality of the guides’ and staffs’ service but generally between 10% and 15% of the bill.
Always leave a tip of 5 MZN if there’s a car guard around. The cost’s minimal against never seeing your car again.
Languages
The official language is Portuguese; however English is spoken all over the country. Other languages spoken are: Macuas, Makonde, Shangane, Chokwe, Sena, Manyika…
Electricity
220 / 230 V AC 50 Hz. Round pin wall sockets are used. If you from a country with different voltage and pin sockets, we recommend to bring adaptors with you.
Telephone
To call Mozambique from abroad the country code is 258 – 1 for Maputo, 258 – 3 for Beira and 258 – 6 for Nampula. Maputo, Xai-Xai, Beira, Chimoio, Quelimane, Nampula, Tete and Cabo Delgado are served by MCEL (mobile network)
From Mozambique to abroad: 00 + country code (32 for Belgium, 33 for France, 41 for Switzerland, 1 for Canada) + phone number without the 0. In case of an emergency, the easiest way is to contact a person travelling is to call the Go Tourism emergency number: +27 (0)83 254 5813
You can call from almost anywhere in Mozambique: roadside stalls, phone booths, hotels. However, an easy alternative is to take your cell phone with you and to buy a buy a Sim card with a pay-as-you-go contract from one of the local mobile operators: Vodacom or Mcell. It’s inexpensive and very convenient.
Public Holidays
January 1 New Year’s Day
February 3 Heroes’ Day
April 7 Women’s Day
May 1 Workers’ Day
June 25 Independence Day
September 7 Victory Day
September 25 Revolution Day
October 4 Day of Peace and Reconciliation
December 25 Christmas
Accommodation
Magical, mysterious, sublime, seductive… Mozambique beckons with its beaches and swaying palms, its traditions and its cultures, and offers travellers a wealth of choices. Accommodations in this enigmatic southeast African country range from simple bungalows on long, deserted stretches of soft, white sand to luxurious island resorts; historic, colonial-style hotels and beautiful safari camps with every amenity imaginable.
Climate and Temperatures
Sunshine, blue skies and temperatures averaging between 24°C and 27°C along the coast are the norm, except during the rainy summer season from about December/January through to April when everything gets soggy and sticky due to humidity and temperatures exceed 30°C in some areas.
The best time to visit is from May to November, during the cooler dry season.
Mozambique is located in an area that is susceptible to flooding, strong winds and heavy rains from December to March. There is a risk of cyclones on the coast at this time of year.
What to pack
It is imperative to respect the weight of your luggage unless you are prepared to pay extra for overweight luggage.
On international flights, the maximum weight of checked-in baggage allowed is on average 20kgs per person. On regional routes or charter flights it’s not uncommon that weight is limited to 15kgs per person maximum (cameras and hand luggage included). Please check this important detail with your consultant or airline before departure.
Clothing
It is strongly recommended to avoid bulky clothing in your suitcase. Pack instead practical, lightweight clothes. If you are going on safari, bright colours are not recommended as it alerts and frightens the animals away. Opt instead for khaki, beige, brown or dark neutral colours and a pair of good walking shoes. White is to be avoided for the same reason as above but also because the dust gets in everywhere. Simple and casual attire is the norm in most hotels, restaurants and lodges
Dress according to the region and the season and bring at least one warm sweater for cool/cold mornings and evenings. In winter (June to September), the nights can be very cold in the mountainous regions. Even in summer, wear long sleeved T-shirts to protect yourself from mosquitoes in the evenings. Don’t forget your Swimsuit!
Footwear
Pair of walking shoes (if you are planning on hiking)
Pair of lightweight shoes for day or evening wear.
Pair of sandals
Luggage and accessories
– A soft sided sports bag or suitcase.
– A sunhat or cap.
– A camera
– A pair of binoculars.
– A pair of good quality sunglasses
If you are going on safari
– A small backpack for the day.
– A thermos flask.
Toiletries and pharmacy
In every town there’s a pharmacy but they are not always well stocked so we highly recommend that you to travel with your own personal first aid kit:
– Antidiarrheal
– A painkiller
– An antibiotic
– An anti-allergic
– Eye drops
– An antispasmodic
– An anti-inflammatory
– A water disinfectant
– An antiseptic (Betadine)
– Dressings – plasters
– Syringes and needles
– Anticonvulsants
– Anti-mosquito products (spray, cream)
– Cream for stings
– Dressings, Aspirin, anti-diarrheal, lip balm, eye drops (for dust).
– If you wear contact lenses, we recommend that you take your pair of glasses too.
– High factor sunscreen, rehydration salts and sunburn soother
Photography
It’s essential to use a UV filter on your camera and/or video recorder. A brush and a waterproof cover are necessary to protect your camera from dust which gets in everywhere. Plastic zip-lock bags are a great protection. It’s possible to recharge the batteries of your camera in most of the hotels, lodges and rental cars (Don’t forget the necessary cables).
We recommend you bring a zoom lens of 200 mm / 300 mm minimum on safari. You will need to practice speed, silence and patience in order to get good photographs of animals and birds. Do not take pictures on the sly without prior permission from the person you want to portray.
Driving
As in the majority of southern Africa countries, driving is done on the left hand side. It is essential to carry your driver license at all times while driving as well the car registration documents. By law you have to wear seat belts at all times while driving.
Mozambique is no longer solely for 4×4 enthusiasts, although there are still more than enough 4×4 routes for the rough and tumble brigade. The roads have been improved dramatically in the past few years. In fact it is quite possible to reach Vilanculos – 750 km north of Maputo – in a 2 wheel drive vehicle. The toll roads that link South Africa and Swaziland to Mozambique are in excellent condition too. However, the road linking Beira to the border of Zimbabwe is in bad condition.
A large part of the sandy road between Maputo and the Kosi Bay border post (South Africa – Kwazulu Natal) is only accessible by 4×4.
The rest of the vast road network consists mainly of tracks, only passable by 4×4 during the rainy season (December to February in the south and from November to March in the north). During these periods, rain can cause flooding and roads may become inaccessible. Always inquire about road conditions before traveling in rural areas.
Although the mine clearing program is progressing successfully, there is a danger that remains inland; on secondary roads and tracks. 600 mined sites are still listed in Mozambique so make sure you are well informed before venturing into unknown territory.
Roads In the towns are often in poor condition (potholes), and often there are no road signs to be seen. If this weren’t enough, you have to be constantly on the lookout for bad drivers. Driving at night should be limited to towns and altogether discouraged elsewhere. There is a high risk of ca theft in Mozambique, especially luxury cars so always keep windows closed and doors locked. It is highly recommended to take out comprehensive insurance.
Drivers should keep strictly to the speed limit (60 km /h in urban areas, 120 km /h on highways) as radar and police checks are numerous. A valid international driver’s license is obligatory.
Safety
Mozambique is generally safe, but there are some areas and situations where caution is warranted. Thefts and robberies are the main risks: watch your pockets in markets, avoid carrying a bag or otherwise giving a potential thief reason to think you have anything of value, and avoid isolating situations.
More likely are simple hassles, such as underpaid authorities in search of bribes. You’re required to carry your passport or (better) a notarised copy at all times. If stopped by the police, remain polite, but don’t surrender your documents – insist on going to the nearest police station (esquadrão) instead.
Land mines – a legacy of the war days – are still a risk. Always stick to well-used paths, and don’t free-camp or wander off roadsides or into the bush anywhere, without first checking with locals.