Weather, Food & Water
SUMMER: October - March
WINTER: April - September
April to September:
Cool and dry, a little rain is received in these months (less than 50mm a month for Maputo) and daytime temperatures on the coast range around 24° - 27° C, while in the interior temperatures are generally cooler (around 5° C lower). You can expect around 8 hours of sunshine a day with around 60% - 70% humidity for Maputo, the further north you travel you can expect these figures to increase. This is the best time to visit mozambique....
December to March:
Hot, sticky and rainy with electrical storms usually in the afternoons, preceded by humid build-ups in the mornings. Rainfall of well over 200mm a month can be received. Temperatures generally range from 27° - 31° C while again it’s less humid and cooler in the interior. The northern coastline areas tend to be hotter still, sometimes soaring into the high 30°’s C.
Please note that most Island lodges close over February as this is generally cyclone/ hurricane season....
Best months to visit:
The cooler dry months April to September to benefit from the best wildlife viewing and excellent weather. November to December is normally best for birding activities. Remember summers are humid to very humid (tropical) in the north
The southern beaches can be crowded during South African school holidays (Dec, Jan, early April, July, late September) so avoid those periods if you can.
When travelling in Mozambique what to pack in you suitcase can be quite confusing, below are the basics. Generally, casual comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year.
The most practical items to pack are: remembering that Mozambique is a warm destination
» Light cotton tops and cotton trousers/shorts in summer, hat/ cap and light shoes
» Long-sleeved blouses/shirts for game drives/ boat cruises, which will protect you from mosquitoes and the sun
» Safari trousers, jeans or casual pants for evenings and cooler days. A fleece or sweater is required for those cool winter evening and mornings
» Swimwear, snorkel, mask, fins (most lodges have these for hire or included in daily rate - if you have you own you are more than » welcome to bring them)
» A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen (a tanning lotion and a high factor sunscreen for your face, neck, feet and hands
» Sandals, especially to protect feet against razor clams on Bazaruto Archipelago
» Comfortable walking shoes, sandals for when swimming in the sea as razor clams can cause nasty damage to your feet
» Camera film, extra memory cards and batteries, these are near impossible to find in Mozambique and should they be available they will cost you a arm and a leg. Remember not to process your film in Mozambique rather trust your holidays photos to your photo lab when you get home or in South Africa.
Do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled, filtered, or chemically disinfected.
Do not drink unbottled beverages or drinks with ice. Do not eat fruits or vegetables unless they have been peeled or cooked. Avoid cooked foods that are no longer piping hot. Cooked foods that have been left at room temperature are particularly hazardous. Avoid unpasteurized milk and any products that might have been made from unpasteurized milk, such as ice cream. Avoid food and beverages obtained from street vendors. Do not eat raw or undercooked meat or fish. Some types of fish may contain poisonous biotoxins even when cooked. Barracuda in particular should never be eaten. Other fish that may contain toxins include red snapper, grouper, amberjack, and sea bass.
All travelers should bring along an antibiotic and an antidiarrheal drug to be started promptly if significant diarrhea occurs, defined as three or more loose stools in an 8-hour period or five or more loose stools in a 24-hour period, especially if accompanied by nausea, vomiting, cramps, fever or blood in the stool. Antibiotics which have been shown to be effective include ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), rifaximin (Xifaxan), or azithromycin (Zithromax). Either loperamide (Imodium) or diphenoxylate (Lomotil) should be taken in addition to the antibiotic to reduce diarrhea and prevent dehydration.
If diarrhea is severe or bloody, or if fever occurs with shaking chills, or if abdominal pain becomes marked, or if diarrhea persists for more than 72 hours, medical attention should be sought.
Visa Requirements
Mozambicans and South Africans will no longer be required to apply for visas if their stay in each other’s country does not exceed 30 days.
HOWEVER, for all NON-S.A. PASSPORT HOLDERS - Visas are still required. The onus is therefore upon International Clients to ensure that passports are valid for 6/months in order to obtain their Visas, either in South Africa prior to departure for Mozambique, OR when entering Mozambique at the border or airports. (please ensure that there is sufficient space in passports for the inclusion of the Visa.
You will need a passport, valid for at least 6 months after your return from Mozambique. Drivers must carry a valid drivers’ license, the original registration papers of the vehicle, and trailer registration papers (if applicable). Compulsory Mozambican third party insurance must be purchased at the border. A letter of permission is needed if driving a vehicle registered in someone else’s name, and it helps to have this stamped at your local police station, before entering Mozambique. The law requires you to carry your passport at all times. Make at least one photocopy of your passport and all other important documents, and store them in a safe place, in case you lose the originals.
Anyone may acquire a tourist visa on arrival at the airport or land border. As of January 2006 this costs USD 25.00 and takes 30-60 minutes. You can also acquire it in the Mozambican embassy of your own country. At the South African land border (Lebombo/Ressano Garcia) you can choose the currency in which you want to pay your visa. Paying in Metical is slightly cheaper than in Rand.
Import Duties
Visitors to Mozambique may import for personal use, free of duty and tax:
400 cigarettes,
1 litre of spirits,
3 bottles of wine and other goods (including groceries) to the value of US $ 200. Firearms are prohibited.
If you take in expensive items, like a laptop computer, you will be given a receipt which you will have to present on your return. Other goods might attract import duties, if it is thought that you wish to resell them in Mozambique.
other goods - R500
Borders
BORDER POST FORMALITIES
You must report to the immigration office with your passports and vehicle registration papers in hand.
On the South African side (Komatiepoort): A Custom’s Official will give you a gate pass and this is to be taken to the immigration office. Fill in your vehicle / goods export form and then get your passport stamped. Hand in gate pass when driving out of South Africa.
Mozambique side (Ressano Garcia): As you go through the gate you will be handed another gate pass which is needed for Immigration, Customs - road permit and Customs Inspector. Get your passport stamped - You have to pay R12.00 per person; take out the compulsory 3rd party insurance (R 120.00 per vehicle); buy the compulsory temporary import permit for all vehicles - including boat trailers (payable in meticais Mt 30 000 (approx. R15.00). Proceed out of the office to a customs inspector who will then inspect your vehicle and contents. After signing the gate pass and if you have nothing to declare, on exiting the gate you hand the gate pass in.
There is a bank at the border should you not have meticais or else there are always people selling meticais at the Border on the SA side - we have found it to be safe to buy from them. Just make sure that you get the right amount of money for what you are exchanging - ask them what exchange they are offering - at the moment it is about 2800 to 3300 Meticais to R1.00. To make your life easier, take off the thousands and you can work on a 2.8 / 3.3 to 1 ratio (this will quite probably have changed by the time you get to the border. For example at an exchange rate of 3000, R 500.00 should get you MT 1 500 000.
PAST THE BORDER
The Maputo corridor is now complete, making it a good highway all the way from Gauteng. There is a total of toll fees of R 83.50 in South Africa and Mt 78 500.00 (about R 24.50) in Mozambique - (each way). You can pay the toll fees in Mozambique with Rands, US dollars or Meticais.
The road going north from Maputo (EN 1 - National Road #1) is generally a good tar road - The road from Maputo to Inhambane is slightly potholed (nothing serious, but be careful).
Traveling after dark is NOT advisable, as there are no streetlights and sometimes the other vehicles on the road have inadequate lighting. If you do travel after dark, take it easy, especially when there are oncoming cars. Some resorts require 4 x 4, or at least a vehicle with good clearance such as a Venture or bakkie. These roads are thick sandy tracks, so a normal car could get bogged down.
Petrol costs around R 6.50 / litre. It gets more expensive the further north you go. It’s advisable to fill up at the garage just before the border. There are filling stations in Maputo, Macia, Xai-Xai, Quissico, Inhambane, Maxixe, Massinga, Vilanculos and Inhassoro. For those going to the resorts south of Maputo - Fill up at Kosi Bay, as there is not always petrol at Ponta Do Ouro. Diesel is about the same price in Mozambique as it is in SA (sometimes even cheaper). We suggest you fill up at the BP in Xai-Xai as the filling station at Quissico is not always reliable. Do not get stuck without petrol!!
BORDER POST TIMES:
Komatipoort (Ressano Garcia) - open every day of the year between 07h00 - 19h00. During the busy December period (generally from 20 December to 03rd January) this border stays open 24-hours.
Namaacha/Lomaacha (Swaziland/Mozambique) - opens at 07h00, closes at 18h00.
Oshoek/Ngwenya (South Africa / Swaziland) - opens at 07h00, closes at 20h00.
Kosi Bay/Ponta d’ Ouro (Faranzela ) - opens at 08h00, closes at 17h00.
Driving Tips
Check whether your insurance covers you whilst driving in Mozambique. Always keep the following documents handy: passport, drivers license, original vehicle registration papers, third party insurance certificate and temporary import permits — you may be asked to present them at various control points. It is obligatory to wear seat-belts at all times. Obey all the speed limits, normally 100 km/h on the EN1, 80 km/h on approaching villages and towns and down to 50 km/h or even 30 km/h as one drives through them. All motorists must carry a set of standard red emergency triangles. If you are towing, two triangles must be displayed, one on the front of the car and one on the rear of the trailer.
Traffic police, who wear navy and white, will only stop you for traffic violations. The civil police, who wear grey and white, usually ask to inspect your documents. If you are stopped by the police remember that politeness and a little patience go a long way. Always ask for a receipt if you have to pay a fine, for any traffic offence. Be particularly careful for pedestrians, especially when approaching stopped buses or heavy vehicles. Avoid driving at night, when animals, unmarked road repairs and vehicles without lights, are added dangers. Petrol (gasolina) and diesel (gasoleo) are available in the main towns, but unleaded petrol is only sold in Maputo, Xai Xai and Maxixe. Petrol stations are generally open from about 06:00 to about 18:00.
Avoid asking for ‘petrol’ which could be mistaken for paraffin, known in Portuguese as petroleo. The basic spares for vehicles are extremely difficult to obtain. Inhambane has a spares shop around the corner from the main market, but make sure that your vehicle is 100 % roadworthy before departure. If you happen to be involved in an accident, you will be required to present your third party insurance, drivers’ license and vehicle papers. You must contact the third party insurance company immediately and will also be required to make a statement at the nearest police station. Driving on the beaches and driving without a shirt on, is illegal.
Public Transport & Roads
Mozambique does not have a very good network of public transport. There are limited train services within Mozambique, which link its neighbouring countries to the Indian Ocean. A service operates from Johannesburg to Maputo via Komatipoort, Nelspruit and Pretoria three times a week. Another line links Nacala with Liwonde in Malawi, via Nampula and Cuamba. Buses only operate between major towns where roads are in good condition. In rural areas you may catch a ride in converted passenger trucks, chapa-cems (or just chapas) or normal trucks (camions). Along the coast there are some ferry services. These are more frequent along the northern coast with regular services operating between Quelimane and Beira, and Quelimane, Nacala and Pemba.
Driving in Mozambique is not always as easy as it could be. The combination of the civil war and the floods has had a severe impact on the condition of the roads and in many parts of the country a 4x4 is essential. Roads are gradually being improved, however, and the roads south of Beira tend to be in good condition. Potholes are actually the biggest road hazard in Mozambique. Other hazards to be aware of are roadblocks (make sure you have your driving license, vehicle registration, temporary import papers and traffic triangles, and that you are wearing your seatbelt), vehicles without lights at night and livestock on the roads.
Car hire is possible in most major towns, but should be booked in advance. There is a good network of petrol stations, though not in game reserves. For ecological reasons, we urge you not to drive on dunes and beaches. Driving in Mozambique is on the left side of the road.
Distances within Mozambique
Within Mozambique:
Maputo to Vilanculos 705km
Maputo to Xai Xai 224km
Maputo to Bilene 160km
Maputo to Inhambane 355km
Inhambane to Tofo 20km
Malongane to Maputo 115km
Maputo to Gorongosa National Park 775km
Maputo to Pemba 1650km
Outside of Mozambique:
Johannesburg to Maputo 602km
Law in Mozambique
It is not uncommon to be stopped at one of the police checkpoints. If you follow these basic guidelines, you should not have any problems...
Wear seat belts at all times!
Keep to the speed limit as they are very particular about this- usually 40 / 50 kph in towns and 120 kph on the open road. A standard speeding fine is approx. R 500.00
Display your emergency triangles in a visible place.
Red or blue and yellow triangles are required if you are towing and need to be displayed on the front of the vehicle and back of trailer
If you do get stopped, be patient and polite. They will normally want to see your driver’s license, 3rd party insurance and road tax (purchased at the border). Try to avoid giving the original documents to the officials. Instead, offer them a copy of the required document and smile. Some useful words to remember are Bon Dia (Good morning); Boa Tarde (Good afternoon); Boa Noite (Good evening / night); Faz Favor (Please); Obrigado (Thank you). Don’t be nervous - there is nothing to be afraid of, unless you have broken the law.
No firearms are permitted to be brought into Mozambique
Health requirements
Requirements it is imperative that you obtain malaria prophylactics before entering Mozambique. When purchasing these, please tell your doctor or pharmacist that you intend visiting Mozambique. Whatever prophylactics you use, remember to complete the course as directed after leaving the malaria area. If you suffer from side effects, try taking your malaria prophylactics at night after dinner. Resistance to prophylactics is widespread so the best way to avoid getting malaria is to avoid being bitten. Take precautionary measures to prevent contact with mosquitoes, like: sleeping under a bed net or in a room/tent with mosquito proofing (remember to keep the flaps zipped at all times); spraying your accommodation with insecticide; making use of a mosquito repelling lotion or stick; and wearing long sleeved clothing, trousers and socks when outside at night.
MEDICAL SERVICES:
No inoculations for smallpox, cholera or yellow fever are required unless you are coming from an infected area. This could change and you should check with the Mozambique Embassy when you obtain your visa. However, travel clinics generally recommend that visitors should take precautions against yellow fever, cholera, tetanus, diptheria, polio, typhoid, smallpox, malaria and hepatitis A, particularly if you will be in the country for more than three weeks. If you are staying in lodges which have a good supply of water you should not encounter these problems.
There are private clinics, hospitals and pharmacies in most large towns, but you may need the help of someone who speaks Portuguese to communicate your needs. It is recommended you carry a good supply of medicines you may need, as well as a first aid kit. Doctors expect cash payment, so ensure your medical insurance covers your trip to Mozambique
MEDICAL INSURANCE
A good medical insurance policy, with an emergency air evacuation facility, is strongly advised as most medical facilities are poor. This can be obtained at any travel agency.
Health care
Full health insurance, preferably including Medevac, is essential. Medical facilities are scarce. Many rural health centers were forced to close during the conflict with the MNR rebels. It is advisable to carry basic medical supplies including medications and sterile syringes.
Special Precautions
Certificate Required?
Yellow Fever
No
1
Cholera
Yes
2
Typhoid and Polio
3
N/A
Malaria
4
N/A
1. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required of travellers over one year of age arriving from countries with infected areas.
2. Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Mozambique. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. The last major outbreak was in March 2004. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness.
3. Immunization against typhoid and poliomyelitis is often advised.
4. Malaria risk exists throughout the year, particularly in the north. The predominant falciparum strain is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine and resistant to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. Travelers should bring a mosquito net. The recommended prophylaxis is mefloquine.
Insect and tick protection
Wear long sleeves, long pants, hats and shoes (rather than sandals). For rural and forested areas, boots are preferable, with pants tucked in, to prevent tick bites. Apply insect repellents containing 20-35% DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) or 20% picaridin (Bayrepel) to exposed skin (but not to the eyes, mouth, or open wounds). DEET may also be applied to clothing. Products with a lower concentration of either repellent need to be repplied more frequently. Products with a higher concentration of DEET carry an increased risk of neurologic toxicity, especially in children, without any additional benefit. Do not use either DEET or picaridin on children less than two years of age. For additional protection, apply permethrin-containing compounds to clothing, shoes, and bed nets. Permethrin-treated clothing appears to have little toxicity. Don’t sleep with the window open unless there is a screen. If sleeping outdoors or in an accomodation that allows entry of mosquitoes, use a bed net, preferably impregnated with insect repellent, with edges tucked in under the mattress. The mesh size should be less than 1.5 mm. If the sleeping area is not otherwise protected, use a mosquito coil, which fills the room with insecticide through the night. In rural or forested areas, perform a thorough tick check at the end of each day with the assistance of a friend or a full-length mirror. Ticks should be removed with tweezers, grasping the tick by the head. Many tick-borne illnesses can be prevented by prompt tick removal.
Source:http://www.scubamozambique.com/travel-tips.php
