A Land of Contrasts
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Mozambique A Land of Contrasts When Portuguese explorers reached Mozambique in 1498, Arab-trading settlements had existed along the coast and outlying islands for several centuries. From about 1500, Portuguese trading posts and forts became regular ports of call on the new route to the east. Later, traders and prospectors invaded the interior regions seeking gold and slaves. Although both Portuguese and Arabic influences have gradually diminished, there still remains a rich tapestry of these cultures within the region today. Take a long walk on a far-flung sandbar at sunset, enjoy mouth-watering fresh seafood, swim in the warm tropical ocean, all whilst spotting dolphins and the rare dugong. Mozambique is a truly breath-taking mosaic of culture and tropical beaches. PASSPORT & VISA REQUIREMENTS Please note that you will need two blank pages in your passport for immigration. Your passport must be valid for six months after your departure date from Mozambique. All nationalities, except South African passport holders, require a Visa to enter Mozambique. Citizens from countries that require a Visa to enter Mozambique will be able to get these on arrival at 44 border posts in Mozambique, including Maputo International Airport and the Port of Maputo, as well as border posts such as Ressano Garcia, Ponto D’ouro, Giriyondo, Vilanculos Airport, Inhambane Airport, Beira Airport, Pemba Airport and Nampula Airport, among others. The Mozambican government has doubled the cost of entry Visas with immediate effect. All single entry Visas applied for in foreign travellers’ countries of origin will be affected by the fee increase. The cost of a single entry Visa, valid for 30 days, has increased from US $50 to US $102. Visitors to Mozambique, unless you are coming from a Visa exempt country, can obtain a Visa on arrival at all border posts or from one of the Mozambican diplomatic missions. Visas obtained on arrival at the port of entry remains at the cost of US $50 and is valid for 2 entries within 30 days. Visa application requirements for Visa Exempt countries are as per the below: • US $50 Visa fee. • Visa confirmation letter. • A minimum of 2 empty passport pages. HEALTH If you are travelling from a Yellow Fever infected country into Mozambique, you will be required to produce a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate upon arrival. Mozambique in general has widespread malaria zones, with greater risk during the rains from about November to May. The peak danger time is just after the wet season from March to May. Consult a physician regarding appropriate precautions, depending on the time of the year you will be travelling. The most important defences against malaria are: • Apply insect repellent to exposed skin. • Wear long-sleeved cotton clothing from dusk into the evening. • Tabard and Peaceful Sleep are commonly used insect repellents. Although tap water is available, it is recommended to only drink from bottled mineral water. Other recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus. Speak with your medical practitioner about the importance of these. CLIMATE The Mozambique coastline stretches for almost 2 000kms, covering latitudes from about 11° to 27° south, and has a tropical ocean current running north to south along its length for the whole year. Despite this range of latitudes, the whole-country broadly follows a southern African weather pattern, with the rains falling largely between December and March. June to October is the dry season, with often perfect tropical weather such as clear skies, plenty of sun and almost no rain. Although still tropical, June to August are Mozambique’s coolest months, where a light duvet is required at night even though the temperature reaches over 30°C by day. During September and October, it remains dry as daytime temperatures climb, cooling down at night. November is the less predictable month of transition. Sometimes the rains start, although many days remain sunny and hot. The rains generally start earlier in the north of the country. WHAT TO PACK Generally, casual and comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year for a Mozambique holiday. If you are visiting Mozambique for a beach holiday, below is a list of the most essential items to pack: The most practical items to pack: • Sun Hat • Swim and beachwear, including a sarong/kikoi • Good quality sunglasses • T-shirts and long-sleeved shirts • Shorts/skirts • Long trousers for evenings and cooler days • Closed walking shoes and sandals (that can get wet) • Lightweight water-proof jacket • Torch • Malaria tablets (if applicable) and insect repellent • Antihistamine tablets is you suffer from any allergies • Anti-nausea tablets if you suffer from motion sickness • Suntan lotion • Basic medical kit • Binoculars • Sufficient memory cards and batteries for your camera equipment, as these are difficult to find in Mozambique and very expensive if you do manage to get hold of them. Please note that if you are travelling on a light aircraft there will be luggage restrictions (see page on luggage restrictions). You may have access to laundry facilities at most properties. Please ask your consultant for more details. FLIGHTS & TRANSPORT Check-in is 1 ½ hours prior to departure for domestic flights and 3 hours prior to departure for international flights. Regional and local scheduled flights connect Maputo, Vilanculos and Pemba with neighbouring countries. Once you have arrived on the coast, travelling onwards to the islands themselves means a boat, light aircraft or helicopter transfer. The islands are small enough to get around on foot, though there will be plenty of opportunities for sailing and boating trips. LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS International and official regional carriers have standard luggage allowances, however, when travelling to the islands of Mozambique, there are often additional light aircraft/helicopter transfers that carry different luggage weight and carrier restrictions that you will need to be aware of before you start packing. For light aircraft/charter flight transfers in Mozambique, there is a luggage restriction of 20kg (44lbs) maximum per person. Please remember: • Only soft bags (no hard suitcases can be transported as they physically can not fit into the aircraft) will be accepted. This includes camera equipment and hang luggage. • The maximum dimensions of the soft bags which can be accommodated are as follows: 25 cm (10 inches) wide x 30 cm (12 inches) high x 65 cm (24 inches) long. ELECTRICITY As in the rest of Southern Africa, you will need an adapter/voltage converter. The Mozambique power grid uses 220/240 volts AC 50 Hertz. Wall sockets (round 3-pin) are rated to carry a maximum of 15-amps. It is important to carry a 3-pin round and square adapter, as this is unobtainable in Mozambique. We recommend taking a small flashlight with you. CURRENCY The currency of Mozambique is the Metical (Metical Nova Família, MZN), plural version Meticais (MTZ, pronounced ‘meta-caysh’), divided into 100 centavos. All extras to be paid at Mozambique resorts are charged in US Dollars. However, payment for these charges will also be accepted in Mozambique’s local currency, the metical, in accordance with the Mozambique law. The metical is sometimes subject to large short-term swings, and the actual amount charged by your credit card company may therefore differ to the estimate once the transaction is processed through the banking system. Most resorts and lodges accept credit cards except American Express and Diners, as they are not present in Mozambique. South African Rand or American Dollar cash are also accepted. Only the latest series of US Dollar notes with the large presidential portraits should be used. Please be aware that many businesses, including banks, will not accept older US Dollar banknotes. Travellers cheques are not accepted as they can not be cashed locally, only in Maputo. US Dollars are widely accepted within the camps for tipping purposes. VAT is currently at 17%. TIPPING Tipping during your holiday is not compulsory. If, however, you want to tip because you have received good service, we have enclosed a brief guideline to assist you: Transfers: We recommend about US$4 per guest for the driver per movement. Resorts/Lodges: We recommend US$10-15 per room/villa per night for the host, matched by an equal amount towards the general staff tipping pool (gardeners, chefs, housekeepers, maintenance team and administrative staff). No gratuities for meals that are included in your stay are expected, and are entirely at the discretion of the guest. Otherwise, 10% is customary on meal accounts if you are satisfied with the service. For bigger groups of 10 people or more, some restaurants will charge a mandatory service fee to the final bill. Some staff are generally not included in the tipping pool when staying at resorts/lodges such as service managers, spa therapists, activities managers and the head chef. Gratuities for these staff are entirely at your own discretion and certainly not an expectation. All payments including tips may be made in cash or by credit card. Cash tips intended for specific recipients may be directly handed to them. Envelopes are available at most reception desks. CUISINE Mozambican food reflects the agricultural products of the country. Superb seafood products feature prominently. Maputo boasts a wide variety of restaurants featuring most of the prominent cuisine varieties around the world. Bottled mineral water is widely available. Locally brewed beer is of good quality with the local beer called 3M being a very popular drink of choice. South African wines of superb quality are available at most restaurants and lodges/resorts at reasonable prices. TELECOMMUNICATIONS The international dialing code for Mozambique is +258, followed by the destinations phone number. Calling from Mozambique, you dial 00 plus the relevant country code (0044 for Great Britain and 001 for The States).