Mozambique
Welcome to the land of Archipelagos, Sunshine & Smiles
The stunning 2500 km coastline and beaches with magical offshore islands and coral reefs with shoals of tropical fish in waters alive with marine life. Here you can sail on a dhow through mangrove channels, snorkel in the Bazaruto Archipego or laze under the palms in the Quirimbas Archipelago. For wildlife enthusiasts, The Gorongosa National Park (adjacent to South Africas Kruger National Park) provides an off-beat safari. Or you can wander along cobbled streets past stately colonial-era buildings on Ilha de Moçambique, sip a café espresso at one of Maputo’s lively sidewalk cafés (or maybe a caipirinha at one of its jazz bars), watch the silversmiths at work on Ibo Island or dance to the country’s trademark marrabenta music.
The splendid beaches of Ponta do Ouro is one of the best locations for scuba diving in the world and its waters are alive with many species of marine life including dolphins, Manta ray and the occasional shark for the more adventurous. Travelers to Vilanculos will be tempted to linger a while at the self-contained luxury resorts of the Bazaruto Archipelago and the sandy beaches of Pemba and the remote Quirimbas Archipelago with their many small Islands are true treasures with their wealth of marine life and unspoiled beaches.
Traveling to the interior of the country experience the beauty of Lago Niassa, the vast lake which borders Tanzania and Malawi. This is one of the wildest places in Mozambique and is not for the fainthearted, however the rewards are great for those who persevere with the journey and here you will find beautiful, undeveloped countryside with the true feel of Africa
Sample Itineraries:
Key Facts
Geography
801,590 sq. km.; slightly less than twice the size of California. Mozambique lies beside the Indian Ocean in southern Africa. On its borders lie South Africa and Zimbabwe in the south, and Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania in the north. About half the country is made up of flat coastal plain. Heading inland, the land rises and high plateau and mountains run along the western and northern borders.
Many sizeable rivers, including the Zambezi and Limpopo, flow through Mozambique to the sea. Africa’s largest hydro-electric power dam, the Cabora Bassa, lies in the north-west. Although there’s plenty of water, drought is common in the south of the country.
Mozambique has vast areas of fertile land, which can produce enough food for the nation, as well as exports. Maize, sugar cane, tobacco, rice, tea, and citrus fruits are all grown. But the country’s natural wealth is not fully exploited. Mineral resources such as gold, gemstones and bauxite are still to be tapped. The 2,500km coastline produces marine products, especially prawns, which are the country’s largest single export. Mozambique has a tropical climate, which is hot and humid. The wet season is from November to March, when about 80 per cent of annual rainfall falls.
Electricity
220V/50Hz (European Plug) Electricity in Mozambique is 220 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Mozambique with a device that does not accept 220 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter.
Entry Requirments
A visa is required for entry into Mozambique. It is recommended that travelers acquire the appropriate visa prior to departing for Mozambique, although a one-entry visa can be obtained at country points of entry, including airports. The passports of all travelers who wish to enter Mozambique must be valid for six months upon arrival and must contain at least three clean (unstamped) visa pages each time entry is sought. All travelers entering Mozambique, having previously visited a country where yellow fever is present, must present a valid certification of vaccination against yellow fever. Additionally, all travelers entering Mozambique must carry their yellow vaccination book.
Currency
Currency in Mozambique: metical (MZM). The official currency is the New Metical (MZN), which is divided into 100 centavos. In the southern parts of the country, South African Rand, US Dollars and Pounds Sterling are also accepted to pay for accommodation. Credit cards are accepted in some upmarket hotels in Maputo, but facilities throughout the rest of the country are limited; it is advisable to carry cash or travelers’ cheques. ATMs are limited and tend to be unreliable, but local banks have branches in most cities. Also note that Travelers’ cheques are useless outside hotels.
Climate & Best Time to Travel
Tropical to subtropical. The climate varies in the different regions of the country, but generally the inland areas are slightly cooler, although more humid than along the coast in the rainy season. Winter is the dry season lasting from April to September and is the best time to visit the country. The southern parts of the country are generally drier and less tropical than the north, with temperatures along the coast averaging 80ºF (27ºC). The rainy season coincides with the heat and humidity from October to March, with average coastal temperatures of 88ºF (31ºC).
Health
Malaria exists throughout the year in the whole country. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.It is recommended that visitors take precautions against typhoid, bilharzia, hepatitis and cholera in particular.AIDS/HIV is prevalent. Diseases caused by unsanitary conditions are common throughout the country, and untreated water should be considered unsafe to drink.