Travel Tips and Frequently Asked Questions

• A passport – valid for at least six months after you are planning to return.
• If you have an SA passport, you don’t need a Visa to enter Mozambique.
• If any children are travelling across the border, parents must provide an unabridged birth certificate for each child.
• If you are driving yourself, make sure you have the following:
  
  • Original vehicle registration papers
  • Driver’s license
  • Third Party Insurance
  • Certified copy of NATIS documents
  • Emergency triangles
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Reflective jackets (x2)

• Komatipoort / Ressano Garcia:
  
  • Open 7:00 – 22:00 daily
  • Extended peak hours: 24 hours a day – generally from around 20 Dec – 3 Jan

• Namaacha / Lomaacha (Swaziland entry):
  
  • Open 7:00 – 18:00 daily

• Oshoek / Ngwenya (SA – Swaziland):
  • Open 7:00 – 20:00 daily

• Kosi Bay / Ponta d’Ouro (Faranzela):
  • Open 8:00 – 17:00 daily

SA side (Komatipoort):

• Complete your vehicle/goods export form
• Get a gate pass
• Have your passport & gate pass stamped

Mozambique side (Ressano Garcia):

• Have your passport stamped
• Take out R150 third party insurance per vehicle
• Fill in a Temporary Import Permit for all vehicles including trailers. If you need to exchange money, rather exchange at the Sasol Garage in Komatipoort, or withdraw cash at any ATM either at the border or enroute to Inhambane. The exchange rate is approximately 4mts to R1, which varies. Please check with your bank on the current exchange rates.

• Driver’s licence
• Passport must be valid for 6 months after return
• No Visa is required for SA passport holders
• Vehicle Registration papers
• 2 x Red Triangles
• Registration papers for trailers
• Fire extinguisher
• Reflective jackets (x2)

Work out your travel time for a self-drive package to Vista Do Mar

• Police checkpoints are commonplace.
• Wear seatbelts at all times while driving
• The speed limit is 60 km/h in town and 100 km/h on open roads.
• Display your emergency triangles in a visible place.
• Display your reflective vests over the passenger and driver seat headrests, and use them when exiting the car on the side of the road.
• Blue and yellow triangles should be displayed on the front of the towing vehicle and the back of the trailer if you are towing.
• If you are pulled over by police, be patient and courteous. They will need you driver’s license, certified copy of your NATIS documents, Temporary Import Permit and third party insurance documents. Avoid handing these documents over to the police – rather start a friendly conversation. Unless you’ve transgressed the law, there is nothing to be nervous about.
• No firearms are allowed.
• Please note that driving on the beach is prohibited by Maritime and you face a hefty fine should you get caught by officials. You are only allowed to drive on the beach if you have a launching permit and are launching a boat.
• The highway is good from Gauteng all the way to Maputo. The road from Maputo to Inhambane is slightly potholed, so drive carefully.
• Avoid driving at night, as there is no lighting on the roads and other vehicles often have inadequate lighting.

• If you get into trouble with the authorities or other unforeseen circumstance, contact the Consular section of the SA High Commission:
  
  • 41 Eduardo Modlane Ave, Maputo
  • Tel (01) 490059 / 491614 / 493030 / 490587 during office hours
  • Tel (01) 450031 / 450033 after hours
• Most major towns have a hospital or clinic of some sort, great for minor problems like stitches and Malaria tests. Because Malaria is very real in Mozambique, they are much better equipped to deal with this than SA.
  
  • Make sure you have Medical Evacuation Insurance.

• Larium or a Paludrine / Daramal combination is often used as preventative / prophylactics. They are quite harmful, so you may also want to consider the homeopathic equivalents. Contact your GP for advice.
• Repel mosquitoes with Citronella, Tabard and Mosquito coils.
• If you prefer the herbal therapy, mix a few drops of citronella, eucalyptus and lemon grass essential oils into aqueous cream for a great moisturizer / insect repellent.
• A Vitamin B complex can turn the blood sour, and combined with garlic tablets this can be a great deterrent for mosquitoes.

Mozambique is mostly hot and humid. Summer months are very hot, with lots of rainfall, especially from November to March. Winters are pleasantly warm, with cool evenings.

Average temperatures fluctuate between 24 and 34 degrees Celsius.

The warm Mozambique current flows southwards from India up north, down between Madagascar and Mozambique. This current is an important determining factor on the climate of the country.

• Shorts, T-shirts, sarongs, summer dresses etc – the dress code in Mozambique is very relaxed.
• Flip flops and shoes.
• Long sleeved shirts and long pants (light) for the evenings (it is important to cover most of your body for protection against mosquitoes).
• Hat and sunglasses.
• Swimming costume and towel.
• Light jacket / Sweatshirt – the evenings can occasionally be slightly chilly.

• The currency is the Metical, Rands or US Dollars are also accepted.
• Credit cards do not always work.
• ATM machines are available in town.
• It is a good idea to exchange Rands for Meticais for use in the markets, shops and petrol stations.
• Banks are closed for siesta between 12:00 and 14:00 daily.

• Mosquito repellent (Tabard, Peaceful Sleep, citronella etc.)
• Mosquito coils to burn in your chalet
• Malaria precautions – malaria tablets, spray, creams, body wash etc.
• Torch and candles (citronella candles are good for the mozzies too!)
• Snorkel, mask and fins if you have – most places that have a scuba operation offer these for hire
• Camera
• Small medical kit with basic items – Hydrogen peroxide is very effective for insect bites and scratches. Also an ointment for insect bites and other basic supplies
• Lavender Oil and pure alcohol to disinfect wounds or scratches

• There is a lovely fresh market in Inhambane, which sells a selection of fresh fruits and fish.
• Fresh Portuguese bread – baked daily…Yummy!
• Pasta, roasted pecan nuts, rice, spices, butter, sunflower oil etc.
• Spirits of all sorts and sodas
• Ice
• All sorts of beer (South African & Mozambican)
• Craft Market: Great grass mats to use on the beach, hats, wooden artworks etc. etc.

We have local supermarkets selling all the basics that you may need. You don’t need to bring everything with you, as you can get most supplies in Mozambique.

All towns stock the basic supplies, and the bigger towns like Maputo, Xai-Xai, Vilanculos and Inhambane have pretty much everything you need.

Should you decide to eat out on one or more occasions, we have a local restaurant for you to enjoy a delicious, seaside meal.

• Border officials are not as relaxed as they used to be, so be careful about what you bring with you.
• Alcohol is subject to normal border restrictions. You may bring two bottles of wine or one bottle of spirits per person.
• Smokers should not bring more than 200 cigarettes per person.