MOZAMBIQUE

Maputo

Sub tropical and tropical. Because of the huge size of the country, the climate varies greatly from one location to another; generally, it can be particularly hot on the southern coast between December and February and rainier between January/February and March/April. During the rest of the year, temperatures are cooler, while between June and August the temperature can drop considerably during night hours.

47% of population follows local religions; about 30% are Christians, both Catholics and Protestants, Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, etc.; 23% are Muslim.

Official language is Portuguese while Bantu is normally spoken in various provinces. English is widely spoken in the main tourist resorts.

The official currency is Metical although the US dollar and the South African Rand are widely accepted. US dollars and Euro are suggested which can be changed directly at the currency exchange offices or at banks in the major cities. It is a good idea to verify that the US bank notes are not dated before the year 2000 since the ones issued before this date are not accepted.

The major cities are equipped with ATMs for cash withdrawal of local currency; most of them accept only credit cards such as VISA and may have a limit of 3,000 Mzn for each withdrawal and sometimes there are long lines. VISA credit cards are accepted in most of the luxury hotels and in some mid-range hotels, but credit cards and travellers checks are rarely accepted in smaller hotels and in shops. In rural areas, there are no ATMs so it’s advisable to have cash with you.

2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2).

Valid passport for 6 months from the date of departure with at least two consecutive blank pages is required, plus visa and a yellow fever vaccination certificate if coming from an infected area. All visitors except citizens of South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius and Zimbabwe require visas. Single-entry visas (only) are available at most land and air entry points (but not anywhere along the Tanzania border) and cost 25 US dollars. To avoid long visa lines at busy borders, or for a multiple-entry visa, arrange your visa in advance at the embassy of your country of origin. If you’re arriving in Maputo via bus from Johannesburg (South Africa) it’s recommended (though not essential) to get your visa in advance. For citizens of countries not requiring visas, visits are limited to 30 days from the date of entry, after which you’ll need to exit Mozambique and re-enter. The length of each stay for multiple-entry visas is determined when the visa is issued, and varies from embassy to embassy; only single entry and transit visas are available at Mozambique’s borders.

There are good telecommunications in Mozambique. Area code is 00258. Cell phone reception is widespread and you can purchase a local sim card relatively cheaply. The major local service provider is MCel and pay as you go cards are readily available in many stores. South African service provider Vodacom is also widespread in the country. You can also opt to have international roaming enabled on your phone although this can be an expensive option. Phoning from hotels or from other landlines is rarely possible and rather expensive and therefore we suggest use of public telephone or a local sim card.

Voltage is 220V-240V/50HZ. Most plugs have three round pins in a triangular form, but some sockets require plugs with two smaller pins (as in Italy) or two big pins, like German plugs. The recommended Plug type used in Mozambique is: “Type C, F & M” , but coming with a universal adapter is recommended.

A vaccination against Yellow Fever is compulsory before entering from (or having been in transit through) an area where the disease is endemic. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended depending on the length of stay, your personal medical background and the area you wish to visit.

Mozambique accommodation options include beach resorts on unspoiled islands, self-catering bungalows and luxury Mozambique hotels, all over the coastline.

Mozambican cuisine has undergone different influences: Arab, Portuguese and Indian. In rural areas the typical dish is based on Nsima, a cornmeal polenta, accompanied by vegetables and fish or meat. Fish or meat (chicken or beef) is served in the restaurants, accompanied by choice of rice, Nsima or fried potatoes in addition to a small salad made with tomatoes and onions. The variant is Arroz, rice cooked in coconut milk. The fish is excellent and we suggest tasting the so-called Garoupa (grouper) and tuna, but also shellfish, considered among the best in the world. The Camarao (squid) is excellent, as well as the octopus and the lobster. Caldeirada is a fish soup and seafood with potatoes, tomatoes and onions. As an appetizer or snacks we recommend trying Sandes de Queijo, toast with cheese, and the Samosa, triangular dumplings stuffed normally with fish.

In a brilliant triumph of progressive logic Zimbabwe & Zambia have launched the Uni Visa for the 40 Category B visa Countries, which include most of the main source market countries. This means any nationals in the listed country’s (see below) can purchase a single $50 visa and travel freely between the two countries and visit Botswana for a day trip without paying re-entry fees for an unlimited 30-day period.
The KAZA UNIVISA is a common tourist visa for SADC region that will be released by Zambia and Zimbabwe in six (6) months.
Validity – the KAZA UNIVISA will be valid for 30 days as long as you remain in Zimbabwe and Zambia and customers can cross in Zimbabwe / Zambia frequently as they like within the 30 day period. It also covers those who visit Botswana for day trips through the Kazangula Borders. It will not be valid if staying in Botswana during the night, and in this case you need to buy a new visa.
The UNIVISA cannot be extended but you can buy a new UNIVISA (up to 3 per year).
Citizens of the following countries are eligible for the KAZA UNIVISA obtainable to eight ports of entry, like, for example, at Livingstone and Lusaka airports and the border posts at Victoria Falls and Kazangula.
Citizen/Countries list: Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Great Britain (UK), Brunei, Burundi, Canada, Cook Islands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy. Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Rwanda, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, United States of America.