Traveling in Mozambique
It can be quite daunting to travel around an unknown country for the first time and Mozambique has received some bad reviews in the past, making travelers weary…
Here are some tips to help you prepare:
Road safety
Although accidents can happen anywhere to anybody, when traveling in Africa, there are some factors to consider.
Driving at night is not recommended.
Vehicles are often not roadworthy. Watch for fresh green branches or twigs in the road. This is the local version of the red triangles indicating a broken truck in the road or an accident.
Ambulances are few and far between and medical aid is often not available. Visit our link to MOZHELP.
There are always children walking or playing around or on the roads. Pedestrians pose a hazard especially around festive days, more so around new year’s day when the roads are busy. Also watch for desperate vendors walking into the road to show their wares.
In season, taxis are mostly from SA, in a hurry and you can expect anything from them.
Please drive with utmost care wherever you are heading. Keep other people’s impatience in mind and anticipate the unforeseen.
Be on the look out for potholes. Although the roads are in excellent condition, maintenance is constantly necessary and sometimes lagging. Watch for updates on road conditions on Directions page.
Quad bikes
This is a very handy means of transport to have and quite fun, but please keeps to the rules. Verify when booking whether quad bikes are allowed since they are being banned by more lodges every year. If allowed please refrain from revving, spinning or pulling wheelies in the camp. They can be idled in and out of camp. Drive slowly on the sand roads – there are designated trails where you can test your skills without offending other people.
Driving, parking
Do not test your 4x4’s low ratio in camp. Do not drive where there is no clear existing road.
Deflate your tires. Deflate more. 1.2 bar at most.
Do not drive into Casawa lands – it can lead to a hefty fine. Owners would follow tracks for miles to get to the offender.
On single track sand roads, give way to vehicles with heavy loads or trailers.
Fire
Most buildings in Mozambique are constructed from natural material and are flammable.
Spare petrol for your Quad, boat or jet-ski should be stored in designated area only.
Some tents are highly flammable and care should be taken at all times. Fridges should be placed far enough from the side not to touch the walls even in high winds.
No candles or paraffin lamps in tents.
No fireworks anywhere except on the beach.
Braai only in designated fireplaces and extinguish until smokeless when done.
Smoking in designated areas only, Be sure to extinguish cigarette butts completely.
Water
Water is a scarce resource. Some lodges drive daily for some distance to collect water. Others have no fresh water at all. Very few have drinkable water. Check with the lodge when booking. Please be considerate regarding water consumption.
French drains
These work on the principle of bacteria breaking down waste. No Dettol, Domestos or other disinfectants can be flushed. Do not flush sanitary pads, cigarette .butts or other foreign material .
General camping behaviour
Be prepared for sand getting in your shoes. The Mozambican coastline is 2500km long and consist mostly of pristine beaches with lot’s of sand. If you hate sand, do not camp, get a chalet.
Summer temperatures can be searing hot. If you can not stand heat, make sure your lodge has a swimming pool and is equipped with fans / air conditioning.
Power failures can occur.
Wheels can get punctured and keys can get lost.
See list of essentials.
Be helpful where you can, tomorrow you might be needing help. Observe times for music, gen-sets and noise to be turned down.
Theft
Crime, both petty and violent is most prevalent in Maputo. The farther you move north, the less likely you are to experience crime. The Mozambican Police deal with thieves swiftly and very severely. Most lodges do have their own security and workers at Lodges are normally so proud to have a job that they will not jeopardize it by stealing. There is however a large percentage of unemployed people and desperation still overrule common sense at times. So normal rules hold true. Do not expose cash or articles of value. Be aware of pick-pockets. Do not walk alone and not at night. Keep out of empty streets. After doing shopping, do not unlock your parked car when you are still 10 meters away.
Emergency Contacts:
Hospital: Not available. Nearest Hospital is Inhambane 00258 (0) 293197.
Police: 00258 (0) 293 199
Here are some tips to help you prepare:
- Carry certified copies of passport and drivers license.
- Make sure that your vehicle’s insurance covers cross border travel.
- Wearing of seat-belts front and back seat is compulsory.
- Adhere to speed limits.
- It is better to drive in convoy.
- Although the roads are constantly being upgraded, big potholes could be anywhere and drivers should be vigilant.
- Never drive on sand or gravel roads that have clearly not been used for a long time.
- Never pull of the road into casawa or other crops growing next to the road.
- When towing, make sure that the towed trailer’s bearings are in good condition. Replace before the trip if in doubt.
- When you do experience a breakdown, do not be afraid to ask to local populace for help. What looks like a lone standing abandoned reed hut can be a fully equipped workshop,
Road safety
Although accidents can happen anywhere to anybody, when traveling in Africa, there are some factors to consider.
Driving at night is not recommended.
Vehicles are often not roadworthy. Watch for fresh green branches or twigs in the road. This is the local version of the red triangles indicating a broken truck in the road or an accident.
Ambulances are few and far between and medical aid is often not available. Visit our link to MOZHELP.
There are always children walking or playing around or on the roads. Pedestrians pose a hazard especially around festive days, more so around new year’s day when the roads are busy. Also watch for desperate vendors walking into the road to show their wares.
In season, taxis are mostly from SA, in a hurry and you can expect anything from them.
Please drive with utmost care wherever you are heading. Keep other people’s impatience in mind and anticipate the unforeseen.
Be on the look out for potholes. Although the roads are in excellent condition, maintenance is constantly necessary and sometimes lagging. Watch for updates on road conditions on Directions page.
Quad bikes
This is a very handy means of transport to have and quite fun, but please keeps to the rules. Verify when booking whether quad bikes are allowed since they are being banned by more lodges every year. If allowed please refrain from revving, spinning or pulling wheelies in the camp. They can be idled in and out of camp. Drive slowly on the sand roads – there are designated trails where you can test your skills without offending other people.
Driving, parking
Do not test your 4x4’s low ratio in camp. Do not drive where there is no clear existing road.
Deflate your tires. Deflate more. 1.2 bar at most.
Do not drive into Casawa lands – it can lead to a hefty fine. Owners would follow tracks for miles to get to the offender.
On single track sand roads, give way to vehicles with heavy loads or trailers.
Fire
Most buildings in Mozambique are constructed from natural material and are flammable.
Spare petrol for your Quad, boat or jet-ski should be stored in designated area only.
Some tents are highly flammable and care should be taken at all times. Fridges should be placed far enough from the side not to touch the walls even in high winds.
No candles or paraffin lamps in tents.
No fireworks anywhere except on the beach.
Braai only in designated fireplaces and extinguish until smokeless when done.
Smoking in designated areas only, Be sure to extinguish cigarette butts completely.
Water
Water is a scarce resource. Some lodges drive daily for some distance to collect water. Others have no fresh water at all. Very few have drinkable water. Check with the lodge when booking. Please be considerate regarding water consumption.
French drains
These work on the principle of bacteria breaking down waste. No Dettol, Domestos or other disinfectants can be flushed. Do not flush sanitary pads, cigarette .butts or other foreign material .
General camping behaviour
Be prepared for sand getting in your shoes. The Mozambican coastline is 2500km long and consist mostly of pristine beaches with lot’s of sand. If you hate sand, do not camp, get a chalet.
Summer temperatures can be searing hot. If you can not stand heat, make sure your lodge has a swimming pool and is equipped with fans / air conditioning.
Power failures can occur.
Wheels can get punctured and keys can get lost.
See list of essentials.
Be helpful where you can, tomorrow you might be needing help. Observe times for music, gen-sets and noise to be turned down.
Theft
Crime, both petty and violent is most prevalent in Maputo. The farther you move north, the less likely you are to experience crime. The Mozambican Police deal with thieves swiftly and very severely. Most lodges do have their own security and workers at Lodges are normally so proud to have a job that they will not jeopardize it by stealing. There is however a large percentage of unemployed people and desperation still overrule common sense at times. So normal rules hold true. Do not expose cash or articles of value. Be aware of pick-pockets. Do not walk alone and not at night. Keep out of empty streets. After doing shopping, do not unlock your parked car when you are still 10 meters away.
Emergency Contacts:
Hospital: Not available. Nearest Hospital is Inhambane 00258 (0) 293197.
Police: 00258 (0) 293 199