Getting Around Mozambique

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Cities served by

Air Corridor:
Beira - Sofala, Mozambique
Belém - Brazil.
Chingodzi - Tete, Mozambique.
Guarulhos - São Paulo, Brazil.
Lichinga - Niassa, Mozambique.
Maputo - Maputo, Mozambique.
Miami - Florida, USA.
Nampula - Nampula, Mozambique.
New York - New York, USA.
Pemba - Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.
Quelimane - Zambézia, Mozambique.
São Luís - Maranhão, Brazil.
Varginha -

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Bringing a car into Mozambique form South Africa can be a bit of a hassle. You need the following:
* A rental company that will allow you to drive into Mozambique/insure you
* The written authority from the company
* Authority from the Mozambique authorities
(The best place is in Nelspruit )
* A fee at the High Commission of Mozambique
* Another fee (small) at the border
* Slow down when you see speed limit signs
* Never give the Moz Police your licence or passport – they will keep it to get you to pay fines

I have listed the company below I used to rent my car. They are called Aroundaboutcars. Long name, great company.

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You do not need a 4-wheel drive vehicle in ‘Moz’, but it could help. I rented a small car (see pictures) in South Africa and drove over. The roads/highways vary between brand new and in good shape to dirt only. Often the road end without warning. I have listed some issues you will encounter:

• Toll Roads
The attendants are thieves. Ask for a receipt and count your change

• Speed traps/corrupt Police
Remain calm and polite. Always have your Passport in the trunk/boot of the car and never hand it over. Have photocopies of all documents and show those. If you are stopped by Police without a speed camera, you will need to bribe them. Sometimes just a cold drink or some food will do.

• Mud
Slow down and take your time. The big truck just went up the road, so can you. Even large ‘highways’ like the EN1 disappear for a while.

• Mud & rocks
In some villages the roads re slippery and there are big holes. I mean big. Take your time and do not go into large holes.

• Unpainted speed humps. The first time you hit one, you will hurt your teeth. Slow down, some towns have them. If you hit one, then the whole town has them.

• Stop and see the roadside sellers
You can get a bag of roasted cashews cheap

• Refuel often
Petrol garages are found about every 50 miles. Keep fuel in the car

• Take some supplies
Just snacks and drinks. Don’t go hungry!

• Road signs
Are sometimes only printed on one side of the road. Not much traffic. Stop and look back just to check where you are going.

Just snacks and drinks. Don’t go hungry!

• Landmines
Do not go wondering around in fields away from the road.

• Maputo
Has the craziest drivers in the region. Drive there as little as possible.

• Enjoy the ride. You see great scenery and you get used to the challenges after a while. Enjoy your journey!

WHY NOT LET THE TRAIN TAKE THE STRAIN?

There are 2 ways to get to/from Maputo by train from South Africa/Johannesburg. The Shongololo Express originates in South Africa and Mozambique has the rail company CFM
CFM website.

So if you do not want to drive you can avoid all the dangers of the roads in Moz. The Mozambique side is slower, but you can change trains just over the border in South Africa.

From Europe to Mozambique, the only direct flight to Maputo is from Portugal - Lisboa International Airport - with the national carrier - TAP Portugal. Otherwise you may go from Frankfurt to South Africa (Johannesburg) and from there to Maputo International Airport.

Many resorts in Southern Mozambique will fetch you from the SA/Mozambique border post, with prior arrangement. To travel on these roads, you need a 4x4. It is not difficult driving - deflate your tyres and go slowly. 25km/hour is the max we could go. If you get stuck, stop, take a photo, deflate your tyres a little more, and dig the sand away from around the wheel. The "roads" criss cross over dunes, intersect each other, fork ("which way now, left or right?") and come together again. We just kept the sea on our right hand side on the way north, and on the left hand side going south. It's an easy adventure.

The road from the South Africa border, all the way up to Barra beach was newly paved. There were a few bad areas (and we heard nightmares about the roads), but overall, the road was great. It took us 2 days of driving from Johannesburg with hardly any hold-ups. We rented a cheap little VW golf. If there were giant pot-holes, we would have fallen in. That little VW was amazing. It went everywhere.

A small plane fly from Maputu to Inhaca island, on the island is a very small airport......actully just a office.........and a basic landing strip, There is no public transport, the Inhaca island lodge has a tractor( see my next tip, ) thats collects their guests, so arrange with them for transport or ask where you have booked, thats if you arriving by plane.