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Mozambique Practical information Mozambique

 
 
Area : 308641  sq.mi - Population 17400000 hab.
Mozambique

Our expert Mozambique

map

map Mozambique

Weather

Practical information Mozambique

superficie

Area

308641  sq.mi
vol

Flights

12 hrs London-Maputo.
decallage horaire

Jet Lag

population

Population

17400000 hab.
aeroports proche

Airports

Maputo international airport is a 15 minute drive north from the city centre (2 miles) and Beira airport is a 25 minute drive from the city centre (8 miles). The bus network is not very efficient, you are better off taking a taxi, which will cost roughly 200,000 meticals.
A $20(£14) tax will be demanded from you when disembarking from an international flight.
securite

Security

A recent increase in crime has been reported around the capital city Maputo and its industrial suburb Matola, where some attacks (sometimes armed) take place at nighttime but seldom in broad daylight.
General advice: caution is advised in the centre and the south of the country. The latest floods have washed away the markers which indicated the presence of land mines, so do not stray from the main roads and follow any safety instructions which you may come across rigorously. Theft is rife in towns and cities; avoid walking around at night. There has also been an increase in reports of carjacking; avoid driving after dusk and do not pick up hitchhikers, or apparently distressed motorists.
langue

Languages

Portuguese is the official language. English is more widely spoken in touristy areas. There are a dozen national languages. The two most widely spoken are Makua (38%) and Tsonga (24%). Major ethnic groups: Shangaan, Makua and Sena who represent 99% of the population. There are also some mixed race communities (0.2%), European communities (0.06%) and Indian communities (0.08%).
formalites

Requirements

A valid passport is required and a visa is mandatory. Bring the form to fill in, a photocopy of your return ticket and a document from your travel agency certifying the purchase of your plane ticket. Only cash is accepted and the visa is issued to the embassy within 3 days.
religion

Religion

Mozambicans are 50% Animists, 30% Muslims and 20% Catholics.
monnaie

Currency

The national currency is the Metical, but the Dollar is the more highly valued currency. Credit cards and travellers cheques are almost unheard of outside of Maputo, although some tourist areas do accept Visa cards. Meticals can be withdrawn from ATM machines, but bring a good supply of Dollars with you in cash. Banks are open to the public during the week from 8:00am to 11:00am and from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.
transports

Local transportation

You drive on the left in Mozambique and an international driving license is compulsory. Tarred roads are few and far between and road signs are non-existent. Prepare well for any trips that you take. There are many mud tracks, so it is necessary to rent a 4x4 vehicle. Europcar rental and Hertz car rental can be found in the cities; take out a third party insurance policy. Bear in mind that petrol stations can be up to 300 miles apart, but there are buses (although overcrowded and slow) and many taxis available: the fare for a ride into town costs 3,000 meticals, you will have to negotiate the fare for a longer distance. As for the railway network, it is reduced to a few lines which are almost exclusively reserved for goods transport. The national air company LAM operates many flights linking up the cities, although delays are frequent.
sante

Health

Vaccinations against yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria and poliomyelitis are recommended and an antimalaria treatment must be taken with the utmost rigour. Choose good medical repatriation insurance and favour private clinics to hospitals. Drink bottled water, ensuring the seal has not been broken; peel fruit and cook vegetables well. Also be aware that cholera is widespread in and around Maputo and in disadvantaged areas.
electricite

Electricity

Voltage is 220 V. Adapters are not necessary.
frequentation

Flood of tourists

taxe

Taxes and tips

telephone

Telephone

To call Mozambique, dial 00 258 followed by the required regional code (Maputo: 1; Beira: 3; Quelimane: 4; Nampula: 6) and the number that you are trying to reach.
To call from Mozambique to the UK: 00 + 44 + no. (excluding the initial 0).