10 Tips to travel in Mozambique

Posted on by admin
  1. Be prepared to spend. Africa is more expensive than other tourist destinations, like Asia or sometimes even Europe. Accommodation can be expensive, also the food. But don’t be scared, there are chances to make it low budget, you always need to bargain to get better prices. An Argentinean fellow was traveling Africa just asking for rides, arriving at the communities, and just living like a local just by asking what can I do? He was always welcomed and he managed to enjoy a fun yet low-budget vacation.
  2. Respect the traffic rules. In Mozambique, you will drive on the left side. The speed limit in populated areas is 60, and they are very strict about it. There is a reason, the main roadway of Mozambique (EN1) going parallel to the coastline crosses many little towns that developed along with this main connector, therefore a lot of people are walking on the side of the road. Additionally, the minibusses can suddenly stop or drive in front of you, so better be careful.
  3. Bring cash… in case you didn’t follow the previous tip then be prepared to pay a fine. The traffic control is often on the side of the road waiting for you to speed, in those situations where it is not clear if you are still in a built-up area (60km/h) or already outside of it (80km/h). Sometimes they are hidden with a speed detector machine, be prepared to be blackmailed. Here you can find all the driving information you need.
  4. Preferably rent a 4×4 vehicle if you plan to drive around Mozambique. In general, the main roads are in good condition, although if you plan to explore and adventure a bit more you will find rough ways that can only be driven by those vehicles. Some places offer to pick you up, and parking your car, you can pay around 30 dollars altogether.
  5. Drive during daylight, is the most secure and recommended option. There is not much to explain here, is just common sense. Plus, you will observe better the landscape and ways of living. Consider that Mozambique is a big country, driving from one location to another can take longer than expected.
  6. If you like a good beach vacation, this is the place. You have many options, it depends on what you want. Plan your accommodation with time if you come in high season, or you can be more spontaneous in low season, booking the hotel on the same day can save u up to 40%, not bad but always risky.
  7. Buy a sim card. It is very practical and cheap, plus there is a good connection infrastructure here, you can always be informed about the routes, weather, hotels, etc., even in remote places. With Vodafone, you can get it for 5 MT and 200 MT for 2GB, which is around 4 dollars.
  8. Get a manicure or a haircut. Oh yeah! Why not start your vacation with a refreshing new look? Beauty salons are famous here, and the price difference compared to Europe is enough to consider it. I got a gel manicure at Well cut Hair Salon, that made me look pretty hands during the whole vacation. This is in Jardim Dona Berta in Maputo, you can ask for the friendly Sara or Marta.
  9. Talk to people, they are extremely friendly and you can see they want to do their best effort. The services in hotels, restaurants, and shops are good, they are very approachable and in general you can communicate in English. Plus, if you are learning Portuguese this is the perfect place to let go of your shyness when talking.
  10. Open your eyes, and realize first-world problems are not so serious when you compare them with daily life situations here. To go to work or school people need to walk extremely long distances. Even in Maputo, people make long queues when the working day is over to wait for buses to go back home.