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Former Name: Portuguese East Africa

Capital: Maputo (former name Lourenço Marques)

Size: 799 380 sq km / 308 642 sq miles

Population: 18 292 000

Ethnic Groups: Makua, Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, Sena, Makonde, Euro-Africans, Indians, Europeans (mainly of Portuguese origin)

Languages: Portuguese, Bantu languages like Makua-Lomwe, Sena-Nyanja, Tsonga, other native languages

Local time: GMT +2

System: metric

Driving: on the left hand side of the road; you need an international or South African driving license.

Mozambique lies along the Mozambique Channel with lower plains at the coast rising towards the centre (150 to 600 m / 500 to 2 000 ft). In the west you find plateaus (1 800 to 2 400 m / 6 000 to 8 000 ft), in the north mountains rise high (over 2 400 m / 8 000 ft, the highest being Monte Namuli with 2 419 m / 7 937 ft). Five rivers dominate the country: Zambezi, Limpopo, Save, Lugenda and Ruvuma. Mozambique's border with Malawi runs partly through Lake Nyasa (also known as Lake Malawi), excluding the Malawian islands, whereas the river Ruvuma marks the border with Tanzania.

The climate is tropical in the north and subtropical in the south. Mozambique sees a dry season from April to September and a wet season from October to March and with average temperatures hovering between 27°C and 31°C / 80°F and 88°F. The higher interior is always slightly cooler and gets more rain.

Visas are required by all nationals and are usually issued for one month. You can apply for your visa at the airport in Maputo, major overland border posts or at embassies of Mozambique. In order to obtain a visa, your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months. Extensions can be applied for in Maputo for up to 90 days if you have proof of onward travel. Children ID's are generally accepted.
If you would like to leave and re-enter the country (if going to Kruger Park in South Africa, for example), you need to have a multiple entry visa (visto mùltiplo) which needs to be applied for from abroad.

Diplomatic Embassies and High Commissions of Mozambique
 

Germany Stromstr. 47 10551 Berlin Germany .	Tel. ++49 30 39 87 65 00  Fax ++49 30 39 87 65 03 emoza@aol.com . .
United Kingdom 21 Fitzroy Square London W1T 6EL United Kingdom .	Tel. ++44 20 7383 3800 Fax ++44 20 7383 3801  Mozalon@compuserve.com . .
United States 1990 M St, NW Suite 570 Washington, DC 20036 United States .	Tel. ++1 202 293 7146, ++1 202 293 7149 Fax ++1 202 835 0245 embamoc@aol.com www.embamoc-usa.org . .

Diplomatic Embassies and High Commissions in Mozambique
 

European Union Avenida Julyus Nyerere 2820 Maputo Mozambique .	Tel. ++ 258 1 494 949 Fax ++ 258 1 491 866 mailto@delmoz.cec.eu.int . .
Germany 506 Rua Damião de Góis Maputo Mozambique Postal Address: Embaixada da República Federal da Alemanha, Caixa Postal 1595, Maputo, Mozambique .	Tel. ++258 1 49 27 14; ++258 1 49 29 96 Fax ++258 1 49 28 88 germaemb@tvcabo.co.mz germaemb@isb.co.mz . . .
United Kingdom 310 Avenida Vladimir Lenine Maputo Mozambique Postal Address: Caixa Postal 55, Maputo, Mozambique ..	Tel. ++258 1 420 111, ++258 1 420 112, ++258 1 420 115, ++258 1 420 116, ++258 1 420 117 Fax ++258 1 321666  bhc@virconn.com consular.MAPUT@fco.gov.uk bhc.maputo@teledata.mz .
United States 193 Avenida Kenneth Kaunda Maputo Mozambique Postal Address: Caixa Postal 783, Maputo, Mozambique .	Tel. ++258 1 49 27 97, ++258 1 49 16 59, ++258 1 49 01 67, ++258 1 49 12 15 Fax ++258 1 49 01 14 www.usembassy-maputo.gov.mz . . .

others:
 

Austria: . .	Tel. ++258 1 497 304, ++258 1 497 306, Fax ++258 1 497 304, coopamoz@teledata.mz .
Belgium: 470 Av. Kenneth Kaunda, Maputo, Mozambique .	embelmoz@virconn.com . .
Denmark: 1162 Av. Julius Nyerere, Maputo, Mozambique .	Tel. ++258 1 480 000, Fax ++258 1 480 001, mpmamp@um.dk . .
Finland: 1128 Av. Julius Nyerere, Maputo, Mozambique .	Tel. ++258 1 490 578, ++258 1 491 660, Fax ++258 1 491 661, finemb@virconn.com .
France: 2361 Av. Julius Nyerere, Maputo, Mozambique .	Tel. ++258 1 490 444, ++258 1 491 693, Fax ++258 1 491 727, ambfrmoz@vircom.com .
Ireland: 213 Rua Damião de Gois, Maputo, Mozambique .	Tel. ++258 1 491 441, Fax ++258 1 493 023, ireland@virconn.com .
Italy: 387 Av. Kenneth Kaunda, Maputo, Mozambique .	Tel. ++258 1 491 605, ++258 1 492 227, ++258 1 492 229, Fax ++258 1 492 046, ambasciata@italia.gov.mz .
Netherlands: 285 Rua de Mukumbura, Maputo,Mozambique .	Tel. ++258 1 490 031, ++258 1 490 033, Fax ++258 1 490 429, map@mimbuza.nl .
Portugal: 720 Av. Julius Nyerere, Maputo, Mozambique .	Tel. ++258 1 491 616, ++258 1 490 316, ++258 1 490 319, Fax ++258 1 491 725, jfranco@embpormaputo.org.mz .
Spain: 347 Rua Damião de Gois, Maputo, Mozambique . .	Tel. ++258 1 492 025, ++258 1 492 028, ++258 1 492 030, ++258 1 492 048, Fax ++258 1 494 769, embespmz@correo.mae.es .
Sweden: 1128 Av. Julius Nyerere, Maputo, Mozambique .	Tel. ++258 1 490 091, ++258 1 490 094, ++258 1 492 370, Fax ++258 1 490 056, ambassaden.maputo@sida.se .

 

1 Metical (MZM) = 100 Centavos; Plural Meticais
1000 Meticais = 1 Conto

US Dollars and South African Rand are the best currencies to bring for exchange at banks and foreign exchange bureaus. In some cases, you can even pay with them directly. Traveller cheques are not widely accepted, and commissions can be high. Credit cards are also not widely used and cash advance on them can be expensive and slow. ATM's are a good alternative to get cash in bigger cities, mostly at branches of Banco International de Moçambique or Banco Comercial de Moçambique.

Banks are usually open Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 15.00.

Country code: ++258. City code Maputo: 01. Mobile phone codes: 082 and 083
International access code from Mozambique: 00
Internet code: .mz

Calls can be made from telecom offices in major towns as well as from coin and card phone boxes. Internet cafes are increasing in numbers in all major towns.

Post offices are usually open Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 17.00 as well as Saturday mornings.

Electricity

Mozambique uses 220 V / 240 V / 50 Hz.
The plug is either a round pin attachment plug, a Schuko plug and receptacle with side grounding contacts or a South African plug.

Air

Linhas Aéras de Moçambique as well as South African Airways serve the Johannesburg – Maputo route. Linhas Aéras de Moçambique also goes to / from Dar es Salaam and Harare and also offers flights to Lisbon. Maputo to / from Durban can be flown on South African Airways. 
Please note that upon departure all passengers must pay an airport tax (20 US$ for intercontinental, 10 US$ for regional and 5 US$ for domestic flights) in cash (US Dollars, Meticais or South African Rand).

Overland

Driving

The main border crossings are: 

From Malawi: Mwanza - Zóbuè, Dedza, Vila Nova da Fronteira, Mulanje - Milange, Nayuchi - Entre Lagos and Chiponde – Mandimba

From South Africa: Ressango Garcia and Kosi Bay

From Swaziland: Lomahasha – Namaacha

From Tanzania: Kilambo - Namoto and Moçimboa do Rovuma

From Zambia: Chanida - Cassacatiza and Luanowa - Zumbo (at Lake Cabora Bassa)

From Zimbabwe: Nyamapanda - Changara, Mutare - Manica and Espungabera

If you enter Mozambique with a vehicle that is not registered in Mozambique, you have to get a temporary import permit (TIP) and third party insurance at the border. In addition, every person crossing into the country overland has to pay an immigration tax at the border crossing. It is usually not permitted to take a rental car from South Africa into the country; clear with your car rental agency.

Bus

From Malawi: All of the Malawi – Mozambique border crossings can be reached by bus or minibus, although Dedza might be difficult.
From Blantyre, you can catch a minibus to the Mwanza – Zóbuè border crossing and then continue to Tete, or you can go via Nsanje to the Vila Nova da Fronteira border crossing and then take a bus to Vila de Sena and finally Caia. Also from Blantyre, you can choose to use the Mulanje – Milange border crossing if you want to go to Mocuba and then either to Nambpula or Quelimane. From Liwonde, take a bus to the Nayuchi – Entre Lagos border crossing and then continue to Cuamba. The route Mangochi via Namwera to the Chiponde – Mandimba border crossing and then to Cuamba can also be done by bus.

From South Africa: Johannesburg and Pretoria via Nelspruit to Maputo can be done either in one stretch by bus or by several minibus trips where you have to change buses at the Ressano Garcia border crossing. Buses via Swaziland also link Durban with Maputo.

From Swaziland: Minibuses head off in Maputo and Mbabane for the Lomahasha – Namaacha border from where there are connections to Maputo.

From Tanzania: The land border crossing at Moçimboa do Rovuma can be reached by minibus from Newala. From there you can take other minibuses to Mueda.

From Zambia: Entering Mozambique by bus or minibus from Zambia is rather complicated due to the infrequent services. 

From Zimbabwe: From Harare, catch a minibus to the Nyamapanda border crossing and then continue to Changara, from where you can get to Tete. If you want to go to Beira, catch a minibus from Harare to the Mutare – Manica border crossing and then continue to Chimoio. The Espungabera border crossing is hard to do without your own car.

Train

From Malawi: Blantyre as well as Lilongwe (via Liwonde and Balaka) are linked to the Nayuchi – Entre Lagos border crossing. From there, you can catch a train to Cuamba and then either north towards Lichinga or east to Nacala or Moçambique via Nampula. 

From South Africa: There are trains connecting Johannesburg and Pretoria with Maputo via Nelspruit and the Ressango Garcia border crossing. Durban is also linked to Maputo by train via Swaziland.

From Swaziland: The Maputo – Durban railway line runs through Swaziland. The Maputo – Nelspruit line has a connection to Barberton, which is close to the Swazi border as well. 

From Zimbabwe: From Somabhula (near Gweru) you can go north via Harare and then cross into Mozambique at the Mutare – Manica border crossing from where the train runs to Beira via Chimoio. Alternatively, you travel southeast to Maputo via Chókwé (the train crosses the border at Sango – Chicualacuala). 

Boat

From Malawi, the Ilala ferry starts in Nkhotakota and crosses over Lake Malawi to Metangula and Cobuè (both Mozambique). It then continues back to the Malawi side via Likoma Island to Nkhata Bay. The journey is also possible vice versa. There are also boats, which run between Senga and Meponda.

Mozambique Channel:
If you want to cover longer distances by boat, passenger and cargo boats will take you from Durban to Maputo, Beira, Nacala, and Pemba.
 

Map of Mozambique

Provided map not to scale and for orientation purpose only.

Click for larger version