Mozambique

Vast expanses of palm-fringed beach andlagoons with safe bathing, warm waters and good fishing. The country is rich in wildlifewith several excellent parks and reserves to glimpse rare birds, big game and abundant marine life. It also claims islands that are dotted with historical monuments.

Faces Facts 

Climate:Climate varies according to area. Inland is cooler than the coast and rainfall higher as the land rises, with most rain between January and March. Hottest and wettest season is October to March. From April to September the coast has warm, mainly dry weather tempered by sea breezes.

Best time to dive:Year round offers opportunities to dive and observe different marine animals and pelagics.

What you can see: manta rays, whale sharks, migrating humpback whales and if lucky their calves, sharks, dugong, dolphins, sailfish, swordfish, barracuda and many coral fish.

Visibility: 5 to 40 metres

Water Temperature: 22°C (72°F) in winter to 27°C (81°F) in summer

Languages spoken: Portuguese is the official language. Many local African languages, such as Tsonga, Sena Nyanja, Makonde and Macua, are also spoken.

ATM's and Banks: Banking hours Monday to Friday 07.30 to 15.30hrs. There are bureaux de change at the airports. Money can also be changed at banks. It is advisable to take US Dollars or South African Rand. Credit/Debit Cards are increasingly accepted in Maputo, but not generally beyond the capital.

Time Zone: GMT + 2

Voltage: 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz.

Health Regulations: Please consult your doctor or nearest health authorities for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure.

Visa Requirements: Passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond intended date of departure required by all nationals. Visas required by all nationals and a copy of the return tickets or a copy of the flight confirmation and either hotel/hostel booking confirmation or 1 (one) recent bank statement required when applying for a visa. Single Entry Visa: allows one entry and stay that can range from a minimum of one day to one month, renewable to a maximum of 90 days, provided that the Visa is still valid at the moment of application. Multiple Entry Visa: allows more than one entry during the validity of the Visa. The length allowed for visitors' stay during each entry will be spelt out in the Visa. A Multiple Entry Visa can have a validity of a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of 180 days.

Top Tip

Come equipped for some excellent birdwatching; there are many brightly coloured species along the coastline and the national parks of Gorongosa National Park and Marromeu National Park attract twitchers from the world over. Take a safari through some of the country's 12 different national parks and reserves. The big five (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino) can all be found here, and plenty more besides. Laze on white-sand beaches and swim in warm waters and lagoons on Mozambique's long coastline.