Practical Information
MOZAMBIQUE
Local Time
GMT +2
Electricity
220V AC 50Hs
Int. Dialing Code
+ 258
Travel documents and visas
Travelers to Mozambique must possess and travel on a valid travel document in form of either a national passport or a UNLP.
Visas should be preferably obtained prior to the arrival in Maputo at a Mozambican Embassy or Consulate. For travelers originating from countries where Mozambique has no representation, visas can be issued upon arrival at the airport in Maputo for US$25.
A passport valid for at least six months beyond the expected departure date from Mozambique is required. Passports should have at least one blank page for a visa stamp. An airport departure tax of US$20 is charged upon departure. The airport is about 1 km from city centre.
Media accreditation
A media accreditation is required for foreign journalists. The Accreditation Form must be obtained from the Department of Information (Gabinete de Informação). The contact details are as follows:
Tel: +258-21490049
Fax: +258-21492386
+258-21490209
Email: gabinfo@zebra.uem.mz
Address: Av. Francisco Orlando Munguambe, n° 780, 6° andar, Maputo, Moçambique.
In some cases, UNICEF can submit the Accreditation form on behalf of journalists travelling on a UNICEF-facilitated press trip, i.e. you have a pre-arranged visit coordinated through the UNICEF Mozambique Communication Section. In case of such organised trips, UNICEF can arrange interviews and briefings with key experts on children related issues and children who are suitable for the story pursued.
Communication
Mozambique is operating with two mobile service providers: mCel (+258-82) and VodaCom (+258-84). Both of them have good network coverage in Maputo province and in almost all areas of the country including Sofala province. Both of them have roaming with more than 100 countries including USA.
Health considerations
Travelers to Mozambique and its countryside may come across a couple of health hazards, which are broadly similar to other tropical countries. Some general precautions may be required and the following are broad recommendations. If you are on medication, please bring adequate supply, since it may be difficult in Mozambique to get special medication.
Please consult your family physician for vaccination requirements and malaria prophylaxis.
Ensure you are travelling with sufficient travel insurance, including a provision of emergency evacuation (this can be purchased through our travel agent if desired).
Immunisation
Travelers entering Mozambique from any of the 43 countries where yellow fever is known to exist must present a valid certification of vaccine against this disease. Any passenger who cannot present such a certificate may be requested to be vaccinated at the cost of 1,350 meticais (about 54 US dollars). It would be recommended that the following vaccines be administered or up-dated prior to coming to the country: Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, anti-polio and anti-meningoccocal meningitis vaccines.
Malaria chemoprophylaxis
Malaria is present throughout the year and risk of transmission by mosquitoes is much higher during rain fall season, from October-November to March. Though the condition is deemed dreadful it can be easily treated at its early stage. Preventative measures can be grouped as physical devices (mosquito netting) and chemical agents (environment or body sprays, lotions and sticks) aimed at reducing or preventing mosquito bites. The second group of prevention measures is the chemoprophylaxis, which consist of taking anti-malaria medication at sub-treatment dosage.
Diarrheal diseases
Diarrheal diseases including cholera are more frequent in Mozambique during the rainy season (October-November to end March). For prevention, simple precautions should be respected such as: strict avoidance of consumption of raw vegetables (salads etc.) and any homemade food sold on the streets e.g. fried foods and nuts. Fruits should be consumed only after washing and peeling. Only use bottled water. Seafood, such as prawns and shellfish, always carry a certain risk. As much as feasible, cooked food should be consumed right after preparation. Hand washing also remains a basic component of prevention.
Currency and payment
Mozambique’s currency is called Metical and the current (January 2008) exchange rate to the US$ 1.00 is MTs 23,62. In addition to MTs, both US$ and South African Rand currency is widely accepted.
Recognised travelers’ cheques may be cashed in Mozambique. Note that the transaction cost for such cashing is high.
Major international credit cards (VISA, MasterCard and Amex) may be used for payment at hotels, restaurants and some shops in Maputo and major towns, but rarely accepted elsewhere. ATMs are also available in Maputo and other major cities. Credit cards should be used with caution, due to the potential for fraud.
It is best to carry cash which should be changed at the private bureaux in Maputo (for better rates than banks).
Climate
The varied climate throughout the country is strongly influenced by altitude, proximity to the sea and the south coast trade winds of the Indian Ocean. The major zones are the intertropical zone, north of 20° S latitude where temperatures range between 20 to 36°C and the subtropical zone of the Southern Hemisphere, south of 20° S latitude, where temperatures range from 18 to 31°C.
The rainy season varies from 4 to 8 months in the Northern-Zone from November-December to March-June. The Southern-Zone is characterized by a subtropical anticyclone system and the main rains fall between October and March. Most of the country receives, on average, more than 1,000mm precipitation per annum and only the Zambeze valley, Tete, and the interior of Gaza and Inhambane provinces receive less than 600 mm. Mountainous areas have some 2,000 mm of rainfall. The driest areas of the country lie in the interior of Gaza Province.
Average temperatures and days of rainfall are given below:
Maputo
Maximum temperature
Jan Apr Jul Oct
31 25 23 25
Minimum temperature
Jan Apr Jul Oct
27 21 18 20
Rainfall days
Jan Apr Jul Oct
14 9 4 12
Beira
Maximum temperature
Jan Apr Jul Oct
33 29 25 27
Minimum temperature
Jan Apr Jul Oct
29 26 19 23
Rainfall days
Jan Apr Jul Oct
14 9 4 12
Geography
Mozambique is a large country covering a land area of approximately 80,000 sq. km. It lies on the east coast of Africa between 21°27' and 26°52' S latitude, and 30°12' and 40°51' E longitude. The country has one of the longest coastlines in Africa of almost 2,500 km. Mozambique is bordered to the north by Tanzania, to the west by Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and to the south by the Republic of South Africa, and Swaziland. It is traversed by nine rivers systems, the major ones being the Rovuma, the Limpopo, the Save and the Zambezi all flowing eastwards into the Indian Ocean.
There are three basic geographic divisions within Mozambique:
- The coastal belt and islands, composed of the lower Zambezi area and the coastal hinterland, which is approximately 100 km wide and which covers about 44% of the country;
- The middle plateau, west of the coast, rises to elevations of 200-600 meters, and covers about 29% of the country; and
- The upper plateau and highland regions, with average elevations of around 1,000 meters, which covers the remaining 27% of the country.
Vegetation includes open forest, dense tropical and subtropical rainforest and savannah. While much of the animal life was decimated during the years of conflict, there are efforts underway to reintroduce many species to the country and to conserve the diverse wildlife including the bird species, reefs and remaining larger mammals.
The country is divided into eleven provinces: Maputo, Maputo city, Gaza, Inhambane, Sofala, Manica, Tete, Zambezia, Nampula, Niassa and Cabo Delgado. Each of these is further sub-divided into districts.
