Catch A Dive

Mozambique is located in South Eastern Africa and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the South West.

Nelspruit to Maputo - approx. 2 hours

Johannesburg to Maputo - approx. 7 hours

Maputo to Inhambane - approx. 7 hours

Inhambane to Vilanculos - approx. 4 hours

Mozambique is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

South African passport holders do not need a visa to enter the country if the stay is less than 30 days. Other passport holders do require a visa. Please consult with your nearest consulate for costs and processing time.

Tobacco products: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars

Alcohol: 1 L of spirits and 2.25 L of wine per adult

Perfumes:  50 ml of perfume or 250 ml of Eau de Toilette

Pharmaceutical products: Quantity considered reasonable for personal consumption

Other goods: Up to the value of US$50

Mozambique boasts a tropical climate with two seasons, the wet season from October to March, and the dry season from April to September. Climatic conditions vary depending on the altitude

The official currency of Mozambique is the Metical (MT), divided into 100 Centavos. When traveling to Mozambique, take South Africa Rand (ZAR) or US Dollars (USD). Although many resorts and hotels accept ZAR currenc, exchange your money if you want to purchase anything from the markets, shops and petrol stations. Money can be exchanged at banks (closed between 12h00 – 14h00), local shops and even some markets.

Can I use my credit card?

Visa is the only accepted method of credit card payments at most large resorts and lodges in Mozambique.  The smaller lodges do not have credit card facilities and prefer cash payment. Rand is commonly used in Mozambique, as well as USD, Pound Sterling and the Euro.

Traveller’s cheques and debit cards are not accepted in Mozambique.

It is advised to tip small amounts to your lodge or hotel staff. At restaurants, it is customary to tip your waiters 10% of the bill.

The international country dialling code for Mozambique is +258.

Mozambique has a state owned cell phone provider, Mcel, Mobitell and the South African owned Vodacom Mozambique.  

Internet is readily available in Maputo, with many internet cafes and all major hotels boasting internet access. There is little internet coverage outside of Maputo, mostly available in tourist areas, including Inhambane and Xai Xai

South African style plugs with 2 circular metal pins above the large circular grounding pin is used in Mozambique.

Camping is only permitted in demarcated areas, not spoil the pristine beaches

Fires are only allowed in designated areas

Pets are not allowed in camping areas on the beach

Vehicles are not allowed in areas with no existing roads and driving on the beaches is not permitted

Use of fireworks and littering is prohibited on all beaches in Mozambique

A fishing sport license is required for all water sports and fishing competitions and can be obtained from the Maritime Administrator in each provincial capital. Boats are only allowed to be launched from access roads.

All tap water in Mozambique should be considered unsafe to drink. Please exercise caution and drink bottled water only.

1 January, New Year’s Day

3 February, Hero’s Day

7 April, Woman’s Day

1 May, Worker’s Day

25 June, Independence Day

7 September, Lusaka Agreement Day

25 September, Armed Forces Day

4 October, Peace Day

25 December, Family Day

Malaria is an acute flu-like illness caused by one of four species of parasites.

The disease is most commonly transmitted to humans through a bite of an infected mosquito, specifically the female Anopheles mosquito, a dusk-to-dawn biter.

When an Anopheles mosquito ingests blood from a malaria-infected person, malaria parasites develop in the mosquito and migrate into the mosquito's salivary glands. When the infected mosquito bites another human, malaria can be transmitted to that individual.

Malaria is endemic (i.e., constantly occurring) in most of sub-Saharan Africa and New Guinea; in large areas of South Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, Haiti, Central and South America; and in parts of Mexico, the Dominican Republic, North Africa and the Middle East. 

Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain and malaise. Rigors (severe shakes or muscle spasms) and chills often occur. Acute infection can cause enlargement of the spleen and make the liver tender. Cerebral malaria, which may occur with P. falciparum infection, affects the brain with symptoms such as personality change, confusion, lethargy and seizures.

The severity of the illness varies depending on which species of the malaria parasite is responsible for the infection.

You must seek medical attention as soon as possible for any unexplained fever that arises during or after travel to an area where malaria occurs.  

Treatment for malaria depends on several factors: the species of malaria causing infection, severity of infection, the age of the infected person, and the pattern of drug resistance to malaria treatment in the area where the infection was acquired.

If identified early and treated appropriately, almost all malaria can be completely cured. However, even short delays in the diagnosis of malaria can make treatment more difficult.

The Public health Agency strongly recommends that you obtain an individual risk assessment with a travel medicine physician or your family physician to determine both your risk of exposure to malaria and your need for appropriate preventive anti-malarial treatment as determined by your travel itinerary and medical history.

In general, two important measures can help prevent malaria infection: avoiding mosquito bites and using EFFECTIVE antimalarial medication.

1) Prevent bites

  Avoid mosquitoes by staying in an insect-proof area during the period of the day when mosquitoes bite.

  Prevent the bites of mosquitoes through physical barriers, such as clothing and bed nets, and chemical barriers such as the use of repellents and insecticides.

  Wear long-sleeved shirts (tightly weaved material, sleeves down, buttoned/zipped up, tucked into pants) and long pants (tucked into socks or footwear).

  Light-colored clothing may be less attractive to some mosquitoes and make mosquitoes more noticeable.

  Sleep under a mosquito net. The treatment (impregnation) of mosquito netting with insecticide (e.g., permethrin) substantially increases the protection of the net.

1) Use citronella-based products as repellents.

2) Use antimalaria medication