Mozambique
At A glance
Capital City: Maputo
Land size: 786,380 sq km
Population: 31,693,239 (2022 est.)
Official language: Portuguese
Currency: Metical (MT / MZN)
UNESCO properties and sites: Island of Mozambique
Source: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mozambique/
Mozambique offers a perfect blend of idyllic beaches, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality. Discover the stunning beaches and turquoise waters of the Bazaruto Archipelago, where coral reefs teem with marine life and pristine sandbanks. Immerse yourself in the warm hospitality of the Mozambican people, experiencing their vibrant traditions, savoring flavorful cuisine, and embracing the relaxed rhythm of life.
Mozambique offers a haven for equestrian enthusiasts, with its stunning coastline, diverse landscapes, and warm hospitality. Whether you're an experienced rider seeking thrilling adventures or a novice looking to connect with the spirit of Africa amidst stunning surroundings, Mozambique will not disappoint you!
Brief History
In the first half of the second millennium A.D., northern Mozambican port towns were frequented by traders from Somalia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, and India. The Portuguese were able to wrest much of the coastal trade from Arab Muslims in the centuries after 1500 and to set up their own colonies. Portugal did not relinquish Mozambique until 1975. Large-scale emigration, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid-1990s. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992.
Source: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mozambique/
Cultural Insights
Greetings are lengthy and involve inquiring into the health of each other's family. People generally stand close together and are physically affectionate.
Source: https://www.everyculture.com/Ma-Ni/Mozambique.html
Transportation
By Air
Maputo’s international airport is the main port of arrival for international visitors. You can fly in directly from Lisbon, Doha and other major African airports such as Johannesburg and Nairobi.
Source: https://www.aeroporto-maputo.com/en/maputo_international_airport.php
Money
It is not possible to enter or exit the country with more than 500 Meticais.
US dollars and South African rand are the main exchange currencies.
Credit cards are increasingly accepted in the larger cities. You should tell your bank before using your card in Mozambique.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mozambique
Health
If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 08911 or 21313103 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.
Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
All health care providers require payment at the time of or before providing service. Most do not accept credit cards.
Hospital facilities are generally poor in Mozambique, especially in the north of the country. In cases of serious illness or injury, medical evacuation to South Africa may be necessary.
Check with Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure your medication is legal to bring into the country. Always, carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mozambique
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Mozambique.html
Electricity
Mozambique operates on a 220V supply voltage and uses type C, F and M plugs.
The Type C electrical plug (or Europlug) is a two-wire plug that has two round pins. It fits into any socket that accepts 4.0 – 4.8 mm round contacts on 19 mm centres. They are being replaced by E, F, J, K or N sockets which work perfectly with Type C plugs.
The Type F electrical plug (also known as a Schuko plug) has two 4.8 mm round pins spaced 19 mm apart. It is similar to the Type E plug but has two earth clips on the side rather than a female earth contact. The CEE 7/7 plug was developed to work with sockets E and F and has grounding clips on both sides (to work with Type F sockets) and a female contact (to accept the grounding pin of the type E socket).
The Type M plug has three round pins in a triangular pattern and looks similar to the Indian Type D plug, but its pins are much larger. Type M plugs are sometimes used for bigger appliances in countries that make use of Type D plugs, as well as in Israel (Type H). Therefore, sockets in these countries sometimes work with Type M plugs.
Source: https://www.iec.ch/world-plugs
Communication
Time zone in Mozambique: Central Africa Time (GMT+2)
International country code – 258
Mozambqiue is one of the first countries in the region to embark upon telecom reform and to open the sector to competition. A new licensing regime ensured that by mid-2019 all operators had been provided with universal licenses, enabling them to offer all types of telephony and data services.
In recent years the government has enforced the registration of SIM cards, but with varying success. At the end of 2016 almost five million unregistered SIM cards were deactivated but poor monitoring meant that the process was revisited in mid-2019 and again in late 2020.
Source: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mozambique/
Phrasebook
| English |
Portuguese |
| Hello! |
Olá |
| Goodbye |
Adeus |
| Good morning |
Bom dia |
| Good evening |
Boa tarde |
| Good night |
Boa note |
| Please |
Por favor |
| Thank you |
Obrigada (if you are female), obrigado (if you are male) |
| Yes |
Sim |
| No |
Não |
Source: https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/basic-portuguese-words-phrases-for-travel
https://www.visitbrasil.com/en/essential-informations/
Entry Requirements
You will need a visa to enter Mozambique. If you’re a tourist or travelling for work purposes from a country where there is a Mozambican diplomatic mission, you must get the appropriate visa before travelling.
If you’re travelling from a country where there is no Mozambican diplomatic or consular representation, you should apply for a visa from the nearest country with a Mozambican diplomatic mission before travelling.
You must present on entry a return air ticket (for air travelers) and either an invitation from family / friends or a confirmed hotel reservation.
Your passport should be valid for 6 months from the date you arrive and have at least two blank pages.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mozambique/entry-requirements#visas
Embassies and Consulates
U.S. Embassy in Maputo
Avenida Marginal, 5467
Maputo
Tel: +258 840958000
High Commission of Canada in Maputo
Avenida Kenneth Kaunda 1138
Maputo
Tel: 258 (21) 244-200
Source: for USA https://www.usembassy.gov/
For Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/assistance/embassies-consulates
UNESCO Sites
Island of Mozambique
The fortified city of Mozambique is located on this island, a former Portuguese trading-post on the route to India. Its remarkable architectural unity is due to the consistent use, since the 16th century, of the same building techniques, building materials (stone or macuti) and decorative principles.
Source: https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/mz