Mozambique

Mozambique - Tour Highlights & Travel Tips

Mozambique’s main attractions are its islands and its endless, largely undeveloped coastline. The Quirimbas and Bazaruto archipelagos are great to relax on the beach, and to see some amazing marine life. Maputo Special Reserve is an excellent spot for ocean safaris, as well as for seeing elephants and other terrestrial wildlife in a coastal setting. Niassa and Gorongosa both have enormous potential to become top wildlife destinations with four of the Big Five present, though tourist facilities are limited at present.

Mozambique - Tour Highlights & Travel Tips

• Great ocean safaris
• Beautiful island resorts
• Off-the-beaten-track safari destinations
• Big conservation efforts, many parks recovering from poaching
• Direct flights to Bazaruto and the Quirimbas make them perfect add-on beach destinations
• Wildlife densities and variety not as good as in other countries
• Tourist facilities are very limited in most parks
• Logistics to travel around the country are difficult

2. Wildlife & Animals – Mozambique

Mozambique isn’t a prime wildlife destination. Infrastructure and facilities are limited in some parks, but animal numbers are slowly on the increase. Maputo Special Reserve offers great ocean safaris and elephants are easily spotted on land. Niassa and Limpopo are both vast ecosystems with a good variety of animals and Gorongosa is home to four of the Big Five, and offers the best all-round classic safari at present.

The Mozambican coast is home to some of the healthiest coral ecosystems in the world. The reefs are teeming with colorful fish. Humpback whales migrate through these waters and several types of dolphin are around throughout the year. There are five types of turtle, and Bazeruto is one of the last strongholds on the East African coast for the mysterious dugong.

The best classic wildlife-viewing time coincides with the Dry season (May to October) when water is scarce and animals congregate around waterholes and rivers. The bush is less dense at this time, and animals are easier to spot. Some roads might become impassable during the Wet season (November to April). The wettest months are January and February, and the south of the country sometimes experiences heavy flooding during those months. Other activities such as ocean safaris, snorkeling and diving can usually be done throughout the year, although the water is mostly clear and calm with the best visibility from April to June and from September to November.

3. Best Time to Visit – Mozambique

The best time for wildlife viewing in Mozambique is from July to October, the middle to the end of the Dry season. The bush has thinned out and animals congregate around the few remaining water sources. Mozambique is mostly visited as a beach destination. The coastal resorts can be visited throughout the year, but January and February tend to be very wet which might spoil a beach holiday. Diving and snorkeling is at its best from April to June and from September to November. During these months the water is clear and calm, and visibility is very good.

May to October – Dry Season – Winter

• Wildlife viewing is at its best
• Little rain, and the skies are blue
• Less chance of malaria, with fewer mosquitoes around
• Diving and snorkeling conditions are best for parts of this season
• Humpback whales migrate from June to November
• Mornings game drives will be cool, particularly in June, July and August
• July and August can be windy on the coast

November to April – Wet Season – Summer

• Scenery is green and lush
• Sea breezes on the coast make the heat bearable
• Newborn animals can be seen
• Turtle nesting season
• Best time for bird watching
• Rains are mostly afternoon showers
• Wildlife is more difficult to see
• Some dirt roads become impassable
• Malaria is a bigger concern than in the Dry season
• Very hot, humid and rainy

4. Getting There – Mozambique

Mozambique's main airport is Maputo International Airport (MPM), located about 3km/2mi from the capital, Maputo.

Mozambique is mainly a self-drive destination. You can either rent a car in Maputo Airport or in Johannesburg, from where you can drive to Maputo. Mozambique is a large country, so unless you have a couple of months, most self-drive is restricted to the south of the country.

Many tourists come to Mozambique for a beach holiday in Bazeruto Archipelago in the south or Quirimba Archieplago in the north. CR Aviation runs scheduled flights to some of the lodges in these archipelagos.

Passport, Visa and Other Entry Requirements

• A passport is required for all foreign visitors and has to be valid for at least six months.
• Passports must have at least three empty pages.
• Citizens of most countries require a visa and this needs to be obtained in advance from a Mozambican Embassy or Consulate.
• Citizens of neighboring countries to Mozambique don’t need a visa and will get a 30-day entry permit on arrival.
• When arriving from a yellow-fever-infected country, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required