Frequently Asked Questions about Mozambique (FAQ)

Mozambique is a very safe and relaxed country, and Mozambicans are quiet and friendly people. You will feel immediately at ease here. Last December and January there were many protests against the current government and lots of road blocks. Right now it is quiet in Mozambique and fortunately most embassies have changed the travel advisory back to yellow. Vilanculos has always been quiet and is with its international airport easily accessible. The province of Cabo Delgado in the far north is still experiencing some sad problems and unrest. The rest of the country is perfectly safe to visit.  

From Amsterdam and most major European cities there are direct flights to Johannesburg where you can continue with Airlink to Vilanculos (Johannesburg- Vilanculos 1.5 hours). There are also direct flights with Airlink from Johannesburg to Beira (for Gorongosa National Park) or Nampula (for Mozambique island).

Alternatively, fly to the capital Maputo directly with TAP Airlines from Lisbon, or with a stopover with Qatar Airways, Emirates, or Ethiopian Airlines. Etiopian Airlines also flies to Beira from Europe (with stopover), handy for your visit to Gorongosa National Park.

From London, Ethiopian Airlines has the best connections and fares to Mozambique. KLM partner Kenya Airways flies via Malawi to Nampula in the north, an good connection to combine Mozambique with Malawi.

Mozambique is well known for it’s beautiful unspoiled coastline, pristine beaches, unique ocean safaris, snorkeling and diving, but there is so much more to do than ocean activities.

Did you know Mozambique also has the Big Five? 

Zinave National Park, Mozambique’s first Big Five Park offers a true and authentic bush experience, bordering the  mighty Save river. Gorrongosa National Park is unique and breathtaking. Maputo National Park is unique as here you can see the 2 largest mammals on earth in one day: the elephant and whale.

UNESCO World Heritage listed Ilha de Mozambique is a fascinating mysterious place and a must-see visit if you are interested in culture, history and food. Both Maputo and Inhambane are interesting cultural cities to visit, with colourful markets and great local food.

Diving, snorkeling, Marlin & deep sea fishing, wellness, yoga and meditation, kitesurfing, Horseriding and Horseback Riding Holidays, a Dhow sailing safari by traditional Dhow, a local cooking workshop or visit the local markets,  there are plenty of things to do in Mozambique.

Mozambique is also the perfect place to be. It’s a peaceful, tranquil and warm plac, perfect to relax and sit back.

Mozambique is nice and warm all year round and can be visited almost in every season. The period between December 15 and January 15 is less recommended due to school vacations in South Africa (high season) and the February/March period is rain and cyclone season. Gorongosa National Park is closed from mid-December to early April and some accommodations close in February for maintenance and upkeeping.

April, May, September, October and November are very beautiful and the winter months of July and August are a lot cooler with pleasant daytime temperatures and much cooler evenings. July until the end of September is the best time to see the humpback whales. If you are tied to school holidays, May is the quietest period and a very nice month. In July/August the whales can be seen but international flights are often a lot more expensive.

The current visa procedure for travellers and tourists is much easier than before and a lot of nationalities don’t need to apply for a visa in advance –  you can get your tourist visa on arrival. For example passport holders from The Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Portugal, USA, United Kingdom can get visas on arrival  (please check with me for the whole list). If your first port of call in Mozambique is Vilanculos, obtaining a visa on arrival is usually a very easy and straightforward process. You will need to pay 10 Euro or 11 USD for your visa and your passport needs to be valid for a minimum of 6 months, with a minimum of 2 consecutive white pages, a print out of your accommodation reservation and a return flight ticket if traveling by air. The visa is valid for 30 days.

Sure, self-drive in Mozambique is possible but with Unique Mozambique I do not offer self-drive holidays. I prefer to create and focus on relaxed and tailor-made experiences and want to work with local reliable transfer companies. Gorongosa National Park also does not allow self-driving. Parts of the National Road (N1) in Mozambique are in a very poor state, with a lot of police checks. I do not want you to stress about your rental car during your holiday.

Yes, Mozambique is a malaria-endemic area. It is your personal choice to take malaria prevention or not. The local hospitals are very good in detecting and treating malaria.

Leave that one to me! It all depends on your wishes, needs and budget. Have a look around my website and travel blogs and share your wishes with me. That’s how we can create unique experiences.

Mozambique is perfect for children! It is a very safe and relaxed country and Mozambicans love children! The waters are warm and places like Vilanculos, situated around a shallow bay and calm warm waters, are ideal. Your older children will love activities such as kite surfing, coconut cutting, snorkeling, horse riding on the beach or just playing football with the locals.

Yes you can. Mastercard is not accepted everywhere, Visa is fine. Most major towns have working ATM’s and a lot of the restaurants also have card machines. Cash is king though and it’s always good to have cash to buy local products here in Mozambique. It’s easy to take out money from an ATM or change money once you arrive here.

Mozambique has very good internet! A lot of places now have Starlink with fast and unlimited Wifi. Where there is no Wifi you can buy a local SIM card and buy data, which is cheap and works very well.