Not so long ago, by modern standards, Mozambique, which emerged from the crisis of the civil war, is developing at a high pace and offers foreign guests more and more comfortable options for recreation and entertainment. And there is something to see here: these are the world’s oldest archaeological finds dating back 2 million years, the best diving sites near Matemo Island, the fabulous nature of Bazaruto Island, deep sea fishing and many other beauties that you have to discover.

Geography of Mozambique

According to best-medical-schools, Mozambique is located in East Africa, bordering Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and South Africa and Swaziland to the south. From the east, the country is washed by the Indian Ocean, the length of the coastline is more than 3,000 kilometers. In the north of Mozambique, the plains of the East African Plateau extend.

Capital

Maputo

Area

The area of Mozambique is 801,590 km. sq., occupies the 35th place in the world by area.

Population

24 096 669

Currency

The national currency is Metical.

Language

Official language – Portuguese

Visa to Mozambique

To travel to Mozambique, you will need to apply for a tourist visa, you can do this at the Embassy of Mozambique in Moscow. The conditions for obtaining it are quite strict in comparison with other African countries. In particular, the validity of your passport must be at least 6 months, it will also require an invitation sent from Mozambique by fax to the Embassy and a completed application form, while the forms are available only at the consular department. The consular fee for a single-entry visa will be 50 US dollars, for a multiple-entry visa – 100. The visa processing time is 6 working days, the validity period is from 30 to 90 days, depending on the type. At the Embassy of Mozambique, you can apply for both double and triple entry visas.

Weather in Mozambique

The climate of Mozambique is rated as tropical, trade winds in the south and subequatorial and monsoonal in the north of the country. Natural disasters are not uncommon here, from November to May the country is overcome by tropical cyclones, and the rest of the time there is a painful drought. The temperature practically does not change during the year and is +20…+22 °C in the southern part and +25…+28 °C in the northern part. The tourist season is open in Mozambique from May to November, this is the time of the local winter and the most pleasant climatic conditions. If you are traveling to get acquainted with the local flora and fauna, then it would be appropriate to clarify that it is more convenient to watch birds from December to April, and animals from August to September.

Currency exchange in Mozambique

You can exchange money for local currency (metical) in Maputo banks (safer, but less profitable) or exchange offices (the exchange rate is better, the likelihood of fraud is higher). An exchange with private individuals in almost 100% of cases will turn out to be a scam, it is better not to risk it. Credit cards and traveler’s checks are almost never used for payment, with the exception of a few shops in the capital, they can be cashed in bank branches. They operate from Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 16:30, lunch break from 11:15 to 15:00. Saturday and Sunday are days off.

Electricity

Mains voltage 220V, 50 Hz. Sockets are standard European, with two horizontally arranged round pins.

Religion

According to the last census conducted more than 10 years ago, 24.25% of local residents admitted that they are not religious, although according to some data they may adhere to local beliefs, 24.2% identify themselves as Catholics, 17.8% as Muslims, 11.45% are Protestants, 18.7% preach synthesized cults that combine both ancient African religions and the foundations of Christianity, 3.6% of the population adhere to other religions.

Security

Despite the fact that the civil war in Mozambique is over, there is a high probability of stumbling upon unmarked mines, so independent movement around the country without a guide is highly discouraged. The population of Mozambique is very friendly and welcoming, which does not exclude the possibility of pickpocketing, so it is safer to leave valuables, including documents, jewelry and large sums of money in a hotel safe. If you want to go fishing, you must obtain a special permit in each individual province of Mozambique.

Health

In Mozambique, there is a possibility of contracting dysentery and various forms of hepatitis, so drinking unboiled water is strictly prohibited, and careful personal hygiene is mandatory. Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed before consumption. Vaccination before traveling to Mozambique is not mandatory, but it will be useful to take prophylaxis against malaria and get vaccinated against dengue fever.