Mozambique Travel Overview
At a glance
Capital: Maputo
Official language: Portuguese
Currency: Metical
Continent: East Africa
White beach on the Indian Ocean
Mozambique has a long history to be discovered and beautiful beaches where you can relax.
Location
According to Countryaah, Mozambique is a country in southern Africa. It has national borders with Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa and a coast to the Indian Ocean. Madagascar lies off the coast.
Background
Although the country was under Portuguese colonial rule and Portuguese is still the official language, the country joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1996. The communication with English is therefore now good.
Useful information
Mozambique still has a relatively large amount of fish, as it is still outside the fishing areas of the large fishing fleets. Some islands off the mainland have a long fishing tradition.
The country has a long history. The former empire had trade relations with India and China from the 13th to the 15th centuries. You can find it in the museum in the capital Maputo.
Highlights
Mozambique’s long coast means there are many opportunities for bathing on the beach. The diving paradise Ponta d’Ouro is 120km south of Maputo.
Important facts
Capital: Maputo
Official language: Portuguese
Currency
Currency (sub-unit)
Metical (100 Centavos)
ISO 4217 code
MZN / 943
Geography
Continent: Africa
Region: east
Geo coordinates: S -18 ° -39 ‘-56.5 “E 35 ° 31’ 46.4”
Highest mountain: Monte Binga (2,436 m)
Total area: 801,590 km²
Mainland: 784,090 km²
National border: 4,571 km
Coastline: 2,470 km
Politics
Dependency: Portugal until 1975
UN member since: 1975
Other political affiliation: African Union
Form of government: People’s Republic
Economy
Export goods: Sugar, cotton, sisal
BSP: $ 6,792,000,000
GDP: $ 7,022,000,000
GDP purchasing power parity: $ 28.67 billion
Economic growth: 6.7%
GDP share of agriculture: 24.7%
GDP share of industry: 32%
GDP share of services: 43.3%
Inflation rate: 5.4%
State budget revenue: $ 1134,000,000
State budget expenditure: $ 18.7 billion
Export: $ 1,830,000,000
Import: $ 2,194,000,000
Foreign debt: $ 6,334,000,000
Gold and currency reserves: $ 1,143,000,000
Electricity consumption: 12,900 million KWh
Gas reserves: 127,400 million m³
Gas production: 60 million m³
Gas consumption: 60 million m³
Oil consumption: 18,000 million m³
Cultivation area: 5.8%
Bovine: 1,360,000 pieces
Fishing: 31,300 t
Demographic data
Residents: 19,686,500
Residents in cities: 10,414,000
Average age: 18.3 years
0-14 years: 42.7%
15-64 years: 54.5%
> 65 years: 2.8%
Population growth: 1.38%
Birth rate: 35.18 / 1,000 residents
Death rate: 21.35 / 1,000 residents
Ratio men / women: 0.97
Fertility: 4.62 children / woman
Infant mortality: 129.24 ‰
Life expectancy men: 39.53 years
Life expectancy women: 40.13 years
Country codes and abbreviations
ISO 3166 Alpha 2: MZ
ISO 3166 Alpha 3: MOZ
ISO 3166 numeric: 508
Top Level Domain: mz
IOC country code: MOZ
UN / LOCODE: MZ
Source: Abbreviationfinder
Communication
Telephone connections: 96,000
Cell Phones: 910,000
Radios: 940,000
TV: 487,000
Computer: 140,000
Internet users: 177,000
Transportation
Railway lines: 3,123 km
Paved roads: 6,624 km
Cars: 146,000
Merchant fleet (ships over 1,000 GRT): 2
Pipelines: 1,083
Health
Number of doctors: 610
Daily food intake: 2,020 kcal / resident
HIV- infected people: 1,640,000
Education
Illiteracy: 50%
History
Foundation: 1975
Last sovereign since: 1975
Religion
Main religious group: Natural religions
Crime
Prison inmates: 12,100
Military
Armed forces (troop strength): 7,000
Main battle tank: 80
Defense Spending: $ 84.7 million
GETTING THERE
Arriving by plane
Mozambique’s national airline is called LAM – Linhas Aereas de Moçambique (TM) (Internet: www.lam.co.mz).
Maputo is served by Lufthansa (LH), TAP Portugal (TAP), Air France (AF) and South African Airways (SA), among others.
Flight times
Paris – Maputo: 12 hours; Lisbon – Maputo: 10 hours; Frankfurt – Maputo: approx. 14 hours (via Johannesburg or Lisbon).
Departure fee
US $ 20 for international flights, US $ 10 for flights within Africa, excluding transit passengers and children under two years of age.
Arrival by car
Good connecting roads lead to all neighboring countries. The applicable entry regulations and the names of the border crossings are available from the embassy.
Bus: There is a regular bus service from Maputo to Johannesburg (travel time approx. 7 hours), and there are good connections to other cities in South Africa. Minibuses run between Maputo and Swaziland via the border crossing at Namaacha.
Arriving by train
A train runs between Johannesburg (South Africa) and the Mozambican border at Ressano Garcia, where there is a connection to Maputo (travel time 15 hours). There is also a night train from Durban (South Africa) via Swaziland to Maputo.
There are connections from Somabhula (Zimbabwe) via Harare (Zimbabwe) to Beira (via Chimoio) or to Maputo (via Chókwé).
There is a train connection to the Nayuchi-Entre border crossing from Blantyre (Malawi) and Lilongwe (Malawi). From there there are trains to Cuamba via Nacala to Mozambique. The train traffic is very irregular.
Arrival by ship
Some cargo ships call at Maputo and Beira, passenger ships only operate irregularly. There is also a connection between Durban (South Africa) to Maputo, Beira, Nacala and Pemba.
ON THE GO
Traveling by plane
Airplanes are the safest way to travel long distances. Scheduled and charter flights connect Maputo with Inhambane, Beira, Quelimane, Tete, Lichinga, Nampula and Pemba. The airport in Maputo has different traffic times depending on the season. Flight delays and cancellations must be expected. Air taxi services are available.
Airport fees: US $ 7.
On the way by car / bus
Tarred roads connect Maputo with Beira and Beira with Tete. Long journeys over land are dangerous due to the widespread mining and armed robbery. It is recommended to discuss the itinerary with the local embassy. Left-hand traffic.
Buses go to almost all regions and are the cheapest means of transport. On longer journeys you should take water and food with you. On the border to Zimbabwe and in the north of the country, you have to expect frequent road and ID checks.
Taxis in Maputo are metered, so for longer journeys the fare should be agreed in advance. There are hardly any taxis outside of Maputo. Taxi drivers expect a tip of around 10%.
Rental cars are among others at Avis andHertz available at the airport, in large hotels and in Beira. Payment in foreign currency only.
Documentation: International driver’s license.
Traveling in the city
The bus route network in Maputo has been expanded and newer buses are more comfortable. However, urban buses are usually overcrowded and there are no clear timetables.
Taxis can be found in front of larger hotels, at the airport and in front of the central market (Avenida 25 de Setembro). In addition to taxis, so-called chapas, cheap shared taxis, also run.
On the go by train
The Mozambican Railway Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Mocambique (Internet: www.cfmnet.co.mz) offers a regular train connection from Maputo via Tenga, Moamba and Mussone to Komatipoort. Another connection exists between Maputo and Chókwe via Albasine, Bobole, Tavira, Mirona, Magude and Sagres, among others. A third regularly served route leads from Maputo to Chicualacuala via Mavalene, Donga, Luso, Gerez, Madulo and Vouga. Trains run from Maputo to Goba and Ressano Garcia and head north on the route to Zimbabwe. Three classes. Sleeping cars are rare, dining cars and air-conditioned compartments are not available. You have to book seats and sleeping cars in advance. Delays are common.
The panoramic route from Cuamba to Nampula, which is served three times a week, is often used by tourists.
Out and about by ship
Speedboats and ferries connect Maputo to Inhaca Island.