Mozambique Travel Overview

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

Mozambique GDP - gross domestic product

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.