Mozambique Visa and Security
 

Has anybody been in Mozambique recently?

Would prefer to get the visa at the border coming from SA. Was possible for us Swedes last time in 2012, but I've heard they are stricter now. Any reports?

We intended to go SA - Moz (Maputo-Tofo-Mutare) - Zim - Moz (Tata) - Malawi but now we'll must likely be doing the plan B:
Maputo - Tofo and exit through the Chiqualaquala/Sango Border (open?) to avoid military convoys and the violence. We will probably not reenter Mozambique, Tata region and go round via Zambia to Malawi instead.
Any reports or thoughts regarding this?

Happy travels all! :scooter:

Send a message to Kingkoru on this forum or Wheelie Adventurous Facebook page. He is in Mozambique right now or has just left. I'm sure he will have all the info you need

Thanks, I'll send him a PM.

I took the Zambia detour to Malawi a couple of weeks back as the noises out of Tete were not good.

This is taken from Leisure wheels..

Here is Kingsley Holgate’s account of how he and his party got ambushed at midnight by AK47 wielding youths in northern Mozambique.

Potholes and Bullets
We make it to the end point of the Rio Save military convoy without serious hassles. Then duck north-east onto a dirt track that crosses the Busi River via a clapped-out ferry and across a beautiful floodplain over the Pungwe to arrive in Beira in the dark – only to learn there are still more challenges ahead.

Now I don’t want to make too big a thing about this and put people off coming to Moz, its a great country and there are no troubles in the south, but the truth is that for this northern area there will have to be peace talks with Renamo otherwise it’s going to escalate into a real bun fight! Renamo are also attacking cars and trucks on the road to Tete and the Malawian Minister of Transport is urging truck drivers to take the longer route through Zim, stating that the Tete convoy is too risky. This Renamo issue is affecting an already bruised economy says our host in Beira who together with others urges us not to take the Dondo gravel road through to the Zambezi as was our plan as it seems bandits have also attacked and burnt out vehicles on that road.

A call to friends in Gorongosa National Park seals our fate: ‘Taking the Dondo road is like playing roulette. Don’t do it.’ comes the reply. So after a break in Beira,we ‘pothole’ it all the way to the start of another bloody military convoy, this time from near Gorongosa to hopefully take us through the beautiful natural forests past Renamo’s stronghold and down to Caia on the Zambezi. The game is on! We juggle for position,dodging potholes and racing past eager bus,truck and bakkie drivers all whom, it seems, want to be directly behind the lead armored vehicle. And then,about an hour into our journey, the wildfire shooting starts.

Machine gun and AK bullets spray the forest. Leaves and dust everywhere! We come across another burnt out vehicle on the roadside. Some of the troops jump down AK’s at the ready. Thick forest either side of the road – I think what sitting ducks we are. This section of the road could also win the SADAC Pothole award. In the Landy Pink Floyd plays ‘Wish you were here.’ Life on expedition is never dull. We’re first into Caia filling station for diesel. The soldiers give us a thumbs up we give them some coldrinks and water and then we’re off across the Zambezi. We break west to take the narrow track to Morrrumbala.The elephant grass higher than the Land Rover. Beautiful scenery. No Renamo here were told. All quite and peacefull from here on.

We cross the Shire River on a hand – winched ferry and then head North up the Shire valley. Malawi here we come. But the late convoy start and the hassles on the convoy mean we can’t make the border in time,so we pull off the road to not be too conspicuous,light a small fire,throw out a tent and bedrolls and sit back. It’s the most beautiful starlit sky imaginable….

They hit us around midnight. We hear whispers in the bush. I shine my torch and then they’re all over us shouting and throwing our kit around. The torch gets slapped out of my hand. AK’s in our faces. Very nasty! Fortunately one of the soldiers speaks a little English. I take him by the hand and try and reason with him. Stop. Be calm. We’re just tourists. One of the soldiers gets into our tent and throws the bedrolls out. The bunch is high on tension and question and start forcing us at gun point to pack the Disco. Two guys force themselves into the Landy. Drive to the border we’re told.

These young soldiers are threatening and want bucks. We keep calm. At the border compound they take our car keys and passports but allow us to put up a tent. In the morning we talk they say. One arrogant youngster says ‘Hey mister you not the boss. This the boss.’showing me his AK.
During the night Sheelagh and I get a message out to a well connected mate in Maputo who by morning has a strongly worded Portuguese message on our phone assuring the authorities of our credibility. It helps a bit but still we are searched from bumper to bumper. ‘We thought you were Renamo’ said Mr Big. ‘The villagers thought you had come to kill them, they saw your lights in the bush and came to report to us, so we came to kill you… I get one of them to add a message to the large Canvas and leather bound Scroll of Peace and Goodwill that we carry on every expedition. Seems that at this rather tense time with Renamo, it’s sorely needed. Will keep you posted.”

Source: 4×4 forum – July 4th ,2016
Image: Kingsley Holgate Foundation

Thanks. Doesn't sound too good...
We will most likely go for plan B and skip the middle and northern part of Mozambique all together and get our visa in advance this time.

Anybody got Moz visa at the border recently?
Anybody used the Chiqualaquala/Sango Border?

F that. Zambia it is.

We got the Moz visa at the Ressano border with SA without problems end of April 16. Went up until Vilanculos, then via a back route to the Zim border of Espungabeira without any issues. Were told to better avoid the convoy as it gets often attacked. You can see our route on the map under www.afrikabisunten.wordpress.com

Cheers

Thanks for the report! Are you Austrian citizens?

(If you don't have an embassy in you home country it's supposed to be easier to get a Moz visa on the border.)

Yes, we are Austrians. But we have a Moz embassy in Austria, and it was no problem.
The guy was just fighting with computer problems for half an hour until a colleague explained how to use the computer program :)

If there is a Moz embassy in your home country they ask you to pay some extra border for the border handling (i think it was less than 10 EUR), in total we paid about 900 Rand for the visa and it was cheaper than at home.
You may pay in ZAR or USD or EUR.
We enjoyed the south of Moz - beautiful beaches!

Visa
 

We are Australians & got a Visa at the border....Oct/Nov....pretty easy & if your in a vehicle don't forget your blue & yellow triangle sticker !!!

Cheers
Paul

Hi,
I drove on a motorbike with the convoy between Save and Muchungue in the end of May 2016. I was not up to date with the current situation when I got there. I had heard about problems in the north of the country and didn’t think much of it. I was only going to Inchope and then crossing into Zimbabwe at Mutare. No problem, I thought but that was before I heard about any convoys.

The convoy was scheduled to leave Save at 09:00 O’clock and while I was waiting there was another convoy arriving from the opposite direction. First came a bus with a bullet hole in the wind screen escorted by a police vehicle. I was told by an officer of the military that accompanied my convoy that seven people had been killed on that bus. Needless to say I was a bit nervous while driving with the convoy that took 1,5 hours. I stayed in the back among the trucks and away from any buses and minibuses that seem to be the main targets. It’s a hit or miss. If I would have known I would have taken another road.

In Vilankulos I met a Dutch family in a Landrover that took the sandy road from Mapinhane just south of Vilankulos crossing over to Chicualacuala without any problems. The road is supposedly rough on a bike though.

Although I got my Moz visa in Durban, people were readily issued visas at the border.

Has anyone travel through southern Mozambique recently (Gaza Region) ? Any safety issues?

Anyone tried to get the Zimbabwe Kaza uni-visa at Chiqualaquala/Sango Border near Malvernia?

Hi,

We travelled through Mozambique to Malawi recently in our Land Rover without any problems! We entered Moz in the south (Ponto d'Ouro), coming from SA.
After Vilanculos we drove to Gorongossa NP. We took te mandatory convoi between Rio Save and Muxunghue. After Gorongossa we were advised a gravel road towards Caia, which we did. Lovely rural area and nothing of problems or danger at all. We had a great time and really are happy we visited that part of Mozambique.
Anyone who wants more details about the route and our experiences feel free to mail us at:
vrijwilligdoorafrika@gmail.com

Cheers! Kars & Simone

We have now driven through Moz the intended route. No issues at all.

Cheap country and very friendly people. :)
Diesel was very cheap but not available on all gas stations, they had ran out.