Mozambique has more than 2,000 kilometres of Indian Ocean coastline, but most trips stay in the south: Maputo, the capital, close to the border with South Africa; Tofo, near Inhambane, where divers come for manta rays and whale sharks; and Vilanculos, the jumping-off point for the dunes and reefs of the Bazaruto Archipelago. Many visitors arrive overland after a safari in South Africa's Kruger National Park. Mozambique is outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, so a European SIM card pays roaming at its operator's rates.
Key facts for Mozambique
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: varies by plan
- Emergency numbers: 112 for police, ambulance and fire
- Embassies: in Maputo
Areas to avoid in the north
An insurgent group linked to Daesh, known as IS-Mozambique, has killed hundreds of people in Cabo Delgado Province and attacked neighbouring districts, and there is a threat of kidnap. The UK Foreign Office warns that attacks are very likely and could also target places foreigners visit, such as roads, offshore islands and safari or hunting parks. It advises against all travel to Cabo Delgado, which includes the Quirimbas islands, except Palma town and the area around Pemba and Afungi, where it advises against all but essential travel. It also advises against all travel to the districts of Memba and Eráti in Nampula Province and of Mecula and Marrupa in Niassa Province, where hunting lodges in the Niassa Special Reserve have suffered deadly attacks. Insurance policies may not cover you in areas where official advice is against travel.
Before you fly: the travel authorisation
British visitors, among others, need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) for stays of up to 30 days. Apply on the official eVisa portal at least 5 working days ahead and pay online, because payment is not possible at the border, then print the approval and the receipt. Your passport needs 6 months of validity from the day you arrive and 2 blank pages, and officials may ask for proof of accommodation, a return ticket and enough money for the stay. Children under 18 need an unabridged birth certificate and, if not travelling with both parents, a notarised consent letter no older than three months. A yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from a country with a risk of transmission.
Maputo and the road south
Street crime is common in Maputo and growing in other towns and resorts, sometimes with knives or guns. Avoid walking alone, especially at night, keep phones and jewellery out of sight, and use cash machines inside banks during the day. Kidnappings for ransom also happen in the capital; most victims have been Mozambicans, but foreigners can be targeted too. Carry your passport at all times: police checks are frequent and copies are not accepted. If an officer fines you without a clear reason, ask for a written fine to pay at a police station.
Outside the cities, drive only in daylight and keep to the main roads. The law requires 2 warning triangles and reflective vests in the car, as well as third-party insurance, sold at most border posts, and even three-quarters of the English drink-driving limit can lead to prison. Keep doors locked and windows closed while driving, and do not stop for strangers or apparently stranded drivers. Fuel can run short, even in big cities, so fill up whenever you can. At the Lebombo–Ressano Garcia crossing from South Africa, queues are long in holiday periods and robberies have taken place in the line after dark, so plan to cross early. Protests can break out quickly, especially at road toll gates, and may turn violent.
Coast, weather and health
Beaches and the offshore islands are not policed, and drinking alcohol on a public beach is illegal. From November to April, cyclones and floods regularly cut roads, including in Maputo. Malaria is present throughout the country, along with dengue, and there is a cholera outbreak in central and northern areas. Hospitals fall below European standards, especially in the north, and serious cases may need evacuation to South Africa or back home, so make sure your insurance covers it. Do not photograph government buildings, airports, military sites or police officers.
The currency is the metical. US dollars and South African rand are the easiest currencies to exchange, cards work increasingly in the larger cities, though Mastercard is not accepted everywhere, and you must declare 10,000 meticais or more in cash, or foreign currency worth 5,000 US dollars or more.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM installed before you leave home works from the moment you land in Maputo, Inhambane or Vilanculos. An Africa plan also covers South Africa, Eswatini, Malawi and Tanzania, which suits a Kruger-and-coast itinerary on one plan. Keep your usual SIM in the phone for bank codes, with data roaming off.
Local SIMs: Vodacom, Movitel and Tmcel sell prepaid cards, and you need your passport to register one.
Consular protection: who to call in Mozambique
- 112 connects you to the police, ambulances and the fire service. If the call does not go through, head to the nearest police station or hospital, or call 198 for the fire service.
- The UK has a high commission in Maputo, and Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the US all have embassies in the city. The Telcomia app lists the address and phone number of yours.
- An EU citizen whose country is not represented in Mozambique can ask any other EU embassy for help, and it must assist on the same terms as for its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- Portuguese is the official language, and the Telcomia app has emergency phrases in Portuguese.
Mozambique travel-safety page →
Questions travellers ask about Mozambique
Is Mozambique covered by EU roaming?
No. Mozambique is outside Roam Like at Home, so your operator charges its own roaming rates.
Do I need a visa?
Many visitors, the British among them, need an electronic travel authorisation, applied for and paid online at least 5 working days before travelling.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Mozambique?
It depends on the plan, with 4G where available.
Can I visit the Quirimbas islands?
The islands lie in Cabo Delgado, where the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel outside Palma and the Pemba and Afungi area.
The short version
Apply for the ETA early, install the eSIM at home, stay away from Cabo Delgado and the listed northern districts, drive only by day with triangles and vests in the car, carry your passport, take malaria precautions, and save 112.
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