Mozambique General Information

Quick Facts

Region: Africa

Population:
21,669,278

Religion:

Many people retain traditional animist beliefs only or alongside one of the more established religions. Arab slave traders brought Islam whilst Christianity was introduced by Portuguese missionary explorers. Muslim accounts for about 25% of the population religious preference whilst about 20% of people are of Catholic faith. There are several Protestant groups including Methodists, Baptists, Lutheran and Salvation Army. Local African-Zionist churches also exist.

Language:

The official language of Mozambique is Portuguese. It is spoken by almost all the population. English is not widely spoken and its use tends to centre around the tourist areas of the south. In addition to Portuguese every major cultural group also has their own language.

Area (sq. km):
801,590 square meters

Time:

GMT +2 hours. There is no daylight savings time in Mozambique.

When to Travel

There are two main seasons in Mozambique. The dry season runs from April into September. During this time the daytime maximums on the coast near Maputo reach about 24 to 28 degrees Celsius. Very minimal rainfall can be expected during this time. The temperatures then increase a little through to the end of the year when the wet season begins. The months of December through to March commonly reach maximum temperatures of 28 to 35 degrees Celsius but can also expect substantial rainfall.

The best time to visit the southern coastline near Maputo would be during the dry season as temperatures are moderate and rainfall is minimal. Travel to the area round Maputo is accessible all year round.

Useful Travel Facts

Airports:

Maputo International Airport is located in Mavalane, 3 kilometres northwest of the city. A taxi into town will cost about the equivalent of US$8 to US$10.

Telephone:

The international telephone code for Mozambique is +258. The code for Maputo is 21.

Phone calls can be made quickly and easily at public phone offices, which can be found in most towns and at most times of the day. On average a domestic call costs approximately US$0.50 per minute. International calls are charged on a three minute basis and cost approximately US$5 for three minutes to South Africa and US$13 for three minutes to Europe or Australia.

Food:

Fresh seafood is one of the highlights of travelling into Mozambique. Excellent seafood meals include fresh fish, prawns, calamari and crayfish. Staple foods of Mozambique include maize, rice and millet with a sauce of beans, vegetables or fish.

Shopping:

Shopping
1 or 2 paragraphs on things to buy and best places to shop in the country.

Visa: Australians, Americans, Canadians, British and New Zealanders currently require a visa for Mozambique. Visas can be obtained on arrival valid for a maximum of 30 days, however it is strongly recommended that visitors apply for visas in advance due to frequent problems with the visa service on arrival. Visa applicants must submit the original passport that should be valid at least 6 months from date of submission and have at least 1 blank page for visa stamp (amendment pages are not acceptable). Visitors must have all tickets and documents necessary for return or onward journeys, as well as sufficient funds for their duration of stay.

Further Reading

Nick Middleton’s book, 'Kalashnikovs and Zombies', provides a great insight into the history of Mozambique. Other books on this topic include 'And Still They Dance' by Stephanie Urdang – a look at the involvement of women in the civil war; 'Apartheid’s Contras' by William Minter; William Finnigan’s 'The Harrowing of Mozambique' – a complicated war and 'Assignments in Africa' by Per Wastberg.