Mozambique Safari Trips & Tours

Mozambique has multiple small airports and one primary, international airport, Maputo International (MPM) which acts as the central hub for visitors to and from the US, Europe and the rest of Africa. Depending on your arrival time you may have to overnight before catching a connecting flight to your first safari camp/hotel. International flights We would recommend booking your flights online in order to get the best rates. If you need any help or advice please let us know. Domestic flights and transfers Connecting between all the locations on your trip may necessitate a variety of modes: light aircraft charters, domestic commercial flights and road transfers. Please review the inclusions and exclusions on your specific trip page for details. If you need help understanding the best flights to book, please let us know. From the moment that you land in Mozambique you will be greeted and assisted to your onward connections. You will be looked after from that point on until you are transferred back to the airport in time for your departure flight.

Please consult your personal physician and/or a travel clinic preferably 6 weeks prior to your departure. Vaccine requirements vary based on your country of origin and your travel itinerary and your previous vaccination history. It is best to consult with your physician or the CDC website for guidelines. Important vaccinations to consider and which may either be required or recommended are: Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B and Cholera, among others. Please always carry your "International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP)" (or "Yellow Card") with you. Malaria We advise that you consult a medical practitioner at least six weeks prior to travel. Malaria is present in Mozambique and it is strongly advisable to take malaria prophylactics before, during and after your visit. Please consult a medical professional regarding which prophylactics will be suitable for you. In addition to the recommendations of your travel clinic or physician, you may also consider the following proactive preventative measures: ● Apply insect repellent to exposed skin. Recommended repellents contain 20-35% DEET but it is a very virulent repellent, and should be used cautiously. ● Wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants at dawn and dusk. ● Use a mosquito net if your tent or room isn't screened or air-conditioned; and spray insecticide or burn a mosquito coil before going to bed. You can also visit www.malaria.org.za for more information. Yellow Fever There is no risk of Yellow Fever in Mozambique; however, vaccination is required for travellers who are arriving from, or have transited through, countries with risk of Yellow Fever transmission (e.g. Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda or elsewhere worldwide). This requirement can change unexpectedly, therefore, we recommend carrying a Yellow Fever card with you at all times. Communication Mozambique country code: +258 Calling overseas from Mozambique: From a landline dial 00 followed by the country code plus area code and number. e.g. USA: 00 1 910 795 1048 When calling from a cell phone dial + prefix followed by the country code plus area code and number. e.g. USA: + 1 910 795 1048

Money The currency of Mozambique is the Mozambican Metical (MZN). ATMs are widely available, please check with your bank for charges and advice when using international ATMs. Foreign currency such as United States Dollars; British Pounds & Euros are only at times accepted and local currency is almost always preferred. It is advisable to carry a small amount of local currency in cash for smaller shops and tipping. IMPORTANT: When bringing foreign currency (e.g. USD, GBP, EUR) into the country, be sure to bring new format with no damage or marks. Gratuities Gratuities are not compulsory or expected; rather it is a reward for excellent service. If you are pleased with the service you receive, you are more than welcome to tip your guide or the staff. Tipping is usually done at the end of your stay. You may tip the staff individually, give the tip to the manager to distribute, or do both. Tips can be made in Mozambican Meticals (MZN), USD, GBP or EUR. Gratuities suggestions: Safari camp or city lead guide: $15 - $20 per guest per day Transfer drivers (e.g. in cities or between the airport and hotel/lodge): $5 per guest per transfer Porter: $1 per bag Ranger or any “ancillary” guides on an ad-hoc basis for a specific activity: $5 - $10 per guest per activity General Camp staff (put in a central box in each camp’s main area): $10 - $15 per guest per day Waitstaff in a city restaurant: 10% - 15% (large group may incur automatic service charge - please check)

Insurance It is a condition of booking that you carry the correct comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover yourself, as well as any dependents/travelling companions for the duration of your trip. This insurance should include cover in respect of, but not limited to, the following eventualities: Compulsory Insurance: a. Emergency evacuation expenses b. Medical expenses c. Repatriation expenses Recommended Insurance: a. Cancellation or curtailment of trip b. Damage/theft/loss of personal luggage, money and goods

As a general precaution, we recommend you make several copies of your travel-related documents (passport, traveller’s cheques, credit cards, itinerary, airline tickets, insurance cover, visas, etc). Leave one set at home, and bring another set with you, and place it in a location separate from your originals. Travellers from certain countries do not require a traditional visa to enter Mozambique, including the USA, UK and Canada. However, they will be required to pay an admin fee of 650 MZN on arrival, which must be paid in cash (MZN, USD and ZAR are accepted). Dollars must not be issued before 2012. Citizens of neighbouring countries do not have to acquire a visa for stays of up to 30 days or pay admin fees. Travellers from countries without the exemption are still required to obtain a visa prior to arrival (http://www.evisa.gov.mz/) for $190. Travellers from certain visa-exempt countries, including the UK and USA, are required to register their trip at least 48 hours before departure through the official Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) platform here - https://www.evisa.gov.mz/. The cost of this is approximately $48. Upon arrival, they must present proof of their pre-approval along with supporting documents such as proof of accommodation, a return ticket and evidence of sufficient funds. Passports MUST be valid for at least six months from your departure from Mozambique to home. There must be at least THREE (we recommend four) consecutive blank VISA pages in the passport (not endorsement pages). Mozambique’s immigration control is very strict, and is known to deny entry to those not meeting the requirements. Please do contact the embassy or consultant in your home country to reconfirm visa requirements, as they change often. Visa Central and also a good resource. If a minor is travelling without one or both parents, a certified letter of consent from the non-accompanying parent is required.

Climate Mozambique has a warm, tropical climate. The average temperature is around 28 degrees Celsius (82° Fahrenheit), and the weather along the coast is sunny and warm even in midwinter. The two primary seasons consist of the wet season, from October to March, when temperatures average between 22°-31°C (72°- 87°F) in February, but with cooler temperatures in the interior uplands. And the dry season, which lasts from April to September with temperatures averaging 13°-24°C (55°- 75°F) in June. 
 Dress Code Casual clothing is acceptable in the bigger towns and cities in Mozambique and dependent on the climate. Comfortable beach wear is fine on the coast, just be sure to take sun cream because the sun gets very strong in the summer months. What to Pack • Layers - long and short sleeve shirts and trousers • A warm fleece or jumper • A lightweight waterproof jacket • Comfortable but sturdy shoes • Flip-flops • Swimming costume • A hat or baseball cap • Sunglasses • Sunscreen – a must! • Toiletries – most camps will provide shampoo, shower gel and soap • A small torch • Spare batteries, plug adaptors and charging equipment • A good pair of Binoculars • Books or a fully loaded Kindle / iPad for siesta time Most camps and lodges will have a small medical and first aid kit, but we recommend bringing your own supply of essentials - cough medicine, plasters, vitamins, aspirin and paracetamol, and anything else you use on a regular basis. Camera Equipment (for the enthusiasts) • A telephoto lens (200/300mm) • Flash and fast film (400 ASA) for night photography • Lots of film (64,100,200,400 ASA) if you’re using an SLR cameras • Spare memory cards for digital cameras • Camera cleaning equipment and a good dust proof bag • Bring spare batteries as although you may recharge your batteries at the camps, charging capacity can be limited Luggage Please check with your airlines for the specific luggage restrictions relevant to your flight schedule. Many international airlines have a baggage allowance of 20kgs or more per person and commercial airlines generally permit two (2) pieces of checked luggage per person. The carry-on bag must be of such dimensions and weight as set by the airlines. Luggage Restrictions on Internal Flights On safari, light aircraft flight luggage is strictly limited to one SOFT duffle bag and one small carry on. The combined weight must not exceed 20kgs/44lbs, unless otherwise noted in your personal itinerary. Electricity Mozambique uses 220/230V, 50Hz AC, and sockets take mostly Type M (3 prong large round) and some Type C (2 prong narrow round). Most hotel rooms have sockets for 110V electric razors. It is best to bring an adapter/convertor combination.