First Trip to Mozambique Advice

[ama-glug-glug]

Peter,
I'm exagerating a bit with the unpack repack bit, but I understood from a friend who spoke to one of his friends recently that there is an agency here in JHB who arranges a pre clearing for all the people and the vehicles/trailers, and I stand corrected, only for Komatipoort. The only requirement is that everybody must be present when the passports are stamped. This process apparantly makes the border control a bit easier, but I have only heard through one source and have not been able to verify this.

[ricster]

ama-glug-glug..... send me a pm with your e-mail address and I'll send you the Moz rules and regulations in English and Portuguese. This is most helpfull when the fine upstanding, unbribable in his brilliant white shirt policeman stops you cause he thinks he can get a few rand from you, or even stop you cause he is thirsty (happened many times to me). When you point to the "booklet" to let him show you where it says what you did wrong, they tend to let you go. This is unless you were speeding or doing something wrong.

"Heard somewhere you can get pre-clearance for the border at a "small" fee. This apparantly gets you through in a much shorter time and alleviate the long unpack/check/repack procedure. Anyone know anything bout this?"
Hmmm.... I don't know about that, the border isnt that bad.... its just frustrating when certain "majorities" don't adhere to the rules of standing in a line to get the passport stamped, and just push in, or the "passport runners" that start hounding you before your vehicle even stops offering to get you through the border quicker by taking all the passengers passports ( I've sometimes seen them with as many as 15 odd passports) and then jumping the queue near the front. This is where I take no sheeeeet, and as soon as one person stands up against them, many other tourists waiting patiently in the queue seem to band together and force the "runner out". This happens on the SA and the Moz side ....so have loads of patience and adopt the local stance and "fight" for your position in the queue...... BUT I have also been through that border post and it has been a breeze.... it just depends on how lucky you catch the time.

"Blue/Yellow triangle - no space on the rear of my trailer for the big one. Is it allowed to stick it on the sparewheel cover or can I use the small triangle? (just enough space for the small one)"
Not too sure on this one, but the authorities will look for ANY excuse to give you a fine.....(bribe).... I would try make a plan with the big one if poossible, but failing that, at least have the little one on. Dont forget the little one on the front right of you vehicle too !!!

"Red triangle - do I need 2 in car and 2 in the trailer or only 2 per combination?
According to their regs, there are specific requirements for the red triangles. Is die goed wat opvou in die rooi box wat ons oral kan van MOTO-QUIP reg?"
Any SA standard red triangle is fine (must be 2 of them!!!) one for the front of the car, and one behind the trailer should you breakdown. Again if you do have a spare set, even if they aren't in good condition, put them in the trailer. They will look for any excuse. and if they see that you are one step ahead in a few things they will leave you alone.

"Hoe streng is hulle by die grenspos met kruideniersware en kos wat saamgaan?"
Meat MUST be vacume packed!!! Be careful bringing stuff back though..... there is a big roadblock almost constantly near Malalane (how ever you spell it) checking for stuff brought over the border. If its still in the pacaging then all should be ok.
The Mozzies do want you to rather buy from their side as much as possible.... as they want the revenue... so if you take for example Coke over, try hide some of the excess bottles if possible.

"Hoeveel bier het ek nodig per dag om koel te bly sodat ek kan budget."
Ha ha...... how big is your budget !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in Dec it's #&%@ hot...... but you will ALWAYS find a cold beer almost anywhere in Moz !!!!......

Hey ......you didn't even say where you are going in Moz??????????.....

Remember passengers in the back seats must wear seatbelts too !!! and always hold onto your drivers licence card. Let him look at it but never let go...even if he tries to pull it out you hands. if he has your drivers licence he has you by the short and ...... ja ... he has you.....All this sounds rough but, they are also not (so I've heard) allowed to harrass the SA cars and I haven't been stopped for no reason in a few trips now...... other that when I make ....ummmm.... poeffie

[ama-glug-glug]

Going to Coconut Bay near Inhambane and planning on buying all my beer there - SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS - luv 2M. After Windhoek Draught the best in the world!
Meat will be vacuum packed, trying not to take any coke, rather a soda stream, lots of tonic concentrate(and other concentrates for kids) and water filter. This is merely a precaution against mozzies. We may take a bottle or 2 Gin to dilute the tonic with. And hopefully get some more there if we run out.

[ricster]

Ahhh...awesome place. I have friends, Kay and Ian at Centro de Marengulo....(again spelt something like that) they run a dive center there. Its right next door to Coconut Bay resorts gate. If you do go there, please tell them Cedric and Lana and the peanut say hi..... ha ha....

Ummmm water filter?.... I hope you mean a real serious water filtration system.... as I don't trust the local water as its all from boreholes as there is no sewer network in Moz other than septic tanks. I normally take 50L water with for my coffee ... etc.... I barely rinse my mouth out with the water after brushing my teeth.... but I must also add, I've never had the "spuitpoep" after they have washed the dishes/glasses in the local water either.... so maybe I'm a bit paranoid WWW

The local Rum, Rhum Tipo Tinto, is also VERY delicious with Sparletta raspberry.... (known as R&R)... but is just as good with coke too !!!.... go up through inhambane town and past the airport ( probably a 30 odd minute drive from Inhambane town and visit Barra lodge for a liquid top up... and walk north along the beach to the beach bar ( I think it's called Neptune ...something).... many good memories there with the owners (if they still own it)....and along that stretch of coast line !!!

Also drive while you are near Barra Lodge, drive past Barra lodge, Bara Reef and Makolo bay resorts, and go visit Flamingo bay. Unfortunately kids aren't allowed there, as it's a honeymoon type spot, and rather upmarket. but VERY nice to sit and have a drink there.

enjoy !!

[ama-glug-glug]

We've spoken to the owner of Coconut Bay. He says the water is fine, but I always take a filter.
We are planning on exploring a bit by road. The last (only) time I was at Barra, was off a cruise for a day excursion by minibus/taxi into Inhambane, so I have an idea of what to expect and where to get supplies and where some watering holes are. And I'm not too scared of heat - been to St Lucia for the last 7 years in Dec on holiday.
I will definityly get some rum as well, but for mojitos and planters punch. Sacrilege to mix kids juice with rum

[ricster]

....I'll drink to that mate !!!.... I'll see you soon at the Alberton Rugby Club .... I sent you the Moz rules and regs anyway, cause its always good to keep.

[Peter Vee]

As an aside, on the road en route to Barra Lodge from Inhabane town you will find a small training ground on the right side of road (near Tofu beach turn off) - this training spot is used to train Rats to sniff out land mines - pretty unique. A little way further down on the same road and closer to Barra is a watering hole called "Bar Babalazza" ... colourfull place with cold beer and R&R's

[Peter Vee]

PS - there are a fair number of coconut trees in vicinity of "Coconut Bay"

[ricster]

..... My car does funny things there by Bar Babalaza !!!!....... I can't seem to keep it on the road over there, and my car just, by some miracle, on its own put its indicator on and turns right into the parking opens the door and kicks me out and FORCES me to dring a cold 2M !!!..... while sitting at those big wooden tables in those 2 round things !!!.... how rude of my car hey!!

Not Bar babalaza on this one....but hey .... even the laatjie wanted a swig of dads beer

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[Gerrit Loubser]

Ponta Malongane (in front of the Leatherback pub & restaurant)?