First Trip to Mozambique Advice

[wanderer3]

Hi All

I am busy planning a two week trip in October from Cape Town as we are attending a wedding in Kruger at Skukuza where we intend staying 2 nights then from reading the forum report will go on to Balule for a few more nights as sounds like a must do! I was thinking of taking the family to Mozambique from there for the rest of the time and not having seen much of this part of the country would like some ideas on your ideal MOZ trip including accommodation tips and places that are somewhere you would recommend. Our final intention is to finish up in Johannesburg and take the vehicle back on rail back to Cape Town as something different for our kids (3 and 5). We like to mix camping and self catering so either are fine for us if you have suggestions.

After KNP for 3-4 days my question is where too next for 9 days as a round trip returning to Johannesburg? Are any of the Mozambique national parks recommended? Which coastal destinations should we be looking at? Bearing in mind we will be travelling alone so safe routes with this in mind. Thanks in advance, will post a trip report in return!

Cheers

Anthony

[Peter Connan]

Hello Anthony

I am sure other guys can give you more and better advise, but in December 2008 I travelled through Giriyondo border post to Inhambane. If T4A comes up with ridiculously long travelling times on tar roads, beleive it. We were in the que at Phalaborwa gate when it opened in the morning and eventually arrived at Inhambane at 21h00. The roads are pretty rough, the locals are insane and there are many villages along the road where the limit is reduced to 60km/h. Fuel was also very scarce untill we reached the EN1. We also so virtually no game in the Limpopo National Park. Just one herd of terrified Impala. Lots of cattle and goats though. Lots of locals live inside the park.

Cheers
Peter

[wanderer3]

Sounds like a blast! Suppose this is why we all travel and will do some more research as to the best route to follow.

My little boys are good on long trips but the one you describe might mean a mutiny so will try to plan shorter legs even if it means not seeing as much. Did you carry extra fuel? I get about around 600km on both tanks so will need to ensure this is factored in.

[Peter Connan]

Hello Anthony

That trip was the reason I bought my 'troll. I was driving my Dad's Hilux, which is fitted with a Radical Tops (now 4x4 safari campers) camper body. The car has 90l fuel capacity, and I took 5 jerry cans, but only used about three for that part of the trip. It gets better mileage than my 'troll though, I averaged about 6.5km/l for that trip. That trip also nearly killed my relationship, but for a whole host of reasons over and above just that leg.

As for seeing less, on that leg we saw bugger all, but our choise of roads could probably have been bettered. We took a "shortcut" which ended up being about 200km on very bad dirt road with huge speed bumps cutting our speed to less than 30km/h, so we could concievably have saved ourselves an hour or two. Lessons learnt (I hope).

There is a lodge somewhere in the Limpopo park, but I beleive it is quite expensive.
Cheers
Peter

[ricster]

Hi... sorry about replying so late.....

The EN1 highway is fantastic .....at the moment..... I traveled it this last December. We did Alberton to Inhambane (Tofo) in 13 hours with a few stops on the way.... but that was travelling on the 1st of January ... no traffic. There was a 12 Km strech where the chinese were still fixing the road, but that wasn't bad at all, and is possibly fixed by now. The Giriyondo to EN1 ..... BUY KIDNEY BELTS !!!!.... Phew....thats a tough ride.... tar road in terrible condition!!

Remember ... stick to the rules and speeds (especially in towns)..... seatbelts even for back seat passengers. PM me if you want the Mocambique rules and regs in Portugese and English.... I've gotten out of may situatuions where the "officer" wants to fine you for imaginary things. You ask him to show you in the rules and regs what he wants to fine you for and you can check it on the English side.... works wonders..... oh and very important..... When showing him your drivers licence hold on to it when he takes it, or tries to, he will get the message, cause once he has it in his hands he has you by the short and curlys !!!

[ricster]

Oh yes... I forgot....all we saw in the Moz side of the Kruger Park was the miggies splattered on my windscreen... ... oh yes and a few local goats

[Kagiso II]

Eisjjjjjjjjjjjj Ricster - het daai locals ni loco gegaan op jou dat jy nou so hulle se bokkies teen jou windskerm splatter nie??? en hoe het die windskerm dit gehou? of was di ebokkies maar klein ???



Outoppies !!!! hulle v'staan ok nix nie

[ricster]

..... and when you put on the wipers...... ...... bring die hammer en bytel

[ama-glug-glug]

Hello everybody/ Goeie more almal,

Ek beplan ook 'n trippie Moz toe in Desember vir 2 weke. Het reeds amper alles wat nodig is, net 'n paar vrae as iemand kan antwoord.
1. 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?
2. 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)
3. Red triangle - do I need 2 in car and 2 in the trailer or only 2 per combination?
4. 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?
5. Hoe streng is hulle by die grenspos met kruideniersware en kos wat saamgaan?

Al die hulp wat ek kan kry sal baie waardeer word.

Een laaste vraag. Hoeveel bier het ek nodig per dag om koel te bly sodat ek kan budget.

[Peter Connan]

Deon I may just have been lucky, but I have been to Moz twice, to Bots and to Lesotho, and have never yet needed to actually unpack my vehicle.

In my limited experience, the best way to save yourself hassles is to be friendly, respectful and helpful whenever dealing with officialdom.

I know one can pre-clear shipments, but one needs to complie lots of documents detailing exactly what it is, and the may still open and check. My feeling is that it would not really work for something like a holiday vehicle and this sounds like another word for "bribe"to me, but I stand to be corrected.