Even if you’re just going to Ponta, a vehicle with high ground clearance is a must. Always remember to deflate your tyres to 60% of their normal road pressure when driving in sand-as low as 1.2 bar.

You can park it in a secure car park at the Kosi Bay border post and arrange a 4X4 transfer with the lodge you’re staying at.

All the lodges offer this service (for a fee), but make sure you warn them in advance.

• Each vehicle must be equipped with two red reflective triangles and a reflective vest as well as have original vehicle papers, as required.
• If the vehicle is not your own, a letter of authorisation from the registered owner is required, along with your licence.
• If you are towing, a blue and yellow triangle must be attached to the front of the towing vehicle and the rear of the towed vehicle, caravan or trailer.
• The customs officials may also request a letter from your insurance company stating that the vehicle is insured for travel to Mozambique.
• If your vehicle is no more than six meters long you do not need to worry about reflective signage, but advise that there be reflective strips on the edge of the bumpers, white in front and red at the rear. This law came into effect on the 8th of November 2009.

Compulsory third party insurance (approx R220 per vehicle and R110 per trailer) may be obtained at the border.

Check on your insurance cover to ensure your vehicle(s) are insured travelling in Mozambique. Please ask your insurers to provide a letter to this effect.

The currency in Mozambique is Meticais. The approximate exchange rate is R1,00 = MT 4,27.

Some of the bigger dive charters and lodges accept credit cards, but it’s a better idea to take cash.

US$ and South African Rand are widely accepted in most lodges.

You can stock up on most basic items in Ponta do Oura. There is a market, butchery, bakery and bank (BCI) just before you enter town.

Visitors have a choice of 3 banks, millennium Bim Bank, Barclays Bank and BCI Fomento Bank each with their own ATM’s.

At BCI Fomento Barclays you can draw money with cards with a 4-pin code and at millennium Bim with cards that have a 5-pin code.

The withdrawal is in meticais and at certain banks only 3000Mt at a time.

Road Travellers are frequently stopped at police checkpoints. Please ensure you have a valid driver’s licence (South African licences are accepted). Please note the following to avoid being fined:

• Wear seat belts at all times
• Tow vehicles require a triangle decal on the front bumper and on the back of the trailer
• Visitors are required to carry a reflective jacket (draped over the driver’s seat)and triangles in their vehicle
• Keep to the speed limit – fines are payable immediately
• Have your drivers licence, third party and vehicle registration papers handy
• No firearms are permitted in Mozambique
• Driving is not permitted on the beach unless you are launching a boat
• Open bottles of alcohol are not permitted in vehicles
• Talking on mobile phones whilst driving is not permitted
• Fire extinguishers are required for your vehicle
• Drivers and passengers are not permitted to drive without a shirt
• If stopped by police, please remove your sunglasses (it is dis-respectful in Mozambique to wear sunglasses when communicating to an official)!
• Make sure your vehicle has a ZA decal (or relative country decal) affixed on the rear of the vehicle.

You can pick up a faint South African signal from the top of some of the hills surrounding Ponta do Oura, but if you want to use your phone regularly, its best to activate international roaming.

Cellular communications are covered by all the major networks and local SIM cards are readily available for purchase.

We recommend that you purchase a local sim card and airtime on arrival in Mozambique. There is a good Mozambican signal everywhere along the coast, except in the more remote areas of the Maputo Elephant Reserve.

• Goods total value – US$200.00 Per person
• Tobacco – 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g smoking tobacco
• Alcohol – 1lt spirits and 2.25 it wine (3 bottles) – NO BEER –
• Perfume – 50ml
• Meat – Please vacuum pack all meat
• Gifts (Cosmetics, watches, jewellery, electronics, leather, confectionery and food) – US$ 50.00 per person
• Children under the age of 18 years do not qualify for liquor allowances