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Time Zone
GMT +2 Hours.
Population
Mozambique has an estimated population of 18 million people with an average density of 21,8 people per sq km. There are 16 ethnic groups. The larger group is the Makua-Lomwe, while others include the Shona and the Tsonga. Some 22% live in the urban areas.
Geography & Climate
Mozambique covers an area of around 799 380 sq km and is bordered by Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa and Swaziland. On the eastern side it has a 2700 km coastline with the Indian Ocean. A low plateau rises from the coastal plains in the north and west, forming mountains with heights above 1000m. Most of the country’s 25 major rivers flow eastwards to the Indian Ocean. Mozambique has a tropical climate, with hot humid weather during the rainy season from October to March when temperatures can reach as high as 40°C. During the dry season the weather is cooler and the nights can get quite cold.
Communications
Services in Maputo are reliable, although this may not be the case in rural areas. The international dialling code is +258.
Major Cities
The capital, Maputo, is the largest city followed by Beira, Nampula, Quelamane and Nacala.
Language
The official language is Portuguese and, of the many African languages spoken, the main ones are Shangaan, Manyika and Ronga.
Culture
Song, music and dance are the main components of various rituals that mark the different stages of life. There is a belief in the ancestral spirits who influence people’s daily lives.
Religion
Christianity, mainly Roman Catholic, is predominant, with some Muslim and Hindu communities. Traditional beliefs are still practised by many in country areas.    
Electricity & Water
Tap water is not safe to drink. Bottled water should be purchased if possible, failing which water should be boiled or purified prior to drinking. The electricity supply is 220V AC, 50Hz.
Traditional Cuisine
Matapa is a thick sauce made from cassava leaves and ground peanuts and is eaten with stiff maize porridge or bread. Fish is staple food.
Transport Services
Mozambique has its own national airline, Linhas Aereas de Mozambique (LAM). Several other international and regional airlines, the most frequent being Air Portugal and South African Airways, service the country. There are international airports, namely Maputo, Beira, Nampula and Pemba. Other airports servicing small SADC regional flights are Vilanculos, Quelimane, Tete, Inhambane and Lichinga.
Entry Requirements
All visitors require a valid passport. For tourists, visas can be issued at arrivals at airports or entry points to Mozambique. Travellers over the age of one year, coming from infected areas, require a yellow fever certificate. All persons visiting the country require a visa, except South Africans.
Health
There are hospitals and private clinics. If you travel to the countryside it is essential to take required prophylaxis for malaria. To help prevent malaria, it is recommended that you use nets to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. It is also recommended that visitors take sufficient medication to treat minor ailments.
Items to Bring
Lightweight clothing is suitable all year round, although jerseys and jackets are advised for the evenings when it can get chilly. Rainwear is needed for the rainy season. For businessmen, safari suits are ideal for the hot weather.
Accommodation
Maputo and Beira have adequate hotels and a few of an international standard. Numerous well-positioned lodges have opened up along the coast and on the islands to cater for tourists. Self-catering chalets and bungalows are available for rent along the coast and there are camping facilities of varying standards. Camping is also allowed at the various mission stations.
Economy
Mozambique exports prawns, cashew nuts, cotton, sugar, timber, tea and textiles. It imports consumer goods, capital equipment, raw material, spare parts and petroleum. Japan, Spain, Portugal, South Africa, USA and Zimbabwe are the country’s main trading partners. There is increasing interest from international companies in the mining of Mozambique’s mineral resources, oil and natural gas reserves, previously limited by the civil war. The food processing, textile and clothing, edible oils, soaps, and packaging industries are in the process of being rehabilitated. Power lines to South Africa from the huge Cabora Bassa hydroelectric project are being restored and new lines to Zimbabwe are being installed for the export of electricity. A stock exchange is shortly to be established.    
Internal Transport
The principal railway lines run from Maputo to South Africa, Beira to Zimbabwe and Nacala to Malawi, but the service is unreliable. Buses connect major centres. There are a few car-hire firms and taxis do not travel between towns, although minibus taxis run from Maputo to the South African borders. The buses in Maputo are ancient but the routes are fairly extensive. Traffic police enforce regulations with enthusiasm, especially speeding and seat-belt violations, as well as checking documentation. There are frequent police control points particularly in the north. An international driver’s license is recommended.
Safety
Unexploded landmines, planted during the civil war, are a serious problem. Stay on roads and tracks and do not walk or drive in the bush. Crime, always a problem in Maputo, has spread to other urban centres. Try and avoid isolated areas off the main streets. It is not advisable to take photographs of public, police or military buildings. Incidents of car hijackings, especially luxury 4x4 vehicles, are being reported, particularly on the Tete corridor. Travelling alone or at night is not advisable.
What to Buy
Traditional basketwork, printed cloth (particularly sarongs), leatherwear, pottery and excellent woodcarvings are available in urban markets and at roadside stalls.
Business Hours
Shops are open from 08h00 to 12h30 and 15h00 to 18h30, Monday to Friday and from 08h00 to 13h30 on Saturdays. Office hours are from 07h30 to 15h30 Monday to Friday. There are five commercial banks operating in Mozambique.
Government
Mozambique has a democratically elected government and President Joaquim Chissano heads the ruling party, Frelimo. After 16 years of civil war, which started after the departure of the Portuguese in 1975, a peace accord was signed in 1992 between Frelimo and its rival opposition group, Renamo. Since the first democratic elections, held on 27 October 1994, the country has remained stable. Further successful elections were conducted in 1999, returning Frelimo to power.
Currency
The local currency is the Mozambique metical (MT), which is divided into 100 centavos. Major credit cards are accepted in a few establishments. Traveller’s cheques in US dollars are advised. SA rands are becoming increasingly acceptable, especially in the south.
Public Holidays
1 January - New Year's Day
3 February - Heroes' Day
7 April - Women's Day
1 May - Worker's Day
25 June - Independence Day
7 September - Victory Day
25 September - Armed Forces' Day
4 October - Peace & Reconciliation Day
25 December - National Family Day (Christmas)
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