The checklist as a PDF
Entry, health, money, transport and safety, laid out for print, with their sources and verification date.
Mozambique
East Africa
Paradise beaches, safaris, culture and buzzing cities. The Island of Mozambique and the coastal landscapes of Maputo.
- On the map
CapitalMaputo
When to goMay to October
Suggested length8 days min.
CurrencyMozambican metical / Mozambican metical
LanguagesPortuguese
The Viafro verdict
For whom, and for which trip.
An editorial bearing, with no percentage and no rating: our criteria are written down, and every “good to know” links to its source.
- For which trip
- Maputo · Île Bazaruto · Vilankulo · Tofo
- Best season
- May to October
- Length
- Allow at least 8 days for these 4 essentials, one stop every two or three days. (Viafro’s rule of thumb)
Best time to visit
Twelve months, in colour.
Hover or tap a month: its reading and its source appear. Bars measure rain, the figure is the capital’s mean maximum.
Before you go
The essentials, tab by tab.
Entry, health, safety, money and facts: dated official extracts, never paraphrased.
Visa, passport, customs
GOV.UK advice, written for British passport holders. French travellers: see France Diplomatie (https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/information-par-pays/mozambique/conseils-aux-voyageurs-entree-sejour).
- To enter Mozambique, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive. Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
- British passport holders must get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to Mozambique for tourism or business visits of up to 30 days. You can apply for an ETA through the official Mozambique eVisa portal at least 5 working days before you travel.
- To enter Mozambique, you must have a certificates to prove you’ve had: a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk
Vaccines, malaria, water
This is not medical advice: talk to your doctor or an international vaccination centre before you travel.
- At least 8 weeks before your trip:
- Hospital facilities are of a lower standard compared to the UK, especially in the north of the country. In cases of serious illness or injury, medical evacuation to South Africa or the UK may be necessary.
Per the ministries
Viafro gives no safety rating: here are the zones and advice published by the French ministry (in French) and the official extracts, with their dates.
Vigilance zones published by France Diplomatie (in French) · page updated on 15 Sept 2026 · see the official map
- Red · Zones formellement déconseillées (en rouge sur la carte)
L’extrême nord du pays connait, depuis octobre 2017, un grand nombre d’attaques terroristes, d’inspiration islamiste, revendiquées par l’Etat Islamique au Mozambique.
Plusieurs attaques visent autant les symboles de l’État (bâtiments publics, forces de sécurité) que les populations civiles (massacres, pillages, kidnappings…).
- Orange · Zones déconseillées sauf raison impérative (en orange sur la carte)
Des incursions djihadistes ont eu lieu dans les provinces limitrophes de Niassa et de Nampula.
Sont déconseillés sauf raison impérative :
- Yellow · Zone de vigilance renforcée (en jaune sur la carte)
En dehors des zones mentionnées ci-dessus, le reste du pays est en vigilance renforcée.
Dans les parcs et réserves naturelles, des accidents peuvent survenir en raison de la présence d’animaux dangereux.
- Street crime is common in Maputo and is increasing in other cities and tourist destinations. This has involved knives and firearms. There are some areas in cities which are more dangerous – seek local advice. Beaches and offshore islands are not policed.
- There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
What the country’s law provides
Photography, alcohol, drugs, relationships: the rules published by the ministries, quoted as they stand, without comment.
- It is illegal to drink alcohol on public beaches.
Currency
Mozambican metical / Mozambican meticalViafro publishes no price or budget range without a source: amounts will come from our own expenses recorded on the ground, dated and itemised.
- There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Mozambique. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
Express card
Structured data from Wikidata and the CIA World Factbook, re-checked at every site update.
- Population · 2025
- 35,631,653
- Time zone
- +1 h from Paris
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C, D and F plugs · 220 V
- Driving side
- Driving on the left
- Calling code
- +258
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Area
- 801,590 km²
- Highest point
- Monte Binga, 2,436 m
- Main religions
- Catholic 27.3%, Islam 19.1%, Pentecostal 16.7%, Saio/Zione 16.3%, no religion 13.5%, other 4.3%, Anglican 1.7%, unknown 1.2%
Getting there and around
Airports, roads and transport.
- MPMMaputo International AirportMaputo1.1 M passengers
- BEWBeira AirportBeira283,000 passengers
- APLNampula AirportNampula261,000 passengers
- TETChingozi AirportTete153,600 passengers
Direct flights from Paris are to be checked on the airport’s or airline’s website.
On the road
- If you are planning to drive in Mozambique, see information on driving abroad and check the rules of the road. You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Mozambique for up to 90 days.
Destinations
The essentials.
Maputo
Maputo (Portuguese pronunciation: [mɐˈputu]) is the capital and largest city of Mozambique.
Île Bazaruto
Bazaruto (Portuguese pronunciation: [bazaˈɾutu]) is a barrier island in the Bazaruto Archipelago of southern Mozambique.
Vilankulo
Vilankulo (or Vilanculos) is a coastal town in Mozambique, lying in the Vilanculos District of Inhambane Province.
Tofo
Tofo Beach (Portuguese: Praia do Tofo) or simply Tofo is a small town in southeastern Mozambique.
Bazaruto
Cornelius Kibelka from Berlin, GermanyMust-try food
Four dishes, and where to taste them.
Matapa
Matapa or matata is a typical Mozambican dish, prepared with young cassava, pumpkin, or spinach leaves which are usually ground in a large wooden mortar and pestle before being cooked with peanuts, tomatoes, garlic, onion and coconut milk. Many matapa dishes i
Ugali
Ugali, also known as posho, nsima, papa, pap, bogobe, sadza, isitshwala, akume, amawe, ewokple, akple, and other names, is a type of corn meal made from maize or corn or mahindi flour in several African countries: Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
Shrimp curry
Shrimp curry, also known as prawn curry, is a typical curry dish of Burmese cuisine, Indonesian cuisine in Indonesia, Indo-Portuguese cuisine in India (Goa) and Portugal, Mozambican cuisine in Mozambique and Thai cuisine in Thailand (Phuket).
Nshima
Le nshima, ou nsima, est un plat originaire de Zambie, à base de farine de maïs, qui se présente sous la forme d'une pâte blanche. Il est consommé dans toute l’Afrique, en particulier à l’est, en Zambie, au Malawi et au Kenya, où il constitue la base de l’alim (summary in French)
Culture and etiquette
Customs, dress, useful words.
- Bom diagood morning
- Obrigadothank you
- Por favorplease
- Entries checked on Wiktionary.
- Religions: Catholic 27.3%, Islam 19.1%, Pentecostal 16.7%, Saio/Zione 16.3%, no religion 13.5%, other 4.3%, Anglican 1.7%, unknown 1.2%.
- Languages: Makhuwa 26.1%, Portuguese (official) 16.6%, Tsonga 8.6%, Nyanja 8.1, Sena 7.1%, Lomwe 7.1%, Chuwabo 4.7%, Ndau 3.8%, Tswa 3.8%, other Mozambican languages 11.8%, other 0.5%, unspecified 1.8% (2017 est.).
Festivals and events
The big dates.
- National holiday
Independence Day, 25 June (1975) ; independence: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal).
Fixed dates and moveable events, each with its source; moveable dates change every year and are to be checked on an official calendar.
Did you know?
Three things to remember.
The country’s highest point, Monte Binga, reaches 2,436 m.
35,631,653 inhabitants in 2025 on 801,590 km², about 44 per km².
Independence on 25 June 1975 (from Portugal).
Gallery
See it before you go.
Real photographs: free images under a verified licence and Viafro images. Never a generated image. Credits in the footer.
Share your trip with #viafro: the best images will join this gallery, with your credit.
Live, work, invest
A few key figures.
Sourced data (World Bank). No investment advice.
GDP per capita (current US$)627World Bank · 2025GDP growth-0.5 %World Bank · 2025Inflation (consumer prices)4.4 %World Bank · 2025Unemployment (ILO estimate)6.6 %World Bank · 2025International tourist arrivals2 ,000World Bank · 2019
World Bank data (World Development Indicators), consulted on 28 Oct 2026. Tourist arrivals are the latest year published.
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Sources and verification dates · 19 sources, checked on 28 Oct 2026
Travel advice · GOV.UK (FCDO)Entry, visa, safety: the official page, kept up to date by the ministry. Travel health · US CDCVaccines and precautions from a reference medical source. World Heritage · UNESCOThe country’s inscribed sites and tentative list. WikidataCapital and currency, verified structured data.
- Wikidata · Mozambique (Q1029)
- World Bank · World Development Indicators
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Mozambique · Foreign travel advice · Entry requirements (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Mozambique · Foreign travel advice · Health (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Mozambique · Foreign travel advice · Safety and security (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- Rough Guides · Mozambique Travel Guide · When to visit
- Wiktionary · Checked entries (Portuguese)
- Wikipedia · Matapa (plat)
- Wikipedia · Ugali
- Wikipedia · Shrimp curry
- Wikipedia · Nshima
- Wikipedia · Maputo
- Wikipedia · Île Bazaruto
- Wikipedia · Vilankulo
- Wikipedia · Tofo
- CIA World Factbook · Mozambique (public domain) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
- France Diplomatie · Mozambique · Travel advice · Security (zones, in French) (page updated on 15 Sept 2026)
- Wikidata · Airports of the country (IATA code, traffic) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia (climate normals) · Maputo · monthly normals (Deutscher Wetterdienst (precipitation and humidity 1961–1990){{cite web) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
Information checked on 28 Oct 2026. Check the official source before you travel. Viafro gives no safety rating and publishes no price without a source.