smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
Mozambique
| Mozambique overall | This Advice is current for Friday, 29 August 2008. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Safety and Security: Local Travel (update). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
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Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
Since February 2008, several demonstrations against the rising cost of food and transport have taken place around Mozambique, including in areas of Maputo, Matola, Chokwe, Chibuto, Malaica and Chimoio. Several demonstrations have turned violent and led to fatalities and injuries. Future demonstrations may occur. You should monitor the media and other local information sources for information about safety or security risks and follow the advice of local authorities.
You should avoid all protests and demonstrations as they may turn violent.
We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution because of high levels of serious crime. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
Armed robbery and break-ins are common in the capital Maputo and on the increase in other towns. Petty crime is common throughout the country. Foreigners have been targeted. Carjacking is increasingly common, particularly in Maputo. Violent attacks, including sexual assault, can occur on Mozambique's beaches at any time of day. You should therefore avoid isolated beaches and picnic spots. Criminal activity increases at night and during holiday periods. You should avoid driving outside major cities and walking anywhere at night.
Due to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance.
Driving in Mozambique can be dangerous as driving standards are low and roads and vehicles are in poor condition. Drivers should look out for pedestrians. There are reports of pedestrians deliberately causing accidents in order to extort money from foreign drivers. Checkpoints are common throughout Mozambique and drivers should obey police signals to stop. There have been reports of police soliciting bribes from tourists.
Many roads in the Gaza and Inhambane provinces and parts of Sofala, Zambezia and Tete provinces, including the North-South road, are subject to flooding and damage in the rainy season.
Unmarked minefields are found away from the main road networks in remote, rural areas.
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.
The rainy season is November to April when flash floods and mudslides can occur, making roads impassable. Flooding occurs on low ground around rivers and coastal areas during the rainy season. Cyclones may occur along the coastal areas of Mozambique. Mozambique is also subject to earthquakes.
On 22 February 2007, a cyclone caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure in areas along the southeast coast, including the popular tourist destination of Vilancuos. Most of the tourist resorts and guest lodges that were affected have now reopened.
Information on natural disasters can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
Australians are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways of accessing your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques and US dollars cash. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas. Travellers' cheques in US dollars or Euros are accepted at major banks in Maputo but can only be changed for local currency. Travellers' cheques are very difficult to change and a high commission is charged where the facility does exist. Only a few hotels and restaurants in major urban centres accept credit cards. The export or import of local currency is prohibited.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
When you are in Mozambique, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
It is required by law that you carry identification at all times (identity documents or notarised copies).
Homosexual acts are illegal.
It is illegal to photograph government buildings, other infrastructure or officials without permission from the Gabinete d'Informacao.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Mozambique for the most up to date information.
If you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic, evidence of a yellow fever vaccination is required.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
Medical facilities in Mozambique are limited. While costs are generally lower than in Australia, up-front payment will be required before receiving treatment. In the event of serious illness or injury, air evacuation to a country with state-of-the-art medical facilities is advisable and can be very expensive.
Malaria occurs widely and throughout the year in Mozambique. Other insect-borne diseases (including filariasis, plague and African sleeping sickness) are also common. We encourage you to take prophylaxis against malaria and take measures to avoid insect bites including using insect repellent at all times.
The rate of HIV/AIDS infection in Mozambique is high. You should exercise appropriate precautions if engaging in activities that expose you to risk of infection.
Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including cholera, hepatitis, tuberculosis and rabies) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. It is recommended that all drinking water be boiled or that you drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw or undercooked food. Do not swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to certain water-borne diseases such as bilharzia (schistosomiasis). Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Mozambique. You can obtain consular assistance from the nearest Australian High Commission which is in Pretoria, South Africa:
Australian High Commission
292 Orient Street
Arcadia
Pretoria, South Africa
Telephone (27 12) 423 6000
Facsimile (27 12) 342 8442
Email pretoria.info@dfat.gov.au
Website http://www.australia.co.za
If you are travelling to Mozambique, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the above Embassy, you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
