Are you planning to come to Mozambique? First time here? First time in Africa? It doesn’t matter. If you are wondering if it is safe to travel to Mozambique You just have to know you are welcome and we will wait for you with open arms.
Do not be afraid. Mozambicans are very welcoming, helpful and friendly. The no “if” you should worry about the aswer to your question.
Mozambique is safe for travel, alone or if You are a girl
- If you travel alone: you are not the only one. There are many people traveling alone, both low cost travelers and high cost ones.
- If you are a girl traveling alone. The answer is the same as above.
So, is it safe to travel to Mozambique, in any circumstances?
Yes, but as anywhere else, there are some things you should consider:
- Avoid walking alone in certain places, especially at night. Ask your accommodation which areas are safe and which are not.
- Do not trust anyone who wants to take you to visit the city, ride a boat or see animals. Always look for centers and people specialized in tourism. Trusting unofficial personnel may seem cheap a priori, but cheap can become quite expensive later.
- Meeting someone in a bar, pub or disco can be fun, but take all precautions before taking him/her to bed: where does s/he live, how s/he writes Portuguese and English (seeing his/her grammatical knowledge can tell you a lot about his/her background), what studies s/he has, how s/he looks like… Don’t misunderstand these words; we share this because cases of fake prostitution have increased: you invite someone to your room, you practice sex by mutual agreement and afterwards the other party asks you for money; if you do not give, the answer to the question “is it safe to travel to Mozambique” may turn upside down. Police or friends will come to force you to pay; that in the best of cases, because sometimes they steal your documentation to extort you later. BE CAREFUL, this applies to Maputo and other place in the country.
- Do not take drugs. They are forbidden. You don’t know where they come from and sometimes they can be a trap to extort you.
- If a police officer tries to take advantage of your ignorance accusing you for breaking a law, call your embassy first. If there is not, accept the fine and take it. It is important to always be nice to them, agree with them and apologize.
- Diseases should not worry you. Take the same hygiene measures that you take in your country. Regarding that Mozambique is for travel. Many are concerned about malaria, but it is very rare to catch it, especially in urban and beach areas. Wear long clothing during the hours between sunset and sunrise and use repellent.
Read also, other recommendations we prepared for You to help in Your travel planning process.