January 5, 2005

Mozambique and the Tete Corridor

Another early morning start - up and on the road before 8am. We had to cross over into Mozambique and drive through a stretch of road known as Tete Corridor “Mozambique has calmed down considerably from the war days when going anywhere by road meant by convoy and a high risk of attack. That said, there are still a few areas where caution is warranted” (Lonely Planet, Guide to Southern Africa, 2004).

So another border crossing, this one was a bit dodgy. It seems we were missing a form called ‘Police Report Form’ for the car. The police told us it would take four to five hours to process without one, but that we could go through instantly for (ahem) a small fine of 20 US Dollars. We got through to the Mozambique side of border control where you had to pay for everything. $10 for a stamp in your passport on top of the £40 Visa we got back in the UK.

I think we were all a bit apprehensive about going through Mozambique, not unnecessarily with a long civil war ending five years ago. The aftermath is a country littered with unexploded land mines. “It’s unsafe to free camp or go wandering off into the bush anywhere in Mozambique without first seeking local advice. Even then, stick to well-used paths.” (Lonely Planet, Guide to Southern Africa, 2004). If you need the toilet on the drive through you are told not to leave the road for risk of standing on a mine.

The people we met were all very friendly - it seems like a country that is finding its feet after very hard times. A very short visit to Mozambique - maybe stay longer next time.

Posted by jon jack at 8:02 PM | Comments (5)