Mozambique Community Development

The coastal town of Vilanculos, Mozambique, a short boat ride from the World Heritage Site Bazaruto Archipelago.

Mozambique

The Republic of Mozambique is in the east of the African continent. It is bordered to the south by South Africa, Zambia to the west and Malawi and Tanzania to the north and northwest. For a long time Mozambique has been a favourite holiday destination for people from neighbouring South Africa as it is considered to be one of Africa’s true last untouched destinations. Mozambique has it all; from the picturesque beaches, to bustling metropolises, to the safaris and wilderness that have made this continent so popular.

Mozambique is now a relatively peaceful country. However, the devastating floods ruined much of its infrastructure in 2000/2001, killing large numbers and leaving many people homeless. This is because Mozambique is mostly coastal lowlands, making it vulnerable to the rising levels of the Zambezi River.

Like most countries in Africa, Mozambique has not escaped the devastation caused by AIDS. In 2004 it was estimated that half a million children had lost either one or both of their parents due to AIDS.

In contrast to the devastating effects of AIDS and flooding, Mozambique has some of the most beautiful coastline scenery in Africa and is one of the few remaining unspoiled destinations around.

Time
Mozambique is two hours ahead of GMT.

In Africa, time is not a priority like it is in much of the western world – there is a saying that Africa works to ‘Africa Time’, which basically means you must exercise a lot of patience! If a boat is due to leave at 12pm, don’t be surprised if it still hasn’t a couple of hours later… keep an open mind, and arrive ‘Expecting the unexpected’.

Getting There

You will need to arrange your flights into Vilanculos International Airport (daily from Johannesburg), where you will be met by our African project coordinators. They will then transfer you to the project accommodation where you will meet the team, settle in and then begin your orientation the following morning.

Please note: Flights to Vilanculos from Johannesburg will need to be booked through Pelican Airways on their website: www.pelicanair.co.za - please ensure that you allow 3 hours between your connecting flights.

Climate

Southern East Africa has a very tropical climate, dominated by the wet and dry seasons. For both seasons, you will need to bring outdoor clothing preferably neutral in colour as well as a hat and sun block; the sun can be very harsh to your skin.

April-September: Dry Season: Nights and early mornings can be cold, especially during the winter months of May to August.

October-March: Wet Season: Days and nights can get very hot and sticky. You need light clothes although there might be a day the temperature drops so ensure you also bring a sweater. It’s a time of heavy rain, especially between mid-November and mid February so bring a raincoat, waterproof shoes and plenty of clothes you can change into just in case you get caught in the rain. It is a beautiful season; everything turns green and you may witness many young animals appearing.

Please ensure you pack according to the months that you travel!

Climate Chart for Maputo