Q&A and Island Tips...
This Questions and Answers (FAQ's) Section which includes General Travel Info and Island visitors "Tips" is expanding all the time so we hope this info will be helpful to you on the island in 2007 onwards.....
FAQ's: Frequently Asked Questions:
- Q - Are there only self-catering facilities available at the lodge..?
- Q - How many Restaurants and Bars are available on the Island..?
- Q - Can I purchase food items on the Island or at the Lodge..?
- Q – Is there many nice snorkeling locations around the Island..?
- Q - Is there any safe and secure parking in Maputo where I can leave my vehicle/s while I’m on the Island..?
- Q - If we want to Fly across to the Island is this possible..?
- Q - What is the passenger luggage weight limit...?
- Q - How much does the ferry trip cost per person..?
- Q - When does the Ferry run across to the Island..? and how long does the trip take..?
- Q - What bits of advice do you consider to be most important?
- Q - When is it best to go?
Q - Are there only “Self-catering” facilities available at the lodge..?
The Guest chalets and cabins are all equipped as “self-catering” units, but we also do have a island style Beach Diner-restaurant and Bar etc (MaroJo’s) next to the lodge - so they can also provide basic (limited menu) meals you may need like; Breakfast, Lunches, Dinners…. or you can just cook your own meals etc - which ever you prefer..
Or you can even go mad and enjoy an evening meal at the island’s 4star hotel next to the lodge. (A little expensive..!) or at one of the Village Restaurants like “Lucas” – very well known for its Portuguese Fish menu..!
Q - How many Restaurants and Bars are available on the Island..?
We of course have our own restaurant / bar on the premises which will serve you with delicious fresh grilled seafood and our special grilled chicken Piri-Piri.
Our staff will also introduce you to the other 2 privately owned restaurants, "Lucas" and "Carioka" in the village.
Then there is another Restaurant and Bar in the 4star Island Hotel next door.
Q - Can I purchase food items on the Island or at the Lodge..?
As for food supplies - We would suggest you either bring most/all items with you from South Africa (if you come from RSA) or you can buy in the local markets in Maputo on your arrival in town before you catch the ferry or flight to the island - there is also a islanders small 'Trading Store' on the Island but is very limited in stock and with high prices - but for meat etc – ideally bring from home or get in Maputo.. and bring any Meat in “Vac-Pak” type sealed bags – (Veg as well..!)
If you “pre-arrange” with the Lodge early (ideally when you make final payment for your booking - 7 days before your arrival) the lodge may be able to assist and have some items you need purchased and transferred to the island on your arrival, if you are a large party or on the island for an extended visit – there would be a reasonable fee for this service.
Q – Is there many nice snorkeling locations around the Island..?
Yes many, the most usual places are:
- Red Cliffs Coral Garden – about 1.5kms south from lodge. Can be dived high or low tide but high always better viz.
- Portuguese Island Lagoon. About 1.5 – 2 km – depending on the tide. It’s a shore dive and if not dived at high will be a long walk to north of Portugese island and will be murky.
- Lighthouse Coral Garden. About 7 kms northeast from the Lodge. It’s usually a shore dive and should be dived at high.
- Ponta Torres. It’s a shore dive from a rocky ledge should be dived at high but low is also OK. This is located about 14 - 20kms around the island from the lodge. At low tide longer due to a winding sand channel.
- Little Garrick Reef.- Across “The Gap” on the south end of the Island opposite St Maria peninsula. 12 – 18 kms – At low tide longer due to a winding channel.
Depending too on conditions and your competency levels the Dive Centre host’s and DM’s may be able to take you to other dive sites – at varying distances. The best site being right in ”The Gap” (or Hells Gate) – but only diveable 30 mins each side of High or Low tide. But only good snorkellers and strong swimmers should try this dive site.
Q - Is there any safe and secure parking in Maputo where I can leave my vehicle/s while I’m on the Island..?
If you are driving to Maputo in a car you can park your vehicle at the ferry Terminal where there is safe 24/7 parking and that will cost you only about R20 per day per vehicle.
Q - If we want to Fly across to the Island is this possible..?
Yes, there are small Daily charter flights that leave from Maputo International Airport that fly directly to Inhaca Island - normally once a day at about 15.30 in the afternoon - the flight takes about 15 minutes (but you have to be at the airport 1 hour before departure) and costs about $69 return each passenger, (including the Island taxi fare to the lodge).
Q - What is the passenger luggage weight limit on a flight...?
This all depends on the number of passengers on the plane at the time, but under normal passenger loads of 17 passengers the limit is 15Kg per passenger – More luggage can be taken but then extra luggage fees are paid.
Q - How much does the ferry trip cost per person..?
The Express island ferry will cost you about R420 (RAND) return each Adult – Children are cheaper depending on age.
Q - When do the Ferry’s run across to the Island..? and how long does the trip take..?
There are 2 different ferry services to the island – The old Government ferry, or the newer “Express” ferry service - which is the one we mainly advise to use when it runs on the weekends (Sat + Sun).
Express Ferry Service: (Sat and Sunday only)Please note that we pre-arrange island transfers and issue tickets for the Express ferry service. – It is not possible to do this on the Government Ferry..!
Government Ferry Service: (Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun)The government operated Island Ferry operates from Maputo and cannot get in 2 hrs after or before high tide. In the morning that ferry departs at 7am and return in the afternoon from the island at about 3pm
The slow Government ferry trip with that about 3½ hours or the Express ferry trip will take +/-2½ hrs.
Please note: There are no toilets on the government ferry so empty bladders before embarking. - The Government ferry - quite ethnic and adheres to time tables (Leaves Maputo 07.30 and arrives 3½ hrs later. Departs Inhaca 15.00 - It only runs on Tues, Thurs, Sat & Sun. The cost is M150,000 = +/- R40 which guest have to pay in “cash on arrival” a the departure time.
Q - What bits of advice do you consider to be most important?
1. By law everyone must always carry some form of identification.
2. To avoid your precious passport or drivers' license falling prey to pick-pockets or bribe-seeking police, make notarized copies of all your documents and then carry these with you instead.
3. Carry spare passport-sized photos - they can be very handy if your passport disappears (see also If your documents are stolen)
4. Government officials and waiters are notoriously bad at calculating or providing change, so carry enough small notes and coins (in local Meticais cash) to be able to pay exact amounts.
1. Although rain showers are possible throughout the year, the rainy (and hottest) season is from around December to around May.
2. Many routes north of Beira become impassable during the rainy season, but most areas in southern Mozambique - such as our very own Inhacazul Lodge on Inhaca Island - are accessible all year-round.
More Q & A info to follow soon..... but below is some Visa Information and a few Travel Tip's for you to review as well....
Visa Information and Procedures:
Passport
Passports of all member nations of the United Nations are recognized by Mozambique. Your passport must be valid to a date six months after your intended return, or your visa application will be refused.
Visas
Genuine visas are now issued at all ‘Airports of Entry’ and almost all borders. Recently the visa requirement for South Africans was dropped, but everyone else (apart from Malawians) needs a visa to enter Mozambique. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond your date of exit. Service at consulates in South Africa has improved since the dropping of visas for South Africans, but still ranges from disgraceful to adequate so it may be prudent to make use of a visa service. Mozambique has a consulate or embassy in many European countries, the USA and most east and southern African countries, with requirements varying so enquire first. Charges range from £20 (London) to R45 (Johannesburg) for a single-entry 30-day tourist visa, one-week delay. You will usually need photocopies of your passport details and two B&W or colour passport photos.
Where to get your Visa
In South Africa the Embassy is in Pretoria and there are four consulates.
In Johannesburg: tel. (011) 327 2938, Pretoria: tel. (012) 4010300, Cape Town: tel. (021) 426 2944, Durban: tel. (031) 304 0220 or Nelspruit: tel. (013) 753 2089.
Outside of South Africa there are embassies or consulates in the following cities: Mbabane (Swaziland), Harare (Zimbabwe), Blantyre and Lilongwe (Malawi), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) or the Mozambique mission in the capital city of your country. Mozambique does not have a consulate in Australia.
In South Africa, contact the Mozambique Consulate and Visa Section in Pretoria at (012) 343 0957 for further details and phone VIP Visa Services tel: Dene (mobile) 082 973 0454, or e-mail Mozambique Visa Services: mozam@global.co.za who provide a wide range of options for obtaining a visa. Note that the Johannesburg and Harare consulates have a well-deserved reputation for treating applicants with absolute contempt so it may be better to apply in Blantyre (if coming from the north) or Mbabane (if coming from the south).
Validity
The fine for overstaying is US$100 per day. Unless you obtain a multiple-entry (valid for 10 days on each entry) or transit (valid for 24hrs) visa, your visa will be valid for 30 days from your arrival date. A stay of up to 90 days is permitted on a "tourist visa" as long as you extend it before each 30-day period expires. It is cheapest to pay for visa extensions in SA Rands, Zimbabwe dollars or Malawi Kwacha, but United States dollars (in cash) may be required.
Extending your Visa
If you require a visa extension, just hand in your passport at the local immigration office (“Lmigração” - main towns only) at least 3 days before your present 30-day visa expires.
Getting There: Maputo: LAM (Mozambique Airlines) and South African Airways (SAA) have daily flights between Johannesburg and Maputo.
Language: Portuguese is the main local language, however English is now widely spoken and used in the tourism sector and main vacation locations in the South.
Visas: All visitors must have a visa and valid passport. Visas can be arranged on arrival in Maputo, We recommend arranging visas prior to departure from your home location.
Currency: US$ and South African Rand (except in the north) are widely accepted. The local currency is the Metical. Take cash and Travellers cheques, as few places accept credit cards.
When to go: April to November is the best time climatically, as weather is very pleasant. December to March is hot and humid (but still very pleasant on the beaches and along the coastline.)
Time: GMT + 2 – (same as South Africa / Johannesburg)
Health: Malaria is unfortunately fairly common, so take the appropriate prophylactics. Anti-malaria precautions are recommended. Drink only purified or bottled water.
What to pack: Take care to include light comfortable clothing and protective gear / wear for the tropical sun and rain. Also insecticides and all personal medication & toiletries.
Luggage Allowance: 20 kg on international flights and the island ferry. Daily flights to the islands 15 kg.
Custom allowance: 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of alcohol.
Airport Tax: USD$ 20.00 Payable on departure.
For additional information on these vacations, please enquire via our Reservations Office.
If you have any lodge, transfers or island vacation questions that are not listed above then please just email your questions to us at: andyaccrue@email.com