This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information in the Summary and under Safety and Security: Civil Unrest/Political Tension (Violent demonstrations in Maputo). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Target Summary

Target Safety and Security

Target Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers .

Target Civil Unrest/Political Tension

On 1 September 2010, demonstrations and riots were reported at various locations around the capital, Maputo. Demonstrations in some cases turned violent with reports of looting and some fatalities. Demonstrators set up roadblocks at various locations. The road to the airport has been blocked on at least one occasion and gunfire has also been reported in the airport area. We strongly advise you exercise a high degree of caution in and around the main city areas until the situation stabilises. It is advisable to follow local media for up to date reports on the situation. Demonstrations may spread to other areas in Mozambique.

You should avoid all protests and demonstrations as they may turn violent.

Target Crime

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 in other towns. Petty crime is common throughout the country, especially muggings and bag snatching. Foreigners have been targeted. Carjacking is common, particularly in Maputo and on routes to Mutare, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Violent attacks, including sexual assault, can occur on Mozambique's beaches at any time of day. Serious assault and robberies have occurred at two coastal resorts in the Inhambane province. Isolated beaches and picnic spots should be avoided. Criminal activity increases at night and during holiday periods. You should avoid walking at night, even in well-known tourist areas.

Due to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance.

Target Local Travel

Driving in Mozambique can be hazardous due to poor road conditions, local driving practices and inadequate lighting. It is especially dangerous to drive after dark in rural areas. Livestock often stray onto roads. Drivers should look out for pedestrians. 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. During the rainy season (November to April) travel by four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended for most road travel outside Maputo. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety .

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.

Unmarked minefields are found away from the main road networks in remote, rural areas.

Piracy occurs in the Indian Ocean. To the north of Mozambique?s waters, attacks by pirates against all forms of shipping around Somalia's waters and the Gulf of Aden are increasing in frequency. The International Maritime Bureau issues piracy reports on its website . See also our travel advice on travelling by sea for more information.

Target Airline Safety

Please refer to our travel bulletin for information about Aviation Safety and Security.

Target Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate

The rainy season is November to April when flash floods and mudslides can occur, making some 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.

Information on natural disasters can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service . If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.

Target Wildlife

Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and 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.

Target Money and Valuables

Before you go, organise a variety of ways of accessing your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques and US dollars cash. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and 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 in other areas of Mozambique and a high commission is charged where the facility does exist. Only a few hotels and restaurants in major urban centres accept credit cards. Keep your credit card in sight at all times when using it. The export or import of local currency is prohibited.

Make two photocopies of valuable documents 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.

Target For Parents

For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling Parents brochure.

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 .

Target Local Laws

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 (passport, identity documents or notarised copies).

Penalties for drug offences are severe and can include prison sentences.

Homosexual activity is illegal.

Government buildings, other infrastructure and officials should not be photographed without permission from the Ministry of Information.

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.

Target Information for Dual Nationals

Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information.

Target Entry and Exit Requirements

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.

Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

Target Health Issues

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 has spread throughout the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides useful information for individuals and travellers on its website . For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 .

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, 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. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.

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 regardless of whether the patient has travel insurance. In the event of serious illness or injury, medical evacuation to a country with state-of-the-art medical facilities may be required which can be very expensive. Medivacs to South Africa from Mozambique can cost up to $A25,000.

Malaria is prevalent 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 .

Target Where to Get Help

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.