P.O BOX
2986 NELSPRUIT 1200 SOUTH AFRICA
TEL: +27 13 7533474 FAX: +27 13 7525199
EMAIL: info@barraproperties.com
| PHOTO GALLERY |
USEFUL TIPS
DO NOT bring too much food - we see it everytime that holiday makers just bring too much food which they take back all the way or give away. This is a total waste of money and it just takes up unnecessary space. The same with clothes - you are going to be in a very casual and relaxed environment and you really do not need bags of clothes. Washing is done on a daily basis, so pack only a few items. It is senseless to dress to kill - no-one would notice it!
Leave your valuables like expensive jewelry at home. Although we have lock-up safes for these, they just create a temptation.
Make sure that all your meat is vacuum packed and hard frozen. Pack it in a decent cooler box with enough ice bricks. All other foodstuffs which must be held cool, should be packed in a separate cooler box with enough ice bricks.
Do not attempt to take fresh milk - it would not last. Take the boxed long life milk in instead.
If you want to take bread, take one loaf only. Pćo (Portuguese buns) are freely available in this area.
Fill your vehicle with fuel at
the closest filling station to the border post. Most people use the
Komatipoort border, and there is a BP service station to the left just
before the border. If you take along a boat or Jetski, fill their tanks as
well. Take enough two-stroke oil for these vessels.
Fuel now costs R16+ per litre in Mozambique. Some people bring cans of
fuel as well, but the Mozambican customs department jacked up their act,
and if caught, you would be liable for import duties, forms to be
completed and waiting in long queues. It is just not worth all the
trouble.
Change some of your currency for Meticas at the Bureau de Change at the BP service station. You would need this to pay toll road fees, for fuel and refreshments en route. Although South African Rands are freely accepted in Mozambique, it always works out cheaper to pay in the local currency. The exchange rate normally fluctuates between MTn 2.1 to 2.5 for 1 Rand. Be careful of people changing currency at the side of the roads - they offer a higher rate, but they are also very sly, and chances are good that you would loose some money this way. You can also safely change money at the Inhambane market at good rates. Banks in Mozambique no longer change money, unless you have an account with them. One can also draw money at most Autoteller machines in Inhambane.
You must have your vehicle, caravan and trailer's original registration documents with you at all times, as well as your driver's license. Have enough copies of your ID / Passport.
If making use of the Komatipoort / Ressano Garcia border posts: Once you have cleared the South African side, you would find a number of offices to the left of the Mozambican clearance offices. Go to the Global Alliance office and ask for Ivo, Jumbo, Michael, Ricardo or Ben. They would issue your compulsory 3rd party insurance, and assist you with the whole clearance process. You must have your passports stamped personally and all the passport holders must be present.
Your vehicle would be searched by customs officials: Alcoholic drinks are limited to 1 Litre of spirits, a case of beer and 5 Litres of wine per person. All brands of alcoholic drinks are available in Inhambane, but you would obviously pay more for it than in South Africa. You are also limited to one carton of cigarettes per person.
Stick to the speed limits and obey the traffic signs. Do not overtake on solid white lines. The fines for any contravention are hefty and payable on the spot. Always be friendly, even when caught, and do not aggravate the authorities. You would be in a foreign country and have to treat the people with respect.
The roads are generally in very good condition. The 90km. stretch north of Xai-Xai is in a reasonable state with some potholes. Drive slowly there. From there it is plain sailing up to the Inhambane turn-off. From there to Inhambane the road is reasonable but with the occasional pothole. From Inhambane to Barbalalaza the tar road is in a bad state with numerous bad potholes. Extreme caution should be taken there. From Barbabalaza to Barra, the road is a gravel one which is presently in good shape.
Good news for fly-in guests is that there is a new car rental company between Barbabalaza and Tofo, where you can rent a 4X4 vehicle. They also do airport transfers:
Tofo Car Hire
Contact: +258 29356163 / +27824208619
/ +27844334432
e-mail: tofocarhire@gmail.com
For those who wish to sleep over en-route, we recommend the following stop-over. It is well situated and if you leave early in the morning, you would be in Barra before lunch:
Casa Lisa Lodge
Situated 50km north of
of vehicle.
Chalets,
Camping, Restaurant, Bar, Swimming Pool, Conference Room
Contact Bruce: +258 823041990
e-mail: buckland@teledata.mz
Other useful tips - courtesy Outdoor Warehouse:
