I'm curious about the safety of visiting Mozambique alone. Ghana was very safe except in the tourist area in Accra at night. Can you get by with English or is portuguese a must? Are ATMs available?
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I'm curious about the safety of visiting Mozambique alone. Ghana was very safe except in the tourist area in Accra at night. Can you get by with English or is portuguese a must? Are ATMs available?
Yes, yes, yes, regarding Mozambique. I can also say almost the same for Angola.
By the way word has it that Angola is going to be a great mongering country in a few more years now that the war is over.
Question?
Just had a talk with a friend of mine who was born in Mosambique from white background. He still travels regular there and descirbes the place as beeing full of people either on hard drugs or fighting aids or both. Is he right?
To reant a car in Maputo, how much it costs?
Hi,
I'd like to know how much it costs to reant a car in Maputo.
thanks
I haven't any idea, but would say if this is your first time use taxis and public transportation/
Foxeshunter:
I have rented cars several times there from one of the two big rental companies. Depending on the type of car you rent, you can get them for $25-35 per day. If you're not used to driving on the left hand side of the road, you may want to use extreme caution for the first couple of days. Also, remember that the street lighting is poor, and many of the other vehicles, particularly large trucks, operate at night without any lights, so be constantly on your guard. Finally, people there tend to dart across the street whenever the urge strikes them, and with the poor lighting, it's not always easy to see them until the last second, so be careful. I have a couple of friends who actually hit pedestrians.
I should add that petty street crime in Maputo is rampant. Thieves routinely strip the lights off of cars and then re-sell them at the street markets throughout Maputo. You cannot avoid this risk totally, but it is a good idea to "hire" one of the guys hanging around wherever you park, to guard your car. Of course, there's no guarantee that he won't steal some of the trim or the lights, but I had reasonably good luck in that department and only lost a couple of lights the entire time I was there.
GE
Better Luanda or Maputo?
Hello, I'd like to know if it is better reach Luanda or Maputo to pick up girls?
Another question, please.
The AIDS risk is high here?
Thanks for your advice
Foxeshunter:
I have been both to Luanda and Maputo so I will plainly say "Go to Maputo".
I felt safe at night walking alone down the street at 11:00 PM.
AIDS awareness is higher and they have been having AIDS programs for a long time even during the war.
The women selection is great on Rua de Bagamoio. If you want higher standard or maybe a girlfriend then try Locomotivo, Mini-Golf or Sheikh. For the highest standard try gambling at the casino at Polana Hotel.
The women tend to speak moderate to good English.
Hostelry standard is high in Maputo and the prices are very reasonable as long as you don't stay at the Polana or Cardoso. You also have Internet access in every hotel.
Mozambique is also developing tourism so there is a lot to do during the day time. Alternatively you can spend the day at the Polana pool ($10 for non-guests) and watch the beautiful Portuguese women or other expats. Their husbands are usually at work.
On the hotel side, it is better to call the hotel direct as they will give you better rates than the standard published ones.
to Blake
Dear Blake, thanks very much for your detailed reply.
I'd like to ask some private questions, I have just sent you a private message. I hope you will reply me.
thanks again
I forgot all about Mini Golf! I used to have some great times there, chock full of women of the younger variety as I remember. endless variety, and very noisy.
I have my eye on Mozambique as one of my next mongering destinations. The fact that hotels are reported to be good value for money is especially attractive considering the poor standards of holiday accomodation in blakc Africa. A few questions though:
How about money in Maputo? I guess Mozambique will be a cash country like all countries in black Africa. But I would like to know how much of a hassle changing money is.
Do they take euros or dollars? Do middle-range hotels accept credit cards?
Also, do the local cops fish for bribes? They can be quite a nuisance in many African countries.
Thanks for any tips.
xxl
XXL:
Changing money is no hassle at all. You can go to any of the "gray market" money changers (all Indian) with booths all over town. Your only problem will be to remember to bring some bags to transport all of the Metacais you're going to receive for dollars or Euros. The decent hotels all take credit cards, and there's no hassle there either.
GE
This thread seems to have gone very quiet!
I'm based in Johannesburg and have tried a few Maputo girls that have ventured down here. Generally they're good looking and have a fun attitude. Now, encouraged by the very positive comments here I've decided it's time for a visit to Maputo. I'll be there for a week just after Xmas. Anyone who'll be there and wants to share a few beers PM me.
The info available here, and on the Net generally, is not very specific about hotels in Maputo. Can anyone recommend a good hotel that is reasonably priced (say $40 to $50), that is girl friendly and close to where the tourist/monger would like to be? The Ibis Hotel seems reasonable. Has anyone stayed there and can recommend it?
Will post a full report on my return, hopefully with some pics. There seems to be a real shortage of photos here of the beautiful Mocambique girls!
ID
The Monte Carlo on Av. Patrice Lumumba is reasonably priced at $60 + english breakfast (i.e bacon & eggs). They are also girl friendly, and any girl that accompanies you is greeted with courtesy by the night clerk! Taxi fare from Luso, Che Themba and the Rua de Bagomoyo is generally around Met 200,000 (US$10)
I have stayed at the Hotel Ibis for US$48 weekday and US$42 weekends. Generally OK, clean rooms with functioning TV, shower toilets etc., with the advantage being that it is close to the action, walking distance to most clubs. Also girl friendly but the night clerk takes down the ID number of the girl.
Avoid the Polana - very close to the night club Sheik but expensive and NOT at all girl friendly.
I stayed at the Poloana with a girl I picked up at one of the clubs, and had no problem at all. Maybe it depends on the person on desk duty the night you come in, but the guy didn't even check the girl's ID when I was there.