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Marge and Max
uno
3 Posts |
 Posted - 03/09/2010 : 21:55:08
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Hi mozman,
We are a Portuguese and Australian couple travelling the world, with no kids, no pets, no car but a couple of sleeping bags and a tent.
We will be spending six months working on a project on the Ilha de Moçambique and searching for the most economic way to get there we are considering two options and are in dire need of expert opinion ;)
Option A: flying from Casablanca to Cairo, then to Dar es Salaam and either flying to Pemba or going overland from Tanzania. From Pemba, what would the best route towards the Ilha be? Is hitchicking a problem? Are there transports we can use( We´ve heard about the "chapas")Where would you recommend us to camp or stay (that is budget, we´re not fussy). How long do you think this would take us to do?
Option B: flying from Casablanca to Johanesburg then take the bus to Maputo and then a plane to Nampula and finally a chapa to the Ilha.
Cheers,
Max and Marge
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2010 : 08:01:30
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Difficult to say without knowing what you have already found out regarding the costs of flights to Dar and to Joburg. Easy to get transport Pemba to Ilha - 5 to 6 hours and about USD35 (local equiv).
If flight to Joburg is cheaper then why not fly Joburg Pemba direct with
http://www.flyairlink.com/
Otherwise how about flying to Blantyre or Lilongwe in Malawi - 2 days on public transport via Mulanje or Mandimba to Ilha de Moc
Mike |
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Marge and Max
uno
3 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2010 : 15:43:47
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Thanks for the info Mike! This really is an incredible site, ever thought about turning pro?
We have ended up opting for Dar rather than Johannesburg as it turns out, perhaps this world cup business has pushed up prices.
We´ll be going overland to the Ilha.
We are potentially going to be saddled with quite a few boxes of malaria tablets (mephaquin) for our six month stay on the ilha. Is malaria medication reasonably easy to get in Moz? It would be nice not to have to take so many boxes in our very small backpacks. Also we aren´t sure how we will react to the -, which have some nasty side effects.
Do you use any medication , or are saffas too tough for that?
Another thing we are having trouble with is a visa. The charity we will be volunteering for recommend a six month visa (with one required re-entry three months in) but our embassy in Lisbon doesn´t offer it. They say we can get either a six month visa with required re-entries every month, or a three month visa with a one month extension after re-entry. Any advice?
Cheers,
Max and Marge
PS although we´re sure you have many places to stay on the ilha, you´re welcome to our place if you ever sail by! |
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 12:00:01
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Dang - of course I forgot about the effect that FIFA 2010 is having on ticket prices to Joburg.
I always use Doxycycline to combat malaria - have tried Malarone (too expensive) and Meflaquine/Larium (does not agree with me) - and so far on Doxy I have been malaria free. My sons aged 12 and 8 always take Meflaquine with no side effects and no malaria. Try a week on Mephaquine (same as Meflaquine) now to see how it affects you.
There are now 'farmacias' (private and govt pharmacies) all over Moz and certainly one on Ilha or go to the Hospital Distrital on Ilha. I have not purchased Mefloquine (Larium or Mephaquine) on Ilha but it should be available in Pemba and in Nampula where there are 3 or 4 private pharmacies see: http://www.kaskazini.com/GeneralInformation/GeneralTravelInformation.html
The visa problem is quite a sticky one. It is a major hassle getting to a border post from Ilha (2 days each way on public transport to Mandimba). I think many expats in Pemba have been able to re-new their visa at Pemba airport (it is an international airport) but not sure so perhaps ask kaskazini. If no luck with visa renewal in Pemba then go for the 3 month visa - I am sure that you will be able to renew it more than once.
In the past multiple entry visas issued in South Africa were only valid for 10 days on each entry!
And yes, about time I watched the sunset from Reliquias once more so could be taking you up on the offer of a roof, but still like the idea of the wind whistling through the 700 year old eves of Casa Branca.
Mike |
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Marge and Max
uno
3 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2010 : 15:17:04
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Muito obrigado Mike (do they call you Miguel in Moz?) From what we´ve read on doxycycline for malaria it is not advisable to take it for longer than 3 months, and preferably no longer than 1 month. We were planning to try out our mephaquin before we leave anyway, we hear it can be pretty nasty, but from the example of your kids sounds like it depends on the person.
Cheers,
Max and Marge
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2010 : 04:02:23
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Friends in Moz have been on doxy for 2 years - always got malaria on anything else and the side-effects of doxy (photo-sensitivity etc) are way preferable to malaria.
Keep healthy and that#347; 50% of your malaria battle won.
Mike |
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Which way to go?
