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Derek
uno
2 Posts |
 Posted - 12/02/2005 : 04:56:40
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Would like to know if the Giriyondo Post is open and what the roads are like.
Will be traveling from PTA on the 15th Decemder
Thanks D. |
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2005 : 07:59:06
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Hi Derek
No it is not open (but then again it probably suddenly will be without any official announcement), and the folk who should know are not saying when. See the forum topic under the 'Ask Mike' Section.
As soon as we know it will be up on the site.
Cheers
Mike |
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
Posted - 12/07/2005 : 00:30:37
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GIRIYONDO BORDER IS OPEN! DEC 7 2005Joint Statement by the Ministerial Committee of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park on the opening of the Giriyondo Access Facility (border post) in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, 6 December 2005.
The Giriyondo Tourist Access Facility (border post) that links Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and the Kruger National Park in South Africa in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP), will be operational from the 7th of December 2005. This facility will facilitate tourism flow by providing easier access within the GLTP.
The formal opening ceremony of the facility by the Presidents of Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe will be done early in 2006. When going through this access facility, tourists will be expected to produce valid passports (please note that the visa requirement between South Africa and Mozambique has been waived for all bearers of passports of the two countries for a stay to the maximum of 30 days).
The following general Standard Operational Procedures will be applicable to tourists making use of the Giriyondo Tourist Access Facility:
Operational hours will be as follows:
1 April to 30 September: 08:00 to 15:00
1 October to 31 March: 08:00 to 16:00
The roads in the Limpopo National Park part of the GLTP are accessible by 4x4 vehicles only.
No commercial traffic whatsoever is allowed to use the Giriyondo Tourist Access Facility.
No vehicles with an excess of maximum of 4 tonnes axle load are allowed to use the route which leads to the Giriyondo Access Facility.
The GLTP was proclaimed in December 2002, with the signing of the International Treaty in Xai-Xai in Mozambique, by the Presidents of the three countries. It comprises a vast area of the lowland savannah ecosystem, which is bisected by the Lebombo mountains running along the border between South Africa and Mozambique.
The development of this transfrontier conservation area is to foster sustainable ecosystem management, regional socio-economic development and to boost eco-tourism.
Issued on behalf of the GLTP Ministerial Committee.
Contact person in South Africa: JP Louw
Tel: +27 (0)12 310 3496
Mobile: +27 (0)82 569 3340
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Supermoz
bambino
8 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2005 : 01:26:36
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Could you tell me what the main reason is why you would need a 4x4 on the moz side, would it be a ground clearance thing? Would a normal hilux bakkie with diff locks be suitable?
Thanks |
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2005 : 02:45:48
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Hi supermoz
As the roads have mostly just been gravelled and graded, they are OK for non-4x4 bakkie BUT if it rains (and it has been a little already), you will have to deal with some slippery clay which may not be passable without 4x4. Also, knowing the bureacracy at the border, perhaps you will not be allowed in without a 4x4, but that remains to be seen. DO NOT TOW A TRAILER WITHOUT A 4X4!
Go for it and let us know how it went.
Mike |
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Supermoz
bambino
8 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2005 : 05:05:02
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Thanks for the info, I was planning on towing a quadbike trailer. But we are in a convoy of 4x4 cars including a shortwheel base Unimog so I'll just have the bike towed by one of the other vehicles. Would you know more or less the estimated travel time from giriyondo to the EN1? From there we will be on our way to Jangamo bay.
Thanks for all the help |
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Supermoz
bambino
8 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2005 : 08:50:39
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Me again
One of the vehicles going on the trip is in the process of being registered and we dont know if we would have the registation documents in time before we leave!! What can we do if we dont have the documents, is it possible that we could get police clearance on the vehicle and would they accept something like this at the border?
Thanks. |
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2005 : 12:23:41
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Hi again supermoz
Regarding trailers, I have this funny, niggling feeling that the Moz side might just decide not to let vehicles with trailers through. They did this during the floods on the detour around Xai-Xai for some strange reason - think it had to do with stopping multi-axle trucks. No official reason to think this and no-one has said anything, so take the trailer but don't shout at me if you have hassles. Time from border to Massingir (speed limit in reserve is 60kph) about 2 hours, then go Chokwe - Chibuto - Chongoene (just north of Xai-Xai) another 3 hours. Note that there are fuel shortages in Moz already and so fill up wherever you can, even if you have only gone 200km.
Regarding not having registration papers, so long as the car is registered and you have the police clearance you should be OK on the SA side, for the Moz side, just type up a letter with the VIN and engine numbers on it, authorizing you to drive the vehicle (make, model, colour and reg number) to drive it in Mozambique.
Make sure that you get a TIP (Temp Import Permit) on the Moz side and 3rd party insurance if they are selling it. If you can't get 3rd party, then if the police ask for it, politely explain that you came through Giriyondo, and will buy it in Xai-Xai or Vilankulo or wherever the next town happens to be.
Please let us know how your trip goes.
Cheers, Mike |
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Supermoz
bambino
8 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2005 : 01:59:43
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Thanks again Mike for the info!!
Spoke to the guys at giriyondo border post and they said there are no restrictions on trailers and you are allowed taking trailers through the border post at own risk.
Here is the number for the border post if anyone was looking for info (013) 735-8919.
Cheers will let you know how it went. |
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2005 : 06:10:24
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Thanks
Have a great trip and take it easy.
Mike |
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Supermoz
bambino
8 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2006 : 08:29:52
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Well, back at work again and into the rat race. The trip was an absolute blast. In regards to the Giriyondo border post I would strongly advise people looking to save time and petrol, not to use this border post. For sight seeing and travel experience go for it. Road condition is 2 lane gravel road for the first 30km thereafter "2 spoor" for 40 kms not suitable for cars but 2x4 bakkies with good ground clearance is no problem, dont tow trailers with 12inch rims. Travel time for the 70kms from Giriyondo to Massingir 2 hours 30 minutes. From Massingir to join the EN1 "in Bilene" +/-200kms takes about 3 hours easy driving. Formalities at the border takes for ever, there is no 3 party insurance and TIP forms on the Mozambican side currently. We were second in que and it still took us 2 hours in total to go from SA to Moz (they search and check everything).We couldnt find the 3 party or TIP forms in Xai-Xai or Inhambane and we left Moz through Komatipoort without these forms, we told them we came through Giriyondo and they were ok with that.
Well I hope the info helps.
Chow. |
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2006 : 01:26:57
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Hi Supermoz
Thanks very much for the feedback and I assume that the other visitors to mozguide who have asked about Giriyondo will take note of, and benefit from your observations.
Mike |
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chikoto
Forum Admin
109 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2006 : 05:23:53
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Hi Supermoz
Many thanks for the valuable advice, I have added (with credit) it to the site under Getting There -> Road Conditions.
shot
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Patrollie
uno
4 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2007 : 14:29:11
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Hi Mike
I am new to the forum but it is easy to see that you are regarded as the knowledgeable person around here, I asked for an update on the conditions of the Giriyondo road on a different forum, i got the below pasted reply but the distances does not seem to be right, can you please have a look and let me have your inputs, in addition feedback from you on the current condition of the road would be wonderful, I believe the new road drops you into Xai Xai, my map indicates another road from Chokwe, Canicado, Mohambe, Chibuto, Manjacaze and then onto the EN! in Chidenguele, Do you know this road and if so waht is the condition like, i am going to Inhambane in April, and this route seemed shorter?
I quote from another forum:
1) No you don't need a 4x4 to get to Xai-Xai, there are people that did it in a normal bakkies with trailer. there has been people that did it with normal cars, but i would rather do it in a vehicle with ground clearance. no need for diff lock at all.
2) from mopanie to giriyondo border is 52 km and from letaba it is 45 km. 20 km tar, and then a normal kruger park gravel road for +-24 km. very good condition. becuase it is in the kruger this section will take an hour due to speed limits.
3) from border to massingir is 75 km, and it is an 1:40 - 2 hours. in december this was in a very good condition, also huge gravel road, doing 60 km easily, but there are a few speed bumps that slow you down to 20 km. The condition of this is is the same as in the kruger.
4) I'am not aware of any camping spots close to the massigir dam, but heard of some expensive lodge around that area. something like R1500 per person per night...
5) from massingir to xai-xai is 165km and take 2 hours. it is all tar road, no pot holes, but some sections is a little bumpy, but in general this is a very good road. can easlily do it with a normal sedan.
Yes you can attempt it in one vehicle. we did the whole mozambique trip in one vehicle.
I would not recommend staying over between massingir and xai-xai. there are no attrractions in between. my opinion is that around xai-xai there is not a lot of attractions either, which you can reach with a normal car. if you have a diff lock you can reach most attractions. We stayed in xai-xai camping, but will only recommend it as a stop and go camp site. If you are into fishing/diving there are a few charters around.
We wend to Bilene, which is 110 km south from xai-xai to check it out, and that looks awesome. But you would need at least a diff lock to reach these camp sites. One camp site is the laguna camp site. I have got the contact information at home. they are situated next to the san martino lake, and you drive over the dune to the other site and then you are on the beach. for this you will need a 4x4. it is a quiet place with very few people around. There are another campsite, but can't remember the name now, also have it at home.
We went up to inhambane, and there is a lot of logdes/camp sites around inhambane area. Inhambane is 265 km north of xai-xai, all tar road, with a few potholes for 50 km. the rest is all rebuild. If you have a diff lock you can reach a lot of these lodges. Nice lodges / camp sites are Arei Branco / Flamingo bay / barra lodge. these are all close togeher. Must admit there is a lot of quats / jet ski's and boats. Ather nice lodges / campsites are coconut bay (very few people), guinyata bay, and pandane. All of these are accesible by 4x2 with diff lock (without towing). All of these if you like camping I will recommend Pandane, and if you like lodges will recommend guinyata bay. The swimming beaches around inhambane is white beaches with calm sea's. for snorkling pandane is the place.
If you are interested in going up to vilinchlos then there is only one camp site to stay and that is blue water. Can reach this camp site with normal car. it is 310 km north of inhambane. The only attractions there is to go out to the Islands (Bazzaruto etc) for some< |
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Stoffel
amigo
48 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2007 : 15:05:57
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Hi Supermoz,
What was your experience at Jangamo like? Have you been there previously? If so, how does the resort compare to the condition a year ago?
Keep well.
Stoffel
Moz Adicted |
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2007 : 23:33:31
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Hi Stoffel
Sorry, last went to Jangamo 10 years ago.
Mike
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Giriyondo Border Post
