Cheap flights to Mozambique

• TAP Portugal
• Ethiopian Airlines
• Turkish Airlines
• Kenya Airways
• KLM

• TAP Air Portugal provides the quickest and cheapest trips to Mozambique’s Maputo city. From London Heathrow Airport to Maputo, the flight takes 15 to 16 hours to reach its destination. This duration can fluctuate from season to seasons. The stopover during this journey is either in Lisbon, Addis Ababa or Istanbul.
• The flights to Mozambique from Manchester are 17 to 20 hours long. These trips can include one or two stopovers, depending on the airline you choose, at Amsterdam, Nairobi or Paris.
• The Birmingham to Mozambique flight is about 16 to 17 hours in duration. These flights always have two stopovers, one in Amsterdam and the other in Nairobi.
• Turkish Airlines flight from London Gatwick to Maputo, Mozambique is 19 hours long. These flights come with a brief stopover in Istanbul.

There are no direct flights to Mozambique from the United Kingdom, from any of the country’s airports. Tourists going to Mozambique for their vacations usually prefer taking a TAP Air Portugal flight to the country as they are the cheapest and have the briefest stopover.

Many TAP Portugal flights leave for Lisbon from the UK. Just from London Heathrow, 15 flights are operating to Lisbon, and Manchester Airport sees 6 TAP Portugal flights take off per week. For example, TAP 1363 takes off from London Heathrow at 6:00 AM and land at 9:00 AM every day in Lisbon. The total duration of this leg of the flight is 2 hours 30 minutes. The next portion of the journey takes the passengers from Lisbon to the other side of Africa. This half of the ride lasts for 10 hours and 30 minutes. This service is delegated to TAP 283 that operates every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

The cheapest time to come to Mozambique is between June and August. During this time Mozambique goes through the winter season with average temperatures falling to 22°C. At night the temperature drops below 15°C, making jackets and blankets essential for a pleasant experience. Even though the skies usually remain clear during this time, there is a small chance that a cyclone or a tropical storm hit the coastal areas at the beginning of this winter season. Alternatively, the December to February time is also easy on the pocket, but the traveller might have to tolerate the monsoon season while roaming through the streets of Mozambique.

TMozambique has clusters of high population in the centre and south of the country. Many airports have been built in Mozambique in the past few years to develop tourism.

• Maputo International Airport (MPM) is the busiest airport in the country. Being only 60 kilometres from the South African and eSwatini (formerly known as Swaziland) land border, the airport can be regarded as the gateway to southern Africa. Maputo International is only 6 kilometres from Independence Square in the heart of the city. Every year, the facility entertains about 800,000 passengers.
• Nampula Airport (APL) handles all the air traffic coming to central Mozambique. Many regional African airlines connect this region of the country with the rest of the world. The airport is located on the edges of the city, and from there it takes 20 minutes to reach the city centre, near Academia Militar.
• The third busiest airport in Mozambique is the Beira Airport (BEW). Beira Airport manages the flights to the northern regions of Mozambique. Ethiopian Airlines and LAM Mozambique aeroplanes regularly land and take off from Beira Airport. From the airport to Beira Park near the coast, it takes 20 minutes by car, taking the Massano De Amorim Avenida highway.

British passport holders need to apply for the visa before they want to visit Mozambique. The Mozambican diplomatic mission present in the UK would process the visa in about a week, at max. Upon entry, travellers may be required to show a return ticket or an invitation letter from a Mozambican citizen/organization at the border. The UK government advises all citizens to get a yellow fever vaccination before leaving for Mozambique. Please keep in mind that the border crossing with South Africa at Lebombo – Ressano Garcia is jam-packed in the high season, so plan accordingly. It takes one and a half hour to get to the border from Maputo.

Mozambique is in the southern hemisphere, which means that the summer appears in December and winter arrives in June in the country. Generally speaking, the best time to come to Mozambique is from April to May or from September to November. A lot of tourists and returning Mozambicans arrive from other countries, especially in May and September, which means that these two months are relatively expensive. The weather is perfect during this time, and the average temperatures remain between 25°C to 27°C. There is little rain during these two periods so you can explore Mozambique without the need for an umbrella.

Mozambique is a fascinating place. The landmarks of in this country are inspired by hundreds of years of culture cultivated by the Swahili, Arab, Persian and finally the Portuguese people living in the coastal areas of the country. Mozambique’s greatest treasure is the natural heritage of the country.

• The Island of Mozambique is the fastest growing tourist destination in the country. It was after this island and its Arab sultan, Musa bin Bique, that the country got its name. The Portuguese colonized the Island of Mozambique in the early 16th century. In 1522, the Portuguese built the chapel of Nossa Senhora de Baluarte, which is considered to be the first European structure in the southern hemisphere. The island holds many landmarks including Fort São Sebastião, Stone Town, the Palace and the Governor’s residence. These structures were built by the Portuguese to consolidate their spice and gold trading routes.
• Inhaca Island, on the other side of Maputo Bay, is a wondrous place. The small island attracts many eco-tourists with its forests and grassy plains. The island has an extremely irregular shape that has sheltered the marine life from the harsh tides of the ocean. Apart from the 160 coral species that thrive in the shallow waters around the island, there are fish, eels and seahorses who call Inhaca island their home. Snorkel into these pristine waters and watch the colours of the marine world around Inhaca Island or go whale watching with a guide.
• Gorongosa National Park is a 4000 square kilometre reserve in central Mozambique. The park is part of the rift valley and contains Mount Gorongosa in its domains. Bushbuck, Wildebeests and warthogs are the most commonly seen animals in the vast grasslands of this reserve. One can also find the termite mounds, which provide shade to the kudu. More than four hundred birds chirp and croak in the bushes and trees of Gorongosa National Park. Come to this nature reserve for a fantastic African wilderness experience and spend the night at Chitengo Safari Camp.

To rejoice like a Mozambican is to celebrate in bold colours, with bombastic music and laughter. The AZGO Festival in Maputo is a musical event that brings forth music bands, both traditional and westernized, over fresh food from local street stalls and restaurants. The STRAB Festival in Ponta Malongane, close to the South African border is the worship of rhythm, art and the blues. Both these event happen in May. TAMBO International Art Camp in July can let you delve into your artistic self and observe people going through their creative journeys. In September, the FORR Festival creates a kingdom of Rock n’ Roll for the booming and beating African heart.

Except for the national highway EN1, the roads in Mozambique are not in their optimal condition. It can be difficult for a tourist to drive in these conditions so stick to taxis. Taxis demand a flat two hundred Metical to drive the passenger from central Maputo to the surrounding areas. It is best to plan your travels by road in daylight hours. Buses in Mozambique are called chapas. Chapa vans are almost always full and a bit unsafe; however, they are the cheapest mode of transportation in the country. Ask your hotel manager the amount the bus conductor demands before embarking to the bus stop because sometimes passengers are asked for more money. The best way to get around Mozambique is by air. There are more than twenty airports and airfields in Mozambique. Purchase a LAM Mozambique Airlines ticket to get from one city to the next.

Mozambique has stunning beach resorts and marvellous safari escapes. Fortunately, for those demanding a little extra from life, there are five-star hotels available as well, right on the coastline and not far from the nature reserves. Select from the five-star hotels below.

• Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Maputo
• Diamonds Mequfi Beach Resort
• Hotel Sentidos Beach Retreat
• Coral Lodge Mozambique Island
• Bahia Mar Boutique Hotel