PEMBA AND THE REGION NORTH TO THE RIO ... - MozGuide

To summarize: The ferry should run all year round (this does not mean every day) but during
the dry season (more or less July to December) and when the summer rains have failed, it
only runs at high tide and only when tidal variation is above 4m. Basically that means that it
runs 3 out of every 4 weeks.
The week that it doesn’t run is the week around neap tide – tidal variance is least then. In the
wet season it (should) run every day (flooding can affect this) when the need arises, and the
tide usually does not effect it due to the large amount of water in the river.
The cost is US$25 per vehicle but you can get it for US$20 plus a soccer ball for the captain,
but he may have too many of these soon so maybe take something else instead!
For tide tables for the area, look at:
http://www.mobilegeographics.com:81/locations/3949.html
See too: http://caross.blogspot.com/2005/06/into-tanzania.html
Have fun
Mike”
Public Transport to Pemba from the south
(Nampula, Nacala and Ilha).
Buses and chapas leave regularly (starting 04h00) from near Nampula station to Namialo,
where you may have to connect to Pemba if your transport is heading for Nacala or Ilha da
Moçambique. The trip should take around 4 to 5 hours and cost MTN350. Grupo Mecula
buses are better than most others. From Nacala get to the ‘Terminus’ near where the road
splits down to ‘Nacala Porto’ from where there is transport from around 0500. The first longdistance
‘chapas’ leave from the mainland side of the Ilha da Moçambique bridge at 0530.
You may not find transport on the island and as the bridge is 3,5km long you should start
walking from the island at 04h30 and then wave down anyone going your way across the
bridge.
Public Transport to Pemba from the north
(Tanzania via the Kilambo / Namoto border and Rovuma River ferry).
Are Mozambique visas issued at Namoto?
Not yet (perhaps), but when I last looked a new house was being built to house Immigration
Officials at Namoto and I was told that Mozambique visas would be issued at Namoto on
arrival from sometime in 2007 when the computers and electricity arrive. Watch the
mozguide forum for updates. The issue is apparently computers. Without a proper building
with a reliable supply of electricity, no computers can be supplied and therefore (?) no visas
issued.
If coming in from Tanzania and the tide is high enough for the ferry to negotiate the crossing,
you may find vehicles doing the crossing and going all the way to Mocímboa da Praia or
beyond. Usually however you will have to hitch a ride or walk from Kilambo to the Rovuma
(4km) and from the river to Namoto (3km) where hopefully you will get a ride to Quionga
(15km) or even Mocímboa da Praia. There is usually at least on ‘chapa’ (shuppa) pick-up or
truck from Namoto or Quionga to Mocímboa da Praia per day. Ask the locals to accompany
you to Namoto as there are lion and elephant in this area. Ask too what the fare to Mocímboa
da Praia should be and be prepared (carry a lot of water) for a long, exposed and bumpy ride,
with a good possibility of breaking down.
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