Driving to Mozambique from South Africa?

by Cheréne Pienaar on 09 January 2012

We all know Mozambique is awesome for its amazing beaches and turquoise ocean. If you want to relax, 'Moz' is the place to be. One of the many pluspoints of this magical country must be its proximity to South Africa. It takes you just under seven hours to drive to Maputo from Johannesburg. Driving to Mozambique is a great way to experience the changing landscapes and extraordinary scenery as you take the meandering road to the Republic of Mozambique.

Above: At Mozambique you can truly relax while you take in the scenery. Photo by: storm_macsporran

As most people drive from Johannesburg and take the N4, or fly to Johanneburg from Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, etc. on their self drive holiday, there are certain stop-overs you need to take to follow a certain route to make your trip as safe and pleasant as possible. If you are driving:

From Johannesburg CBD

Exit Johannesburg and follow the N4 highway towards Maputo, about 540km from Johannesburg. After 440km from Johannesburg, you will reach Komatipoort, the border post and enter Mozambique.

You will then reach Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. Maputo is the largest city in Mozambique and is the perfect stop-over en route to the attractions of the coast. From here you follow the national road, called the EN1 North in the direction of Macia and Bilene, with GPS co-ordinates; 25:17.543S; 33:13.905E. Only 2km from Bilene you will find the Praia do Sol Beach Resort. This beach is a very popular tourist attraction in Mozambique, and Bilene offers a range of exciting beach activities.

Above: A glorious sunset at the Bilene lagoon. Photo by: beerygaz

From Kruger National Park

Enter the Greater Kruger Park from Phalaborwa Gate and follow the signs for 95km until you arrive at the Giriyondo Border Post.

The gates are open 08:00 to 15:00 from April to September and 08:00 to 16:00 from October to March. Take note that only four wheel drive vehicles are permitted on this route. When you enter Mozambique you will be charged a conservation fee for entering Parque Nacional do Limpopo, which is currently R67.00 per person and per vehicle.

Above: Driving through the Kruger is an alternative for the nature lover. Photo by: Kleinz1

From Durban

Most people who have taken the Kosi Bay border when driving to Mozambique say it is terrible. Trying to conquer the road on the loose sand has proven to be a battle and is all but good for your 4x4. According to those who know, the best route would be to go through Swaziland at Golela border post (KwaZulu Natal) and through Swaziland enter Moz at Namaacha border post. The roads are all tarred and the best news is that you do not need a 4x4 to drive this road. This drive will take you about 6 hours. It should also be mentioned that, depending on the rain, the road can change overnight.

Another great option would be to hire a car in Durban South Africa. Durban car rental is affordable and let's you travel through Swaziland the hassle-free way.

Above: Driving through Swaziland to Maputo, you can pull over and marvel at the rich birdlife of this region. Photo by: Philly Malenoir

Car rental in Durban South Africa makes it possible to drive to Moz. Please note that the suppliers are limited for this service.

Guidelines for driving to Mozambique

If you are visiting the resorts at Mozambique anytime soon, please keep the following in mind to make your drive to Mozambique as safe and pleasant as possible:

Having your passport with you is not enough; it has to be valid for at least three months.
Your driver’s license is, of course, as imporant as fuel in the tank.
Third party insurance cover is also essential. You can purchase this at Sasol garage at the border outside Komatiport for R150.
You will need your original papers and a letter from your bank.
If you are towing a trailer, you must have a blue and yellow triangle displayed on the front of your vehicle.
Wear a flurorescent vest at all times when you are in an accident or breakdown.
A ZAR-sticker; as well as temporary import papers which are obtained at the border.

With this in mind, take that Mozambique trip of a lifetime or our sister directory, Discover Africa, directly.

Cheréne Pienaar

Cheréne Pienaar Born and bred in Bloemfontein, this Free state gal is an obsessive reader and hiker and loves discovering... all the time. As an e-marketing assistant and copywriter she believes social media is the future and plans to conquer Africa one word at a time.

View all posts by Cheréne Pienaar