FAQ
01. Wifi & mobile internet connectivity
02. ATMs & banks
03. Visas & COVID rules
04. Health
05. Pets
06. Drinking water
07. Weddings, groups & other events
08. Cancellations
Scroll down for answers.
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01. Wifi & mobile internet connectivity
At Mafu Haus we have free wifi available in the lounge and study, but not in the rooms. If you wish to have your own mobile internet connectivity while travelling, you can buy a local SIM card and data credit. Movitel has relatively good LTE (4G) services. You can usually buy a SIM card and mobile data in any of the local markets — try at Babalaaza junction, Tofo Beach or Inhambane City. If you are working remotely and need significant data, Movitel offers some of the cheapest data packages — find out more on their webpage here.
02. ATMs & banks
The nearest ATM is located 2km away at Babalaaza junction. There is another ATM and a BCI bank branch located at the Tofo petrol station (5km from Mafu Haus). There are more ATMs and bank branches in Inhambane City.
03. Visas & COVID rules
You will need a visa to enter Mozambique (South African nationals and a few others are exempt) and travellers must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test to board a flight and on arrival at all land and air border points. Travellers presenting a negative COVID-19 PCR test are exempt from the quarantine regime. The test must have been issued in the departure country, within 72 hours prior to the time of arrival. Children under 11 years old are exempt from the requirement to present a COVID-19 PCR test.
If you are travelling from a country where there is a Mozambican diplomatic mission, you must get the appropriate visa before travelling in that country. It is possible for tourists to buy visas at border posts. However, border visas should be considered an exception, not standard practice; they’re intended for visitors originating in countries where there is no Mozambican diplomatic mission to issue visas. If you are travelling from a country where there is Mozambican diplomatic or consular representation (such as the UK, Germany, USA), you should apply for a visa before travelling. If you intend to ask for a border visa on arrival, you should be ready to justify clearly why you did not get a visa before travelling.
On entry at airports (for air travellers), you must present a return air ticket and either an invitation from family/friends or a confirmed hotel reservation. If health authorities are concerned about your condition, for example, if you have a fever, testing for COVID-19 may be required on arrival in Mozambique, at your expense. All arriving passengers are required to provide their contact details to the Mozambican authorities.
04. Health +
While travelling in Mozambique can be very enjoyable, it can sometimes be challenging. Medical services in Mozambique are generally weak. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
The nearest hospital is located in Inhambane but communication (Portuguese language only), queues and quality of care can be problematic. The nearest private clinic is located in Vilankulos (4 hours drive), followed by Maputo (8 hours drive or a 1.5 hour flight) where there are a couple of private hospitals. However, if you have a serious condition you may need to travel to South Africa or your home country for treatment.
Malaria is a very real threat in Mozambique. It is transmitted through the bite of the female dusk-to-dawn Anopheles mosquito. Please consult your medical adviser for guidance on how to manage this risk, including the use of medication for protection and mosquito repellants.
05. Pets
Due to the fragile state of the ecosystem around us, we do not wish to add unnecessary pressure on nature in our area. Although we may consider special requests, we kindly ask guests to leave their pets at home. Of course, guide dogs for the visually impaired are welcome.
06. Drinking water
Filtered borehole drinking water is available to all guests in reusable glass bottles in their rooms. Additional filtered drinking water is available for purchase for a nominal fee — please avoid buying plastic bottled water to eliminate unnecessary plastic waste.
07. Weddings, group bookings & other events
Mafu Haus is taking bookings for weddings and other events — subject to current local regulations. If you are travelling as a group but plan to book rooms individually, please mention that you will be travelling in a group when making your reservation.
08. Cancellations
If you book directly with Mafu Haus (i.e. not using a travel agent or an online booking platform) we will provide a full refund (minus any bank fees and exchange rate fluctuations) for cancellations made 15 days before the date of your check-in date. All cancellation notices must be made via email. Normally, cancellations made less than 15 days before the date of your arrival will result in a 50% refund only — in exceptional circumstances, we may review this policy on a case by case basis.
