Location: Southeast Africa.

Empresa Nacional de Turismo (ENT) (Mozambique National Tourism Company)

CP 2446, Avda 25 de Setembro 1203, Maputo, Mozambique.

Tel: 421 794. Fax: 421 795.

Mozambique High Commission

21 Fitzroy Square, London W1P 5HJ

Tel: (0171) 383 3800. Fax: (0171) 383 3801. Telex: 263481 (a/b MOZEM G). Opening hours: 0900-1700 Monday to Friday; 0930-1300 Monday to Friday (Consular section).

British High Commission

CP 55, Avenida Vladimir I Lénine 310, Maputo, Mozambique

Tel: (1) 420 111/2/5/6/7. Fax: (1) 421 666.

Embassy of the Republic of Mozambique

Suite 570, 1990 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036

Tel: (202) 293 7146. Fax: (202) 835 0245.

Telex: 248530.

Also deals with enquiries from Canada.

Embassy of the United States of America

CP 783, Avenida Kenneth Kaunda 193, Maputo, Mozambique

Tel: (1) 490 071 or (in an emergency) (1) 490 723. Fax: (1) 490 114.

Canadian Embassy

CP 1578, rue Tomas Nduda 1345, Maputo, Mozambique

AREA: 799,380 sq km (308,641 sq miles).

POPULATION: 15,583,000 (1993 estimate).

POPULATION DENSITY: 19.5 per sq km.

CAPITAL: Maputo. Population: 1,006,765 (1987 estimate).

GEOGRAPHY: Mozambique borders Tanzania to the north, Zambia and Malawi to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and South Africa and Swaziland to the southwest. To the east lies the Indian Ocean and a coastline of nearly 2500km (1550 miles) with beaches bordered by lagoons, coral reefs and strings of islands. Behind the coastline a vast low plateau rising towards mountains in the west and north accounts for nearly half the area of Mozambique. The landscape of the plateau is savannah - more or less dry and open woodlands with tracts of short grass steppe. The western and northern highlands are patched with forest. The Zambezi is the largest and most important of the 25 main rivers which flow through Mozambique into the Indian Ocean. The major concentrations of population (comprising many different tribal groups) are along the coast and in the fertile and relatively productive river valleys, notably in Zambezia and Gaza provinces. The Makua-Lomwe, who belong to the Central Bantu, live mainly in the area north of Zambezia, Nampula, Niassa and Cabo Delgado provinces. The Thonga, who are the predominant race in the southern lowlands, provide a great deal of the labour for the South African mines. In the Inhambane coastal district are the Chopi and Tonga, while in the central area are the Shona. The Makonde inhabit the far north. Mestizos and Asians live in the main populated area along the coast and in the more fertile river valleys.

LANGUAGE: Portuguese is the official language. Many local African languages, such as Shangaan, Ronga and Muchope, are also spoken.

Religion: Christian (mainly Roman Catholic), Muslim and Hindu. Many also follow traditional beliefs.

TIME: GMT + 2.

ELECTRICITY: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

COMMUNICATIONS: Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 258. Outgoing international calls must go through the operator. Telex/telegram: Connections are via South Africa to international telecommunications network. There is a reliable telex service in Maputo and Beira. Internal communications exist between most major towns. Post: Postal services are available in main centres. Airmail to Europe usually takes five to seven days, but sometimes longer. Press: There are no English-language newspapers published in Mozambique. The daily papers are Not'cias and Diário de Mozambique.

BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. See the contents for more information.

PASSPORTS: Valid passport required by all. Passports must have a minimum validity of 6 months.

VISAS: Required by all.

Types of visa: Tourist, Transit or Business; cost £20 (Single-entry Tourist visa), £40 (Multiple-entry Business visa).

Validity: 1 month (extendable in Mozambique); 3 months for Business visas.

Application to: Mozambique Embassies, High Commissions or Consulates or

Ministerio de Negocias Estrangeiros e Cooperação, CP 290, Maputo. Telex: 6418; or

Direccão de Nacional de Migraco, Avenue Ho Chi Minh, Maputo. Telex: 6254; or

Empresa Nacional de Turismo (see top of entry).

Note: A visa can sometimes be obtained through a contact living in Mozambique.

Application requirements: (a) Official application form. (b) 3 passport-size photos. (c) Passport. (d) For Business Visas, a letter of invitation to Mozambique and/or introduction from an official or business institution. (e) Fee (cheques should be made out to the Mozambique High Commission). (f) Stamped, self-addressed registered envelope for postal applications.

Working days required: 5. Visas can be processed in 24 hours for an increment of 75%, or in 72 hours for an increment of 50%.

Currency: Mozambique Metical (MT) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of MT100,000, 50,000, 10,000, 5000, 1000, 500 and 100. Coins are in denominations of MT1000, 500, 100, 20, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.

Currency restrictions: Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Free import of foreign currency is allowed, subject to declaration. Export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on import.

The following goods may be imported into Mozambique without incurring customs duty:

200 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco; 500ml of spirits; a reasonable quantity of perfume (opened).

AIR: Mozambique's national airline is LAM-Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM).

Approximate flight time: From London to Maputo is 14 hours, including stopover in Johannesburg.

International airports: Maputo (MPM) (Mavalane) is 8km (5 miles) north of the city (travel time - 20 minutes). Airport facilities include restaurant, bar, snack bar and post office. Taxis are rarely available at the airport and the visitor should arrange for someone to meet them if possible.

Beira (BEW) is 13km (8 miles) from the city (travel time - 15 minutes). Beira only receives flights from Continental Europe, other African countries and America. Airport facilities include restaurant, shops and a post office.

Departure tax: US$20 or US$10 if within Africa.

SEA: British, European, American, Japanese and South African cargo vessels call at Maputo and Beira, but there are no regular passenger services.

RAIL: A train runs six times a week from Johannesburg to the Mozambique border at Komatipoort where there is a connection (not guaranteed) to Maputo. There are no connections at present between Harare and Beira or Harare and Maputo, as the border crossings are closed; railway connections to Zimbabwe are being rehabilitated. There are connections from Malawi to Beira (though the border may still have to be crossed on foot) and to Nacala.

Note: Rail services are sporadic and unreliable.

AIR: There are flights linking Maputo with Blantyre (Malawi), Inhambane, Beira, Quelimane, Tete, Lichinga, Nampula and Pemba. Flights depart from Maputo between 0500 and 0730 and are subject to seasonal alterations. Air-taxi services are also available, and are the safest means of transport outside the main cities due to the fighting within the country.

Departure tax: US$7.

RAIL: There is no rail connection between Maputo and Beira. There is a rail link between Beira and Tete and lines from the towns of Moçambique and Nacala, via the junction at Monapo, to Nampula and Lichinga. Trains also run from Maputo to Goba and Ressano Garcia, and northwards on the line to Zimbabwe. Most trains have three classes, but there are few sleepers and no dining or air-conditioned cars. For seats and sleepers it is necessary to book in advance. All train services are subject to disruption.

ROAD: Tarred roads connect Maputo with Beira and Beira with Tete. Traffic drives on the left. Bus: There are regular services covering most of the country. It is essential to carry food and water on long journeys. There are frequent controls on the roads to check papers, especially in the north and near the border with Zimbabwe. Bus travel is the cheapest form of transport in the country. Taxi: Rarely available outside Maputo. Car hire: There are only one or two car-hire firms and consequently rental cars are very difficult to obtain. Only hard currency is accepted. Documentation: International Driving Permit required.

Note: Owing to fighting within Mozambique, travel by road outside the capital is risky, and up-to-the-minute travel advice should be taken.

HOTELS: Hotels of international standard are found in the cities of Maputo and Beira, and accommodation is adequate in smaller towns. Prices are available on request.

GUEST-HOUSES: It is possible to rent holiday cottages, bungalows and rondavels cheaply.

Beira has lovely beaches and is the base for trips to Gorongosa National Park. Other beaches are at Ponta do Ouro, Malagane (in the south), Inhaca Island (near Maputo), Inhambane with its beach resort of Tofo (about 400km/250 miles north of the capital), Xai-Xai, San Martino do Bilene and Chonguene. The museum in Maputo houses paintings and sculptures by well-known local artists. The gallery in the Ministry of Labour building is also worth a visit, as is the market. Moçambique is a fascinating town, full of 17th- and 18th-century buildings, many of them from the colonial Portuguese period. There are also some interesting mosques dating from that period.

Regions that are being developed as tourist resorts include the Bazaruto Archipelago, an excellent game-fishing area, and the islands of Santa Carolina and Zalala, north of Beira.

FOOD & DRINK: The cuisine is mainly Portuguese with Far Eastern influences. Specialities are piri-piri chicken, shellfish, including Delagoa Bay prawns (which are grilled and served with piri-piri sauce), matapa (sauce of ground peanuts and cassava leaves) with rice or wusa (stiff maize porridge). Restaurants are to be found in main towns, as well as hotel dining rooms.

NIGHTLIFE: There are a number of nightclubs in Maputo which offer music and dancing. The style of music varies from typical Mozambican ballads to Western pop music. Most major towns have cinemas.

SHOPPING: Special purchases include basketwork, reed mats, woodcarvings, masks, printed cloth and leather articles. Shopping hours: 0800-1230 and 1400-1800 Monday to Friday, 0800-1330 Saturday.

SPORT: Fishing: There is good fishing for marlin, barracuda, sailfish and swordfish. Notable resorts are Inhaca Island near Maputo, the Bazaruto Archipelago and Mozambique Island. Swimming: There are many safe beaches and lagoons with safe bathing; however, there is a danger of occasional sharks in the warm Indian Ocean. Many hotels have pools. Skindiving: Some resorts have facilities and excellent clear waters full of underwater sights for the skindiver to explore. Zavora's coral reef is outstanding.

ECONOMY: Civil war has devastated the Mozambiquan economy. Agriculture, which employs 80% of the working population, contributes little beyond subsistence, and during the 1980s was worsened by recurrent drought. Cash crops include cashew nuts, tea, sugar, sisal, cotton, copra, oil seeds and some citrus fruit. Fishing is both an important source of food and a major export earner. The industrial base, which was never extensive, is now extremely weak. Those light industries still functioning include food processing, textiles, brewing, cement and fertilizer production. Heavy industry and mining have the potential for major development but demand a more substantial infrastructure than the Government can sustain. Mozambique consequently depends heavily on large injections of foreign aid, most of which has been earmarked for the rural economy. While there have been a few flickering signs of improvement, it will be many years before Mozambique can even reach the levels of income and development which it enjoyed at the end of the colonial era in the mid-1970s. The absence of any semblance of a skilled workforce (almost all the Portuguese left upon independence) means that Mozambique's future economic progress will be difficult and slow. Mozambique is a member of the Southern African Development Conference. South Africa, the US and Portugal are Mozambique's most important trading partners.

Business: Safari suits are advised for the hot season, while lightweight suits or jackets should be worn for the rest of the year. Prior appointments are recommended. There are few translation facilities available in Maputo, though it is usually possible to find someone in business circles who can help. January is the main holiday month, so this should be avoided for business trips. Office hours: 0730-1200 and 1400-1730 Monday to Friday, 0800-1330 Saturday.

History: Records of Arabs and Indians trading with populations in the region exist from the 10th century. From the 15th century onwards, Portuguese influence gradually displaced the Arabs and Indians in the trading system. Mozambique became a Portuguese colony in the 19th century and an overseas province in 1951. Nationalist groups began to form in the 1960s and negotiations on the country's independence began in earnest in 1974, after the coup in Portugal. Mozambique became independent in 1975, and the FRELIMO liberation movement took power. The FRELIMO leader Samora Machel was President from 1975 until his death in a plane crash in October 1986, initially following an orthodox Marxist programme while at the same time encouraging Western investment, a delicate policy which he followed with a fair degree of success. Mozambique's desperate problems are largely the result of the 16-year civil war which has wrecked the country. The National Resistance Movement (RENAMO), which is backed by South Africa and has contacts in the USA, has been fighting a guerrilla war against FRELIMO. Two peace treaties in 1984 and 1989 both broke down within months of their signing. In October 1991, after 18 months of Italian-brokered talks, a more provisional settlement was reached between RENAMO and FRELIMO under which both sides offered mutual guarantees on security. Further agreements confirming the settlement were reached in August and October 1992, following the first face-to-face meeting between President Chissano and RENAMO leader Alfonso Dhlakama. A UN force, ONUMOZ, entered the country to guarantee the ceasefire, organise disarmament and police the scheduled elections. These were eventually held in October 1994. Dhlakama achieved a respectable 33% of the vote, but Chissano beat him by 20% and, with over half the poll in his favour, was confirmed in office without any further rounds of voting. FRELIMO also secured an overall majority in the simultaneous parliamentary election. The new government and president were sworn in at the end of December 1994 to continue the gargantuan task of economic and social reconstruction. The Government is confronted with hundreds of thousands of refugees - many of whom are returning from exile or to their homes from other parts of the country - as well as large numbers of demobilised soldiers from both sides, massive social and economic dislocation, and the destruction of virtually all health and education services. Mozambique's foreign relations are dominated by South Africa, and have benefited from the changes that brought democratic government to the latter in 1994. Also, in an unexpected development and after strong lobbying from its southern African members, Mozambique was admitted to the Commonwealth in November 1994; it is the first and only non-Anglophone of the 53-member organisation.