From Savane to Angoche: Roads and Services
Turns along the way: Gorongosa National Park, Cavalo and Inhaminga, Macossa, Maringué, Nhamacolomo and Piro, Nhamacolomo (2nd turn), Panque, Catapú, Chirimazi, Chupanga and Marromeu, Caia, Sabe and Morrumbala, Morrumbala (2nd turn), Quelimane (right) and Nampula (left).
Roads:
Directions: At Inchope you will meet the major crossroads go straight through and head for Gorongosa, this road takes you to the Ferry Crossing across the Zambezi River. On the other side of the Zambezi continue along the EN1 for Nicuadala where you will come to a T-Junction, Quelimane is right, to continue north turn left
Distances: Inchope to: Gorongosa National Park Entrance - 36km, Gorongosa - 66km, Ferry Crossing - 317km
Gorongosa to Catapú 212km
Ferry Crossing to: Linguara - 195k Nicuadala - 207km, Quelimane - 242km
Quelimane to Zalala Beach - 29km
General condition: Inchope to the Ferry Crossing is probably the best road in Mozambique. After the crossing you are into the Zambezia Province. The section of road that takes you to Nicuadala is in good condition
Recommended Speed: 80 - 100km/h
Signage: Good
Services:
Mobile Phone Reception: None until Nicuadala
Petrol Stations: None until Nicuadala
- Types of fuel: Super, Diesel in Nicuadala and Quelimane has Unleaded
- Gas Available: There is gas in Quelimane
- Air for tyres: in Quelimane
Car Repairs: Not until Quelimane
Car Towing: As above
Stop Offs: Complexo Arco Iris 7.5km passed Inchope, Gorongosa National Park, Gorongosa, Catapú
Comments:
There are two options for heading north when meeting the EN6, you can continue on the EN1 and we recommend this or you can head towards Beira on the EN6 and turn onto the EN213 at Dondo. We haven't taken this route, but hear that it is a very bad road especially in rainy season. If you are feeling adventurous try driving it in dry season and please let us know how you got on
The Ferry's are unreliable on their timings. There are two Ferries running in the morning and two in the afternoon, however they will not cross unless there are enough vehicles. This means you can have to wait a few hours but you will get across in one day. This can be problematic because you can possibly arrive at night into Quelimane, which is not pleasant having to deal with cyclists
without lights and the oncoming traffic using full beam or no lights at all
The latest update we have is that construction has started on the bridge, but will probably take 2-3 years, so completion will be around end 2009. The Ferry is efficient, with no great delays. Small vehicles pay Mtn 100
Route: Quelimane to Pebane and Around
Towns along the way: Nicuadala, Namacurra, Malei, Cariua, Maganja da Costa, Mucubela, Pebane
Turns for along the way: Maganja da Costa and Mocuba T-Junction, Malei turn, Bajone
Roads:
Directions: Leaving Quelimane along the EN7 towards the EN1 you will return to the T-Junction at Nicuadala, go straight at this point to Namacurra. In Namacurra you'll find another T-Junction for Maganja da Costa and Mocuba, although Maganja da Costa is right from here take the left to Mocuba the road is much better. At Malei there is a left turn to Maganja da Costa through Cariua and then Maganja. Continue on passed Mucubela and then you will come to Pebane
Distances: Quelimane to: Nicuadala - 32km, Nicuadala T- Junction - 34km,
Nicuadala T-Junction to: Namacurra - 32km, Maganja da Costa and Mocuba T-Junction - 33km.
Maganja da Costa and Mocuba T-Junction to: Malei - 4km, Cariva - 17km, Maganja da Costa - 52km, Mucubela - 126km, Pebane - 194km
General condition: Up to Namacurra the road is descent. After Namacurra the road becomes hard rutted
sand for 30km After you have turned for Malei you're on tarmac but it is old and damaged, the bridges are pontoons, 'a
bit scary but safe'. After Cariua it is a shingle road and becomes rutted with pot holes. Passed Maganja the road improves a little but is hard sand packed. Then after Mucubela it slows down once more with a badly corrugated section
Recommended Speed: To Namacurra 100km/h. Passed Namacurra 60 - 80km/h
Signage: Reasonable
Services:
Mobile Phone Reception: Full reception at Nicuadala but ends after 30km for the whole of this region
Petrol Stations: In Nicuadala and Pebane
- Types of fuel: Super and Diesel.
- Gas Available: No.
- Air for tyres: Yes in Nicuadala and Pebane.
Car Repairs: No. Only Quelimane
Car Towing: No. Get a lorry to tow you
Stop Offs: Only in Maganja da Costa
Comments:
Note: Maganja da Costa is the Portuguese name for this town, some maps refer to the local name which is, 'Olinga', however in Mozambique all sign posts are for Maganja da Costa and this is how the locals know it
Pebane has accommodation but it is an isolated place with very little services. There is a fishing lodge under construction here; we will inform you of its development. The beach is beautiful but the sea is turbid (dirty) due to an estuary mouth close by
Important - When leaving Pebane the best route is to return to Malei and join up with the EN104. This is a longer route in distance than heading passed the Gilé Reserve, but unfortunately it is impossible to get to Moma via the coastal roads because there are no bridges! We have driven the road from Regone through Gilé to Alto Ligonha; this is a distance of around 270km
and took us 7 hours!! We hear that the other road through the Gilé Reserve is just as bad if not worse than this
Route: Quelimane to Nampula
Towns along the way: Namacurra, Mocuba, Mugeba, Nampevo, Emsarawa, Nipioti, Requeli, Alto Molocué, Alto Morrupula, Nampula
Turns along the way: Nicuadala T-Junction, Namacurra T-Junction 321, Maganja turn at Malei 324, Pebane and Maganja at Mugeba, Gurué turn 1km after Nampevo
Roads:
Directions: Get yourself to Namacurra (see above). Here you join the EN104 to Mocuba through Malei. Head then for Alto Molocué. At this point you will get onto the EN232 for Alto Morrupula and Nampula
Distances: Namacurra to: Malei - 30km, Mocuba - 88km, Mugeba - 128km, Nampevo - 156km, Emsarawa - 170km, Nipioti - 191km, Requeli - 232km, Alto Molocué - 278km, Alto Morrupula - 412km, Nampula - 487km
General condition: From Namacurra to Mocuba the road is good. After Mocuba there are a lot of deviations (50km long) can be uncomforatble in the wet. After Alto Molocue the road is good again being smooth wide and fast
N.B.: This road is under construction and over 70% completed. Conditions are changing frequently, due too deviations. However, the conditions you meet as time passes should be improving, by 2008 this road should be finished and will be like the EN1 in the south of the country
Recommended Speed: 50 - 60km around the deviations you can get up to 100km/h in most areas now
Signage: Good
Many thanks go to Ian Hutton, who gave us this latest update at the beginning of 2007
Services:
Mobile Phone Reception: No reception from Mocuba to Nampula
Petrol Stations: In Quelimane, Mocuba and Nampula
- Types of fuel: Super, Diesel and unleaded in Quelimane and Nampula
- Gas Available: There is a gas in Quelimane, Mocuba and Nampula
- Air for tyres: As above
Car Repairs: As above
Car Towing: As above
Stop Offs: Mocuba. Mugeba has signs for Accommodation
Comments:
The Zambezi Province is badly under funded for its roads and so, they are in disrepair. This isn't the worse sections of road we have met but certainly the longest distances of bad road you will ever probably drive
Route: Nampula to Angoche and Around
Towns along the way: Route 1: Nampula fork, Corrane, Liúpo, Nacana, Angoche, Aúbe, Sangage
Route 2: Muriaze, Mecua, Nametil, Naniuburio, Nametoria
Turns along the way: Route 1: Muatua and Liúpo, Crossroads for Mogincual left, Quinga straight, Angoche right, Angoche turn, Fork road at Boila, turn for Sangage and Aerodrome. Route 2: Nampula fork, T-Junction Nampula left / Muatua (42Km) right, Natiri for Seta or Moma
Roads:
Directions: Leaving Nampula on the Avenida das Forças Populares for about 13km you will find the road splits and is sign posted for Liúpo and Nametil. We will describe both routes. Nametil is our recommendation. But first through Liúpo - head for Corrane then 3km on turn left to Liúpo after here take the right at the crossroads. Go through Nacana and Namaponda until you reach the Angoche road then turn left
The second route is through Nametil - head through Muriaze then Mecua and Nametil. At the T-Junction take a left to Nampula through Naniuburio and Nametoria
Distances: Nampula fork to: Corrane 52km, Liúpo 87km, Nacana - 104km, Angoche - 169km
Nampula fork to: Muriaze - 20km, Mecua - 43km, Nametil - 67km, Naniuburio - 102km, Nametoria - 129km, Angoche - 167km
General condition: Route 1: Sucks! It took us over 5 hours to cover
Route 2: This is an improvement on route 1; it took around 4 hours, not massive but definitely quicker and smoother
Recommended Speed: 60 - 100km/h
Signage: Reasonable
Services:
Mobile Phone Reception: You lose reception shortly after leaving Nampula and then only pick it up again approaching Angoche
Petrol Stations: In Nampula and Angoche
- Types of fuel: Super and Diesel
- Gas Available: As above
- Air for tyres: As above
Car Repairs: As above
Car Towing: As above. You'll need to stop a lorry for a tow
Stop Offs: Nametil
Comments:
There are two routes to Angoche, we drove both and found the Nametil route better. Inselbergs are a feature here, particularly around Nampula. You can pick up a lot of pottery around here. It's an interesting part of the country but the driving is difficult and slow