From Pemba to Baía do Rovuma and the Quirimba Archipelago: Roads and Services

Towns along the way: None.
Turns along the way: Lúrio Falls, Chiúre, Meloco.

Roads:

Directions: This is the northern section of the EN106 heading north.
Distances: Namapa to: Chiúre 40km, Metoro 80km.
General condition: This road is in good condition and tarmaced all the way, however the last 20km has square sections removed for repairs.
Recommended Speed: 100km/h.
Signage: Good

Services:

Mobile Phone Reception: None. There is a public phone (TDM).
Petrol Stations: In Namapa

• Types of fuel: Super and Diesel.
• Gas Available: No.
• Air for tyres: Yes.

Car Repairs: Yes, some small local setups. If you can get to Pemba its much better.
Car Towing: Someone will take you to Pemba.
Stop Offs: None.

Comments:

This is the only place possible to make a crossing over the Lúrio River. This journey passes through landscapes of amazing iselberg formations one is like that of an old mans face jutting from the ground. We at this time could not visit the Lúrio Falls but they are reported to be spectacular and the landscape looks beautiful.

Route: Metoro to Pemba

Towns along the way: Metoro, Sunate, Pemba
Turn offs along the way: Metoro - T-Junction for Montepuez (EN106 left) and Pemba (EN242 right). Sunate - turn left for Macomia straight for Pemba

Roads:

Directions: The EN242 is a continuous road that takes you into Pemba town. You will need to turn right at the airport and right at the roundabout next to Nautilus Hotel for Wimbe Beach, otherwise drive into town and right to the beach road to then come back on yourself for Wimbe Beach.
Distances: Metoro to Sunate 12km, Sunate to Metugi turn off 56km, Metugi turn off to Mecufi turn off 15km. Mecufi turn off to the Airport (Wimbe Beach turn off) 8km.
Sunate to Pemba 78km
General condition: This road is in good condition and tarmaced all the way.
Recommended Speed: 100km/h.
Signage: Good

Services:

Mobile Phone Reception: Full reception in Pemba but not along road from Metoro or Sunate.
Petrol Stations: In Pemba

• Types of fuel: Super, Diesel, Unleaded is advertised but not always available
• Gas Available: There is a gas refill center in town.
• Air for tyres: Yes.

Car Repairs: Yes. There several good mechanics in Pemba, we recommend Trak Auto Ltd. 072 20323 who has signs for John Deere and BP outside the shop
Car Towing: Yes in Pemba, try phoning the above.
Stop Offs: None.

Comments:

There is a police check point at Sunate and on the way into Pemba 2km before the airport.
N.B. The Sunate checkpoint is one of the worst we have experienced on all our travels. Pemba being a big tourist trap also brings out some uglier sides to the police. We have not once on this trip paid off a policeman, because we carry correctly photocopied and stamped copies of our passports, visas, drivers licence and car papers (import document and registration). I can not recommend to you enough how much hassle and money this has saved us by not allowing the police to intimidate us into paying a bribe to get our documents back once we've handed them over. They will argue that they must see your real documents, so show them, BUT DO NOT HAND THEM OVER!
See note on copied documents for road travel. See General Information.

Route: Sunate to Rovuma

Towns and villages along the way: Sunate, Macomia, Chai, Lithamanda, Miangalewa, Diaca, Mumu, M'totwe, Manila, Mangoma, Mocimboa da Praia, Quelimane (village), Maputo (village), Mute, Quionga, Namoto (Border Post), Kilambo (Tanzanian Fronteira)
Turns along the way: Ancuabe, Quissanga, Pangane, T-Junction for Mueda left and Mocimboa da Praia right at Diaca, Olumbe, Palma turn

Roads:

Directions: These directions start you from the turn off to Macomia at Sunate on the EN243. This road takes you all the way to Diaca; ensure that you are headed for Macomia to continue north. At Diaca take the right to Mocimboa da Praia EN246. From Mocimboa you drive straight through town and continue on the EN247 for the border headed towards Palma. There is a T-Junction just before Palma, go right to go into the town or left and straight past the church for the border post. N.B. The road to the border becomes a sand track, do not be put off by this, you are on the right road. On reaching the border post there is still another 5km to drive for the Ferry, the road bears to the right form the border post.
Distances: Sunate to: Macomia 120km, Napala 143km, Mocojo 163km.
Macomia to: Chai 39km, Lithamanda 43km, Miangalewa 52km, Mueda and Mocimboa T-Junction 104km.
Mueda and Mocimboa T-Junction to: Mumu 8km, M'totwe 16km, Manila 22km, Mangoma 25km, Mocimboa da Praia 40km.
Mocimboa da Praia to: Maputo (village) 38km, Mute 59km, Palma turn 85km, Namoto (Border Post) 130km, Rovuma River (Ferry) 135km
General condition: For the EN243 it is tarmac with a few potholes up to Macomia, past this town for 29km the road becomes hard packed sand and then tarmac again with the odd pothole. For the EN246 it is hard packed sand and best to keep on the sides of the roads. The EN247 from Mocimboa is also hard packed sand with steep hills which are badly eroded. After Palma the road turns to soft sand. N.B. This is not a recommended journey in the rainy season.
Recommended Speed: EN243 to Macomia 100km/h past Macomia for 29km slow down to 60 to 80km/h then it improves once more. EN246 60 - 80km/h. EN247 60- 80km/h
Signage: Good up to Palma and then non-existent.

Services:

Mobile Phone Reception: The only place we found reception was at Mocimboa da Praia for the whole of this trip.
Petrol Stations: None.

• Types of fuel: Super and Diesel are available on the streets in Macomia and Mocimboa. Expect to be overcharged.
• Gas Available: No.
• Air for tyre: No.

Car Repairs: No
Car Towing: No, but flagging down a lorry could well have you being towed back to Pemba.
Stop Offs: Mocimboa has some bars and shops.

Comments:

There is a police check point at Sunate (see above) and another one at Diaca where the same applies. Passed Mocimboa da Praia, this is one trip you only want to take if you are intending to cross over to Tanzania or you are entering Mozambique. On this whole stretch of National road there is only
One petrol station in Mocimboa da Praia but this is not always operating, so fuel is sold on the side of the roads at a highly inflated price and not good measures. Take plenty of fuel for this journey.
For the border post it's important to know that they do not issue Visas. However there is work going on to construct a new building for the Immigration and Customs offices and when completed Visas should be issued, we'll keep you posted. Be aware of the fact that you need to get insurance when temporarily importing your vehicle into Mozambique, this is not arranged at this border post, best to get it in Pemba.

Route: Macomia to Pangane

Towns along the way: Macomia, Napala, Mocojo, Pangane.
Turns along the way: Naunde, Quiturajo, Pangane, Guludo.

Roads:

Directions: If you're heading north then take the right turn at Macomia for Pangane through Napala and Mocojo from here bare left on the soft sand road through the village and to the point of Pangane. If you want to go to Guludo Lodge take a right at Mocojo, you pass through Guludo village first and then bare left for the lodge (see Accommodation for this sector).
Distances: Macomia to; Napala 23km, Mocojo 43km, Pangane 56km.
Mocojo to: Guludo 10km, Quiturajo 38km
General condition: The road is hard sand packed and quite badly rutted with small areas of bad erosion. Closer to Pangane this turns to soft sand. The Guludo road is soft sand as well.
Recommended Speed: 30 - 60km/h.
Signage: Signs in Macomia and Mocojo.

Services:

Mobile Phone Reception: None.
Petrol Stations: None but petrol available at Macomia.

• Types of fuel: Super only.
• Gas Available: None.
• Air for tyres: No.

Car Repairs: No
Car Towing: None, your best bets are: try getting a lorry, talk to Guludo Lodge, Casa Suk or Hashimi in Pangane.
Stop Offs: None.

Comments:

A short but difficult drive, however the end result is superb. See General Information for this sector.

Route: Pemba to Mecufi

Towns along the way: Morrebué, Ngoma.
Turn offs along the way: Mecufi.

Roads:

Directions: Take the national road (EN106) out of Pemba for 9km and then turn left to Mecufi, follow this road until you reach Mecufi. From Mecufi you can carry on to Chúre (120km), Mazeze (60km) and Megaruma (18km).
Distances: Mecufi turn to: Morrebué 15km, Ngoma 30km, Mecufi 44km
General condition: Fairly hard sand packed road, many bridges and a couple of eroded areas will slow down the progress
Recommended Speed: average 60km/h.
Signage: Good.

Services:

Mobile Phone Reception: Some signal.
Petrol Stations: None.

• Types of fuel: None.
• Gas Available: None.
• Air for tyres: No.

Car Repairs: No
Car Towing: In Pemba, best to hitch a ride to Pemba and arrange something from there.
Stop Offs: None.

Comments:

Mecufi has a restaurant and snack bar, ordering in advance is advisable. There is no accommodation available here yet, access to the beach is not easy for bathers.

Route: Metoro to Aurora, Montepuez

Towns along the way: None.
Turns along the way: Mesa. Ngura Bush Camp, Aurora turn.

Roads:

Directions: Take the EN242 from Metoro and follow this road until you see the turn for Aurora on the right or get to Montepuez.
Distances: Metoro to Ngura National Park turn 42km, The Bush Camp is 26km further on. Aurora turn 109km. Just 1km to Aurora from here.
General condition: Good tarmac road.
Recommended Speed: 100km/h.
Signage: Good.

Services:

Mobile Phone Reception: None.
Petrol Stations: None.

• Types of fuel: None.
• Gas Available: None.
• Air for tyres: No.

Car Repairs: No
Car Towing: In Pemba, best to hitch a ride to Pemba and arrange something from there.
Stop Offs: None.

Comments:

Easy drive, with stunning scenery. The Ngura National Park comes highly recommended, it is best to get directions in Pemba for the bush camp, try Kaskazini Travel Agents for more info. The Aurora Project itself is in a fabulous setting sat the foot of an Iselberg next to a colonial church. (See Accommodation for this sector)