|
|
|
Ponta Do Ouro Travel advice |
 |
|
Getting To Ponta Do Ouro: The Ponta do Ouro border is open from 8am – 5pm. On arrival, first clear SA immigration, (brick building on left) and then cross over to the Mozambican side and clear immigration. If you intend taking a vehicle over the border, you need to purchase a temporary importation permit, (corrugated iron building on the left - obtain necessary forms before queuing.) You will be required to pay R 12.00 per passport, 3rd party insurance, plus temporary import duty of - R 170.00 for your vehicle at the Mozambique border. Please ensure you take your vehicle registration papers with you. If you have a full comprehensive insurance cover, take your insurance papers with you and present them at the border. This will save you the 3rd party insurance fee. You will also require a temporary import license should you be towing a trailer or boat. This will cost you in the region of R80.00.
Ponta Do Ouro Border transfers: If you do not have a 4x4 to get across the border, you can park your car at a secure parking area on the South African side of the border, where there is 24 hr security, for - R25.00 per vehicle per day. On normal weekends its possible to drive through to the Mozambique side of the border, unpack your vehicle with the stuff you are taking to Ponta, then drive back to the vehicle park on the SA side of the border. Long weekends are sometimes a problem with the number of people trying to get through the border. If possible try to follow the same procedure, but sometimes the SA authorities might change procedures to control traffic. Please make contact with the Scuba Adventures driver on your arrival. Please note that the vehicle usually used for collections is a “Safari” Land Rover which has Scuba Adventures written on the doors. While perhaps not offering the air-conditioning, they certainly are rugged and are required to get through to Ponta with the entire luggage. In any event it is only a 12 Km ride so enjoy the open-air ride and scenery.
Transfer Times: Border - Ponta Ponta - Border
Mondays – Saturdays Mondays – Saturdays
08h30 15h30 07h30 14h30 Sundays or last day of Long Weekend Sundays or last day of Long Weekend
12h00 15h30 11h00 14h30 Please Note: Should you want a transfer outside of these times, this may be arranged depending on the number of border pick ups that day. If you are late and a vehicle has to be re-sent to collect you a charge will be levied. If you are going to be late please inform our offices either Scuba Travel 011 648 9648 or Louis at Scuba Adventures 09258 82 615 4610.
General Ponta Do Ouro Information: Security
Virtually everyone who hasn't been to Mozambique first perception is that there is an armed bandit behind every tree. Nothing could be further from the truth! The locals are exceedingly helpful and friendly. The theft problem that currently exists at Sodwana certainly does not exist in Southern Mozambique. In fact it is probably much safer than the suburbs of Gauteng Currency
VERY NB: CASH ONLY -RECOMMENDED
Travelers Cheques, Credit Cards and Cheques are not accepted anywhere in Ponta. All payments for Meals, drinks, extra dives, etc. must be made in CASH ONLY.
The normal currency in the area is South African Rands, but US Dollars are also accepted. Electricity and water
There is now municipal electricity in Ponta, normally lights only are provided in most resorts, however we would suggest that you pack a torch for emergencies. Please confirm plug points and fridge availability when booking.
Water is normally supplied from boreholes or it is pumped from a nearby lake. Some of the water may have a slight dicolouration in it, so you might want to take your own drinking water. Fishmonger Restaurant, Petrol and Shops
There are 3 shops at Ponta selling basic foodstuffs and groceries, because of the transport costs, prices are normally higher than in South Africa, so it is advisable to take your own foodstuffs if self catering. An excellent, cheap, local bread "Pau" is baked fresh twice daily and is available from the shops. There are also 3 restaurants in the small village, as well as the restaurant at the Motel. The Fishmonger Restaurant, is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the top seafood restaurants in Mozambique. It is situated on the first floor of the only little shopping centre in Ponta, and in addition to the fresh fish and excellent seafood, they also serve perhaps the best LM peri-peri chicken and crab curry, cooked in the traditional Mozambique style, that you have ever tasted. Also situated in the centre, below The Fishmonger Restaurant is a dive/beach shop, where snorkelling gear,bikinis, Tshirts, sun tan lotion etc. can be bought.
Virtually everyone who hasn't been to Mozambique first perception is that there is an armed bandit behind every tree. Nothing could be further from the truth! The locals are exceedingly helpful and friendly. The theft problem that currently exists at Sodwana certainly does not exist in Southern Mozambique. In fact it is probably much safer than the suburbs of Gauteng Getting To Ponta Do Ouro: The Ponta do Ouro border is open from 8am – 5pm. On arrival, first clear SA immigration, (brick building on left) and then cross over to the Mozambican side and clear immigration. If you intend taking a vehicle over the border, you need to purchase a temporary importation permit, (corrugated iron building on the left - obtain necessary forms before queuing.) You will be required to pay R 12.00 per passport, 3rd party insurance, plus temporary import duty of - R 170.00 for your vehicle at the Mozambique border. Please ensure you take your vehicle registration papers with you. If you have a full comprehensive insurance cover, take your insurance papers with you and present them at the border. This will save you the 3rd party insurance fee. You will also require a temporary import license should you be towing a trailer or boat. This will cost you in the region of R80.00.
Ponta Do Ouro Border transfers: If you do not have a 4x4 to get across the border, you can park your car at a secure parking area on the South African side of the border, where there is 24 hr security, for - R25.00 per vehicle per day. On normal weekends its possible to drive through to the Mozambique side of the border, unpack your vehicle with the stuff you are taking to Ponta, then drive back to the vehicle park on the SA side of the border. Long weekends are sometimes a problem with the number of people trying to get through the border. If possible try to follow the same procedure, but sometimes the SA authorities might change procedures to control traffic. Please make contact with the Scuba Adventures driver on your arrival. Please note that the vehicle usually used for collections is a “Safari” Land Rover which has Scuba Adventures written on the doors. While perhaps not offering the air-conditioning, they certainly are rugged and are required to get through to Ponta with the entire luggage. In any event it is only a 12 Km ride so enjoy the open-air ride and scenery.
Transfer Times: Border - Ponta Ponta - Border
Mondays – Saturdays Mondays – Saturdays
08h30 15h30 07h30 14h30 Sundays or last day of Long Weekend Sundays or last day of Long Weekend
12h00 15h30 11h00 14h30 Please Note: Should you want a transfer outside of these times, this may be arranged depending on the number of border pick ups that day. If you are late and a vehicle has to be re-sent to collect you a charge will be levied. If you are going to be late please inform our offices either Scuba Travel 011 648 9648 or Louis at Scuba Adventures 09258 82 615 4610.
General Ponta Do Ouro Information: Security
Virtually everyone who hasn't been to Mozambique first perception is that there is an armed bandit behind every tree. Nothing could be further from the truth! The locals are exceedingly helpful and friendly. The theft problem that currently exists at Sodwana certainly does not exist in Southern Mozambique. In fact it is probably much safer than the suburbs of Gauteng Currency
VERY NB: CASH ONLY -RECOMMENDED
Travelers Cheques, Credit Cards and Cheques are not accepted anywhere in Ponta. All payments for Meals, drinks, extra dives, etc. must be made in CASH ONLY.
The normal currency in the area is South African Rands, but US Dollars are also accepted. Electricity and water
There is now municipal electricity in Ponta, normally lights only are provided in most resorts, however we would suggest that you pack a torch for emergencies. Please confirm plug points and fridge availability when booking.
Water is normally supplied from boreholes or it is pumped from a nearby lake. Some of the water may have a slight dicolouration in it, so you might want to take your own drinking water. Fishmonger Restaurant, Petrol and Shops
There are 3 shops at Ponta selling basic foodstuffs and groceries, because of the transport costs, prices are normally higher than in South Africa, so it is advisable to take your own foodstuffs if self catering. An excellent, cheap, local bread "Pau" is baked fresh twice daily and is available from the shops. There are also 3 restaurants in the small village, as well as the restaurant at the Motel. The Fishmonger Restaurant, is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the top seafood restaurants in Mozambique. It is situated on the first floor of the only little shopping centre in Ponta, and in addition to the fresh fish and excellent seafood, they also serve perhaps the best LM peri-peri chicken and crab curry, cooked in the traditional Mozambique style, that you have ever tasted. Also situated in the centre, below The Fishmonger Restaurant is a dive/beach shop, where snorkelling gear,bikinis, Tshirts, sun tan lotion etc. can be bought.
Virtually everyone who hasn't been to Mozambique first perception is that there is an armed bandit behind every tree. Nothing could be further from the truth! The locals are exceedingly helpful and friendly. The theft problem that currently exists at Sodwana certainly does not exist in Southern Mozambique. In fact it is probably much safer than the suburbs of Gauteng |
|
|
|
|
Ponta Do Ouro |
|
|
 |
|
|