We have been invited by friends to Ponta do Ouro next month. We wont be taking the caravan.  We do not have a 4 x 4 but told we can leave our vehicle in a lock up and get a shuffle to Ponta do Oura. Our friends have a 4 x 4 so we will not be without transport once in Ponta. Has any one any experience with using the lockup and using a shuttle.

After visiting Ponta we will be going to Melelane (near Kruger) to visit Neills son. Then to Nelspruit where I will be advising on converting some out bulding on a farm for student accomodation. I have not done any architect work for years so it will be an interesting short term project. It is on an voluntory advisory capacity only.

Regards MArg

I did that about 5 years ago and there were a number of cars there. The parking area is enclosed by a high fence and there was a guard on duty 24/7. It was safe then but not sure now.

We have a Condor. Friends of our have been there often and they know their way around. Not sure if we would like to take the chance and get stuck in the sand.

Regards MArg

Hi Steamer, Does he think we will be able to get through with the Condor. It is not a 4 x 2, or a 4 x 4. We are travelling with friends who have a 4 x 4. They suggest we follow them and in the event of getting stuck they can try pull us out. We have some of those yellow plastic leveling ramps for the caravan and thought of taking them with, and a pump, and a tow rope.  Never thought at  our age we would be so adventurest.

Hi,Thanks for all the advise. we are back from Ponto do Ouro.  Yes, we did get stuck on the way in to Ponto and had to be towed out by our friends. After a bit of driving experience and the tyres deflated more we got there. Neill was an expert driver on the way out, and did not get stuck at all.

We traveled 6Ks from Ponto on the non existant sand roads to the new Highway that is being built. There is a construction ground road running next to the new highway all the way to Maputo. The road is close to being completed except where there are bridges being built.

We could drive on the new tar road for about 70% of the way and had to go off the road and use the construction road in the area's they were working on. The ground road is in good condition. We were stopped twice by police on the way but they were very pleasant and did not try to bribe us.

The bridge over Maputo bay is nearly complete. It is a 3K long suspension bridge, set very high for ships to travel under. We did not take the car accross the farry but took a small farry for passengers and walked around Maputo with  guide. We returned back to Ponto.

A few day later we travelled again on the new ground contraction road & tar road and turned off on another new tarred road to Boane (left to Boane - right to Bela Vista)

Once at Boane we took an incorrect turn some where and landed up on the N4 near Matola. We travelled left to Komatipoort boarder. What a nightmare, thousands of tracks  grid locked.  We eventually joined the locals and traveled on the wrong side of the road and got to the boarder. When getting our passports stamped (Komatipoort) ( our hub caps were stollen off the Condor.  We were also told to pay R350 for a gate post and R100 for each passport. Please be aware that you do not have to pay anything at this boarder post, just a bunch of thieves. 

We then proceed to Malanine and Nelspruiit to visit family. Our return home was through Swaziland which, except for one very long section of road which had more pot hole than tar it was pain sailing with no problems at the boarders.

Thanks for the report.

I can't wait for the road to be completed from Ponta to Maputo. I travel to Maputo once a month and the road through Swaziland from Big Bend to Steki became a nightmare with all the potholes.

Jan, Please let us know for future reference if you manage to travel on the new road once it is complete. We want to go North Mozambique some time, but will wait for the raod to be complete. 

Jan, Please let us know for future reference if you manage to travel on the new road once it is complete. We want to go North Mozambique some time, but will wait for the raod to be complete. 

Will do. On my trip last week I noticed that the bridge platform is completed except for one piece. They are waiting for the president to place the last piece in place.  The road and bridge are done by the chinese and at the ramp from the bridge  into town there is now  a dispute about payouts for the locals properties. 

Travel on the new road from Kosibay border to Maputo. Road is finished  except for the offramp in Maputo. Should be done by September. 

Lovely road through a nature reserve and much faster than the very bad road through Swaziland. Used he ferry over the the harbour for R85. 

They are building a toll gate just before the turnoff to Boane. Will update on toll fee when completed.

Work friend just came back from Ponta do Ouro. Tar road from border post to Ponta  rearing completion.

About 3km to go then you can drive with a normal vehicle and enjoy Southern Mozambique beaches.

Thanks for the info.   We want to do a trip north Mozambique next

Hoe veilig is dit op hulle strande, oorde en omgewing?

Baie lekker en veilig. Ek sal eeder daar gaan swem as in SA.  Moz Polisie het daar gewerk maar het vakansie gangers afgeskrik met hulle AK47 gewere.

Tans word polisieering hier in die suide van Moz gedoen deur die gemeenskaps polisie en die hoofman sort die oortreders uit. En dit werk baie goed.

Die mense hier weet hulle is grootliks afhanklik van die toeriste en is baie vriendelik en gemoed komend. Hulle sorg vir jou as jy daar is want hul weet jy byt nie die hand wat jou voer nie.  Na die terugvoer van my kollega dors ek om weer daar 'n draai te gaan maak.

Dis lekker vakansie hou.

My mense in Mozambique sê die plaaslike gemeenskap in Ponta wou nie die afdraai van die nuwe hoofpad na Ponta geteer gehad het nie. Hulle was bang dat Ponta nou vir almal maklik toeganglik gaan wees en ongewenste elemente lok.  Soos Leon sê die mense is afhanklik van toeriste en daarom die teenkanting van geteerde pad.  

Nog altyd baie veilig in Ponta gevoel en polisie lede wat voorheen hulle mag misbruik het is verwyder.

Hoe ver is hierdie oord omtrent vanaf Pretoria?

Volgens Google so 660km. Sal nie in Ponta self kamp nie die geriewe is nie goed nie.