Disappointing Mozambique

After 2 weeks in southern Mozambique, here´s a bit of advice.

Visa cost have gone up a lot since LP was published. I paid a crazy 675 Rand at the border, with receipt, same price at two different land borders so I don´t think I was tricked. It´s not worth it.

Hotels are mostly overpriced for what you get and if you start bargaining they just stare at you and say no discount in most places.

If you take public transport, be prepared for very early departures between 2 am and 5 am. The white minibuses have virtually no space for a big backpack and you will be charged extra. If you bring a car, be prepared for lots and lots of police stopping you, especially if you have a foreign licence plate. Even the local minibuses are stopped frequently and drivers fined for the most ridiculous reasons (100 Rand for one passenger´s elbow outside the window in a country where a dozen people ride on the open back of a pickup) and the whole bullshit slows down travelling a lot.

Tofo has nice diving but no jetty and seas can be very rough in the rainy season (christmas!). Lots of people get seasick and puke into regulators even 20 m below. Lots of people get stung by jellyfish too and look miserable. The beach in Vilanculos and Inhassoro is only as wide as your bath towel at high tide and the water full of seaweed. Lots of mosquitos too.

Among 7 countries I visited in Southern Africa, I easily liked Mozambique 7th-best.

You sound like a tourist. Mozambique is not disappointing at all. You want to go to Hawaii, Acapulco or Benidorm next time.

I have travelled independently throughout Southern Africa and I agree with the above. I didn't take to Mozambique at all and I would choose not to go back there. Many people love it. That's life - we each have our own perception of a place and opinions differ.
Clockworkorange your post is arrogant and rude.

Previous poster, then get next time more information before you decide to go to a country.

I'm sorry but you can have all the information in the world and until you get to see, hear, smell and taste somewhere in person you haven't had the experience to make a judgement on whether you like somewhere or not! And even if you do not like a particular place it does not mean that the experience had no value.
Why the aggressive and confrontational attitude? This is a forum for people to ask questions and for others to provide answers based on their own experience. You make of it what you will. There is no need for rudeness.

Previous poster, do better research next time. You always can avoid mistakes like your mistake. And then only travel to countries or destinations you feel more comfortable with.

I always know what to expect in another country. I'm always prepared. You are obviouly not. I always do my homework.

I made no mistake. I always research thoroughly and travel well prepared. That doesn't mean one will like what one finds. But as I said; just because one disliked a place doesn't mean it wasn't a learning experience. For example I traveled to Haiti to see a child and family which I sponsored. The country is quite challenging emotionally and physically in many respects and not really an enjoyable experience. However, it was an experience which had a profound effect on my life and was very worthwhile.
By the way, you didn't answer my question but that is okay.

What a bugger the OP had such a bad time.
But it seems odd op was both a public transport victim as well as private vehicle.
And as far as fines for elbows out - well are you South African?

Clockwork orange, there really isn't any substitute for experience; you can do all the research in the world but until you actually get to a place and taste it for real, all that research is merely theory; nothing more. Moz won't be to everyone's taste and in comparison to other countries in the region, it's arguably poor value for money. Hotels are expensive, as are a lot of restaurants. Standards vary wildly between excellent and frankly lousy (often for the same cost) and the supermarkets are basic, even by regional standards. The cops are a disgrace....

Some people will not be bothered by these things and go with the flow whereas others will find them intolerable. But let's not shoot people down in flames just because they admit that some places aren't top of their list.

number 1 I am with you. The original poster of the message - go to Disney World - Florida!!!! Or, Acapulco is even better!

Mozambique is an amazing country, colorfull, exotic, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful times three, unique, very, very unique with beautiful people, places, beaches... it only goes on and on if you are intelligent enough. I traversed the country by road from south to north and I loved it.

Yes, I agree that Mozambique is expensive, or overpriced at times, we paid over $100 US for a room with no windows and with cocroches, but this is Mozambique, get real, it is a remote part of the world. You pay for the remoteness of the place, this is not Paris Champs-Elysees.

Ouch! Number #10 your posting had vicious teeth and it is not worth while to respond to. Mozambique is not for you, go to Disneyland. BTW, I have been to the Himalayas.

Cheers!

This board is not only for people who love a certain place but for all kinds of experiences. Why attack the OP just because he does not like Mozambique? I want to hear all opinions, that is why I read this board. As far as researching a place and then not making a mistake. What an absurd comment about doing full proof research, there is no way to know about a place until you go.
Finally, why if someone does not like a place does that mean he is relegated to Florida. If I had that attitude I could tell all today's travelers that compared to the 70's everywhere is way over touristed (which it is) so just stay home because you "missed" the good old times. but then I would just be a jerk like some of the above posters!