From Malawi
Malawi has a number of border crossings into and out of the country. Zóbuè is by far the simplest and most commonly used. The road is in great shape. Chapas run daily between Tete and the border, where you must walk approximately 300 meters to get Malawian transportation. This crossing is also used by daily through buses from Chimoio and Beira.
A border crossing to the north, at Dedza, may be more convenient for Lilongwe, although public transportation on both sides may be inconsistent.
Milange and Mandimba are the two crossings that allow you to leave/enter Malawi from the east. Milange is located in Malawi’s south-east corner, and getting there requires taking one of the daily buses that operate between Mocuba and Milange. It’s a two-kilometer walk from Milange to the border, then another one-kilometer walk to where Malawian transport departs.
Mandimba is located farther north and is mostly utilized to go to Malawi from Lichinga. Several cars travel between Lichinga and Mandimba every day, and then it’s another 7 kilometers to the border. Hittingchhiking is simple, or you may take a bicycle taxi for around $1.
You may also traverse the lake by boat.
From South Africa
From Johannesburg to Maputo, take the Intercape Mainliner, +27 861 287 287. These buses operate on a regular basis in both directions, one in the morning and the other overnight, and are both safe and cheap. Greyhound and Translux are two more airlines. If you plan on getting a visa at the border, you should only buy a ticket that gets you to the border; bus operators will not let you board with a ticket to Maputo if you don’t have a visa. If you ask the bus conductor, he or she will assist you in obtaining a visa at the border, allowing you to skip the often lengthy wait on the Mozambique side. Reboard the bus and pay the price to Maputo on board after you’ve cleared immigration, or take a minibus cab to Maputo from the border.
There are bus connections to and from Durban three times each week (via Big Bend, Swaziland). There is also a service to Maputo from Nelspruit and Komatipoort.
From 4 a.m. until 12 a.m., there are cheap “taxis” to and from every location in South Africa.
From Swaziland
Around 11 a.m., Chapas depart from both Manzini and Mbabane for Maputo via Goba. They arrive at Baixa (and may drop you off at 24 de Julho), so both Fatima’s and Base are within walking distance. R80 is the fare.
From Tanzania
The River Rovuma forms the boundary between Mozambique and Tanzania. Moçimboa da Praia is connected to Palma and Namiranga, the Mozambique border station, via daily pick-ups. The primary road connects Moçimboa da Praia (on the Mozambican side), Palma (on the Mozambican side), and Mtwara (on the Tanzanian side). Due to the poor condition of the roads in Mozambique and the low volume of traffic, it is advised that you spend two days to complete this journey.
Lifts travel from Mtwara and Kilambo to the Rovuma river for visitors arriving from Tanzania. Kilambo is a tiny town with just one road, so finding a lift should be simple. Mtwara, on the other hand, is considerably bigger, so ask the locals where and when the lifts depart from. If you’re coming from Mozambique, your ride to the river will most likely begin at Palma or, if you’re lucky, Moçimboa da Praia, and end at Namiranga’s border post. It will usually wait for your passport to be stamped at the border post (a mud hut in Namiranga).
During the rainy season, your lift will most likely go to the Rovuma’s banks. During the dry season, it will take you to the end of the road, where you may walk to the Rovuma river for between 1 and 2 kilometers (depending on the water level that day). Currently, there is an inconsistent ferry service that crosses the river. Typically, dugout canoes or somewhat bigger wooden motorboats are used to cross the river. The journey over the river shouldn’t cost more than $8 USD, but you’ll need Tanzanian shillings to pay for it. If you don’t have any, there are plenty of people who will give you “generous” exchange rates for your hard-earned Dollars and Meticais.
If water levels are low on the Tanzanian side, you may have to wade to get to and from your boat, thus having a heavy-duty waterproof bag is a nice idea but not required. On the Tanzanian side, you’ll often be approached by individuals offering you transportation. Pickpocketing is prevalent on both sides of the river, so be cautious while looking for transportation to neighboring towns. A smart approach to avoid problems is to make friends with a local on the boat trip across; you’ll find that most of your fellow passengers are eager to assist you in some manner. After that, you’ll be transported to Kilambo, Tanzania’s border station, and then to Mtwara, the capital of Southern Tanzania. Go to “Russell’s Place” (also known as Cashew Camp) in Pemba for further information and up-to-date news about this crossing.
Other routes to Tanzania exist, but they all involve lengthy treks. Find out what’s going on in the area by asking around.
From Zambia
Cassacatiza, north-west of Tete, is the major crossing point. This border is in excellent shape, although it is seldom used. Between Tete and Matema, daily chapas operate, although public transportation is intermittent. Traveling from Mozambique to Zambia is best done through Malawi.
From Zimbabwe
There are two crossings: Nyamapanda (west of Tete) and Machipanda (east of Tete) (west of Chimoio). Because of its position at the end of the Beira Corridor, Machipanda is particularly well-traveled.