FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

First and foremost...

Don't forget your passports! If you are a South African citizen and you don't have one, apply at least ten days before your departure for a temporary passport at the Department of Home Affairs. Although South African passport holders don't require visas, other nationalities must apply for visas beforehand.

Don't forget the registration papers of your vehicle/boat/trailer. Better still is to make certified copies of your registration papers and laminate it. You will be required to show this upon entry at the border.

Cost of entry at the border:

• Third party insurance plus temporary import duty of R170,00 for your vehicle; and
• temporary import licence of R80,00 each for all additional vehicles, such as a boat/trailer/wet bike.

There are certain restrictions regarding the import of South African alcoholic drinks and cigarettes.

Bring enough cash along for your holiday, since there isn’t any ATM’s (automatic teller machines) at Praia de Ouro Sul or in Ponta do Ouro. The balance of your account at Praia de Ouro Sul can be paid at departure either by

• cash
• direct transfer into our bank account by Internet banking
• credit card

Your accommodation must be paid in full either electronically or by direct payment into our bank account before you depart for your breakaway at Praia de Ouro Sul.

Let's hit the road!

Can I travel by car to Praia de Ouro Sul?
No, you can only travel by car to the Kosi Bay border post between South Africa and Mozambique, which is the nearest border post. From the border post, you will need a 4 x 4 vehicle for the thick, sand roads. Praia de Ouro Sul is only approximately 35 minutes drive from the Kosi Bay border post.

Cross-border return transfers to and from Praia de Ouro Sul for Praia Residents only can be arranged at R200,00 per person and R250,00 per trailer/wet bike/boat.

Please arrange any cross-border transfers to and from the border at least seven days in advance with Praia de Ouro Sul. Denise 00258 847 806 593 (resort)/Elize Hulster at +27 82 786 7283.

When is the border post open?
The border post is open every day of the week between 08h00 until 17h00.

Is there parking available at the border?
Yes, parking is available at the border for your vehicle at an approximate cost of R30,00 per day, payable at departure. It is secure and privately run.

How far is the resort from the border?
It is around 12 km's from the border, but due to the sand roads, it takes approximately 35 minutes to get there.

What are the GPS coordinates?
For Kosi Bay border post: 26o52.217'S 32o49.533'E
For Ponta do Ouro: Longitude: 32 53 25 E, Latitude: 26 51 05 S

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Could I fly out there?
There is a landing strip at Manguzi (KwaNgwanase), a small town in South Africa just before the Kosi Bay border post.

Cross-border transfers are also available to and from the landing strip at R100,00 per person (one way).

Please arrange any cross-border transfers to and from the border or the landing strip at least seven days in advance with Praia de Ouro Sul contact Elize Hulster at +27 82 786 7283.

Kulani Group offers you charter flights from Lanseria, Johannesburg, to Manguzi (KwaNgwanase). Phone Eugene at +27 82 779 3144 for more information on charter flights.

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Before we start packing, please tell me more about the weather
Two main seasons, one wet and the other dry, divide the climatic year in Mozambique. The wet season, from November to March, has a monthly average temperature of between 26°C and 30°C (80°F and 86°F), with cooler temperatures in the interior uplands. The drier season is from April to October and has June and July temperatures averaging between 18 - 25 degrees Celcius.

The climate of Mozambique is described as sub-tropical to tropical. Humidity is high. Mozambique's south coast offers a pleasurable expanse from April to November of consistently little rainfall and moderately hot 20°C to 30°C days. The climate during December until January is hot and humid. Closer towards the centre of the coast, things get a bit wetter, but with the middle of the year still an optimum time to travel around. The mercury climbs as you head inland and towards the northwest.

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Let's talk about money
The local currency is the Mozambican metical (plural: meticais), but at the border, at the resort and in Ponta do Ouro, South African rand is gladly accepted. The exchange rate is roughly R1,00 = Mt 4,0.

At the resort, certain expenses such as drinks, meals, purchases at the shop, etc. can be added to your account.

Can I pay by cheque/credit card?
Credit cards are not widely accepted in Ponta do Ouro. Money can be withdrawn from ATM's in Manguzi (KwaNgwanase), the small town just before the border post in South Africa (approximately 45 minutes' drive from Praia de Ouro Sul). Cheques are not accepted.

It is a good idea rather to bring enough cash along for your holiday.
The resort accepts electronic fund transfers (EFT’s) and credit cards.

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Check-in and check-out
Check-in time is at 14h00 on the day of arrival and check-out time is at 10h00 on the day of departure.

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Tell me more about the place where we'll be staying
You will stay in a single luxury, double luxury or superior permanent tent.
Every tent, be it a single, double or superior tent, has a refrigerator, tea/coffee making facilities, a separate bathroom with a shower, basin and toilet (the superior tent also has a bath), a wardrobe, a desk/dressing table with a chair, a fan and patio furniture. Bedding and towels are supplied. No swimming towels are supplied in the tents - please bring your own or hire swimming towels from reception. The tents all have electricity and running hot and cold water and are serviced daily (general cleaning, but excluding the washing of dishes, which has to be done at the boma, and laundry.) We have a coin-operated laundry with washing machines and tumble dryers. An iron and ironing board can also be hired.

Please note that no braais (barbeques) or preparation of food are allowed at the tents (except for at the double tents' kitchenettes.) A boma with thatched roof, basin, electricity and a large braai area, walking distance from the tents, is available for braais and cooking. Firewood for braais at the boma is supplied. The restaurant serves breakfast, light meals and dinner daily. Breakfast can also be delivered to your tent. During low season the restaurant is closed on a Monday.

Single luxury tents accommodate 4 people in an open area. Apart from the furniture that can be found in all of the tents, two 3/4 beds and one bunkerbed are supplied. A self-catering basket, with crockery and cutlery etc., to be used at the boma, is included in the daily rate. A refundable deposit of R300,00 is payable for the basket and the crockery and cutlery supplied in the tent.

Double luxury tents are available for larger families or friends who want to stay close to each other. The double tents are similar to the standard tents regarding furniture, and share a kitchenette. A self-catering basket, with crockery and cutlery etc, to be used at the boma or in a private kitchenette, is included in the daily rate of each double tent and is supplied in each double tent. A refundable deposit of R300,00 for the basket and crockery and cutlery supplied in the tent has to be paid upon arrival. The kitchenette is equipped with a refrigerator, gas burners and kitchen utensils.

The superior tent (called "The Honeymoon Suite") accommodates only two people. Apart from the usual furniture that can be found in all of the tents, the superior tent also has two loungers on the patio, a queen size bed and linen of the very best quality. All the furniture in the superior tent is ivory, and the colour scheme is blue, ivory and cream. There is also a bath in the bathroom as well as a shower, basin and toilet. A self-catering basket is included in the daily rate and a refundable deposit of R300,00 for the basket and cutlery and crockery supplied in the tent has to be paid upon arrival. Also included in the superior tent’s rate is two breakfasts and dinner discount vouchers, for food only, daily.

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What should I bring along?
The general atmosphere on the resort and in Mozambique is very laid-back and relaxed. Bring along casual, cool clothes (such as t-shirts and shorts) during the summer months. It is a good idea to bring a rain jacket (drimac) and warm clothes to make provision for any sudden changes in the weather. During winter, days are still warm, but at night, you might need a jacket and long trousers. Something to cover your arms and legs throughout the year at night to protect you from mosquito bites, is also a good idea.

For dinner at the restaurant, people tend to dress more smart casual than during the day, but shorts is still acceptable.

Also remember the following items:

• sunscreen lotion
• mosquito repellent
• camera with enough film
• more than one beach towel per person, if possible, and
• walking shoes and a hat (for walking trails).

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What can we do there?

On the resort itself, you can follow walking trails: through the indigenous forest, explore the beach, walk to the lighthouse, etc. It is a bird-watcher's paradise!

You can tan, walk and fish on our own beach or swim and relax around the pool at the restaurant complex.
You can fish from the beach, which is just a few minutes' walk down the pathway from the houses on the resort to the beach. Please remember that no bottom fishing off boats is allowed in the area. Or you can just relax, watch television and spend some quality time with your loved ones at the restaurant.

Ponta do Ouro (just five minutes' drive from Praia de Ouro Sul)

Fishing and diving is what this area is famous for.

Various game fish such as Kings, barracuda, wahoo and tuna are targeted off ski boats throughout the year. Sailfish and black marlin is to be found in season. Anglers are having success off ski boats, jet skis and kayaks.

Bookings for ski boat charters can be made when you book your accommodation, or through Reception at the Resort. For more information about fishing and diving packages, please click here.

Rock and surf fishing is also very popular and stumpnose, pompano and kings are regularly caught. The services of our local guide can be booked through Reception.

As the area is a marine reserve, bottom reef fishing is not allowed.  We support the catch and release principle.

Ponta is one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world, with various coral reefs at depths from 12 meters to 55 meters.

Bookings can be made through Reception, as we have preferred suppliers in the village. For more information about fishing and diving packages, please click here.

Not far from Ponta do Ouro, you will find a 4 x 4 testing route. It is great fun to test your vehicle's capabilities here! Please be sensitive to the natural beauty and eco-system of the area.
Explore the area around Praia de Ouro Sul and Ponta do Ouro and enjoy the natural, unspoilt beauty. Visit the natural lakes, marshes, dunes, traditional villages and stop at Lake Zitundo to watch the crocodiles and hippo. Be careful around Lake Zitundo, especially at night, since hippo migrate from one lake to another.

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What if I forget something?
We have a shop on site where you can buy basic necessities, cold drinks, snacks, sweets and fishing tackle.
In Ponta do Ouro, basic necessities can be bought at a local shop. Beach wear and curios (such as salad bowls, beautiful wooden craft work, etc.) can also be bought.
There is a Spar and other local shops at Manguzi (KwaNgwanase) in South Africa, approximately 45 minutes drive from the resort.

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Other things a visitor may want to know?

Is Praia de Ouro Sul located in a malaria area?
Yes, the resort falls within a malaria area and therefore prophylaxis is recommended for all travellers.

Is the water on the resort save for human consumption?
The water on the resort is from our own boreholes and is safe for human consumption. It is, however, recommended that you bring bottled mineral water for human consumption.
Ice and bottled water can be bought at the restaurant.

Are there shark nets?
No, not at the resort and also not at Ponta do Ouro.

Will I be able to use my cell phone?
On the resort itself: at the restaurant you will be able to receive the South African signals. Just outside the resort (walking distance, if you wish), MTN and Vodacom signals are received, so you can make calls from there or send/receive sms messages.

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