Getting to Ponta do Ouro Mozambique

Flights to Ponta Do Ouro There is no commercial airport in Ponta, nearest airport is Maputo - where selected lodges will transfer from but it is a 4 hour drive in a 4wd vehicle.

Papers needed and border procedure for taking vehicles across the border into Mozambique

Please remember normally the Kosi / Ponta border closes at 17h00 and they occasionally have left before that turn up no later than 16h30 to get across that day !!
It opens at 0h800 in the mornings
December and Easter they do open for longer.

Parking at the Border
There is unfortunately no more parking available on Mozambique Side. Parking is now only available on the South African side, 800m from the Border on the left hand side. Cost is approximately R40 per vehicle per day. Border Transfers from the border to your lodge of choice can be arranged prior to your arrival, please do let us know when making your reservation so that we can assist.

Driving to Ponta Do Ouro from:
Johannesburg/ Pretoria area
The best way from South Africa is via the Kosi border

• From Johannesburg/Pretoria head to Ermelo (this could be on the N17, N12, N11 or N4 depending on where you live)
• From Ermelo take the N2 towards Durban through Piet Retief & Pongola.
• Approx 52km after Pongola turn left to Jozini
• Follow the road through Jozini town and as you leave the town the road forks
• Take the left road over the Jozini Dam wall
• Stay on this main tar road following signs to 'Kosi bay forest reserve'
• There are several junctions and turns but keep following the signs for 'Kosi bay forest reserve'
• After 100km or so you will arrive in Kwangwanase (Manguzi) this is the last town before the border, good place to tank up with fuel and buy any extra supplies.
• drive out of Kwangwanase (Manguzi) and follow the road for approx 20km you will arrive at the border
• The tar road ends on the South African side of the border, so if you are in a 2wd you can park at the South African Police Station (for a daily fee) then walk across. Most lodges will collect from the border post.
• If you are in a 4wd or high clearance vehicle (preferably with diff lock) you can cross onto the sandy Mozambique side.
• As soon as you leave the border you have several road options (all sandy tracks) some lodges are well signed, but here is a general guide starting from the left track as you face them.
  Left hand track goes through to Ponta Mamoli
  Middle tracks (usually 3) go through to Ponta Malaongane, Tartaruga, Vista Alta
  Right hand track goes to Ponta Village.
  You can get to all the lodges from Ponta village.
• Usually everyone is very helpful and will point you in the right direction!

Driving to Ponta From the Durban area

• From Durban area, take the N2 Toll road north past Ballito.
• Take the Hluhluwe offramp.
• Turn right over the highway.
• Continue through the town of Hluhluwe, following the Sodwana Bay signs.
• At Mbazwane, turn left following the Kosi Bay (or Farazela border post or Kwangwanase) signs.
• At the T-junction, turn right around the traffic circle.
• Continue through the town of Kwangwanase (Manguzi), this is the last town before the border, good place to tank up with fuel and buy any extra supplies.
• Drive out of Kwangwanase (Manguzi) and follow the road for approx 20km you will arrive at the border
• The tar road ends on the South African side of the border, so if you are in a 2wd you can park at the South African Police Station (for a daily fee) then walk across. Most lodges will collect from the border post.
• If you are in a 4wd or high clearance vehicle (preferably with diff lock) you can cross onto the sandy Mozambique side.
• As soon as you leave the border you have several road options (all sandy tracks) some lodges are well signed, but here is a general guide starting from the left track as you face them.
  Left hand track goes through to Ponta Mamoli
  Middle tracks (usually 3) go through to Ponta Molangane, Tartaruga, Vista Alta
  Right hand track goes to Ponta Village.
  You can get to all the lodges from Ponta village.
• Usually everyone is very helpful and will point you in the right direction!

Distances:
Johannesburg to Ponta
Johannesburg to Ermelo
Ermelo to Jozini
Jozini to Kwangwanase (Manguzi)
Kwangwanase (Manguzi) to Border 20km
Border to Ponta

Durban to Ponta
Durban to Hluhluwe offramp
Hluhluwe to Mbazwane
Mbazwane to Kwangwanase (Manguzi)
Kwangwanase (Manguzi) 20km
Border to Ponta

Crossing the Border to Ponta from Kosi Bay

The border here is a lot more relaxed and gernerally a lot quieter than the Komatipoort border but it still has queues at the peak holidays (Easter, long weekends and Dec holidays)
Fortunately the officials are more relaxed as this is a tourist border only - no trucks or commercial goods can cross here.
The paperwork needed is still the same:

• Vehicle ownership documents -
• If the vehicle is on hire purchase / bank loan you will also need a letter from the bank giving permission to cross the border.
• Also if the vehicle is not yours you will need a letter of authorization from the owner saying you have their permission to take it into Mozambique.
• A valid drivers license is also required.
• All people crossing the border need valid passport.
• Insurance is required in Mozambique - if your current insurance covers Mozambique you must get a letter from the insurance company on official papers clearly stating that minimum of third party insurance is covered, it must show the vehicle registration and the country 'Mozambique' - not 'covers all SADC' or 'Southern Africa'.
  Temporary 30 day insurance cover is available at the Mozambique border and cost R150 (payable in cash only) we recommend Hollard Insurance.

The border is small here is a brief walkthrough:

Turn up at least 15 minutes before closing or they may have already locked up !

• Park up on the left on the SA side
• Go into the cabin on the left
• Passports stamped out
• Usually no vehicle paperwork (though this does change)
  Sometimes they will do a full vehicle check to see if it is stolen, paperwork matches etc, other times they will not even look at the vehicle !!

Then it is across to the Mozambique side (200 metres) and off the tar roads.

• Park up
• On the left is the vehicle paperwork hut
• Two sheet A4 document with a piece of carbon.
• Fill it in (making sure the carbon works and is clear on the bottom sheet)
• Then take it back to the desk and they will stamp it return half to you and demand R12.
• Back out on the right is a window in a building where you hand in your passport, get stamped in (R17 fee) and you are away
• Insurance is required and there is usually a guy at the border asking if you need to buy it, Hollard do have a small hut there, R150 set fee valid for 30 days.