Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MALAWI
BORDER CROSSINGS
The only crossing is at Songwe River bridge (
7am-7pm Tanzanian time, 6am-6pm
Malawi time) , southeast of Mbeya (Tanzania).
BUS
From Mbeya, there are daily minibuses and 30-seater buses (known as 'Coastals' or the-
lathini ) to the border (Tsh5000, two hours). Once through the Tanzanian border post,
there's a 300m walk to the Malawian side, and minibuses to Karonga. There's also one
Malawian bus daily between the Malawi side of the border and Mzuzu (Malawi), departing
the border by mid-afternoon and arriving by evening.
Some tips:
»Look for buses going to Kyela (these detour to the border) and verify that your vehicle
is really going all the way to the border, as some that say they are actually stop at Tukuyu
(40km north) or at Ibanda (7km before the border). Asking several passengers (rather than
the minibus company touts) should get you the straight answer.
»Your chances of getting a direct vehicle are better in the larger thelathini, which depart
from Mbeya two or three times daily and usually go where they say they are going.
»The border buses stop at the Songwe River transport stand, about a seven-minute walk
from the actual border; there's no real need for the bicycle taxis that will approach you.
»There are currently no cross-border vehicles from Mbeya into Malawi, although touts at
Mbeya bus station may try to convince you otherwise. Going in both directions, plan on
overnighting in Mbeya; buses from Mbeya to Dar es Salaam depart between 6am and 7am.
MOZAMBIQUE
BORDER CROSSINGS
The main vehicle crossing is via Unity Bridge over the Ruvuma at Negomano, reached via
Masasi. There is also the Unity 2 bridge across the Ruvuma at Mitomoni village, 120km
south of Songea. It's possible to cross at Kilambo (south of Mtwara), but the river is
bridged only by dugout canoes. For those travelling along the coast by boat, there are im-
migration officials at Msimbati (Tanzania) and at Palma and Moçimboa da Praia (Mozam-
bique). Mozambique visas are not issued anywhere along the Tanzania border, so arrange
one in advance.
BUS
Buses depart daily from Mtwara between 7am and 11am to the Kilambo border post
(Tsh4000, one hour) and on to the Ruvuma, which is crossed via dugout canoe (Tsh3000,
10 minutes to over an hour, depending on water levels, and dangerous during heavy rains;
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