Living in Mozambique guide for expats

Mozambique has a population of close to 30 million people, and the country is approximately 800km², making it about half the size of South Africa. Forty-three living languages are spoken in total ' 41 of which are indigenous. However, as a former Portuguese colony, the country's official language is still Portuguese, and its history has resulted in a fantastic fusion of Portuguese-African culture.

Expect to feast on 'prawn cakes', peri-peri chicken, and Portuguese custard tarts, while drinking the infamous RnR (rum and raspberry cocktail). Dancing on the beach to the sound of waves and marrabenta (a style of dance music that was developed in the capital of Maputo almost a century ago) is a great part of Mozambique's nightlife.

The best time to visit Mozambique is arguably from May to November when the rainfall and humidity are low, and the average temperatures are comfortably warm. December and January are very popular periods for South Africans during their school summer holidays, as border-crossing is relatively simple and the tourist towns in the south of the country provide an affordable, idyllic getaway for families.

Underwater life attracts avid scuba divers, who wish to explore the colourful coral reefs and get up close to shoals of bright tropical fish, huge mantras, and whale sharks. Whale and dolphin watching is a popular pastime along the coast, and excursions to the archipelagos are a must for those looking for a touch of desert island decadence.

After a tumultuous few decades of civil war, peace talks are looking to steer the country towards growth, and Mozambique's agriculture seems to be recovering after an intense period of drought, induced by one of the strongest El Niño occurrences on record, which wiped out a great deal of livestock and crops in 2016. According to the most recent edition of the World Bank Mozambique Economic Update, the Mozambican economy started to show signs of improvement in early 2017 and the currency (Mozambique Metical) has stabilised. The country's recovering coal industry is believed to be the reason for this, and an improved future is said to depend on similar developments in the extractives sector.

Economic conditions remain challenging in Mozambique. Inflation is at 18% and, according to the World Bank, 'average commercial bank lending rates of about 30% are prohibitively high for much of the private sector.' However, although more needs to be done to help Mozambique's economy to recover, there are positive signs and opportunities for expatriates to work in the country if they have the required academic and professional qualifications that aren't possessed by locals.