Mozambique Accommodation - DIRECTIONS
Driving routes to Xai Xai:
Directions to Xai Xai, Mozambique via Komatipoort:
(Johannesburg to Xai Xai = 750 kilometres)
- From Johannesburg, you take the N4 Highway to Komatipoort;
- The BP Garage on the left hand side of the road, before the border post, is where you can purchase third party insurance at a cost of approximately R150,00. The third party insurance is also available from many kiosks at the border post;
- Continue to the Lebombo / Ressano Garcia Border Post and after completing all the formalities, proceed through the border post and travel towards Maputo on the EN4, which is approximately 80 kilometres (one toll gate on the way – approximately R25,00);
- Upon reaching the outskirts of Maputo you will get to a T-junction where you turn left, still driving towards Maputo for 6 kilometres. Pass through a second toll gate (approximately R5,00);
- Continue for 2,5 kilometres until you see the sign for Xai Xai on the EN1. Turn left and follow the road for 220 kilometres until you get to Xai Xai;
- Cross over the Limpopo River bridge and travel almost through the town until you pass the second BP Garage on your left;
- Approximately 300 metres after the garage, turn right at the Praia de Xai Xai sign;
- Travel on this road for approximately 12 kilometres until you reach a traffic circle. Keep left and follow the tar road to the beachfront;
- Turn left onto the dirt road at the beachfront and travel north, pass the Haley Hotel and the caravan park (on your left), follow this road for approximately 1,5 kilometres until you see the sign for Reef Resort on your left;
- The road is well maintained and is thus accessible by a regular car (4X4 not necessary).
Directions to Xai Xai, Mozambique via Phalaborwa / Kruger National Park:
(Phalaborwa to Xai Xai = 410 kilometres)
- With the opening of the Transfrontier National Park in December 2005, Xai Xai has become even more accessible to South Africans and although it is the more scenic route, it is also the route for the more adventurous traveller;
- The journey takes you through the Kruger National Park's Phalaborwa Gate and on to the Giriyondo Border Post (95 kilometres);
- After going through the formalities at the border, you will travel through the Transfrontier Park on the dirt road with speed bumps at intervals (75 kilometres);
- The journey from Massangir Dam to Chokwe is on an old tarred road with potholes and uneven road surfaces. We have noticed that there have been attempts to fix this road and we are sure that it will improve;
- About 100 kilometres after Massangir Dam you will reach a T-junction where you turn right towards Chokwe, which is 20 kilometres further. The road improves after this Tt-junction but as always, be on the lookout for pedestrians, stray dogs and cattle;
- Continue on from Chokwe for another 60 kilometres to Macia where you will turn on to the EN1 and enjoy the last 60 kilometres stretch to Xai Xai on a well maintained tarred road;
- Cross over the Limpopo River bridge and travel almost through the town until you pass the second BP Garage on your left;
- Approximately 300 metres from the garage, turn right at the Praia de Xai Xai sign;
- Travel on this road for approximately 12 kilometres until you reach a traffic circle. Keep left and follow the tar road to the beachfront;
- Turn left onto the dirt road at the beachfront and travel north. Pass the Haley Hotel and the caravan park (on your left) and follow this road for approximately 1,5 kilometres until you see the sign for Reef Resort on your left.
Directions to Xai Xai, Mozambique from Durban:
(Durban to Xai Xai = 790 kilometres)
- Take the N2 and stay on the freeway. Go past Ballito, Stanger, Richards Bay, Empangeni, Mtubatuba and Mkuzi;
- You will reach the Gollela Border turn-off on your right (approximately 300 kilometres past Durban);
- From the border you drive straight through Swaziland for approximately 45 minutes. When you reach a sign board that says Siteki / Goba on your right, drive for another 25 minutes until you reach a T-Junction;
- Turn right at the Siteki road and drive straight to the top of the hill. You will reach a small town with a fairly new garage on your left;
- Drive towards the Goba Border;
- From Goba, follow the road until you reach a T-Junction. Turn right (the sign says Maputo);
- Follow the road until you reach Maputo. Go through the toll plaza and drive straight for approximately 1 kilometre;
- At the Xai Xai / Inhambane sign, turn left and follow the road that goes through a market and many small towns;
- Take the Xai Xai turn-off. 220km to Xai Xai
- Cross over the Limpopo River bridge and travel almost through the town until you pass the BP Garage on your left;
- Approximately 300 metres from the garage, turn right at the Praia de Xai Xai sign;
- Travel on this road for approximately 12 kilometres until you reach a traffic circle. Keep left and follow the tar road to the beachfront;
- Turn left onto the dirt road at the beachfront and travel north. Pass the Haley Hotel and the caravan park (on your left) and follow this road for approximately 1,5 kilometres until you see the sign for Reef Resort on your left.
Stopping over on the Way - From Gauteng:
If you are travelling from Gauteng, a lovely place to stop for the night to break the journey is at Komati River Chalets. They offer bed & breakfast or/ self-catering accommodation with secure parking. They have 14 double/twin chalets and 3 family cottages available. Breakfast and dinner is served daily except Sundays.
The rooms are all air-conditioned, clean, reasonably priced and the friendly family who run the place will give you a warm welcome. Komati River Chalets are situated 2 kilometres before the border post. There are 2 ways to get there: The 1st way is directly off the N4, you'll drive under a low level bridge of 2.5m, the chalets are immediately on the left.
The 2nd way is recommended for people towing large boats/trailers: head towards Komatipoort town, turn right past the caravan park, down over the old low level bridge and follow the dirt road for a couple of hundred meters, the chalets will be on the right hand side.
Contact Komati River Chalets directly on 0027 13 793 7623, or email them at komatiriverchalets@wol.co.za. Visit their website at www.komatiriverchalets.co.za
Flying In:
There are daily flights from Johannesburg to Maputo, offered by the following airlines. It is an hour-long flight:
There is a shuttle service from Maputo to Xai Xai by an independent company, operating from Xai Xai. Contact us for details, and deal direct with them. The trip to Maputo is 220 kilometres, and can take between 3 and 4 hours, depending on the traffic in Maputo.
There are a few car hire companies in Maputo; two of them are mentioned below:
There are so many areas to explore, and since the shops and most of the restaurants are a short distance away, we recommend you have a vehicle when you stay at The Reef Estate.
