Observations on a trip to East Africa

I returned yesterday from a trip to Mozambique and just a few notes on firearms there. We are going to be doing some work in Mozambique over the next couple of years and my company has given me a budget for hunting trips with clients in the area so I tried to check everything out that I could. Mozambique had a civil war starting in 1977, about two years after independance from Portugal, that lasted until 1992. They say about 1 million people died and essentially all wild game was wiped out for food during the war.

In Mozambique there are hardly any firearms officially in private ownership, although they aren't outlawed. I stayed in Maputo which is the largest city and the several people I met on business did not own any legal firearms, although a couple of them had private security that did have pistols. One of the government types said he thought there were less than 10,000 legally registered firearms, but millions still available in the black market from the last civil war. Importing for hunting is relatively simple and you are allowed to bring two rifles and one shotgun with 60 rounds for each. No semi autos are allowed of any type. Most of the police and military types carry what appear to be fairly new and well maintained AK47 and AK74 type rifles but none of the troops I saw were carrying pistols.

On the way back I spent a day in Johannesburg South Africa but didn't get to discuss firearms with anyone. However I did meet one security guard carrying what appeared to be a BHP and stopped and talked with him a bit. It was indeed a 60's vintage BHP which had been well cared for. He was really proud of it also.

Basically it appears hunting in Mozambique is not really worthwhile as the game has not built up to sustainable levels (yet), but may be good in the next few years. Botswana, Tanzania and South Africa remain the major places to hunt in that part of Africa. You also need plenty of shots before going, Hep A and B, Polio if you haven't had one in the past couple of years, Typhoid, Tetenus boosters, yellow fever wouldn't hurt, and of course a standard malaria regime. Things like the plague you can't get shots for but it can be treated when you get back, if you get Marburg Hemorraghic fever, well, that's just a tough break according to my doctor.

Offshore oil and gas.

No, we are working on the offshore past that will be supplying the new LNG facility they are planning, subsea tree's, pipelines, manifolds etc. It will be about 2+ years before we start any of the offshore part but in the meantime we are investigating capabilities for developing an onshore fabrication yard there.

You just have to keep reminding yourself, TIA, This Is Africa, and then everything becomes understandable. And so far I find East Africa much better than say Nigeria or Angola, none of the politicos have ever asked for a "fee", they just ask how many jobs will we create locally.

We'll be working mainly out of Pemba along the north central coast for the next 2 years. The main operating base will one day be in Palma (near the Tanzania border) but for now there is nothing there. Currently in Palma there is a grass strip about 2500 feet long, the airport consists of a single tin shack without even a chair, and if you want to spend the night bring your own tent, water and food. The oil company has plans for an international airport with flights direct to Johannesburg and perhaps Dubai, housing for 9,000 people and a deepwater port able to take LNG tankers. I think their budget for the new town is around USD 5 Billion.

I guess everyones milage will vary. But while I was actually in Mozambique I talked to multiple guides, and have made the decision to spend our hunting money in Tanzania and South Africa. I'm sure it is possible to find some game in the north of the country on the border with Tanzania, and it may well be like Tanzania 100 years ago, remote is a word for it. To get to Palma from Pemba (maybe 150 KM) takes 5-6 hours by Land Rover, unless it rains, then you can't get there by Land Rover.

However if you want a remote hunt I suggest you go now. Over the next 3-4 years they are building a 2 train LNG plant in Palma, putting in housing for 9000 people, building an international airport, a harbor capable of holding several LNG tankers at the same time, and several thousand KM of rail lines running through the country. So very soon it won't be all that remote.