browningguy
Member
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.
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.