Mandimba Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Mandimba is the first town you will come to while entering the Niassa District area of north-eastern Mozambique as it borders the Chiponde, Malawi exit. Travelers can enter by foot, by bicycle taxi, hired vehicle or personal transport. Regular vehicles drive in from Lichinga to the north and Cuamba to the east.

Getting around on foot or bike is no problem in this small town. It is easy to hire transport to take you wherever you may need to go whether it be nearby or far away.

There is not much for a tourist to do in Mandimba. You could hang out in some local bars, get to know the friendly folks that make this area interesting. It's mainly a resting point for travelers heading to Lichinga up north, or towards Nampula to the east.

If you've got a mountain bike there are some nice dirt roads/trails leading through scenic villages and the like. There is a smallish waterfall outside of town heading towards Cuamba that's good for a swim during certain times of the year (turn right past the second bridge out of town and go down a few kilometers where there is a branch-off to the right, park and cross the river on foot and walk down the rocks.)

The first church of Niassa Province sits unassumingly just past the first bridge out of town heading towards Cuamba (on the right; sometimes there is a sign to mark the church set back off the road).

There is a thriving local market that sells all kinds of locally available produce (tomatoes, onions, lettuce, ground nuts, maize, etc. depending on the season), as well as simple construction supplies. Visitors are known to come in from Malawi to purchase new Chinese motorcycles available at rock bottom prices with the quality to match.

• BIM. BIM bank offers 2 ATM machines outside allowing Mozambican and foreign transactions through credit/debit card. 
• Kwacheiros. Money changers ply their trade all over the downtown area of Mandimba. Known locally as Kwacheiros, they are adept at taking your foreign currency (or Mozambican) and exchanging it to Malawian Kwachas. You can usually bargain them down by a few points from what they quote you. Look for the guys waving wads of cash at you as you pass by. They don't like euros. 
• Bangledeshis. In 2012, there were 5 shops in town run by Bangledeshi nationals. They carry the normal fare for Mozambique: biscuits, cement, hardware, cosmetics, grocery, cooking oil, rice, flour, etc. 
• Nigerian Auto Parts Shops. Mandimba also has several auto parts dealers with owners of Nigerian origin. Mostly specializing in the thriving motorcycle spares market. 
• Ze's (corner shop opposite BIM bank). Ze's is the most established of grocery/household shops. Opens usually in PM of Monday or Tuesday and closes midday on Saturday. Refrigerated/frozen items available usually include chickens, prawns, fish, sometimes butter, and Rama margarine. Well stocked for Mandimba with trade coming in from Nampula. South African, Brazilian and Portuguese imports included. Yoghurt and chocolate also usually available. 

Several dining establishments are available for those who enjoy chicken and chips, locally-caught fish, beef purchased from the Namwera, Malawi Saturday market.

• Massinga (on the north end of town heading towards Lichinga just past the 2-story unfinished building), ☏ +258 820-858-016. The most popular eatery/bar in town featuring the normal Mozambican town fare. A bit pricey, but good food. 
• Street food. Located where the chapas pickup/drop off, as well as in the main market behind the Petromoc filling station, you can find fresh chips, roasted corn, bananas, mangoes, biscuits, SOBO, soft drinks in cans or bottles, fried chicken, hard boiled eggs, and more depending on the season. 

There are several bars in Mandimba offering a wide selection of beers, wines and liquor.

• Pensão Tanzaniano (at the minibus dropoff/pickup, head back into the market area slightly to the north), ☏ +258 823-950-240. 7 very simple rooms available at 100MT/night. Restaurant on premises. 100MT. 
• Pensão Cupiha (Located along the road toward Lichinga on the left opposite Bar Restaurante Massinga.), ☏ +258 824-693-730. Restaurant attached. 500MT/night (4 rooms, self-contained), 350MT/night (4 rooms, shared bath) and 250MT/night (7 rooms, shared bath). 250-500MT/night. (updated Jan 2012)
• Bar Restaurante Massinga (Located about 500 m from town on the road toward Lichinga), ☏ +258 820-858-016. Individual rooms, self-contained roundavels and entire houses available. Prices range from 250MT/night (4 rooms) to 500MT/night (6 rooms). More exclusive options are available for 1,000MT/night (3 available) and 1,500MT/night (2 roundavels). Conference hall available for rent as well. 250-1500MT/night. (updated Jan 2012)
• Estamos (Located on the road from the border next to the wall that says Mocambique). Estamos is a nationally recognized NGO that offers accommodation and conference hall. 350MT/night. (updated Jan 2008)
• Freedom Stone Beach (Just past the bridge heading away from Mandimba heading toward Lichinga.). A few rooms available for a cheap price. Faces the river. Out of town just a bit. Updated 2008. 
• Pensão John (on the main road at the corner where the minibuses drop off/pick up), ☏ +258 827-832-720, +258 848-460-128. 15 rooms available at 250MT/night. Simple rooms with fans, nets. No restaurant. Shared bath. 250MT. (updated Jan 2012)

• Sitio (Located directly behind Pensao Kupiha), ☏ +258 827-070-480 (Lucinha), +258 827-083-250 (Camilo). Three rooms available, all self-contained with fan and mosquito net. Can get loud on weekends as it is at an attractive bar/restaurant/disco. Price may have changed since this last quote from 2009. 600MT/night. (updated Jan 2012)

• Pensão Restaurante Fernando (on main street next to Dept. of Education), ☏ +258 822556668. Offers 10 rooms at 1200MT/night (self-contained with bathroom, desk, TV, mosquito net, double bed, fan, etc.) 4 rooms available at 750MT/night (shared bath). 750-1200MT. (updated Jan 2012)

Media outlets include TVM (the national television network) and a locally-run radio station which uses a mixture of Portuguese and locally-based languages of Makua and Ciyawo (also known as Ajawa, Chiyao). Several government offices are housed in Mandimba including the Administrador, Dept of Labor, District Court, City Planning, and others.