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Voykit pocket guide · Mozambique
Songo
Spend 1 day to see the dam and hills, add a night for fishing at Moringa Bay Lodge; longer stays only for dedicated angling.
Songo is a small town built for the Cahora Bassa hydro‑electric dam. The dam itself is a secure site, so visits require a guide. Walking around the town and hills is easy, while fishing on the lake needs accommodation near the water. One day covers the dam view and town walk; a second night lets you fish tigerfish from Moringa Bay Lodge.
- Country
- Mozambique
- Best months
- May–Oct (dry season, good fishing)
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (rainy, road conditions worsen)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MZN
- Money
- Currency is the Mozambican metical (MZN, MT). Cards work in Maputo and larger lodges; markets, small restaurants and transport are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget MT 500–800 excl. bed · Mid MT 800–1,200 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vodacom, Movitel and Tmcel are the networks; Vodacom has the widest coverage along the southern coast.
- Emergency
- Police 119 · Ambulance 117 · Fire 198
- Plugs
- Types C, F, M · 220 V · 50 Hz · South African large round-pin (M) common in the south; bring an adapter for both.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10% if no service charge.; Dive crew: US$5–10 per day in the tip jar.; Lodge staff: US$5–10 per guest per day in the box.; Car guards: 20–50 MT.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap; lodges provide filtered water.
- Toilets
- Flush toilets in hotels and restaurants; basic outside towns.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at Ugezi Tiger Lodge | MT 300–500 |
| Bottle of water (1 L) | MT 30–50 |
| Taxi (within town) | MT 200–300 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TET · Chingozi Airport (Tete)
- About 3–4 h by chapa from Songo; no direct flights from Maputo
Typical fares
- Chapá Tete → Songo (round‑trip)
- ≈ MT 2,500; 3–4 h each way (check)
- Boat hire for tigerfish
- ≈ MT 1,500 per day (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Chapás leave from the TDM office on Av. de Liberdade; 3–4 h from Tete. Within Songo walk is the main mode; for dam visits arrange a guide from town.
See and do
Known for
- Cahora Bassa dam
- Tigerfish fishing on Lake Cahora Bassa
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cahora Bassa dam | Arrange a guide in town; drive 15 km (9.3 mi) on paved road, then walk to the gateArrange a guide in town; drive 9.3 mi (15 km) on paved road, then walk to the gate | ≈2 h total |
Sleep
- Moringa Bay Lodge
- Self‑catering rooms on the lake shore; close to fishing spots.
- Ugezi Tiger Lodge
- 15 chalets and 4 self‑catering rooms; air‑conditioned.
- Nhenda Camp
- Bush camp on the lake banks; basic facilities.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Good morning | Bom diabõm ˈdʒiɐ |
| How much does it cost? | Quanto custa?ˈkwɐ̃tu ˈkuʃtɐ |
| I would like to book a room | Quero reservar um quartoˈkeɾu ʁezeʁˈvaɾ ũ ˈkwaɾtu |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Bom dia' and a handshake, then your question; avoid: Skipping greetings with officials
- Police stops: Calm, polite, documents ready; avoid: Arguing or offering money
- Dress: Cover up off the beach; avoid: Bikinis in town
- Photos: Ask first; avoid: Police, soldiers, buildings
Scams and watch-outs
- Cahora Bassa dam is a secure site – you will be turned away at the gate without a local guide.
- Roads to the dam are good, but the alternative river‑bank track is dirt and needs a 4WD.
- Fishing spots are far from some lodges; choose Moringa Bay Lodge to avoid 30 km travel each day.
Songo is relatively safe for tourists; main risks are road conditions on the alternative track and needing a guide for dam access.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Songo yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Cahora Bassa dam
- Tigerfish fishing on Lake Cahora Bassa
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Songo: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Songo, revision 5091727 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5091727
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/songo). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.