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Frequently Asked Questions

Please read through this page and contact us if you have any further questions. 

Asking on Facebook is not always helpful as every area is different and the people posting will most likely cause more confusion than clarity.

FAQ – Everything You Need to Know Before Your Stay

Welcome to the Xai-Xai Eco Estate FAQ. We’ve gathered the most common questions from guests to help you plan and enjoy your stay with ease. From travel safety and booking info to beach rules, shopping tips, and fishing licenses – it’s all here in one place.

If you still have questions after browsing this section, feel free to contact us directly.

Where is the property?

How do I do a booking?

  • Scroll through the Villas page and choose the house you like.
  • At the bottom of each house’s page is a button to book that villa. Complete the popup form and send to us. 
  • Use the “Contact Us” form on the website.
  • Or call Frank on:
    +258 845151527 or
    +258 825151527

Is the area safe?

  • Yes, the area is safe. 
  • The same general safety issues apply wherever there are people, petty theft is avoidable…don’t leave valuables on display or unattended in public.
  • Please do not drink and get disorderly, if someone is caught hitting another person (for any reason) they get locked up and fined.  The cells here are no joke.

When it comes to road safety, please stick to the speed limits.

  • When pulled over, it is not always for doing something wrong, they check that you have keys in the ignition, they assess your state (drunk driving), they check passports and will always ask where you are going.
  • If you were speeding, please don’t bribe your way out.
  • Fines (light vehicles): Town limits:
    • Up to 20km/h: 1000mts
    • 20–40km/h: 2000mts
    • 40–60km/h: 4000mts
    • Over 60km/h: 8000mts
  • Outside town limits:
    • Up to 30km/h: 1000mts
    • 30–60km/h: 2000mts
    • 60–80km/h: 4000mts
    • Over 80km/h: 8000mts

There is a section of road around Xinvane that has severe potholes.

  • If it has been raining you will not see the holes, please take care.
  • Please check that your wheel spanner matches your wheels before leaving home.
  • Check your jack has grease in and that your spare wheels are good for both car and trailer.

It is illegal to tow in tandem – road law Article 113

  • i.e. one vehicle with two trailers attached. A private vehicle is not an interlink.
  • Please, if you ask on Facebook people will proudly say they have done it with no issues. 
  • The fine is very high if caught.

Where is the nearest fuel station?

  • The Union garage 11kms from the Estate. There are 6 fuel stations in the City.

Where to exchange currency to Meticais?

  • Use your Visa card at any ATM, maximum withdrawal limit per transaction is 5000mts, and usually limited to 20000mts per day.
  • You can also go into a bank if you have cash to exchange, all they require is your passport.
  • Most restaurants have point of sale card machines.
  • MASTERCARD no longer works in pos machines.

Always check the amount on the machine before putting in your code.

  • People often accuse petrol attendants of being thieves when they are most likely dyslexic. 
  • If the machine declines the transaction, keep the slip to show your bank if needed.
  • There can be delays in the removal of funds from your bank balance, with some transactions coming off over a month later. 
  • Please keep all your slips from Moz so you can check the amounts on your statement are correct.

Beach rules

  • No driving on the beach at all.  The sand is super soft and if you get stuck, none of the locals are allowed to help you without first reporting you to authorities, so you will be fined. (if we don’t report you, we will be fined too).
  • Please do not go fishing without a license, they do patrol the beaches.
  • No drinking in public.
  • Please help us keep the beach clean and remove your rubbish.
  • The hawkers will try and sell you stuff, they can be pretty persistent, if you don’t want to buy from them, just be kind and say no thanks and carry on with your day.

Beach tips:

  • The sand in summer gets extremely hot (over 40 degrees), please consider beach shoes for your children. 
  • Slops are not ideal as your feet still get burnt and when you try walk faster the sand flicks up onto your back and can cause blisters.
  • A gazebo/umbrella and thicker beach towels or beach mat make a day at the beach more fun.
  • Please keep an eye on the tides, the outgoing tides cause a rip in the lagoons.

Fishing licenses for non-residents / foreigners

  • Daily fishing license – 1680mts
  • Weekly fishng license – 3465mts (surf) / 4305mts (deep sea)
  • Monthly fishing license – 4305mts (surf) / 5145mts (deep sea)
  • Trophy fish license – 1000mts

Boat inspections

  • If you have a boat, you will need to do boat inspection BEFORE launching, at the Maritima office. 
  • The cost depends on the boat. 
  • You may contact Lisa & Lance from Blue Dolphin for more info and for a list of waypoints for the reefs in the area – +258 842032807 please Whatsapp messages only.

Launch site

  • Launch site charges 600mts per day to use their entrance to the beach.  They do assist with the tractor where needed. 
  • Launches are drop and turn only, the angle of the beach is too steep for a pole launch.
  • Please do not launch without spending a bit of time in front of ‘the gap’ so you can see how the waves behave there.

Checking of sea conditions

  • The area is called Inhampurra on most apps.  We find Nautide to be the most accurate app at the moment.+258 829729867

Fishing charters

Buying seafood

  • There is a fish market in town, where the taxis bring in:
    • fresh shrimps (150–350mts per kg),
    • prawns (900–1200mts per kg),
    • and crabs (200–400mts per kg).
  • The local hawkers at the main beach and by the Halley Hotel also sell seafood, including crayfish. 
  • Please have your own hand held scale.  If you don’t have your own scale, check that the scale being used is on kgs when weighing.
  • Please note that turtles are protected and buying them or their shells is illegal.
  • Any time you are doing business with someone please have pen and paper handy to write down the agreed price / exchange rate BEFORE consuming anything.

Medical info:

  • It is a malaria area.
  • You can buy malaria test kits and treatments from any local pharmacy (about 700mts total)
  • Please ask your own doctor for advice of prophylactic meds if that is the route you wish to take.
  • Most common medical issues are cuts from walking on the reef, blue bottle stings and sunburn.
  • There is a local private clinic, that do callouts for emergencies. +258 840666140
  • The main government hospital is available for all to use but please take someone who speaks Portuguese with you.
  • You can buy almost any meds over the counter in the pharmacies in town. If you need something specific go to the 24hr pharmacy, google the main ingredient and he will help you with finding an alternative if they don’t have the specific meds you require.

There are snakes and scorpions in the area.

  • The most common snakes are the brown house snake, spotted bush snake, green water snake, whip snake / olive grass snake, forest cobra, python, night adder. 
  • Please use torches and shoes at night.

Cell phone service / data service

  • Vodacom and Movitel both work in the area, with Vodacom being more reliable for video calls, and Movitel cheaper for general data use.

Please join Drive Moz on Facebook for up to date info on the road conditions.

  • They have a channel on Zello which you can stay connected to while on the road and hear/provide live updates if there are any irregularities on the roads.

Restaurants in the area:

The Eco Estate does not have a restaurant,  all houses are self-catering.

  • Blue Dolphin Resort
  • Pescador
  • Chongoene Holiday Resort
  • Go Wild Resort
  • Hotel Halley
  • Ocean Star

All have their own unique flavor and you are welcome to try them all.

What food should I bring with me?

  • Meat, dairy, and gluten-free items are best brought from home.

Where can I shop in town?

  • Shoprite: Basic groceries, limited stock
  • Supermercado Limpopo: Household goods, some frozen items
  • Central Market: Fresh produce, meat, live animals
  • Pep: Mainly children’s clothes
  • Handling: Drinks, sold from marked trucks
  • Rendapta: Bottle store
  • Bakeries: Fresh rolls (pão). For cakes, ask reception to arrange.

Reservation Policy

Check-In Time 02:00 PM | Check-Out Time 10:00 AM

We require a 50% deposit to confirm all bookings.

The full balance is payable at least 30 days before arrival.

Booking Cancellation Policy
  • More than 60 days before occupation date – 10% of the total amount will be levied.
  • More than 30 days before occupation date – 50% of total booking amount will be levied
  • 30 days or less – 100% of the booking amount shall be forfeited.

All bookings are subject to the laws and jurisdiction of Mozambique. For your conveniance invoices are generated in ZAR. However they are Meticals invoices and include 17% government IVA in each transaction.