A day in Mozambique from Marloth Park
The Lebombo border is closer to Marloth Park than most of Kruger is. Crossing takes some paperwork, and a day in Maputo means an early start.
The Lebombo border post is about 32 km from Marloth Park, past Komatipoort on the N4. The South African side is open 06:00-00:00. South Africans need a passport. No visa needed for up to 30 days. Maputo is about 125 km from Marloth, roughly two hours' drive plus the time at the border, so a day trip works but makes for a long day. For Mozambique's beaches, plan at least one night.
Lebombo border hours
Lebombo is the South African side of the border. The Mozambican side is Ressano Garcia, and its hours have usually matched Lebombo's.
- The standard hours are 06:00-00:00, every day.
- In past years the Border Management Authority (BMA) has extended Lebombo's hours over Easter and the December holidays, sometimes to 24 hours. Those are also the days with the longest queues.
The border has closed at short notice before, during unrest on the Mozambican side in November 2024. Check the news and the BMA's social media pages on the morning you go. If you plan to come back late, confirm the closing time with the BMA, because it changes over the holidays.
Last checked 26 October 2026
Documents for the border
- A passport for everyone, children included. Valid at least 30 days after you return, with two blank pages. If yours is close to expiring, renew it before you go.
- South African passport holders don't need a visa for stays of up to 30 days. Other nationalities should check the Mozambique eVisa portal before they travel.
- A child travelling with only one parent may need a consent affidavit from the other parent to leave South Africa. The government's guide to travelling with children has the rules.
Filling in the border forms is free. You'll meet "runners" who offer to help for a fee. They aren't officials, so politely say no.
Taking your car into Mozambique
To drive in, you need:
- Third-party insurance, which is compulsory for cars not registered in Mozambique. You can usually buy it at the border.
- Two red warning triangles, two reflective jackets and a fire extinguisher in the car.
- A temporary import permit for the car. Mozambican customs issue it at the border, and it's generally valid for 30 days.
- Gate passes, which get stamped at each step and handed in on both sides.
- The customs declaration from the South African side, which you'll need to come back in.
Bring the car's registration papers too. A financed car needs a letter from the bank, and a hired car needs a letter from the rental company allowing it into Mozambique. Declare valuables such as cameras and laptops at customs, because undeclared goods can be confiscated. Firearms and pets need permits.
Maputo in a day
Maputo is about 125 km from Marloth Park on the N4, which becomes the EN4 in Mozambique. The driving time is 1 h 50-2 h 15 min without the border. Then add the border twice, once each way. How long that takes depends on the day and the queue.
To make it work, be at Lebombo when it opens. Keep the day to a few things in the city, such as the central market and the old fortress, and start back by mid-afternoon. If that sounds like a lot, book a night in Maputo and come back the next day.
Health
Mozambique is a malaria area, like the country around Marloth Park. Read our malaria page and see a doctor before you go. You only need a yellow fever certificate if you're arriving from a country with yellow fever.
The other border close to Marloth is Eswatini. See a day in Eswatini.
