Need To Know Information

Visa Requirements

You as the traveller and/or your travel agent are responsible for determining what documentation is required, as well as ensuring any such documentation including passport, visas, medical certificates and unabridged birth certificates are up to date and have been obtained before travel.

Please note that unabridged Birth Certificates are required for all minors travelling in Southern Africa.

Travel insurance is a requirement for all guests and must be purchased prior to travel. Travel insurance must be comprehensive and cover full air evacuation and repatriation, in the unlikely event of an emergency.

Medical

Because our properties are situated in a malaria area, we advise that you take malaria prophylactics. Please consult your doctor before travelling for up to date medical advise.

Gratuities

Before your departure, we kindly request a compulsory shared gratuity as a minimum contribution to recognise our dedicated staff. This covers the preparation of the lodge, attentive support during your stay, and laundry services during and after your departure. If you feel they deserve more, any additional gratuity will be deeply appreciated by the team.

Wifi

Starlink is included for the guests.

Coffee

We have a small and large Nespresso machine, please bring coffee pods

Fire

Please familiarize yourselves with the position of fire extinguishers.

Please use candles or any other open flame devices responsibly.

Smeg Stove

Gas hop and electric oven.

Lights

Please turn off lights and fans when not required.

Mosquito Protection

Keep bedroom doors closed during the day to prevent mosquitoes & other insects from entering rooms. Mosquito nets are installed in each bedroom. We have found the bedroom fans work the best, if required.

Foot Baths

Provided to prevent sand from going up onto the steps & deck, please use at all times before using the steps/deck.

Security at Night

We have our wonderful night guard who will lock up, switch off lights, clean up and put away any valuables. However please be mindful to remove or lock up your valuables in the safe in your rooms.

Outdoor Furniture

There are covers rolled up on the back of the sofas and outside dining area. Please throw over the waterproof sheets behind all the outside couches to cover the cushions at night.

Septic Tanks

Please note we only use Septic Tanks, so no foreign objects must be flushed. Please discard them in the bins provided.

The Charcoal Braai

Please do not leave unattended whilst burning. The staff will make you a braai on request, if you have run out of charcoal please request from Samito to purchase from him.

Electricity

When we have a power outage, we have a generator which Samito will put on .

Drinking Water

Our borehole water is fine to drink as it goes through a water filtration system.

Fridges and Freezers

There is a double door ‘coke’ fridge, single fridge and chest freezer in the kitchen. We have a plumbedin ice machine, if you require ice please ask Samito, however the ice bucket should always be full of ice.

Refuse Disposal

We like to separate bio-degradables from bottles, plastics and tins. Separate baskets & containers are provided for this. We participate in a recycling programme. Nothing is discarded on site, but collected twice a week and taken to Maputo.

Bedrooms and Bathrooms

It is best to keep bedroom doors closed to keep mosquitoes and other insects out. Please refrain from smoking in the bedrooms. Every room has bath towels with basic soaps. We have beach towels in the beach containers. Please use but don’t remove. We only have one set.

Games

On those windy, rainy days bring out the cards, monopoly or 30 seconds and have some good laughs. They are in the side board cupboard.

The Staff

There are at least two staff members that look after the house permanently. They are responsible for ensuring it is clean and ready for your arrival. They make up the rooms, wash the dishes, set up the tables for breakfast and lunch and keep the house tidy. Sometimes a third person will assist with the housekeeping and ‘Chapa Chem’ boat skippering.

They will work from 07h00 to 16h30-17h00 daily, with a 1 hour lunch break at 13h00.

If you have any laundry needing attention, the staff can also assist with hand washing, please supply the washing detergents & instructions.

If there are more than 8 people staying at The Deck House, an extra helper may need to come in for the duration of the stay, to assist with duties. There will be an additional daily charge for her services. This is for your account. This person is optional but for the sake of making your stay more pleasant, it is advised. Should you choose to exercise this option please advise Samito who will meet you on your arrival.

The agreed gratuity for each of the staff is as advised in Mike’s initial communication and reminder. Please hand this to the staff before your departure.

If you would like the local bread delivered daily, please ask the staff to organise. The bread costs 15MT per loaf. It is advised to pay them upfront for the duration of your stay for the same to ensure daily delivery.

Recreational Boat (Chapa Chem)

A recreational boat is available for your use. A skipper is provided and will take you around our bay (line of sight) for snorkeling, bird watching or fishing (using your own equipment). The same boat can take you to and from the village, should the tide allow. A tank of fuel, 25 liters for a 7 night stay or 10-15 liters for a 2 night stay, will be made available for this purpose. Any extra fuel required should be provided by the visitor or bought from Samito.

You may also use the two stand up boards, which are available for your enjoyment.

Boat Launch Site, no Driving on the Beaches, Sea Worthies and Fishing Licenses

Driving on beaches throughout Mozambique is prohibited and carries a hefty fine. Santa Maria peninsula is part of a Marine Reserve. This has resulted in the prohibition of boat launching in front of the houses but there is an approved launch site close by in front of Nhonguane Lodge. Please launch and retrieve from there or at the Marine Center near the Santa Maria village. Once your boat is in the water, you may moor or anchor it safely in front of the houses. There is a specified no wake zone in front of the houses from Camp Carlos to the mangroves. Please travel slowly in this area. Water skiing should be performed at least 750m away from the land so as not to disturb others. Snorkeling off Santa Maria peninsula is free, but if you snorkel off Inhaca there is a daily fee. The local officials are based next to the snorkel site on Inhaca. This area is fabulous at one hour before high tide.

A sea worthy is required for own boat use and fishing licenses. These may be obtained from the Maritime officers in Maputo or on Inhaca. Please contact the Port Captain, Mualide Nuro on +258 82 605 1611 or Jose Elias for arrangements +258 82 897 5140. Fishing licenses can be obtained from the local maritime officers, now also based at Santa Maria.

Fishing and Seafood

The marine reserve regulations specify that no reef fishing is allowed and any such incidental catches and any billfish should be released. Cuta, Dorado, tuna and other pelagics are permitted. The staff are competent at filleting fish and will be happy to prepare your fish fillets. Fresh crab, clams and sometimes prawns can be ordered from the locals with a few days’ notice. Please notify the staff so they can pre-order.

Right of Admission Reserved and Enter at Own Risk

The home owners, directors, shareholders and employees are NOT responsible for any loss, damage, death or injury to any person or their property on these premises. All persons entering onto these premises do so entirely at their own risk. Please appreciate that the cost of repairing any damage to property caused by a visitor will be recoverable from them. Please notify us of any breakages.