Yes, once the mist (known as 'Guti' locally) it's best to avoid those hills unless you've got good local knowledge. Not many left flying these days who do. I spoke to a current farmer in the area who tells of eye witness accounts saying the aircraft orbited three times over Crake Valley, Zonwe dam area before heading off. This place is due East of the crash site but some high ridges between on the Mapoff Estate. From memory I think a straight track up from Beira clips the border at about this place.
It's better to head North and down to follow the railway line up to Forbes border post or climb above MSA, fly West and then then fly inland to the Odzi, Nyazura area where it more often than not breaks up. As options you have on the Moz side, heading back over Lake Chicamba to Chimoio or Zim side Grand Reef (might get unpleasant welcome from Zim troops.... but as always better on the ground. As a last resort, the road I suppose.