I wish we could capture our experiences somehow, just to make you fully comprehend what we mean when trying to explain a specific day or time.
Round here, in Mozambique, you are everyone’s friend, and everyone is yours.
You will always find a “Nice Price” usually from someone called “just call me Mr Price, because I give the best price” and African Time is not a myth! When we read that the bus leaves at 4:30am, chances are you’ll only be on your way an hour later if at all.
No worries weather you paid, you’ll get you money back, because too few passengers mean no bus today, maybe tomorrow. Same goes for taxis. A taxi driver waits until his ride is full, the he goes, no sooner, no matter how long. Schedules are as common as finding a white horse on the beach, and siesta is from 12-2pm daily, so you won’t find anything operating during those times.
But the people are nice, they are genuine, they always want to help, but are willing to push prices a bit, so negotiating for your sake is always welcome!
Let me tell you a bit about yesterday and oh what a day it was!
We arose at 2:30am to pack and pull our way towards Chimoio, from there onto Tete, which is the closest town to the Zobue Border which takes you to Malawi.
Loaded and ready, the Chuppa driver decides that today is not a good day to drive because the bus is not full. So back we walk to the campsite, discussing other options, because the journey to the Malawi border is a slow and time consuming one, and we had to start it somehow.
At daybreak we were surrounded with the sound of morning prayers and along with the sunrise peeking over the horizon, creating a golden pathway on still waters it was awesome to be right there at that very moment!
Finding another alternative to our planned journey meant hitching a ride with a Polish lady who was on her way to Zimbabwe en route to Chimoio. Lucky break, tight squeeze, but a half price deal, so we were happy! And that is where the nonsense started..
She dropped us off on a main road, a few k’s past Chimoio, but on the way to Tete, let’s say about 400km’s from Tete. As we saved a few hours by travelling by car instead of bus we thought it would be good to shoot straight through to Tete and not waste another day on the road. Bad idea!
There were no Chuppa’s or Taxi’s to Tete on Saturdays, plus, where we were at that stage, was nothing. Our only option was to hike. The first person to stop was a truck driver on his way to Malawi to deliver tyres. Relieved to get out of the heat we jumped on, and spent the next 12hours (I kid you not) on a horrible road to Tete.
We reached base at 23:30 that evening, very tired and very dirty, and camped out at a motel in our tent because all the rooms were full. Fortunately as I mentioned before, the people are nice and allowed us to do so. But never again! We both vowed that truck rides are not the way to go, and instead of trying to rush, we are taking it easy from now on.
Tete is the hottest place in Mozambique, and our accommodation was situated right next to the Zambezi River. We met up with a few South Africans who work there, and went fishing on the river and had a great braai at Sundowners which is owned by another Saffa.
Tomorrow we cross over to Malawi via the Zobue border.
We enjoyed our beach stays and places visited, and had wonderful weather so far.
Ferdi coached rugby at the school in Vilankulo on Friday morning, and we spent Thursday on the Ilha Magaruque islands which are part of the Bazaruto Archipelago, completely secluded and most beautiful. On arrival we were welcomed by a school of Dolphins, magnificent to see, and went off to snorkel, fish and tan. Our captain prepared a lovely meal of fresh crab and barracuda and we felt wonderfully rested upon returning to our camp.
After two nights stay at Baobab, we moved house to Josef & Tina’s campsite, which offered better rates, better facilities and breakfast included in their price. I would recommend this complexio turistico to anyone staying in Vilankulo.
Mozambique is lovely, but caters for shorter stays, especially if you travel with Rand.
So off we go!!
Obrigado Mozambique.
Ciao!
Accommodation Rates: Josef & Tina's Campsite 150 Mets per person including breakfast.
Tete Motel: 150 Mets per person for camping
Tip of the Day:
Just across the Malawi border, you will find a Standard Bank to withdraw cash. In Malawi they do not exchange Metacais for Malawi Kwacha, so it is best not to travel there with extra Meticais.
Bus rides to the border is 150 mets per person, plus luggage.
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