Blogs from Mozambique, Africa - page 15

As I walked back through the aisle of my crowded bus I questioned the driver “Disculpe! No asiento?” (Excuse me, no seat?) The driver gets up and points two rows back and chooses the middle seat, next to a lady breastfeeding on the window side and a guy in a yellow baseball cap on the aisle. I had just finished a tough bus ride and now I was straight on another. Would going out of my way to see (Portugal’s former East African capital) Ilha Mozambique be worth it or would it be just another test to see if my body can physically and mentally tough it out? Bus rides in Africa are like going into battle for a backpacker you know its not going to be easy. Its long hours and is made that much ... read more

July 18th - 30th And so at 6am I was once again crammed into a bus and headed for an unknown place, I knew only that it was a place of nice beaches and scuba diving. At least this time this bus was a bit bigger but luggage was once again on everyone’s laps. The journey was a long one, it took the better part of seven hours to finally reach Praia de Tofu. It was well worth the journey though, once the bus dropped us off at Fatima’s Nest I knew it was just what I was looking for. The beach stretched forever and I knew that relaxation wouldn’t be an issue. After setting up my tent and getting settled in I met some other travelers. A couple English guys named Eddie and Mike, a ... read more

July 16th The morning started with a farewell to a great friend of mine, an awesome Brasileiro by the name of Nicio. His travel plans were similar to mine in that he was heading for Egypt, just a few weeks ahead of me. We had some good times together, seeing incredible places and cultures and learning of life outside of our homelands. I am happy to have made such a good friend, and I can’t wait to see him in Brasil in 2014! After saying our goodbyes I got my things packed up because my travel plans were to head east to the sunny and Portuguese speaking country of Mozambique. That afternoon I jumped in the backpackers taxi and headed for the bus station and by 3pm I was at the border paying for my visa ... read more

Mozambique - Pemba & Guludo, Quirimbas National Park - May 2010 Mozambique is a very poor African country which suffered greatly during the civil war (1977-1992). But it is also a beautiful country with wonderful diving spots. We went on a diving holiday to the north of Mozambique, stopping in Pemba as well as the Quirimbas National Park. Highlights - Diving in Pemba with Sarah & Francis, and Brenda from Pemba Bush Camp. Saw the giant fan corals and lots of fish we'd never seen before (see pictures). - Honeymoon lodge of Guludo - extremely romantic but with a very pedantic dive master! - Pod of dolphins followed us during a dive - it never loses its magic. - Learning about Nemo charity which builds schools and digs wells in poor villages. Lowlights - Having to ... read more

After the massive day that was Australia pumping Serbia in Nelspruit and the preceding and following shenanigans at the Jock and Java and the Casino, we decided a hungover drive to Mozambique was in order. We had to drop by the airport to get papers to take the rental cars over the border, then the 6 of us in the trusty Nissan Tiida and Volkswagon Polo made our way to Mozambique. After the 2 hour border stop for visas and back and forward with papers to get the cars over the border, we finally arrived in Maputo, the capital just after nightfall. Being pretty hungover and tired, we weren't on our guard and the local police could smell it. Thankfully, we hadn't taken any money out yet, so the bribes they exhorted from us amounted to ... read more