Mozambique - Tofo - Bamboozi

Tuesday 8^th May

After another early 12h00a.m. start, we had a very long driving day, arriving in Tofu at 14h00.

We left Hlane in Swaziland at 12h00 a.m. and with a rather nervous Lauren opening and closing the game gates and disconnecting and reconnecting the electrified gates as we passed through. I kept thinking a Rhino was going to charge me at any moment. We got to the main gate where the guard let us out and we were on our merry way.

The exit out of Swaziland went relatively smoothly and the entry into Mozambique a little more complicated with some serious road tax. The officials were out in full force today and Grant was stopped 9 times. Generally they would wait for us to stop and pull over and then wave us on. Other times they wanted to see all the documents we had. Aimee was in front with us, buckled up at the one stop but they said that the, “baby” must not sit in the front. She was most indignant as, “she is 7 you know.”

Our original plan had been to go back to Bilene and to stay at Complexo Palmeiras for a day or two. We had stayed here before and it was great as there are huge salt inland lakes that we were hoping to paddleboard and use the paddle boat. This was not to be as when we arrived we realized that we were not going to fit in the entrance gate as the thatched entry roof was too low for the, “Bushwakka truck on steroids.”

We then decided to head to Xai-Xai and camp there for the night. We arrived at the campsite and soon after decided not to stay. It is quite run down and neglected as well as we were the only people in the area and it just seemed that security would be a problem. We went and parked on the main road and the kids had a swim in the most awesome natural tidal pool known as Wenela.  This is right in front of the old hotel that is now a ruin, it must have been an amazing setting in its time

 

Long rive to Bamboozi

Long drive to Tofu

Leaving Xai-Xai we pushed through to Bamboozi  in Tofu and were all very pleased to arrive, almost a feeling of coming home. The kids were excited to see all the familiar sights and after a quick setup of camp, in our same position we went for a swim in the sea. Awesome!!! Warm water. It is great to have electricity for certain times of the day and they have been putting a lot of work into upgrading the bathrooms. They are busy building a new ablution block where the one open air communal kitchen was and have built another open air kitchen on the other side behind office.

The only disappointment for the kids is that the swimming pool is devoid of water as with the cyclones that hit the area earlier this year have damaged the pool. The launch route for the dive centre here has also become unusable and the beach has changed slightly. We are hoping to get an early night after a long day of driving.

Wednesday 9th & Thursday 10^th May

Went to check Eric & Gill's house out - floor in, roof on & walls up to door height

We went for a walk to the market and had an awesome sea swim. The kids surfed in the afternoon and had a nice chilled out day.

Today more of the same, will be heading up the road later to try and find a wi-fi spot to post blog.

29 degree sea temp

Pizza @ Dino's

Friday - well same again, Great!!! Lol, Aimee & Mitch ran to the point, bought paio breads, then walked back. Bryce surfed, coming along nicely

Inverter blew last night. had plenty generator & electricity problems, so think it was tired, probably a surge. Took scooter off today so could meet a lady heading to SA. Need a new one. no helmets needed around here.