Pomene 18 - 26 May

Pomene : Friday 18 -24 May

Well done to Grant in getting us here! Whew we arrived. This is definitely 4x4 territory . The sand roads down to the boom where the reserve starts is relatively good sand roads. From here the sand roads get gets thicker and the bush closes in on you. Bushwakka truck definitely deserved its name. We got all the way to the campsite without getting stuck, after some scary, white knuckle moments.  Arriving here, Bentu,  from Pomene was showing us where to park the truck to camp and we proceeded to get stuck in really deep,soft sand. Fortunately we had help to flatten the sand and lay down some leaves under the wheels. FUN TIMES! Then we were free and off to a different site to camp.

Grant letting tyres down at entrance to reserve

 Just when you think the setting cannot get any better, it does. Pomene is absolutely beautiful. On the one side you have the sea and on the other side it opens into the most beautiful, crystal clear  lagoon /estuary and mangroves. Pomene Lodge is situated on a narrow sand spit which separates the lagoon from the sea, so at the end of the day you see the fishing boats cruise right in to the estuary.

Sunrise over the sea

In the morning you can see beautiful sunrises over the sea and in the afternoon the sunset over the lagoon.

Sunset over the lagoon

At the restaurant area they have a stunning big pool which we have practiced snorkeling in, it has a little bridge that passes over the pool.

Swimming pool at Pomene

We have paddled on the lagoon with our orange Synergy and used the paddle boards to try get out to the little islands where the flamingoes are nesting.

Mitch paddling to Flamingoes

We have made friends with some fellow campers here, Jana and Wihan, who have been out spearfishing almost everyday. They have caught some huge fish of which they gave us  Kuta, rainbow runner, kingfish etc. We have had the best fresh fish almost everyday and the restaurant makes the most divine fresh breadrolls for 6 Mets. Some of the locals come around every odd day and we have been able to buy bananas, naartjies and paw-paw. Also got some sweet potatoes from them the other day.

Big fish that spearfisherman caught

We met up with Nick and Nelia from Tofu at Pomene and went with them to the Old Hotel Site. This beautiful hotel was evidently finished just before  the war and  never operated. It lies now abandoned and in ruins with the most beautiful private beach. At low tide we snorkelled  in the rock pools in front of the hotel.

Rock pools in front of old hotel

Lion fish in rock pools

Bryce at mini hole in the wall

 Grant and Bryce went out with Nick on the boat fishing. Nick caught 2 Kingfish and 1 Rainbow runner while spearfishing and they very kindly invited us for lunch.

Photo from in front of Old Hotel

Once the tide started to come in later we went to the beach side of the point and the boys surfed here and the rest of us swam.

Mitch surfing

Later in the afternoon once we were back at the campsite and the tide was right in, we went snorkeling out to the barge. They have a man made reef near the barge where they dropped an old  landrover down. We saw some really big box fish, angelfish and we have found some beautiful pansy shells.

Snorkelling in lagoon

We met another lovely couple from Eastern Free State, Martin & Maretha who were holidaying with their granddaughter, Kaitlyn. Maretha taught us how to make stokbrood on a stick in the fire. We joined them the one morning for a lovely day at the Old Hotel . We did some more snorkeling and swimming and walked onto the point where we watched Grant & Bryce boogie boarding and you have a clear view of all the fishing boats. You can even see across to where the Bazaruto Archipeligo starts with the binoculars. We stopped at the local village, Pomene City on the way home for a cold 2M(Dosh M) beer and, “Maria biscuits.” Kids love these local marie-biscuits.

Martin & Maretha are such a well travelled couple with so many interesting stories to tell.

In the afternoon, Wihan and Jana took us out on their boat to the other side of the estuary and we went snorkelling near the mangroves. They also took us to the man made reef and we also saw a whole lot of pansy shells. We have met such lovely people here at the campsite and hope to keep in contact.