FUN-travel: Mozambique
November 17, 2010 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Mozambique
The ABC’s of Africa
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
AA = Awesome Adventure
BB = Big Bummer
OO = Outrageously Overpriced
RBB = Really Big Bummer
TA = Totally Awesome
TAA = Totally Awesome Adventure
VG = Very Good
Day 35 – Thursday, October 7 – Johannesburg to Vilanculos, Mozambique to Benguerra Island – cloudy, light rain, turns clear on island
Collette Greeting Us
- A – 8 am depart for airport – arrive 8:20 for 10:20 flight
- BB – get charged $95 US for overweight bags (most of that is cameras & laptops) plus $8 tax plus $50 for visas
- TA – arrive paradise 12:30 – Marlin Lodge has separate building @ airport w/showers, like a mini Red Carpet Room
- A – short drive to boat, no pier so wade out – 30 minute ride to Marlin Lodge – 17 chalets, elevated on stilts w/deck platforms, reed & stone walls & thatched roofs (only 5 couples here, all honeymooners)
- TA – 5 star! huge room w/indoor & outdoor shower, deck w/hammock & chairs overlooking ocean, steps down to beach w/personal lounge chairs – stocked mini bar
- A – have AC & don’t need it – huge doors w/screens on front & back allow for great breeze
- A – lunch tray filled w/grilled fish, chicken kabobs, salad, cheese, homemade rolls, lemon tart in room
- TA – everything is included w/sunset dhow cruise & island tour
- C – unpack entire bag for first time – feels so good to just “do nothing with nowhere to go” – no agenda and no driving
- C – 7 pm Happy Hour – 7:30 dinner – Potato Spinach Soup to die for – fish & tenderloin – dessert – all VG
Day 36 – Friday, October 8 – Marlin Lodge, Benguerra Island, Mozambique – sunny & perfect
Marlin Lodge Arrival
- A – get to sleep in – wake up 6:15 – have VG filter coffee & milk in room
- A – 9 am Indian Ocean Safari – boat ride to 2 mile reef AKA the Aquarium – see lots of fish all sizes & colors – spectacular hard & soft coral
Welcome Drink
- A – see sand/rock moving – it’s 2 octopus (not sure if they’re having sex or fighting) they are masters of disguise – they completely blend & can instantly change colors w/their environment
- A – stop @ Pansy Island to see Pansy shells – we call them Sand Dollars
- A – back @ 12:30 for another great lunch
- A – 4 pm depart for sunset dhow cruise – beautiful clear sky , good wind – very rustic w/handmade sail – family boat w/2 brothers – throw 100 lb sack of sand for weight when tacking
- C – 7 pm Happy Hour – 7:30 dinner
FF (FUN Facts) – we were told by a friend from South Africa to go to Mozambique instead of the Seychelles because “it is a whole lot less money and just as pretty.” Worked for us!
Day 36 – Saturday, October 9 – Marlin Lodge, Benguerra Island, Mozambique – sunny & perfect
- A – sleep in again w/6:40 wakeup – more VG filter coffee
- A – breakfast to order then walk on beach – huge portions covered by volcanic rock – pounded by waves over 1000’s of years creates moon like craters
Marlin Lodge
- B – attempt to give our dhow captain $4 tip – told he needs $5 for bank – ask front desk to change money & told “they are paid very well, 10 x’s the daily wage, they should be thankful, don’t feel compelled to tip them anything” – Little Piggy’s get nothing!
Island Local
- A – Igor the Iguana, our resident pet perched on privacy wall – suns on our outdoor showerhead
- TA – 4 pm 1st ever African Potato Wrap – lay on wax paper/saran wrap like sheet while entire body is exfoliated, then potato body mask is applied and plastic is wrapped – body heat activates the mask – take shower and have massage of body butter – unbelievable how soft and moist the skin is – feel like big blob of buttery jello – LOVE IT!
- C – BBQ dinner on beach
Day 37 – Sunday, October 10 – Marlin Lodge, Benguerra Island, Mozambique – sunny & perfect
- A – 9 am island drive – 11km in length and 5.5 km wide – deluxe Land Cruiser, automatic power steering – 78 different species of birds – sand dunes, pine trees, numerous types of palms, bushes, shrubs – giant fresh water lake in center – total of 1300 locals in several small villages – only 3 lodges
- TA – virtually near empty beaches w/occasional local passing by
- A – back in time for another VG lunch
- A – sit on deck, see locals boat filled to brim set sail – takes up to 2 hours to get to mainland depending on wind
- A – read & nap on beach
Tow Boat
Day 38 – Monday, October 11 – Vilanculos, Mozambique to Paris, France – windy, humid 70’s
- A – 6 am wake up to overnight rain
- A – 10:45 boat depart to Vilanculos – arrive & transferred to van (feet washed & toweled dry by staff) then take city tour – shopping stop at home that sells local artists jewelry, carvings, fabrics – great deal! get 6 gifts for only $25 US
North Shore
- A – get to airport 12:30 for 2 pm flight – same nice lounge w/shrimp, tenderloin, fruit, chips snacks
- TA – overweight bag fees waived (Collette from Marlin Lodge called) turns out only dive equipment is waived but supervisor ok’d it this one time
- C – stay @ lodge feels like 4 perfect Sunday’s all in a row!
- A – arrive Joburg on time – flight to Paris on time
- B – Air France Business Class not as nice as Delta
Mozambique Recap: Absolutely the place to go to relax and/or to enjoy water sports. This is a honeymooner’s paradise. Very remote, quiet and peaceful. Stephen said four days would be too much. NOT SO for me! Chris was a bit bored after two days. When I asked Collette (the person who took care of our day to day plans and who greeted us and waved goodbye on the beach) how many stars the Marlin Lodge was she replied, “We are 4 stars but operating at a 5 star level.” And that is what we experienced. Definitely 2 thumbs up!