A mere $800 away from Kinshasa, is the lovely #Mozambique. A short travel log of the short week.
In Maputo on the way in and out, stayed in the #Villa Arabia boutique Hotel on 24 de Juhlo. Trip Adviser had been clear about the difference between rooms downstairs and those upstairs and it was right on. Downstairs rooms are dark, musty and depressing. Upstairs, for the same price, the rooms are quite nice. Staff are sweet and helpful through the language barrier, zut breakfast is meager. Though for the price -$140/night - you might consider something with softer towels and more English.
Rented a car from #SixT. The price was the lowest available on line, nice car, they threw in a free GPS (very handy to get out of town) and all was right with the world.
Drove to #Tofo. Wild ride, over 6 hours on the wrong side of the road with a manual transmission. The GPS crapped out an hour out of Maputo when the charger didn't work, not that it mattered, there's essentially one paved road in that part of the country. It is very unwise to drive after dark (7pm) in a country where people just pull over for repairs, to pick up or drop off passengers or just because they want to. We made it to Tofo after the sun had gone down and dark was settling in.
Signs took us straight to Casa barry. Had seen it on line. The internet rate was not the one they offered, We were offered a Casita - 2 bedroom bungalow overlooking the ocean for $320 / night rather than the hundred something on-line. We went instead to #Casa de Pria, right next door, where we got a room for 3 for $120/night. Pros - extremely cute bathroom, great breakfast, close to the ocean, sweet staff. Con - the only available room was tucked in behind reception, no windows, no AC, no breeze. They have much better, just not for those days without reservation.
After a day of rest and recuperation, esp for those who had spent 4 days getting there, we went horseback riding at a place whose name i forget. It was fun to ride to the beach on horses. Would have been better if the horses had not been on death's door.
In Maputo on the way in and out, stayed in the #Villa Arabia boutique Hotel on 24 de Juhlo. Trip Adviser had been clear about the difference between rooms downstairs and those upstairs and it was right on. Downstairs rooms are dark, musty and depressing. Upstairs, for the same price, the rooms are quite nice. Staff are sweet and helpful through the language barrier, zut breakfast is meager. Though for the price -$140/night - you might consider something with softer towels and more English.
Rented a car from #SixT. The price was the lowest available on line, nice car, they threw in a free GPS (very handy to get out of town) and all was right with the world.
Drove to #Tofo. Wild ride, over 6 hours on the wrong side of the road with a manual transmission. The GPS crapped out an hour out of Maputo when the charger didn't work, not that it mattered, there's essentially one paved road in that part of the country. It is very unwise to drive after dark (7pm) in a country where people just pull over for repairs, to pick up or drop off passengers or just because they want to. We made it to Tofo after the sun had gone down and dark was settling in.
Signs took us straight to Casa barry. Had seen it on line. The internet rate was not the one they offered, We were offered a Casita - 2 bedroom bungalow overlooking the ocean for $320 / night rather than the hundred something on-line. We went instead to #Casa de Pria, right next door, where we got a room for 3 for $120/night. Pros - extremely cute bathroom, great breakfast, close to the ocean, sweet staff. Con - the only available room was tucked in behind reception, no windows, no AC, no breeze. They have much better, just not for those days without reservation.
After a day of rest and recuperation, esp for those who had spent 4 days getting there, we went horseback riding at a place whose name i forget. It was fun to ride to the beach on horses. Would have been better if the horses had not been on death's door.
