Christmas Present for the decade

Three cheers for #Mozaic Tours! Our time in Mozambique was short, poorly (see not at all) planned and we faced the challenge of what to do on Christmas day in a country that pretty much closes down for the season. However, #Mozaic Tours was willing to set up a tour for us on Christmas day to the Maputo Elephant reserve.

They pick you up at the hotel quite early, and take you for a lovely morning ride to the ferry to get the first one across the bay. The ferry ride was the usual experience with our car having to tow another off before we could load. A taxi had taken on so much freight, it couldn't clear the ump at the exit, bribes flying, people, produce, gifts, cars coming and going in the business of life. Follows a quick bathroom break at a hotel then a ride up a dirt road to the park.

Again, we are warned that we may see nothing, every tour is different etc. The animals are apparently re-introduced from Kruger Park after those that had been there before were all killed during the long civil war. So far, they haven't introduced any predator species, though the guide felt sure there was still a leopard that had survived the war prowling about. So the animals are not skittish at all. You drive through forest, across plane, up and down, worth every bit as we saw zebra, giraffe, and yes, chased down elephants! Added bonus - a baby elephant not a month old!

After that highlight, we drove to the lake where the hippos played while we ate the packed lunch they had brought, including veg options for daughter. Flamingos flew overhead as we were there, there were fish eagles, European bee eaters and many other birds that I have already forgotten. And what I thought was hummingbirds turned out to be dung beetles.

Guide was knowledgeable, accommodating and a excellent driver.

Ferry ride 1

Next day, headed for home :-(

Is it a whale, is it a shark?

On December 23rd, we were not yet thoroughly worn out, though the girls had been partying every available minute. We signed up for an Ocean Safari with #Peri Peri, daughter's dream, but the rest of us weren't complaining ;-)

At the last minute Peri Peri calls the hotel to saw they were canceling for the day, but if we could make it #Liquid Adventures was going out in 15 minutes. Luckily, Tofo is a very small place and lost though we got, we arrived in time.

We had thought we were signing up for diving, but not quite. Just as well, with no diving experience, I think we would have had less fun anyway>

So ocean safari it was. They shove all your stuff in a locker on the boat, no pics, sorry. The boat is on the shore. I had been watching them go in and out from shore in spare moments, and thought this might be an adventure. It sure is. With the waves crashing towards shore, everyone lines up on either side and start to walk the boat into the surf. When you are already impossibly deep, they yell "Ladies up" and indeed, you are supposed to haul yourself up over the side while the boat continues to pitch and bounce.

They tell you there are no promise on seeing the whale shark, but we found one quite quickly. Everyone over the side! Daughter was in just the right spot and dropped in right in front of the beast the first time out. I got to see it too, so not complaining.

Went in 2 more times, skipping the process when we passed a hammerhead shark, and got to swim with 3 different whale sharks. The challenges are 1) getting back in the boat, even with the help of the guide and 2) their snorkels suck. Stopped trying to use it quickly.

by the 3rd time in, many of the passengers did not go in, we were pretty tried. And that was the best one as the Whale shark passed right underneath our boat.

Coming in is as much fun as going out. They have you brace for impact as the boat speeds through the surf for the shore. but in our case, we ran out of gas part way in! I start contingency planning for when we are pitched into the sea, but the pilot knew how to stabalise us while the guide changed tanks and off we went.

That was pretty much enough for one day, with sunburns all around. We move to #Casa barry for the night, having negotiated to a relatively reasonable price, but mostly I didn't want to spend yet another night in a room with no windows and no breeze.

The title is because we were a bit confused. And that's Ok. My daughter would not have gone in if she thought it was a shark, her friend would not have if she had known it was a whale. Confusion worked for all of us.

The 24th, Christmas eve was the long ride back to Maputo and got a room upstairs at The Arabia boutique hotel.

Kayak tour of Mangrove swamp

More on Mozambique



After horseback riding, we went on a mangrove tour in barra bay in kayaks. Satisfied my need to kayak And we learned a lot in the bargain.

You meet up with tour operators at the beach and walk about 100 yards across a boardwalk to the pier. The tour guide sets it all up, with tandem sit on tops. I had always imagined mangroves to be overgrown, dark with complex aerial roots. This swamp has 5 different types of mangrove trees - lack, white, apple, red and something else I can't remember - none of them more than 5 feet above the high water line. There was plenty of sunlight and it felt quite open and comfortable. Not to say that it was not entirely cool as we wove up and down channels and through groves to see the different types and look for fish, shells and other life forms.

The guide was quite knowledgeable and tried to cover the needs of a variety of clientele. Also brought along coconuts for us to drink along the way. Turns out coconut palms are not indigenous to Africa! Finish up as the tide was almost out and as the sun was setting. Life could not have been better.

Oh and it was my birthday :-)

We 2 on the walk over

We did pretty well in a tandem!

Ariel as the sun sets on a wonderful day