Mozambique and Swaziland

Mozambique

We left Capetown and flew to Johannesburg before catching a bus to Maputo, Mozambique. We planned to stay 3 nights in Maputo, but having walked around the town and seen everything there was to see – not a lot -  except a rather lovely cathedral, we decided to head up the coast to Tofo the next day with the bus put on by the backpackers we stayed at.

 Despite being a door to door service, it was still a long 10 hour journey where poor Rich and his long legs suffered! After 10 months, we have still not adapted to the perils of African Transport, though we have got watching TV shows to pass the time and decrease my anxiety levels down pat these days!

In Tofo, we stayed at Fatima’s Nest Backpackers, with a beachfront room and with no plans but to chill, snorkel – in the hope of seeing whale sharks.  Unfortunately, we were not happy with the accommodation and having to stay longer due to lots of cancelled trips due to high wind and rough seas, we moved to Casa Barry at the other end of the beach and much preferred it there.  

boats grounded due to choppy seas

Casa Barry

After 2 cancellations, we finally went out on a boat trip, where we saw a Manta ray.

Still no whale sharks, a third cancellation of trying again as the wind had picked up, we decided to move on to Vilanculos.  Using public shuttle buses and a ferry to Maxixe, we waited for a bus.  Luckily, a South African who offered us a free ride on the back of his truck approached us and we took him up on his offer!

We stayed in Vilanculos for 4 nights in a great backpackers called Boabab. Right on the beach, with a lovely Rondeval hut.  It was our last taste of what I like to call ‘real’ Africa, where you can go to the market and buy local foods and barter and watch the fishermen come in and buy fresh from the beach and really immerse yourself into the African culture.

We took a trip to the Island of Masaranque for a day, where we walked around the island, had fresh fish lunch and a snorkel.

Water from mainland to Island

Masaruque Island Walk

 On our last day, Rich learnt how to Kitesurf.  I gave it a go, but was rubbish, but Rich picked it up really well and almost got to standing in a couple of hours.  I clearly didn't spend enough time as a child learning how to fly kites!

Rich standing for - a second!

It was really beautiful in Vilanculos and I didn’t want to leave.

We found out that there was a cheap flight back to the capital, so instead of taking the bus (for 12 hours) back to Maputo, we would fly.  On arriving in Maputo, we heard that a lovely Aussie couple we had met we involved in a bus crash further north.  We were so glad that we chose to spend extra money rather than – yet again – place our lives in the hands of speeding bus drivers.

Swaziland

From Maputo, we took a shuttle to Swaziland, where we stayed in Ezulwini, Legends Backpackers.  From there we could walk to the cultural village and see the dancing and village culture.  We also looked at the national museum.  It was very cold and raining there, so unfortunately we were unable to do any hiking and take in the scenery, but what we did see, it looked beautiful. The people were the most friendly of all the African places we've been to as well. 

traditional swazi village hut

Men dancers

tourists joining in