Mozambique
Mozambique
Dec 16th ; The rain had stopped, but it was still overcast but inspite of that the camp and setting were so nice that we have decided to stay for another night.
After a walk to reception to sort out the booking, Patrick and Tim went off to the beach to fly fish before the wind started again.
I wandered down to see what they were up to to find Patrick wrapped up in a waterproof jacket with the hood pulled tight around his head and Tim looking very cold and not too happy with life!!
I made a hasty retreat after sitting through the first of many rain showers that day, and left them to it.
They returned to the camp, late afternoon, cold wet and without any fish!!
They were not to happy with life.
We resided ourself to the fact that we were not going to have any fish for dinner tonight, and started to make soya mince spag bol.
Once everything was on the boil, a security guard apporached with a local fisher man, holding his catch.
What Tim and Patrick were on the beach earlier they ahd given this fisherman some line to use, and so to return the favour he had come of offer us some fish!!!
We got the fish, gutted it and put it in the fridge for tomorrow nights dinner.
Dec 17th ; Tim was awake very early, he took the fly rod and headed off ot the beach.
We got out of the tent and was greated by blue skies and a hint of sun!
As soon as Patrick saw the waether he follws Tim to the beach,
Within in 15mins they wetre botrh back at the camp slapping on the sunblock and digging out hats!!
They went back to the beach and I made the most the sun and did some washing!!
Leaving the washing in the sun I went down to see how they were getting on.
I was greated by 2 very very happy men, fly fishing like there was no tomorrow!!
They had both caught lots of small King fish and were waiting for the tide to turn, so that they could try their hand at catching some of the bigger fish.
I sat in the shade a watched them for a bit. I could see Tim getting redder and redder, even though he was covered in factor 50+ sunblock!!
Patrick on the other hand was turing a horrid shade of brown very quickly!!
By mid afternoon the wind had picked up and niether of them could fly fish any more, so we went back to the camp.
Patrick and Tim threw potatoes in foil onto the fire and braaied the fish. It was a simple dinner but sooooo tasty!!!
After dinner we sat out on the clear cool evening, watching a film, whilst the mozzies tried to have their dinner!!!
Dec 18th ; All 3 of us were awake with the sunrise, keen to pack everything up before it got too hot.
Whilst Tim made us crumpets for breakfast, Patrick and I sorted everything out that needed packing.
It was only 7.30am by the time breakfast was eaten and everything was packed away into the car, but it was already so hot all of us were wilting!!!
Patrick wanted to get as far as Ponta Malongane, then fidn somewhere to stay tonight.
We made good time to Maputo, we were to catch a ferry across to Catembe. From there it was a short drive down the coast to Ponta.
We found the ferry terminal and a very long queue to go with it!!!
After waiting for well over 30min and the queue not getting any shorter, Patrick lots all of his patience and decided that we would skip the ferry and drive aorund the long way.
The road turned out to be very interesting. It was a dirt road, but there had been heavy rain last night and had turned the road into a mud bath!!!!
It was fun driving, much better than sitting in a queue waiting for a ferry!
The wet mud soon became compackted sand tracks - more fun!!
We arrived at Ponta, and headed for Ponta Malongane Rset Camp. They were full, and would not even consider sneeking us in a spot for 1 night!!
Great, now what?!
We carried on down the road, stopping at various campsite along the way, and were told the same thing.
Before we knew where we were, we ahd got to Ponta Do Oura!
We followed new looking sings to a spot outside of town and found a very very nice new campsite. They had room for us for 1 night - what a relief!
None of us were too keen to cook tonight so, Patrick and Tim but up Tims tent to save our spot, we all showered and then drove back into town to find some dinner.
Patrick chose Fishmongers, where was had out last Mozambique seafood dinner!
Dec 19th ; Today was the day that we were supposed to be back in PMB, so we were all awake early to pack away.
We left the campsite, and got to the Border just before 7am.
There was a long queue on both side, but the gates were closed and there was not a sinbgle memeber of staff in sight!!
A quick look in the Bratt gudie revieled that the border post did not open until 8am!!
When it finally opened, we all got through the Mozambique side in no time. Great I thought, the SA side will be evn quicker.
Oh how wrong was I!!!
The SA side did not have any staff, the power kept going out, there was no signs to say which desk was arrivals or departures and the taxi drivers were pushing in to the front of the queue where they handed over a handfull of passports!!!!
It took nearly an hour to get through that Border post, I have thought that it would have been one of the easiest to get through!!!
The drive thought SA down to Pietermartizburg was uneventful, and we all arrived in 1 piece.