Sunset Lodge, Mozambique

Have sorted out the modem for Mozambique. A post & a couple of photos. Gary

27^th May Sunset Lodge, Praia de Chidengule. Mozambique

The African Games are being held in Mozambique during September of this year and the local people are excited as the aquatic events are being held in a lake nearby. They had to cull all the crocodiless in the lake before the event.

We have travelled some 500kms up the country the last 36 hours and have experienced all driving conditions one could imagine: from deep sand immediately on crossing the border, rough partially formed roads then pot holed tarmac. But the section to beat it all was after leaving the capital, Maputo, due to me putting into the Garmin to seek the shorter route, not the quickest, the darling lady with the soothing voice on the machine proceeded to lead us over one of the most diabolical stretches of country we have ever encountered since the Marienfluss in Namibia. We should have realized something was wrong as on the outskirts of the city the road suddenly turned to dirt with wavy undulations which turned into mud-filled pot holes then country tracks where the grass between the tracks was over ½ metre high. The local kids were so excited to see Mzungu drive by. I think it was the first time some of them had seen a white man the way they tore off. It took us 2 hours to cover the 21kms before hitting the main road, in the mean time darkness had fallen. I must say the Nissan handled the situation amazingly. We have let it get over it today with a 230km stretch on good asphalt. During our venture we asked three different locals if we were actually on a road and in the right direction, only one could speak good English but were assured by all that, yes we were, and to keep going, shaking their heads in amazement. Today Joan found a warning in one of the guide books we had to avoid that road as it was only suitable for advanced 4x4 drivers, looks like I’ve made the grade.

This stopover will be the first where we can relax and take it easy. Up till now we have taken the bakkie out on game drives if we stop for a couple of days, and that is one of the few disadvantages of having your home on wheels, means packing up for a game drive. But tomorrow it stays put.