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Fun at Fatimas Backpackers in Tofo

Fun at Fatimas Backpackers in Tofo

 
Fatima’s is where it all begins for backpackers and travellers in Tofo. The lavish setting, on a dune overlooking Praia do Tofo to the south, and Ponta da Barra to the north, is startling.

The ocean out front is idyllic for swimmers and surfers alike – and the inviting blue waters of the Mozambican current can easily be accessed via one of the many dive, ocean safari or fishing operators here.

More fun can be had on the Inhambane Bay where, aboard an ancient but sturdy and reliable dhow, you can island hop by sail all day. Ihla do Porcos, Panzy Island, Survivor Island, Secret Beach and Linga Linga are some of the favourite stops. Seafood by arrangement and a cooler box full of refreshments is mandatory. As is your camera, bathing outfit, suncreme, a hat and water!

Accomodation at Fatima’s has steadily been upgraded – year after year. You can still camp however, but get into one of the front casita’s overlooking the beach and you will never feel like leaving.

Fatima’s is the first and oldest backpacker organisation in Mozambique, and has a bus service daily running between here and Fatima’s Nest in Maputo. So easy – although the bus ride needs some planning for, it takes a good 8 hours to make the journey, including stops at some interesting roadhouse type places.

Fatima staff are well presented and eager to serve – be it something from the experienced and well run kitchen crew, an ice cold 2M (local delicious beer) from the bar or a group excursion to the islands (ask for Ruben).

For more information check out http://www.mozambiquebackpackers.com/

 

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Ouisurf in Mozambique – Surf travel show releases web version

Ouisurf in Mozambique – Surf travel show releases web version

Roosta and I were all muddled up on the south coast earlier in 2014- battered and fried after the swell just refused to stop, day after day, week after week. Roosta had an impending tour to Europe, and I was just getting through my days until something else came up. Which it did! Ouisurf in Mozambique!

Some history. About a year ago, this French Canadian TV show got in touch with Roosta asking if Roosta would guide a crew of four around the East Coast of Africa, to check out and surf the faraway and secret spots available. Roosta saw red and told them to get stitched. No chance pal!

A year later and the motley Ryan Poisson, call us up saying he got a job as a surf guide, and could he please borrow Roosta’s van for 10 days. Roosta helps a mate out and off Ryan goes.
Half way through his tour, he calls us and asks us if we want to go to Mozambique with his clients. Me and Roosta jump at the chance – and yes – it’s the same crowd Roosta told to vanish all that time ago! Ouisurf.tv!

We accepted the invitation and what a trip that turned out to be. Since the show is in French mainly – I will give you a quick rundown.

Game reserves, obviously. Some hectic action with a tame elephant that charged us down the road a few hundred metres, and a million photos of giraffes. Early next day Ponto d’ Ouro. Huge easterly. Huge. Blast to Maputo for my birthday – we get a $2000 suite in a city hotel and don’t even sleep there! Inhambane the next gruelling, gruelling day. Then easy street. Baia Sonambula. Casa no Praia. Restaurants. Parties. Surfing small south-east swells and having a lot of fun around the Tofo area. Pomene for a night. More fun waves and so many memory sticks full of footage, drone, gopros…all kinds – mostly and professionally operated by a tall funny guy name JP. Benjamin the producer also flew the drone and co-hosted the show with his mate Jean-Michelle. The production manager Stefano was super proficient and had his eye on me and Roosta at all times. We killed and ate a goat, a chicken and a tuna. The last day spent island hopping, spearfishing and deep sea fishing. Lots of blood. And we ate a goats testicle! Cooked yes!

Check out the super duper web presentation of the show…

Click the image to check out the Ouisurf.tv in Mozambique web presentation
Click the image to check out the Ouisurf in Mozambique web presentation

A really good experience for Roosta and I, we both learnt an immense amount during our 10 days blasting around the place with a crew I was really stoked to be a part of – real professionals!

Thanks Ouisurf.tv

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Cyclones! Amazing waves at Barra…

Cyclones! Amazing waves at Barra…

The first tropical storm to be upgraded in early January – Bansi – was graced with the accolade of being a Level 4 cyclone! She is moving away from Madagascar where she was hovering a while, and now has a newly born sister in tow!

Tropical Storm Chedza is right in the channel, our side of Madagascar, and also been upgraded to a tropical cyclone, but is also headed away from us – the two together have produced some epic conditions.

The water is super warm, around 27 degrees, and the airflow has steadily moved from onshore to side/offshore, and it’s finally raining. The light during the day is silvery blue, and as I write this, thunder is forcing it’s way overhead giving us even more to think about.
Surfing waves that can clean cut you in half can be fun once you get used to it, but the purported twin of The Donkey – a shifting superbank in Barra, is by no means easy. The drop is straight out of the sky and 6ft waves disgorge themselves onto a two foot deep sandbar that runs for hundreds of metres. When it’s perfect it can almost be easy, but the last few days at Barra have registered only about a 4/10.

It was lumpy, mean and yet still super hollow. Young Sung Min Cho was the star of the show – he was seen disappearing deep into pits that are easily heavier than any KZN South Coast break can be. The wave literally empties out on itself, is so fast, yet so perfectly difficult. And at 6ft it’s insane stuff.

And! It’s all captured, by Min himself. He and his two brothers, Sung Min Cho and Tae Sung Junior Cho only started surfing a year ago and the level they have achieved is astounding. In fact, Tofo is now littered with groms ripping up anything they can paddle into.

Enjoy the clip!

 

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The most dangerous cops in the world

The most dangerous cops in the world

Are those that are in it for the money. And here in good old Mozam, that’s how it all works. Not to say that everyone in the force in 3rd world fascist Mozam is corrupt. But just get on the wrong side of our boys in grey or green or blue or purple, and see what happens.
A few examples…
All of a sudden, without warning, the main road into the market and the beach area at Praia do Tofo, became a one way – out. And so, trusting their GPS’s or experience of coming to Tofo before, many an unsuspecting tourist or expat came off their ultra long journey – only to be stopped by police, for coming down the centuries old main drag – the wrong way. So the force approach with a certain amount of  vehemence at the outset (the aggression comes later). The fine is nominal, usually starting at about 10 000 Mets (R3500), and if you keep your wits about you and play along, you can get away with 1000 mets or so. Straight into the pockets of the diligent law enforcers. But if you argue without serious substance behind your argument…it’s a short walk to Casa de Branco (Jail), until you pay. Try it.

Continue reading The most dangerous cops in the world

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Zambezi Shark

[twitchermap]

Submitted by: Sean lange

Report:

While surfing frontdoor down the beach from Tofo, Chad Leavitt of Lalaland had the honor of a visit by a inquisitive little Zambezi! It swam straight towards him and then veered off at the last minute presenting itself for a clear identification. Another tick off your bucket list Chad!

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