Mozambique Archives - Page 6 of 26

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Sean Lange — Leave a comment

Surfing Mozambique: It’s cyclone time again

Alternative surfing accommodation in Tofo - in da barrel

Surfing Mozambique: It’s cyclone time again

Surfing Mozambique this time of the is always very interesting. Two cyclones so far, have thumped swell at us this past month. The first, AVA, had us surfing places like Tofinho every day. And the huge dollop of sand there has seen surfing right through the tides. This syclone hit the east side of Madagascar where a huge escaroment of mountains sent it packing. It floated off down south and east, just shy of the exact place we need it to be.

The second was a bit more serious but stayed farther off the coast. On Saturday the ten foot sets arrived closing out the entire Tofnho Bay. On Sunday, Barra went off the scale again. There was no footage shot, nbut this clip of it doing it’s thing last year exactly this time, tells the story.

This clip only features the last third of the first superbank. It starts kilometres further up. The second superbank was also absolutely firing this day. A lot easier but still tubular bells. Top to bottom.

At one point, after my umpteenth wave, I was staggering back only to find my two surfing mates, Aladinho and Dave Charley, lying in a puddle of water, completely spent. I kicked them back both up and out there. Only to hear both of them howl their proverbial lament, over and over – “I just had the BEST wave of my LIFE!”. Over and over again.

I wouldn’t hesitate to say that Barra has one over the other superbanks in the area. It’s easy to get to. Has great pubs and restaurants lining the bay. There are many options, through the tides. It’s all very beautiful too. And very uncrowded. Even if it was, the point is so extensive, you would be surfing alone most of the time.

BUT.

It changes continually. Right now, the second superbank down at the mouth has been replaced by a huge natural swimming pool. As the ocean assaults the bars and establishments along the way.

The first one still exists, but also has a huge swimming pool where the 100metre beach was.

The good news. Is that further up the bay, the original superbank, the one that caused all the fuss way back then, is returning to shape and form. The swell really concentrates on this particular piece of Barra. It breaks real hard and underwater.

And gets 8ft!

Chris Leppand and Hate Speech surfing Mozambique

Surfing Tofinho is best started real young. This kids got it down. Yomo!

The morning after. An incredible place is Pomene. (c) Boa Gente

And a video playlist of all things surfing Mozambique…

To get on up to Tofo and to enjoy the life here a while…check out our accommodation options at the following link…

https://thesardine.co.za/product-category/accomodation/

And other holiday packaged experiences here…

Fishing Experiences

https://thesardine.co.za/product-category/fishing-experiences/

Diving Experiences

https://thesardine.co.za/product-category/diving-experience/

Surfing Experiences

https://thesardine.co.za/product-category/surfing-experiences/

The Sardine crew have been operating in the tourism world in Southern Africa, for decades. We have assembled packages and options based on these years of experience and contact gathering.

We have tried and tested each option, and the facets therein. We are always on call and/or around.

If you need help with other logistics like travel, we can help.

Get in touch on umzimkulu@gmail.com or http://facebook.com/thesardine.co.za/ or WhatsApp +27 79 326 9671.

Posted on January 15, 2018January 15, 2018 by Sean Lange — Leave a comment

Surfing Sathanes

Surfing Sathanes with an energetic Dustin Volker aka Krusty, and a polished Chris Leppan, this film with camera lady Riz Laine and edit by Xonalanga, tells the real story of surfing the fabled Mozambican point breaks.

A fickle coastline at best, Mozambique surf spots much prefer east swells, which start hammering though as the cyclone season kicks into gear. The swells in this clip were south swells, and as you can see, the wave seems to warble a tad.

It’s great surfing as usual. Krusty kills it on his backhand whilst natural footer Chris is just loving his time up here in the tropics. Right hander after right hander after right hander.

It’s been a good summer so far. And with the first Cyclone, “AVA”, having already caused mayhem on the east side of Madagascar, it looks to be a good season into 2018. This cyclone made landfall half way down Mad, and the steep mountain escarpment that side broke it’s speed from 150kph right down. Where it careened off south-east and out to sea.

But not without sending us some of it’s juices in the form of a punchy east swell, that lit up the Tofo Bay at high tide, with some perfect shore-breaking waves, for quite a few days. It wasn’t big enough for the Barra sand to come alive. But that’s coming soon!

There is a tropical depression way up top, in the cyclone factory right now. Will it form up into a real spinner? The ones we want are not the ones that come into the Mozambique Channel at all. Those randomly cause havoc and chaos, and are literally completey unpredictable. No, the ones we want spin-off and hang around the very tip of Mad. Those are the conditions to watch for.

Get your paddling arms on! These swells are short period and very strong.

Check out our offerings in the Trips and Travel menu at top. Or click here.

And lets go surfing!

Catch us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/thesardine.co.za/

More from surfing this area in Mozambique…

Pomene by sea: the natural sand harbour at the top of the point. Kayaks abound here.

Chris Leppan and his huge couta at Pomene

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Sean Lange — Leave a comment

Tofo Ocean Festival 2017

Tofo Ocean Festival 2017

Right on the beach at Fatimas each year! The Tofo Ocean Festival 2017 looks to be the biggest yet. Check out the post party clip for last years event and festivities…

And details for the 2017 event…

Praia do Tofo is the grand stage for the New Years celebrations here in Mozambique 2017. There is something going on in every corner of the party-infused town. But none as big as the main event – the Tofo Ocean Festival 2017. Held at Fatimas Nest – right on Tofo Beach. Over New Years. 27 December 2017 to 1 January 2018!

It’s an ocean festival, aimed at increasing ocean awareness – but it’s all about the music through the summer nights. In full New Year swing, the sun comes up all too soon every day. DJs and musos line up to contribute to the show. They come from all over the place.

The people also come from far and wide for the Ocean Festival and Praia do Tofo. The Tofo “gridlock” turns into an endless street party all leading to Fatimas.

Fatimas for breakfast in Tofo starts at 7am — Fatimas – the scene of the Tofo Ocean Festival 2017

Best leave your car where it is and walk and dance the night away. The town has already started filling up. It’s gonna be a really big year at this

You can see past years productions on the Fatimas website at https://www.mozambiquebackpackers.com/tofo-ocean-fest

And more about Fatimas at https://www.mozambiquebackpackers.com/

Post prepared by The Sardine News

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Sean Lange — Leave a comment

FishBazaruto 2017 marlin season Final Reports

FishBazaruto 2017 marlin season Final Reports

Captain Duarte Rato submits and end of marlin season report from Bazaruto Island, filled with fantastic imagery and fishing stories. Tales of huge fish! Marlin over 1000lbs. Many just shy of the mark. Almost all marlin and sailfish are released by the highly trained and efficient team running the good boat Vamizi.

Click on over to Duarte’s report below…

Bazaruto Big Fish Season – End Nov early Dec ‘17 report

A few shots from this weeks gallery…(c) FishBazaruto

Marlin season 2017 has been an absolute blast this year

FishBazaruto have been taking bookings now already for next years marlin season, which can start as early as September. Depending on the prevailing winds. If the South Easter howls through winter and into spring, and then gives way to the very mild low-pressure systems that can come through as we move into summer, the season can extend for months each side of November.

Duarte spends the whole December with his family. Greta and two boys who are growing up fast. And then starts again in January and fished his home waters of Bazaruto a while longer, until he heads on off chasing marlin all about the globe.

Get in touch with Duarte via http://fishbazaruto.com and while you are there check through the archives of all his posts since 2011!

There is a video section, and so much interesting and relevant information about Bazaruto and its waters. Including a table referencing the best times for each fish regards season.

Posted on December 4, 2017December 5, 2017 by Sean Lange — Leave a comment

Summertime in Tofo

Surfing Tofo shorebreak: Team Mom and Dad Plomaritis leave a few for the kids

Summertime in Tofo

Summer has hit Tofo with a heatwave that takes some getting used to! Its a merry 25 degrees in the evenings, and soars to 35 or more in the daytime. It’s been a little rainy through November – it’s those days after the rain that come back with such vengeance.

But that is what everyone is here for – some R&R in the sun! Rest and recovery, not Rum and Morango!

Surfing

The waves were waving in November, and the sand has stuck around the at the usual haunts, and looks to stay checked in right through December. But it’s out front of the market and down past Fatimas, that has been hosting the most surfers. Nice little shore breaks great for getting your grovel on! And staying fit!

Fishing

The fish market tells stories of the couta being really on the bite. Some boats are back before 6am with a few fish already. But it’s the bottomfish that are of real quality. Big reds and snapper. Huge scavengers – like over a kilo each. Delicious! It’s great that these artisinal fishermen are still finding such high quality fish – it seems that rowboats as commercial fishers, might just be sustainable. This year on the Tofo side of the peninsula, we will be running kayak fishing trips, on the nice days.

Diving

The water has been quite clean and again, the diveys have reported loads of life on the reefs. Check out a real cool video by ArtSurfer.nl, shot yesterday, at Manta Reef, way down towards Guinjata and Coconut Bay. This reef, just south of Praia do Rocha, and about 3kms out to sea, is spectacular as you can see on the clip. The turtle leading the cast, actually lives there on Manta, most of the time. A nice surprise from last week, were the few straggling humpbacks. They do sometimes hang around into November, but very seldom December. A mother and calf were seen together by a dive crew.