Tag: Inhambane

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Shipspotting with AIS

Shipspotting with AIS

If you are smart enough to run a smart phone, then you just can’t be dumb enough to get bored…ever again.

Take this ship for example…

Just buzz on over to marinetraffic.com, zone in on your carpark, and see the names and even missions, of all those hunks of metal cruising the horizons. Even yachts!

You may get bored after a while and have to switch on over to some other entertainment stream, but you will definitely find your self loading up all this cool ship data again and again – especially in that carpark with an afternoon onshore and a quart in your hand.

Even some some ski-boats are equipped with AIS transponders, but for the most part, its mainly large vessels travelling trade routes that use the system to obviously avoid collisions. There is the pirate drawback, but you can turn the transponder off of you like, but for the most part it AIS has become a valuable all-round source of cool data.

Wikipedia is gonna be much better at explaining it than me, this morning…

“The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is an automatic tracking system used on ships and by vessel traffic services (VTS) for identifying and locating vessels by electronically exchanging data with other nearby ships…”

Check out the full story right here…https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Identification_System

Marine Traffic (http://marinetraffic.com) even have a really cool App that you can get for free from the Play Store or equivalent, on your phone. Or just access through a browser – any browser will do!

 

Big news today is the launch of Offshore Africa Port St. Johns’ Web 3.0 website. Rob Nettleton and co’s IN YOUR FACE photography will get you checking that your wetsuit is hanging nicely, and ready for next year.

Click on over to http://offshoreafricaportstjohns.com and look around, like and share…

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Bazaruto Marlin Season mid October report by Captain Duarte Rato

Bazaruto Marlin Season mid October report by Captain Duarte Rato

Bazaruto has been shining again this year as a premiere giant black marlin fishing destination. With three encounters this past week, and a bunch of fish in the 900lb range, just about anytime you have a line in at Baza in season like this, you have a chance at a grander fish (1000lb’s plus).

An estimated 1200lb marlin was sharked on Pulsator during this years Bazaruto Marlin Season
An estimated 1200lb marlin was sharked on Pulsator during last weeks Bazaruto Marlin Season bite.

Captain Duarte Rato has been in the thick of the action and has compiled and entertaining report which is published on http://fishbazaruto.com – click the link to read all about it…

Duarte’s photography skills have been honed by years of skippering whilst chasing fish, and taking these amazing shots as it’s all going down.

Enjoy!

http://fishbazaruto.com for more reports from the past 7 seasons of the fishing for marlin off Bazaruto Island.

Bazaruto Marlin Season

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Whitesands Holiday Specials in Barra

Whitesands Holiday Specials in Barra

WHITESANDS

If you have never been to Whitesands at the very end of the fantasmical Barra Peninsula in Southern Mozambique, this is your chance!

With the ocean on one side, and the huge Inhambane Bay on the other, there is something here for everyone. The newly famous African Kirra surf spot has been just up the beach for all this time – it’s a quick run to the paddle out and you can surf yourself all the way home!

Fishing in the same spot at night time for stumpnose and kingfish will surprise you…and gamefish come right into the huge lagoon. King mackeral are caught all the time, year round, in certain places right inside and completely sheltered from the sea.

Panzy shells and seahorses fight for attention with dugongs and dolphins in the estuary. You can go out and buy fresh seafood like sardines and calamari right off the netters dhows at Panzy Island and surrounding islands.

Deep sea fishing is excellent, check out the following for more details and keep checking thesardine.co.za for news on the current striped marlin and sailfish run. It’s been fantastic with some local boats getting multiple strikes every day.

Bathing in the idyllic and completely calm waters in front of the resort is completely safe and loads of fun.

For more information and contact details for Whitesands, click here.

The huge Inhambane Bay. Whitesands to starboard, Linga Linga to port. Panzy Island dead ahead. Sunscreen causes cancer! Get your shade on instead!

HOLIDAY SPECIALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2015
R3000 for 2 people sharing Log Cabin for 7 nights including one meal per day.
DATES: 2015
1 March – 25 March
15 April – 25 Junie
21 July – 30 September

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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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Casa Algodoal for perfect waves…

Casa Algodoal for perfect waves

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Matt VW captured this sick shot of Dustin “Krusty” Volker sitting tight in the green room adjoining Casa Algodoal. Great shot Matt! Copyright Matt VW. All Rights Reserved.

Dustin Volker, in the proverbial green room, not far from Casa Algodoal, in Tofo, Inhambane, Mozambique, this week already. Casa Algodoal is top drawer modern holiday living…with unobstructed views out over Praia da Tofo.
Tofo is a favourite beach destination, and is scattered with backpackers, surfers, divers and travelers out in the warm winter sun looking for adventure.

The diving is world class and many Scuba operators offer all kinds of diving and all kinds of reefs. Humpback whales, dolphins and whale sharks frequent the clear warm waters of Inhambane, and you don’t have to blow bubbles to swim with them…take an ocean safari and snorkel if you like!

The famous calm clear waters of Inhambane Bay are home to seahorses, dugongs, starfish, panzy shells…all sorts, and the bay is great for swimming and snorkeling with whole family. And you can get a boat to the islands or Linga Linga across the bay.

The “manne” can book deep sea fishing trips to target tuna, wahoo, king mackerel and billfish…black marlin, striped marlin and sailfish are all taken off Tofo regularly…which is just down the coast from the famed Bazaruto Archipelago.

Inhambane town is a wonder on it’s own, attractive old buildings, some from centuries ago, characterise the overall state of Mozambique. The place can be challenging but if you maintain your senses and take it on…it’s extremely rewarding.

Contact Sean on umzimkulu@gmail.com to make a booking.

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