Charismatic and informed – Anthony Bourdain of the Travel Channel is thoroughly entertaining and it’s going to be an interesting show tonight, as he scours our Mozambique – for cullinary and cultural treasures.
Check out NO RESERVATIONS with Anthony Bourdain!
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…
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
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.
Staying at Lalaland kind of gives you everything. Peace and quiet. Beach and sun. And yet you are so close to all the offerings Inhambane has to offer…
Lalaland hosts Chad and Heidi make a point of facilitating anything you need around the Tofo area. Horseriding. Inhambane town tours. Ocean Safaris. Scuba diving. Fishing. Surfing. Kayaking…
Barra is just over the peninsula from Lalaland – and is home to acres upon acres of mangrove forests. They grow happily in the saltwater – at high tide some are completely submerged! They grow randomly, but create intriguing channels through the wetlands. And it’s these channels that you can negotiate on kayaks – putting you face to face with the bird and marine life so prolific in the huge Inhambane estuary.
The estuary is 40 times bigger than the Knysna lagoon – and is much more populated. Mangrove and blue crabs, flamingos, squid and fishies are among the main attractions – but just paddling about in clear warm water is enough to make you stoked!
Lalaland still has a few rooms open for December 2014. For more info please mail afontelda@gmail.com
Hi Sean,
