Vilanculos
Lat: 21 57.87S
Lon 035 19.22E
Tuesday, October 2 - headed
to Vilanculos on the mainland to get some supplies. I followed Tammy on the
catamaran "Maximilian" who helped guide Sadiqi over the shallows to
the anchorage - there are a lot of sand banks and shallows. I actually thought
that I was checked in - alas not. It
would appear the Department of Transport feels the need to charge a fee to
visit the country.
I anchored in front of a
resort Aguia Negra and Big Blue fishing charters. I spoke to Dwight and Miguel
of Big Blue about leaving the dingy in front of the red roofed facility. There
are boat boys who will be more than happy to look after the dingy. The going
rate is around 20 to 100 mets depending on duration. The guys at Big Blue kept
an eye on my dingy. If it is a heavy dingy then it would be worth while getting
a boat boy as they will move it with the tides. Dealing with the shore break in the dingy in the afternoons usually meant a wet trip.
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| Big Blue at the Red roofs |
Stepping ashore was quite
surreal realising that I had crossed an ocean by boat, having left Fremantle, Western
Australia in 2010 and arrived in Mozambique, Africa in 2012. Vilanculos was
interesting, quite tidy with many tourists and expats - mainly South African.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozambique
Currency in Mozambique:
metical (MZM) or just called mets.
Exchange rate approximately
30 mets to 1 Aussie dollar.
I managed to get a lift to
the shops and market with the Tammy and her partner Paul . The good thing about
the supermarket was that I could understand and recognise the products as they
were in English and some of the brands familiar from South Africa. Most of the
people in the town speak good English I was able to draw money from the ATM
machine. After visiting the supermarket we went to The Kilimanjaro restaurant
for lunch and later in the day visited the infamous, apparently, Smugglers Sports Bay for
a beer.
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| The Anchorage from Big Blue |
Other yachts and people that
I met up with while in the Bazaruto Archipelago:
"Dream Catcher"
with Barry, Tina and family.
"Maximilian" with
Paul and Tammy.
"Regal" Norman
from Peri Peri net.
The hospitality around the
Bazaruto archipelago and Vilanculos was so friendly. I met up with Moyra, whom
had gone to the same junior school as I had. A few very pleasant lunches were
had - good food, good company and good beer. I was sad to leave.
On Friday morning , October
5, on the high tide, I motored back to Benguerra Island to wait for the time to exit through the
Two Mile Reef Channel between Bazaruto and Benguerra islands. The weather seems
to have held out with winds from the north east.
Getting to the sea in the
channel between Bengwera island and Bazaruto island.
Two Mile Reef Gap. North of
Bengwera Island. Beware of the sand bar. Exit the channel on a rising tide - 2
hours before high tide. Do not attempt crossing the sand bar on a falling/out
going tide. Head 8 miles due east due to unmarked Two Mile Reef.
