Maputo
After picking the appropriate trip, a long flight, hassle at immigration and a queue for a visa, you will meet up with the truck, it's crew and your fellow travelers. You are going diving in Mozambique. First we will pay Maputo a visit, the capital of Mozambique. When you have just arrived from the neatly organized first world, with modern buildings, rules and regulations and clean streets, Maputo will definitely create a culture shock. Traffic shoots in all directions, lots of noise and lots of garbage on the streets. But as we make a little tour around the city, it will become clear why former Lorenzo Marques was called 'The pearl of the Indian Ocean', at times when Portuguese occupants were celebrating here. Though remnants are still visible now, the civil war is history and lots of restore work has been done. We visit the city hall, the Portuguese fort, art galleries, the prestigious ' IJffel House', completely made out of cast iron, the 'Mercado Municipal', or local market and the beautiful train station mentioned in all the books. After a wander around town and maybe a cappuccino, we leave Maputo for our accommodation, 50 km north of the city. We sleep in chalets.

Tofo Beach
Further north we will encounter typical Mozambiquan villages and the landscape will change gradually. Wild berries make room for palm trees and the traffic will be replaced by beautiful lagoons. The sport of bartering is tested when we stop at a local market. With permission you can taste the sometimes unknown goods and when purchasing make sure you negotiate for the local price- as opposed to the tourist price. We spend the nights in chalets in the heart of Tofo. We will introduce you to the dive centre which will take you underneath the Mozambiquan surface for the first time. Four days are at our disposal to explore the waters around Tofo, not only known for the multitude of reefs, but where you also might bump into whale sharks, manta rays, or giant turtles and in season even humpback whales. 8 Dives are scheduled here and courses can be provided, like deep dive training. No reason for the non divers to get bored. They can also jump in during an introduction dive or take a chance snorkeling with whale sharks. Maybe you'd rather take surf lessons, explore the village, check out the beach and work on your tan or race the beach on horse back. Unless you speak Portuguese, your ingenuity will be tested when you meet the locals and their hospitality.

Barra Point
Our next stop is waiting. But not before we pay a visit to Inhambane, one of the oldest European settlements in southern Africa. It used to be a Portuguese trading post and it became known for its ivory- and slave trade. In its high days, around 1850, an average of 1500 slaves per year went through this port, to be exported to Brazil. Today's destination is Barra Point, just 25 km from Tofo. The northern tip of the peninsula consists of beautiful mangroves and lagoons and the options are endless. The beach is stunning, you pitch underneath the palm trees and you can go for a dip, zipping cocktails at the neighbors. Quad biking takes on a new dimension when you discover that the area is tidal. You will be soaked, for sure. Should you wish to stay dry, you can take it more easy in a canoe or a bit higher on horse back. Sunset cruises on a catamaran are offered in the lagoon. The divers have different reefs to choose from and many specialties can be provided here. Sometimes night dives are an option. We have scheduled to do 4 dives here. We sleep here for 3 nights in chalets.

Bilene
The proceeding route takes us through the Xai Xai wet lands. In 2000 this area made world news when people were rescued from tree tops. After the floods there has been massive construction; enormous dams have arisen from the clay and the toll bridge over the Limpopo River is very impressive. Our aim is Praia do Bilene, situated on a beautiful lagoon. Characteristic pictures of local women doing their washing, fishermen working their nets and children playing in the water. If time permits, the lodge offers wind surfing, water skiing and snorkeling in the lagoon. Should you wish to relax, there's pool and the beach at your disposal. We spend one night here in chalets.

Kruger Park
We return to the main road and continue to the Lobombo border post, leaving Mozambique behind us. The famous Kruger Park is next, a park of about 24000 km2 and declared a protected area over a hundred years ago by the very person it was named after, Mr Paul Kruger. Intentions are to merge Kruger Park with adjacent land in Mozambique, which would mean an incredible improvement as wildlife would regain the chance to follow ancient migratory patterns over an extended range. Though Limpopo Transfrontier Park has recently opened to the public, the local Mozambiquans are not inclined to leave the area and game is scarce. Efforts are made to relocate game from Kruger Park, but most animals tend to turn around and go back to their birth ground.

Intensive searching, patience and lack of toilet opportunities will certainly reward us with pretty pictures of elephants at waterholes, crossing zebra's, evasive duikers, curious ground hornbills and with some luck, mighty lions or chasing cheetah's. For the more fanatical, we can try to organize an optional night drive. We have 1 1/2 days to spend in the park, before we have to go to Johannesburg, for a drop off at the airport.

Compass Travel hopes you had a wonderful holiday and board your plane with a long list of impressive dives in your log, a memory card full with beautiful photo's, a tanned head and lovely African memories.

"Till we meet again, hopefully".