Day 41-42 Maputo - Ponta Du Ouro

January 19-20, 2016
The morning we spent with our host Francisco (originally from Portugal), we went for breakfast and some lunch. We listened to his interesting stories about life in Maputo:

Then he took us to the place where we had the best prawns! The restaurant was located in sports complex, nothing fancy, only locals know this spot, there were no tourists and no tourist prices! The chef makes all the sauces for many famous restaurants and hotels in Maputo, and owns small restaurant himself. The prawns:

And some octopus:

The area where the restaurant is located:

Soon after we had to leave Maputo. We took a ferry across the bay:

We had to wait for it for a couple of hours, but we were not in rush, as we were heading to Ponta Du Ouro which was not far. The ferry was very crowded and full of cars. No space even to open the door :) From there we saw Maputo's skyline:

When we were on the other side of the bay, there was a police checkpoint of course :) and we were on the road again:

The road was prepared to be tarred:

A bush taxi:

Railway system:

Closer to Ponta Du Ouro the road split into countless sand paths and we drove in the darkness as it got late. Soon we found the campsite, set the camp and heated up some risotto with mangoes and pineapple:

We stayed one more day at Ponta Du Ouro, chilling at out campsite:

Going for the walks and swimming in the beautiful sea!

Travel Map

Day 40 Bilene - Maputo

January 18, 2016
Today we drove to Maputo, we had a Couchsurfing friend that will host us there. So we were on the main road to Maputo. As closer we got to Maputo, as more people and cars were around and more traffic accidents. Here there was a bus gone off the road:

Our car tyre had a slow puncture and we stopped at the garage to fix it:

Close to Maputo there are many new roads built. And police stopping for speeding. We were stopped once again, and they tried to fine us, but we refused to pay and drove off. Policeman couldn't do anything, because he knew he was wrong. Brand new roundabout:

And lots of building going on. All done by Chinese. Roads, bridges, apartment blocks and hotels:

 On the left side there is a sea:

 And flamingoes!

Closer to the city centre the traffic gets busier:

Locals chillnig on the beach in the shade:

 And soon the Maputo skyline appeared! Didn't expect that after seeing the rest of Mozambique!

Huge hotel freshly built:

All in Chinese:

Modern skyscrapers in city centre:

 Both extremes - luxury, money and poverty and pollution:

Maputo looks really beautiful in the rich area, there is lots of greenery and flowers:

Many tall buildings, advertisements:

And constant building going on!

Typical street in Maputo's business centre:

 And locals with brooms:)

We got a little tour around the city centre and then we decided to go back to the beachfront. There used to be very famous restaurant where you could eat delicious seafood. It was called "Costa Do Sol", and this is how it looks now:

We had some walks and then had a lunch at local street restaurant.

A tray of chicken, chip, pap and rice for lunch!

This the kitchen:

 And toilet! Behind girl holding a sarong on the street!

After the meal we headed to the new fish market. Which didn't look like a fish market at all. There were many small restaurants for upper class mozambicans:

 And drinks menu where you have Wenduck beer, Jhon Wolker, Jemson, White Worse etc :)

Later in the evening we met our host Francisco, went for a beer in local shop and then we had great dinner with him and his friends, our car parked outside tonight:

Travel Map

Day 39 Pomene - Bilene

January 17, 2016
Woke up and went for a walk around the campsite. There was beautiful blue sea:

 This is our camp:

 Camping spots for many campers:

 The way water is heated in the showers: Fire is made under the big water tanks

Then through the pipes the water goes to the bathrooms:

Soon we were on the road, that was beautiful drive through Pomene Nature Reserve. The road was narrow, thick jungle around:

 We were soon back on the main road, and in this part of Mozambique there were many coconuts:

Some rubbish burning:

 We were driving close to stunning Mozambican beaches:

 Close to Bilene lots of bags with freshly roasted cashew nuts:

 Found a great camping spot in Bilene and went out for dinner:

We went to the market and sat in a local restaurant, we were so hungry... The small boy sat on our table and we overheard that his name was Carpaccio :D:D:D

 Finally our meal arrived! A tray with rice and chicken!!!

Travel Map