Mozambique, October 26 2018

Goooooooooodmoooooooooorning Vietnam!!!! I feel like starting my blog like that because every day is a happening.

We left this morning from Xai-Xai to get some cash and diesel. The latter went easy since my credit card was accepted. There are a lot of fuelingstation in Mozambique so far. The car is also far more economic on fuel since I am driving slow now (1 liter gives 10 km now).

Money was not so easy since every ATM in Xai-Xai had a software malfunction. However, I found one but the maximum amount was limited to 5000 Mtk, around 70 euro. We withdrew 4 times with different cards. Being well prepared helps.

The way up North is rather boring although one should note that every 200 m a house is located where something is sold. Wood, fruit or something else. Yesterday, the caretaker of the camping (a southafrican woman) said that this was all done not to pay taxes. The camping yesterday, was not that good but we were welcomed with all regards. Even our food was delivered on site.

All houses along the road are panted in……Vodafone colours. Really, there is a 500 km long advertisement (or even 2500 km).

Every 10 km there is a police checkpoint but we may continue. This is really a policestate…

Of course I got stopped by the police eventually. In this case, I overtook a very slow truck and according to the police I did so at a place where this was not allowed. Well, this was absolutely not true and one could see that also. All fines I ever had were correct and justified but this one was BS. Even the trucdriver, stopped by the policeman, acknowledged this (in Portugese) but this was not accepted by the policeman. I had to pay. Full stop. 4000 Mtk I had to pay. After that he started to be nice and asked me where I came from and if this was my first visit to Mozambique. I replied that I was Dutch and this was my first and last visit to Mozambique. I intended to turn around and drive back to South Africa and from there to other countries. Of course he asked why and I replied that I was robbed yesterday and unfairly treated now. At that moment, a female collegue stepped in and advised her partner to apologize which he did. I was let go. Incerdible……. Mozambique has now 2 strikes, one to go

We drove further to Inhambane, about 300 km from Xai-Xai where we bought some important stuff (beer, water….). After that we went for the camp site (Paindane) but I could not find it. The road was bad and was getting worse so I had to activate the 4X4 drive and deflate the tires. At a certain moment, the sand was getting very loose and I had to stop. Maybe a bit “chicken” but since I am the only driver with limited 4X4 experience. Besides that, one is being stalked, when stopped, immediately with lots of people so it is not easy to think calmly. Nevertheless, I turned around and looked for a camp site on the Tomtom and that is where we are now. Not the best location but clean, silent and safe (Lindela). The resort is owned by a Southafrican couple and we can use the facilities in one of the rooms. All for 1000 Mtk, 14 euro of so. Just great and we will sleep very well, not disturbed by monkeys (yes they were there last night) or passing cars.

Tomorrow we will go North 

It is now morning, 7:30 and we had a fine, quiet night. This land looks like the South of France but does not feel like it. In the whole of Europe there is law and order and here that is not the case. We spoke lengthy with the owner of the lodge, who lives here for 17 years. She was very positive about the Mozambicans (friendly, no grudges) but negative about the government (corruption, administration). It is almost 8:30 now and we will move to Vilanculos shortly