After driving again several hours on the partly very poor street we arrived at the Baobab Beach Campsite in Vilanculos. I really enjoyed it: it is situated close to the sea, not far from the centre of the town, has a small bar which offers also snacks (well, the food could be better) etc. And the best part: Odyssea Diving was on the very same spot. Gianluca and Giulia, two Italian doctors who work at UCM recommended diving with them – and I can recommend it too! While Hany headed back to Beira, Eva joined us and we did a refreshment course as we needed it badly!
In the evening we bought fish and potatoes, some wood and coal at the local market to barbecue. But tropical wood is hard and therefore uneasy to light. So it took us some time until we could enjoy the fish. But it was worth waiting. Meanwhile Eva and I had some fun taking pictures of the huge dog – a monster of Rhodesian Ridgebag – that joined us every evening.
On Sunday finally, after six years of looking forward to diving again, we went to the famous Two Mile Reef, behind the island Benguerra in the open sea. Well the visibility was not too good but still it was awesome! First the feeling of diving, second the corals, third the colourful fishes and of course the turtles… In between the two dives we climbed the dune on Bazaruto Island to watch the different shades of the sea between Benguerra, Bazaruto and the mainland. It was an awesome day!
The next day we wanted to go diving again but because of reasons of profitability they denied go to the reef with only the two of us. So we joined Heiko, Sibille, Uwe and Süster - who were already in Vilanculos as well – on a Dhow trip to Magaruque – another island of the archipelago from Vilanculos. Compared to the boat to the Two Mile Reef with its strong engines this really was a slow but nice trip. The two fishermen built the Dhow with their very own hands for over three years using amongst others naturally curved timbers; impressive and interesting, I have to tell you! As well as the sail: cobbled together of truck tarps and other materials.
After walking all around the island – it is a small paradise: calm, natural and beautiful – we did some snorkelling. The reef was very small and the current strong but still it was fun. On the way back to the mainland we had to cruise a lot between the numerous sands that filled the bay at low tide. And for some passengers on board the long journey back was the reason for having hard fights with their bladders. Well, we had some fun!
