Montenegro - Durmitor National Park
Foto: The Bazaruto Archipelago (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Mozambique - Even before the alarm goes off, I’m awake. It’s already completely light outside. It’s strange that they don’t choose to shift the clock like in Kenya. That way, it would stay light longer in the evening. Now, the entire daily rhythm is shifted, and everyone is active by six o’clock. At half past seven, I’m picked up by a pickup truck to go snorkeling in Bazaruto Archipelago National Park. The Bazaruto Archipelago is a chain of islands off the coast of Mozambique with unique sand dunes and coral reefs in the sea. At the dive center, Peter, a South African, welcomes me. I pick out a snorkel mask, wetsuit, and fins. With all the gear, I walk to the beach. The speedboat is already waiting. Alberto pushes the boat off, and skipper Paulino calmly steers it out to sea. When the boat reaches deeper waters, Paulino warns everyone to hold on tight. At the same time, he throttles up. The two 150-horsepower engines run at full power, and the boat shoots over the water. It is definitely a must to hold on tight. The boat bounces on the waves. After half an hour of sailing, I reach Benguerra Island, 25 kilometers away, part of the Bazaruto Archipelago. On the island, Peter gives a briefing about diving, snorkeling, and the reef. He especially warns snorkelers about the high waves on the ocean. As we leave, Paulino warns it may get bumpy. As soon as the boat rounds the island and heads into the open sea, this warning proves justified. The waves grow considerably in height, and due to the speed, the front of the boat occasionally lifts entirely out of the water. First, we drop off the divers at the sea side of the coral reef. At the dive spot, the boat stops, and preparations for the dive are made. The waves now have free rein on the boat. Normally, I don’t suffer from seasickness, but I start to find the rocking unpleasant. Luckily, we quickly continue to the snorkeling spot. On the other side of the reef, the waves are lower but still present. When I jump into the water, I notice it’s not easy to keep the snorkel above the waves. Still, I enjoy the beauty of the coral beneath me and especially the beautiful fish. Admittedly, I’ve snorkeled in colorful places before, but I remain fascinated by underwater life—especially the large fish around me and the small brightly colored ones. I let myself drift with the current, and the fish drift along. Beautiful. After half an hour, everyone is back on board, and we pick up the divers. Once the group is complete, we set course for Bazaruto Island for lunch. Israel packed the cooler box with a tasty salad and sandwiches. The island is famous for its fifty-meter-high sand dune—a great goal to climb. From the top, I have a beautiful view of the archipelago and the clear green-blue sea water. After lunch, I go for a second dive. The tide is out, and the water is much calmer. This allows me to snorkel much closer to the coral, making the colors more intense. There also seem to be many more fish. Beneath me swims a two-and-a-half-meter moray eel. This predator quickly dives into a hole, showing only its sharp teeth. A not entirely harmless encounter. Back on the boat, I’m accompanied by a giant turtle. It surfaces briefly beside the boat. On the way back to the mainland, I see dolphins. Paulino steers the boat toward them, and dolphins pop up on both sides of our boat. What a wonderful sight. Paulino tries to get the dolphins to swim along with the boat by slowly increasing speed. But after a few jumps through the bow wave, the dolphins give up.
Parque Nacional da Gorongosa
Mozambique - The alarm goes off at 5:15 AM. Outside, it’s already light. Getting up early is something I’ve quickly gotten used to, especially since I go to bed on time in the evenings. I have breakfast at the restaurant and by 6:30, I climb into the safari truck. The ...
The train station of Maputo
Mozambique - Around half past two, we walk into the center of Maputo. Just to be safe, without any valuables on us. We follow the sights from the travel guide. Via Jardin Tunduru park, past the Casa de Ferro (Iron House) and the White Catedral de Nossa Senhora da ...