Last Sunday morning at 03.00 I knocked on C’s door and off we went. Almost 13 hours later we arrived in Mocuba after a long, but nice, drive on mostly very good roads. We had stopped I Nampula for a quick brunch and had also waited about an hour and half in the morning for a car we were co-driving with the first day. That part of the day was the least appreciated by far – imagine we could have slept another 1½ HOUR!!! Anyway, it was ok and it certainly helped us sleep like babies the first night of our trip.
On the road in Mozambique
Nampula
Next day we left Mocuba at about 09.00 am and arrived at the boarder ca 5 hours later. Everything went well and we could continue towards Mulanje after not much more than an hour. All the way through Mozambique the landscape changed and became more green and lush. In and around the Mulanje Mountain there are many tea plantations so coming into Malawi it was even lusher and the surroundings were very beautiful!
Malawi:)
The day after we arrived I explored the Mulanje town by foot. It’s quite a small town, but very nice with the mountain and tea plantations surrounding it. I had decide to go Lake Malawi since C would be busy with meetings the next couple of days, so the day after I was on the road again… 11 hours in mini buses and on the back of a truck was definitely an experience. By the time I arrived in Cape Maclear I was exhausted and starving. With both of those sorted I crashed at 09.30 pm and slept very well the whole night!
In the morning I woke up to this beautiful view (it was dark when I arrived so I had no clue what to expect)
And after breakfast my guide Patric took me to Thumbe Island on this canoe
There I snorkeled when he was feeding the fish with bread – it was like being in an aquarium!! I had a thousand beautifully colored fish around me going for the bread. AND me! I tell you; they have sharp teeth :) We also paddled around a bit and I saw many big birds hunting for fish, Fish Eagle among others.
In the afternoon I strolled around the village and for lunch I had banana & garlic toast. Try it – it’s really good! After lunch JB taught me how to play Bawo, which apparently is a game played all over Africa. I haven’t seen it before, but it was a lot of fun, and I actually managed to win one game.
It was a very nice and relaxing day which I really needed, because the day after I started my journey back at 04.00 am. Another long day on the road and it began with me missing the big bus I intended to take. So I ended up in mini buses…again… The actual ride is mostly quite ok (even if the buses are loaded with people so you barely fit in), it’s the 1½ - 2 hours driving around filling up the buses to maximum before starting that drives me crazy. And when I think the bus is finally full they squeeze in at least 4-5 more people who usually have to stand up because the seats are more than filled up already.
The mini buses are not in the best shape...
Anyway, after another 10 hours I was back in Mulanje and could take that longed after shower. And then, the next day we headed back to Mozambique. 3 more days of traveling before I came home left me exhausted for a couple of days! But I have seen a lot more of Mozambique and I have been to Malawi – so yes it was worth it :) I also got my new visa, which was one of the reasons I had to leave the country. Doing it in the company of C was a whole lot more fun than being on chapa’s to the Tanzanian boarder and back!
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