MESSAGE Mozambique *Video*
Wow – Mozambique is super fabulous – so much so that I wanted to return and continue hanging out for a few months! Alas – a return trip was not to be, but I still love this Caribbean-flavored African country!
Check out my 7 insider tips on mesmerizing Mozambique!
MEET (Cool Meet Ups) – Tofo’s Café de Comer. On a Saturday night, this place is rocking. Even though about 100 kilometers of the coast was without electricity for several days, this outside bar had a blasting band and sangria.
And the late night dance-off was epic. I wish I had a video of the men challenging each other with their moves. Quite the show!
EAT (Tasty Eats) – Prawns with Spicy Peri-Peri Sauce. Or maybe crab and mutaba (casava leaves). Or maybe fresh lobster. Take your pick — The array for seafood is unmatched!
The one “food” to stay away from is Mozambique’s own Tipotino Rum & Raspberry soda — called and R&R. Man this is deadly! At least I think it was…I don’t quite remember…
SEE (Must-see Sights) –Whale Watching. Luckily, it was still humpback whale season while I was there in October. On the morning of my birthday, I was up early and I got to see a juvenile humpback breeching in the waters right off shore.
Where I was standing on the beach, I could see the young one leap again and again into the air. What a birthday present!
SHOP (Gotta Have) – Seashell Bracelets. I know, I know, I have quite the collection of bracelets at this point! But what’s one more? So cute with the woven cowry shells and bright beads! Perfect bikini accessory!
ACTIVITY (Gotta Do) – Snorkeling with Whale Sharks. There are only a few places in the world where you can swim with whale sharks…Baja California, the Philippines, and Australia. Lucky for me, Mozambique is also one of the top spots (and the cheapest!).
Admittedly, I got a little scared once I was in the water with these gentle beasts, but once I got accustomed to their enormous size and I swam right along beside them. Truly a treat!
Want to know more about whale sharks? Read: Save Big Fish!
GIVE (Greatest Need) – Stop Shark Finning. Mozambique has incredibly rich marine life, with an estimated 122 species of shark and ray found along its coastal waters. Unfortunately, the wide array of sharks and rays have attracted the finning industry.
The attraction is the shark’s fin, which is used in a soup served at ceremonial events in Asia. With Asian waters already depleted — Southeast Asia has seen a 99% reduction of some finned species – fisheries are turning to the east African coast.
The sharks and rays are caught using long-lining and other imported fishing gear. The fisheries are small and mobile and operate away from monitored areas. It’s estimated that the illegal catch of finned species is 3-4 times larger than the reported number. Sharks are effectively being treated as a non-renewable resource.
Eyes on the Horizon is a marine conservation organization dedicated to protecting the marine life of Mozambique and uplifting local communities through environmental educational programs. Interested in helping save Mozambique’s marine life? Get involved at http://www.eoth.org.
ENJOY (Extra Fun) – Surfing! As y’all know, for my birthday each year I try and learn something new. This year I took a surfing lesson with my buddy Clayton. He was a really good teacher, even though I was a mediocre student.
Watch me as I prepare for my lesson:
Can’t see this video? Clink on this link: Erin Surfing – http://youtu.be/90KtFVb54w8
Now do you understand why I wanted to return to Mozambique? It is truly a fun and fabulous place! Be sure and check it out during your next overseas trip — but I warn you, you may not want to come back!
Tags: Africa, Mozambique, surfing
This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 and is filed under Africa, Messages by Country.