You don’t have to be a millionaire to holiday on a yacht. Reader Theo Schumann explored the islands of northern Mozambique using a home-made sailing kayak.
My family and I have lived on Ibo Island in northern Mozambique for the past seven years. My wife Mignonne and I work as missionaries. We live with the Mwani tribe – “mwani” means “people of the sea or tidal flats” – and indeed, day-to-day life runs according to the tides. At low tide, food like shellfish and octopus is harvested from the tidal pools.
“Kusi” is the Mwani word for the southerly wind that blows during the winter months. Many years ago, Arab traders used this wind to sail home, their dhows loaded with ivory, animal skins and slaves from East Africa. From October, the “Kaskazi” blows: a northerly wind that would usher the traders south back down the coast of Africa. After seven years on Ibo, I know these winds well!
I hatched a plan with my friend Andries Schwartz, also a missionary, to sail north on the Kusi from Ibo Island to the mouth of the Ruvuma River, on the border with Tanzania – about 240 km as the seagull flies, with about 30 islands along the way.
My friend Anli Asani and I had done a similar trip a year previously, sailing between Pemba and Mocímboa da Praia. As I sailed that time, I dreamt about exploring the islands even further north. Andries and I would also need sailboats this time around – nothing fancy, just a kayak that could catch the wind. So we each built one…
DAY 1 Safari ngema
We depart at high tide, watched by friends and family on the beach. “Safari ngema,” they say, which is Mwani for “safe travels”. Things go smoothly, but we’re soon aware of a few simple design faults on our boats. We fix these on Matemo Island.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 2016-Ausgabe von go! - South Africa.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 2016-Ausgabe von go! - South Africa.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Rolling out the big guns
If you're still scanning the horizon for a Chinese automotive invasion you're looking the wrong way. It's already happening, and the new GWM Tank is the off-road spearhead into the highly lucrative and hotly contested lifestyle market.
TAKE A HIKE
The beautiful agony of Tienuurkop
Time out in Dullies
A long weekend in Dullstroom is just long enough to make you realise you need to spend several more weekends here! There's food, drink, art and action in abundance. Here's your guide.
Gallivanting in the Galápagos!
The Galápagos Islands are on many a traveller's wish list. They were on Hanlie and Vivian Gericke's too, even though the price of visiting made their eyes water. Was it worth it? Read on...
BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN
How many times have you driven through a landscape and wished you could have seen it centuries ago? In 1811, the English artist and explorer, William John Burchell, travelled through South Africa. Join us as we follow in his footsteps.
Long live the Hibiscus Coast
The KZN South Coast is a national treasure. It's still the place to go if you want a classic seaside holiday complete with warm waves, cold beer, soft serve and good vibes. Here's your guide.
The island at the end of the earth
Imagine adlace-with the cleanest air arid:the clearest seawater, where_no human.oranimabwants to:harm you: A placewhere the climates balmy. year-round:-with a sekrhistory ahd wwild scenery. A place like this:exist8” and it’s called St Helena.
A day on the road
You never know what the road will bring. Toast Coetzer heads south on the N1 and discovers South Africa.
The wilder shore
The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...
A river runs through it
Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.