Tag: Mozambique

A Bed in Tofo Beach – Mozambeat Motel Review
Tofo Beach (Praia de Tofo) is the lively heart of Mozambique’s casual tourism scene. From the town’s crescent of golden sand you can dive, surf and search for whale sharks (and even whales in the right season). Visiting Tofo Beah gives you not only some very cool experiences but some cool bragging rights too. During your stay, you will want to stay in somewhere just as cool; enter Mozambeat Motel.

Location

Mozambeat Motel is set on a bluff 10 -15 minutes walk from the centre of Tofo Beach. It is not a very big town, so it feels quite out of the way, but 10 minutes walk really wasn’t far. It can be a slightly confusing walk when you first arrive as it is up a sandy track. We got a taxi from the bus drop off for our first journey. However, walking back into town, and from then on, the walk was really easy.

A Look Around Mozambeat Motel

Our Room

We were given the George Clinton Suite (yes, the funk guy) and apologies were made as it “Isn’t as nice a room”. Well, we loved it so the others must be pretty epic. It was a brick building with a thatched roof. It was the furthest from the main building and so no one needed to walk past. That meant a nice quiet stay.

In fact, all of the rooms at Mozambeat Motel are separate units which eradicates a hostels worst trait, noisy neighbours. Each room is named for a musical artist. I didn’t really know who George Clinton was, but from our sign, I realised that he was in an episode of How I Met Your Mother. OK, so my musical knowledge may be lacking, but my US sitcom knowledge is on point!

The George Clinton room has two double beds so it is ideal for two couples or close friends…or two people who like to have lots of room. The beds were nice and big, as well as very comfortable.

The beds

In the room, we were given a funky, Mozambican print bathrobe each. It was the addition of these little touches that elevated this above my expectations. On the shelves were bottles of drinking water and a book full of information. In the book, we read all about the hotel’s facilities and services, the local area and the activities that were available.

The details

The Bathroom

There was a downside to the bathroom. The wall didn’t reach the ceiling so you could hear everything that was going on in there from the room. As a couple, that isn’t so bad, but if we were four friends sharing…it may be a little too intimate. Mind you, if you have been travelling together or a while, you may have seen worse.

There was a nice collection of toiletries, again, something that I wasn’t expecting. These went down very well in the rain shower.

Bathroom sink

Other Room Options

As well as the kind of suite we were in, you will also have the option of:
- A 10-bed dorm with an en suite bathroom. The dorm only has a fan but each bunk bed has a mosquito net.
- Three tents with double beds, ideal for couples. There is an outside shower for these tents.
- The private suites for 2 – 5 people. These all have air conditioning and an outside shower, as well as an outside area with a hammock/chairs. We were originally booked in one of these but had to change our dates.
There was also a separate bathroom block for those in the tents and dorms that was clean and well-maintained).

The bathroom block

Tents

A private suite

The Pool

A hostel with a pool? Yes, they do exist!

Here at Mozambeat Motel, there is a surprisingly big pool which Mr Fluskey enjoyed splashing about in. I was sitting on my sun lounger and enjoying my milkshakes too much to join him. I’ll tell you more about the milkshake later!

The pool has a swim up bar but I think it is only in action at high season.

The Main Building

Part reception, part bar, the bottom floor of the main building is a social space for all. It’s surprisingly well-stocked was a delight and I suppose, that is how they are able to host fun parties.

Colourful vibes

Upstairs from the was a common room with wooden tables and chairs, giant wooden sofas and even swing seats. It was a very nice place to relax. and thank goodness! Our second day in Tofo was a washout. A very unseasonable storm came and dropped the temperature, as well as s several inches of rain. Instead of sunbathing and surfing at the beach, we spend the day huddled under blankets on one the sofas, using and abusing the wifi. There are open sides to this area, and the wind made the corrugated walls rattle, but it was weirdly cosy with most of the hotel’s residents up there. Wednesday is movie night at Mozambeat Motel and so as the sun set, we snuggled down to watch Book Club.

Upstairs

This area is used for film screenings

Dining

Food Offerings

The food at Mozambeat Motel is a pretty international but with a Mozambican heart. You will find peri-peri chicken, and curries alongside the toasties, burgers and salads.

We ordered a prego roll (after seeing it on the Nando’s menu for so many years, i was curious). It was huge and so delicious. The Portuguese roll was really light and crunchy. Accompanying it were perfect chips. They were salty, crispy and totally moreish.; the perfect post-swim munchies.

During the chilly movie night, I had a big bowl of spaghetti bolognese. Comfort food time and it was just right. It came with a big handful of cheese on the top. It may have been a bit heavy in the heat but it was great for the cold, and for any homesick Brits! I also glugged down many a coffee to stay warm. Happily, their cappuccinos were great!

There was loads of fresh seafood on the menu, at a reasonable price, but we were on a budget kick and chose to spend our pennies on “the milkshake of joy” (its unofficial Flying Fluskey name).

“The Milkshake of Joy”

Now, I don’t want to oversell this, but Mozambeat Motel do a milkshake that is chocolate brownie and Amarula flavour. It is my favourite milkshake in the whole wide world and I want the recipe! I must have slurped my way through four or five in two days.

Check out all our travels in Africa

4 Reasons to Love Mozambeat Motel

1.) The morning after services

Just let the reception staff know that you are suffering and they will being painkillers and a big bottle of water to you. You can also order breakfast in bed so you don’t have to leave your room. They are magical hangover fairies!

2.) The Friday night parties – These may be the cause of your hangover.

Every Friday is music night at Mozambeat Motel. The bar plays some epic tunes and anyone is welcome to join, you don’t have to be a guest.

3.) The Connections

Check the book in your room or ask the reception staff, and you’ll find out about the discount with Peri-Peri divers. This dive centre runs snorkelling, dives, courses, ocean safaris and lots of other water-based activities. Just for staying at Mozambeat Motel, you receive a discount.

4.) Did I mention the milkshake?

Check out all our accomodation reviews including budget, midrange and luxury

Final Thoughts

If you are thinking of visiting Mozambeat Motel, here is some information you might like to know:
- You can find the best prices and lots more information on the Mozambeat Motel website.
- Tofo Beach is located 4.5 hours drive south of Mozambique‘s Vilanculos airport. You can also fly to Inhambane airport and then it is just 30 mins by road. There are direct flights to Vilanculos from Johannesburg with South African Airways or you could connect through Maputo with LAM.
- We caught a bus direct from Johannesburg airport which took 16 hours. It was with a company called Tours2moz and was very easy!
Mozambeat Motel may be sold on hostel websites, but there are some touches which are much more like a boutique hotel. I wonder if the moniker “Motel” sells it a little short. I think that it is perfect for flashpackers. It has the fun and personality of a hostel, but those touches, plus the pool (plus the milkshake) bring it to a different level. It is a top choice for your stay in Tofo Beach!

This post is in collaboration with Mozambeat Motel, but all opinions, views and words are my own.

Rosie xx

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15/01/2019
Swimming with Whale Sharks in Mozambique – Liquid Dive Adventures
Come to Tofo Beach, and you will hear two phrases that are intrinsically linked; “Megafauna” and “Ocean Safari”. It was these two things that brought us to Mozambique. We were determined to make 2018 the year we went swimming with whale sharks in Mozambique.

What is Megafauna?

Megafauna means big animals, and in Tofo Beach that means:
- Manta Rays
- Dolphins
- Turtles
- Humpback Whales
- Sharks
- And the thing that brought us here, Whale Sharks
A few operators around town offer the chance to join them on an ocean safari to spot, and hopefully meet these amazing animals. We were drawn to Liquid Dive Adventures for both their safaris, and their trendy accommodation.

Read all about our accomodation at Liquid Dive Adventures, and diving with them in our full Liquid Dive Adventure Review.

Preparations for the Ocean Safari

On arrival at Liquid Dive Adventures, we were given an explanation of how the trip would run. They took us through safety points for both us, and the animals. In the right season, humpback whales enter the bay. If you meet these guys, you are not allowed to get into the water, but with everyone else, you can slide in carefully.

We were kitted out with a snorkel and mask, and a shorty wet suit. It was a very hot day, and it seemed slightly mad to be wearing black neoprene, but once we were wet and zipping across the surface of the sea, the wind cooled us quickly.

The Boat

In Tofo Beach, all the operators use rigid inflatable boats (RIBs). These are structured speed boats with inflatable sides. They all live on the beach until they are launched…..by tractor. That was something I wasn’t expecting; a farm vehicle chugging its way into the sea foam.

The Launch Plan

The whole group helps push the boat, bow first, into the waves. When it’s afloat, the captain shouts “Group one”, and the ladies (or shorter members of the group) scramble aboard. There is no delicate way to do this, you just flop over the sides. The rest of the group pushes it onward, and when they are chest deep, the captain will shout at them to clamber aboard. It’s then up to the captain to chart the boat through the breakers.

On Board

We sat on either side of the boat, slotted our feet into loops on the boat’s floor, and held onto ropes that ran along the side. On the first outing, the sea was pretty still so we didn’t have to hang on, but on our second go out, the waves were a little rougher. We hung on for the whole trip. On board with us, we had a spotter, a guide and the captain. They made sure we were alright throughout the entire trip.

Mr Fluskey and I have a very special skill. We can locate the area on a boat that will get the most wet, and plonk ourselves there, like…well…plonkers! We are often dripping and wet through, whilst those around us have experienced a mild sprinkling at worst. Well we took that skill and made the most of it on our second trip out. The spray from the waves kept us permanently soaking, with sea water in our eyes and mouths. Mind you, it was TOTALLY worth it…read on to find out why.

Spotting Sealife

Bottlenose Buddies

On our first trip out, we were lucky enough to encounter a small pod of bottlenose dolphins. Everyone grabbed their snorkels and hastily shoved them over their heads. We slipped into the water with a minimum of splash, as instructed, and swam frantically under the water to locate them. It was an amazing moment when they zoomed out of the hazy water.

 

The dolphins looked so relaxed, but their tails must be incredibly strong as they totally outpaced us, even the baby!

Did you know?

When a dolphin has a baby (a pup, or calf), the whole pod looks after it

We got to meet these guys three times before they finally zoomed off into the blue. It was amazing!

Take Two

Our second trip out didn’t go so well. The boat was buffeted by strong winds and waves. The boat had left the relative calm of the bay and gone around the headland into the unprotected coastal waters. We had to go against the swell, which meant that Mr Fluskey and I were wet and cold (because, of our special skill). A couple of boats passed us, going in the opposite direction with the news of a whale shark sighting. We would never have caught up, and so despite the captains and spotter’s best efforts, we gave up.

“We could go for a snorkel in an area with lots of gorgeous colourful fish”, said the guide. There was a general murmur of ascent. This was our last shot at seeing a whale shark, and it was the same for the girl next to us. “This is what makes nature so interesting, you jut never know what’s going to happen”, we muttered begrudgingly.

Whale Shark Win 1

Our boat was riding the waves back towards the bay when our guide jumped up excitedly. “Get in the water! Whale shark”, he cried. We all blinked at him, confused a little bedraggled. It took a few seconds to realise what he had said, but when it had sunk in, we all made a dive for our abandoned snorkelling masks. Into the water we slid, pulses racing and adrenaline pumping. Again, we spun around, searching the ocean for the signature spotted back of the whale shark.

Our first encounter

Beautiful markings

On our first encounter, I looked entirely the wrong way and it swum past me. I spent the next few minutes desperately trying to keep up with the group, and mostly getting a face full of bubbles. Everyone was kicking so furiously to keep up with the huge shark, that their flippers left huge trails of white foam in their wake.

Whale Shark Win 2

When everyone ran out of puff, we were hauled back on board, elated and exhausted. Our guide, smiling wryly, asked if we wanted to go again! The second encounter was over almost as soon as it began. As we climbed into the sea, the whale shark sped off. We caught the barest glance of it before it was swallowed up by the sea.

Did You Know?

Whale sharks are the biggest fish in the sea. They are not whales at all…but they are sharks.

Whale Shark Win 3

Once more we flopped onto the boat. The guide said we could have one more go so again we donned our masks and into the water we dove.

This time, I clocked the magnificent beast almost straight away and managed to get slightly ahead of it. I began to pump my legs as hard as I could and turned the Go Pro on. Here is the footage we managed to get. It is a little shaky but it makes me so happy every time I look at it!

I still can’t get over how he looks so calm, like he is hardly moving, but I know that a swipe of that tail would knock you for six. Just listen to me huffing and puffing, it sort of ruins the zen-like atmosphere.

Did You Know?

Whale sharks use their whole body to swim, not just their tails.

We were told afterwards, that our shark was just a juvenile. They tend to be just 6-8 metres long when they hang out around Mozambique, and it’s almost exclusively juvenile males. I mean, I thought he was pretty huge so it was good enough for me!

Did You Know?

Whale sharks can grow more than 12m long.

Back To Dry Land

The way to get the boat back on to the beach is rather thrilling! Everyone is told to hang on, and the captain guns the engine. You are hurtled towards the beach, riding the waves like a surfer, until it all comes to an abrupt halt. To be honest, when they were telling us about “re-entry”, it made me rather nervous, but it was nowhere near as bad as I imagined. Out you all jump, and then the RIB is dragged up the sand by that trusty tractor.

Why Was I SO Obsessed by Swimming with Whale Sharks in Mozambique?

Donsol

So 2018 started out as the year we were going to go swimming with whale sharks in The Philippines. We had made plans to visit an area called Donsol. There is a famous area called Oslob, on the Southern tip of Cebu, but there have been reports of feeding the whale sharks, and the boats injuring the creatures. Donsol is a much more ethical operation. However, the volcano at the nearby Legazpi airport kept coughing up ash and smoke, so the flights were too dubious.

Read all about our travels around The Philippines including Boracay, Palawan and El Nido

Hanifaru Bay

2018 then became the year we were going to go swimming with whale sharks in The Maldives. We were all set to swim with manta rays and whale sharks in an area chock-full of plankton…but we got there a month early. The internet had got it wrong and we really couldn’t afford to hang out in The Maldives for a month soooo……..

Read all about our trip to The Maldives

Mozambique

That is how 2018 became the year I went slightly bananas and determined that we would get to Mozambique for three days and make it happen! We WOULD go swimming with whale sharks in Mozambique!! (That is why we went out twice).

Information

If you are thinking of swimming with whale sharks in Mozambique, here is some information you might like to know.
- We took our ocean safaris with Liquid Dive Adventures.
- We also dived, and stayed with them, and they were top notch in every respect.
- Check out Marine Mega Fauna Foundation’s website to learn all about the amazing work they are doing in Mozambique.
Final Thoughts

After swimming with whale sharks in Mozambique, we were all absolutely buzzing, with grins a mile wide. Sure, it was up to nature whether or not we saw a whale shark. Sure, it wasn’t the ONLY reason we had visited Mozambique, but it was really wasn’t it!

I couldn’t be more thrilled that we got to go swimming with a whale shark, eventually. It also meant a wonderful trip to an under-rated destination. I wholeheartedly think that if you are heading south of the equator, you should take a detour and explore Mozambique; the jungle, the food, the beach and most importantly of all, the sea.

Our time with Liquid Dive Adventures was sponsored but all opinions are our own, and it really was top notch!

Rosie xx

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13/01/2019
A Bed in Tofo Beach – Liquid Dive Adventures Review
If you are visiting Tofo Beach (Praia de Tofo) in Mozambique, chances are you have come for the beach. Sure, you could lie and bake on the sand all day, but if you really want to make the most of this wonderfully laid-back retreat, you’ll need to slip below the waves. We decided to do just that and found out that the company we decided to dive with also had their own accommodation. We booked in for two days. Keep reading to find out all about our time with Liquid Dive Adventures.

Location

You couldn’t get much closer to the beach than Liquid Dive Adventures. Just steps from the sand, and just five minutes from the central market of Tofo Beach, Liquid Dive Adventures has an enviable location.

This was the view from our patio doors.

A Look Around Liquid Dive Adventures

Our Room

Now I wasn’t expecting to come across Scandi-style simplicity in Mozambique but the clean lines and monochrome paint scheme of Liquid Dive Adventures was just that. Each block (we were in no.8) runs perpendicular to the beach. Our patio doors opened to the surf and our own sunbeds..not that we had time to use them!

Room 8

Inside Room 8

Gosh, I am a sucker for trendy lamp!

The interiors were very simple with concrete walls and floor. At the back of the room, there were two large shelves for our bags. The first time we tracked sand into the room this all made sense. Much easier to keep it out of a concrete-floored room and the bags out of sand’s way! There was good air-conditioning but if you are after a more natural experience, you could always just open the doors onto the beach and have the mosquito net down over the bed. The colour scheme was all black and white which I thought was very classy and made a lovely contrast to the bright beach colours through the doors.

The bed had quite thin mattresses, more like foam pads and it two of them pushed together. We don’t mind that but I know it can upset some couples. I was surprised at how comfortable I found it. It was a real wrench to get up horrifically early to leave it…more on that later.

Mosquito net is essential

Bathroom

Again, simplicity is the word here. There was a small sink, a toilet and shower. The shower was strong and hot, perfect for a post-dive scrub. There was soap provided but no other toiletries. To be honest, with all that sun, sand and sea water, you will probably want to bring some more specialist toiletries anyway.

The shower wasn’t dirty, just in need of a lick of paint.

My issue with the room was the windows that run along the top of the wall. There is no way to block light out. I am an awful sleeper unless it is very dark, so if I didn’t need to be up early for a dive or the like, then this would definitely disturb me.

Reception and Dive Area

Unlike most hotels, the reception at Liquid Dive Adventures is always buzzing with activity. You are more likely to see someone dashing through in a swimming costume than a bell boy uniform tough. This is mission control for all of the excursions that Liquid Dive Adventures offers. There is a white board that is in constant use, mapping dives, explaining procedures and for general doodling.

Dive sites around Tofo

Reception sells sea sickness pills for the weak of tummy

Time to go diving!

Changing rooms and bathrooms for divers

Wetsuits drying

Diving gear

Diving gear

Swimming Pool

OK, so there is a pool but it is not always available for leisure use. It is used for diving instruction, and so you are more than likely going to find streams of bubbles popping on the surface. Lurking below are the students practising the skills required to earn those PADI certifications. However, you can lounge around it all day, and with the sea just a two-minute walk down the sand, you can cool off easily whenever you need to.

The pool area

Dining

The restaurant on site is called Happi Restaurant, open for breakfast and staying open for food until early evening. The menu at Happi is focused on healthy vegetarian and vegan fare. Every day, alongside their delicious permanent dishes, they have several specials and these are always fresh and interesting.

After a morning’s diving, I always want something hot and salty, so I opted for the vegan burger. Everyone was ordering the salad, which looked great, but I’m just not that kind of girl! The burger was tasty, with a very flavourful filling and an epic Portuguese-style bun but I missed a sauce element. I guess that vegan mayonnaise isn’t a thing yet.

Unfortunately, we had to leave early in the morning, 04:30 to be exact(!), so we didn’t get a chance to try the breakfast. I was particularly sad about this as the pictures on TripAdvisor show delicious looking waffles, pancakes, fruit and cream. If only we didn’t have to catch that minibus!

Don’t believe us? Don’t just take our word for it, Happi is incredibly well rated on Tripadvisor.

Activities

We did two different activities with Liquid Adventure Dive.

Ocean Safari

There was simply too much write about the ocean safari so I did a whole separate blog post about it:

Check out our amazing ocean safari and why we loved swimming with whale sharks in Mozambique…there’s a video too!

Diving

We started the day as a big group, all jumping into the same boat. However, when we reached the Salon dive site we were split into smaller groups, each with their own guide. This is the first time we have had this experience and it was a lovely way to dive.

Our guide Bryan, who also checked us in, was a lovely guy who took great care of us. We enjoy diving but we are definitely fair weather divers. You won’t find us squeezing into wetsuits and plunging into the freezing North Sea just to keep our log book full. This means that we are always a bit nervous when we strap on our gear again. He made us feel totally comfortable, along with the support staff at the hotel.

The coast of Mozambique is one of the best for diving in Africa. The water is warm, visibility is good (most of the time) and the flora & fauna is interesting. We hadn’t done that much dive research and so we didn’t really know what there was to see. We were pleasantly surprised.

Fish darted in schools amongst the rocks and they came in all shapes and sizes. We also saw a small stingray that flapped lazily away from us. He really wasn’t bothered about us, but I enjoyed seeing him very much.

Yellow fish

A school of fish that ayed with us

A lovely angel fish

Starfish!

More fish

Lionfish

At one point Bryan spotted a nudibranch (pronounced nudey-brank) and excitedly brought us over to have a look. These sea slugs come in hundreds of different variations, each a different colour, pattern and shape. They are known as the Pokemon of the sea. Gotta catch ’em all! (Although, please just leave them where they are, so maybe “Gotta spot em all!”) I’m not going to lie, my rubbish eyes failed me, as they so often do whilst diving, but I did snap a picture of the luminous green chap to have a closer look at later.

This quality is pretty bad, but this guy was TINY

I had to look at more of these little guys and came across this video. They are SO weird and I understand why he got excited now.

We all joined up to do our safety stop. This is normally my least favourite but of a dive, it is usually pretty dull. However, on this dive, Bryan was teaching us little tricks with bubbles and Mr Fluskey discovered he could do underwater somersaults so I was kept entertained.

Spot the upside down idiot!

We were on a beginners reef but if we were more experienced, or had more time, we would have visited a dive site with a better chance of seeing larger sea creatures (turtles/sharks etc)

Information

If you are considering a diving trip to Tofo Beach, then here is some information you might like to know:
- To see the best deals and more information about Liquid Dive Adventures then Liquid Dive Adventures website.
- Liquid Dive Adventures offers lots of diving options from fun dives to full PADi courses and even free diving.
- If you don’t want dive, you can do an ocean safari, kayak or sailing boat trips.
- The fasttest way to reach Tofo is by plane. Flights arrive at Vilanculos (4 hours drive away) and Inhambane (45 mins drives) daily. The best jumping off point in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- For a longer but cheaper option, Tours2Moz runs a minibus directly from Johannesburg airport to Tofo Beach.
- For those on a tight budget, you can get local buses from South Africa to Tofo, via Maputo.
Final Thoughts

Check out our amazing ocean safari and why we loved swimming with whale sharks in Mozambique.

We have been to scuba camps/resorts before but one so trendy as this. Liquid Dive Adventures is an intriguing mix. Part North European simplicity with its clean lines and monochrome styling and part laid back beach hangout. Paired with delicious fresh food, and enthusiastic staff and it becomes rather addictive. We would have liked to stay much longer, dived a lot more and taken in a bit more Mozambican sun. Maybe one day we will get the chance to return? I do hope so!

This post was in collaboration with Liquid Dive Adventures but all opinons are entirely our own.

Rosie xx

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11/01/2019