Travel: Desert Island Safari. Quirimbas National Park, Mozambique (part 2)

This follows http://travelhappinesslife.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/travel-quirimbas-national-park.html

After a couple of days at the lovely Ibo Island Lodge it was time to embark on our 'dhow safari'. A dhow is a traditional wooden sailing boat and we had our own plus a crew of two and Harris - our tour guide. 

The plan was to sail from Ibo to Materno and then to Magundula (uninhabited) via an island not shown in the map, Quirimise. 

Day 1

We set off from Ibo to Materno Island and on the way stopped at a sandbank for lunch. It was quite surreal to be on an inland of sand in the Indian Ocean. We also had our first snorkel. 

We arrived at our camp at Materno Island just in time for sunset and after a shower it was bonfire time and then dinner produced by the wonderful chefs.Being someone not keen on camping, the tents were great. You could stand up in them and beds were provided too. I must admit I probably had some of my best night's sleeps of recent years whilst camping.

Day 2

Sunrise is at 5.15 am in Mozambique and after coffees we headed out for a snorkel on a coral reef at 6.00am. Despite having an underwater camera, it was really difficult to get decent shots of the fish and coral. You'll have to do with some humans...and a star fish. 

Harris our guide jumping in

After snorkelling on the reef and breakfast back on Materno it was time to pack up and sail to our next island, Quirimise. On Quirimise we had a tour of the local village and met some locals. Unsurprisingly our visit attracted the attention of the children who followed us around whilst trying to hold our hands.

Day 3

It was a bit overcast as we sailed to our very own uninhabited desert island, owned by the Ibo Island Lodge. On the way we caught site of some dolphins and then went snorkelling. Mogundula was amazing. As the tide retreated a beach was born.

Day 4

We were up early for more snorkelling before breakfast and it was the best reef we'd snorkelled on. Trulu amazing colours and fish. As we pulled back into Mogundula there were many men on the beach fishing. 

With permission from Laura Cook Photography

Finally we were able to get the sails up on the dhow and we sailed back to Materno for our last night. We hadn't seen it with the tide in so it was great to spend some time in the beautiful turquoise sea.

And apart from the enormous seafood banquet that was laid on on the final night, and our boast journey back to Ibo Island, the dhow safari was finished. 

A very special trip. 

Travel: Quirimbas National Park, Mozambique (part 1)

For our last holiday before moving to Sierra Leone (We fly on Saturday 31st August) and also as a 40th birthday present to myself we treated ourselves to a trip to Mozambique and particularly the Quirimbas National Park in the north of the country.

The trip plan was to fly to Ibo Island from Pemba and stay at Ibo Island Lodge for two nights. Then we would go on a 'dhow' safari and sail and camp on a number of the islands on our own boat (with crew) for four nights before returning to the lodge for 3 nights and then the long journey home.

The excitement started at Pemba airport when we boarded our three seater plane for the 20 minute journey to Ibo Island. Flying over these beautiful islands was just amazing.

  

From Ibo airport (above) it was a short drive to The Lodge which was a fantastic former colonial building with large rooms and high ceilings decorated stylishly with 'period' furniture. Food was excellent - I particularly enjoyed breakfast when as one of the waiters said "the sky is the limit". You haven't reckoned with me I thought.

We spent some time walking around the very safe town of Ibo guided by one of the staff from the lodge. One of the most impressive features for me was that fact the island had electricity and is wired to the national grid. 

On the walk we unsurprisingly attracted the attention of some young children who wanted to walk and hold our hands. Some wanted and even grabbed at Laura's red hair and white skin to see what it felt like. Our friend Sam was even bolder and responded to a request by happily giving a boy his sunglasses to wear. It was the last time he saw them. I laughed.

Ibo Island Lodge

The Historical/Cultural Tour pre sunglasses theft.

The two evenings before our dhow safari also offered us some great sunset viewings.

Next up: The desert island dhow safari. 

http://travelhappinesslife.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/travel-desert-island-safari-quirimbas.html

Travel: The Lofoten Islands, Norway

The Lofoten Islands sit within the Arctic Circle off the west coast of Norway in the Norweigan Sea. Despite being 'arctic' the islands have the largest positive temperature anomaly in the world relative to latitude. This is a result of the Gulf Stream and its extensions: the North Atlantic Current and the Norwegian Current. 

There are many attractions to the Lofoten islands including fishing, whale watching, kayaking and cycling and for many the sheer beauty of the islands.

I took a boat from Bodø (which is also the end of the main rail line travelling north) to Svolvaer (only runs summer) (pictures below) before plumping for the Lofoten Hostel in Kabelvag, not far from the the ferry terminal.

I decided to use the public transport on the islands and got the local bus from Svolvaer to the end of the line and back. It was a stunning journey and well worth the 6 hour round trip.

One of the stops I made was in Reine which in its time has been named "the most beautiful place in the world". I wouldn't want to make such a bold statement but it really was beautiful. I was so pleased that I had good weather as the task I had set myself was to get the same picture as in the guidebook. I succeeded (below).

Here are a few more of Reine.