If you follow my blog, you may remember that last year, around about this time, I did a road trip around Malawi in a Mini Countryman, a trip that was succinctly called ‘Malawi in a Mini‘ (check out my Malawi in a Mini blogs here if you want to read about the trip).

The next African ‘M’ country to tackle in the Countryman is Mozambique. It’s time for Mozam in a Mini.

Mozambique is not known for its decent roads, and most people think that they can only travel to Mozam in a jacked-up 4×4. I’m going to prove them wrong by getting off the beaten track as much as possible in a Mini. Having been there last in early 2010 when much of the EN1, the main national highway, was a sandpit, I have a surprisingly low amount of trepidation about the trip. In fact, I’m overly excited. Here’s why:

This weekend I’m going to be driving to Mozambique from Johannesburg (with my boyfriend Joe as my travelling companion and handy Swiss army knife carrier),  stopping off in Maputo for some prawns in the famous fish market, a sundowner at the Polana and a spot of clubbing, before heading north to Chidenguele. I’ve heard good things about this new up-and-coming spot on the coast next to a lagoon, so I’m going to check it out. Sounds like it’s going to be hard work: canoeing, windsurfing, kayaking, snorkelling and diving are on offer, and I’ll have to try them all out (for the sake of research).

Then it’s on to Quissico, to stay at an eco lodge that looks like something out of a Robinson Crusoe movie (in a good way), followed by some laidback beach vibes at Guinjata Bay, near Inhambane. Tofo, or Mozam backpacker central, is our next spot – where we plan to do yoga and surfing lessons, snorkel with whale sharks, ride horses on the beach and drink a lot of 2M beers. I’ve heard about an awesome backpackers an hour north of Vilanculos, where the beach is pratically deserted and the seafood braais immense, so we’ll head up there next.

As much as I love staying in backpackers, there’s nothing like a bit of luxury to round off a trip, so we’re spending a couple of days at a lodge on Benguerra Island in the Bazaruto Archipelago, which promise to be filled with snorkelling, massages, umbrella-clad cocktails and beach picnics. We’ll soak up as much island goodness as possible before making the long haul back down to Joburg in two days.

I don’t deny that I have a very cool job.

I’ll be tweeting and instagramming from the road, so if you’re keen to check out how the trip unfolds, follow me and the hashtag (#MozaminaMini) on Twitter, or follow me on Instagram.

View Mozambique in a Mini in a larger map

 

Have you been to southern Mozambique recently? I’d love to hear your tips on the roads, places to stay, cool spots to check out and fun things to do!

Tags: Malawi in a mini, Mini, mozam in a mini, mozambique, mozambique in a mini, overlanding