TRIP TO MOZAMBIQUE

[Dr Chris]

Hi All,
Again and again I am astounded by the reliability and brilliant way in which our Patrol coped with potholes, sand, tracks, wet weather etc, in out latest journey to Mozambique from 18-04-2011 returning 02-05-2011.
Our local interest while camping at Zavora Lodge, focussed on side fishing, but this turned out to be a miserable exercise and NOBODY (I mean all on the beaches, surf, rocks etc.) caught anything! Even the locals.
It is my firm conviction the next time I would rather fly to Moz, spend a day in a chartered boat trip and fish, and return the next day, as it seems as if we spent a lot of money and effort (roads, cops, speed limits etc.) which could be avoided? (But the fun and social life with our group was fantastic.)

Much debate over many laurentinas and 2M's and even the locals acknowledged that the fishing is generally getting poorer by the month. The reasons are varied and many, but it seems as if the tides, the massive influence of global warming (evidence of this is clearly visible on old photos in the pub taken 50 years ago) and the rape of the sea by commercial fishing vessels all seem to have an adverse effect. As one of our (very) experienced fishermen said, he hates cutting off good bait (ala crayfish, prawns, chokka etc.) at the end of the day!

The journey ended over the last 3 says at Kozi, which was great, and anybody who has not been there should really make the effort - it is magic in every way!

Patrol wise, the only thing that we experienced was that the tail light fell out of the shoddy bumper housing, and this also seemed to be related to brake light failure, that is currently being sorted. Otherwise, I just seem to never spend any major costs (except petrol!) on the patrol and love it!

Also I think everybody should experience the ferry crossing at Maputo, awesome how they pack the vehicles in!
And the 'tracks' from Maputo to the border post befoe Kozi was never to be missed!

No trailer made a somewhat better change to our journey. Unfortunately our camera broke down too!

Regards,
Chris

[Jules]

Hallo Dok

Jammer oor die vis, friends of mine went to Zavora Lodge about 4 years ago and they caught mega plenty fish. Ons het die paasnaweek die Bonanza Visvang kompetisie hier te Richardsbaai gehad, ek het die saterdag gaan kyk en daar het nogals mooi Geelvin Tuna uitgekom die grootste een was 85kg, 5kg kort van n Nissan bakkie wen.

Kosibaai is great especially driving the channels in a boat it is awesome, late afternoon sundowners with n kingfisher catching little vissies give you great photographic opportunities.

Yip travellin up north in Moz is quite an experience, but before I venture there again I must visit Richtersveld and Khalagadi.

Shalom
Jules

[Dr Chris]

Hi Jules,
Baie dankie - ek moet herken dat die weer was baie mooi en heerlik! Die hele kwessie van visvang is lank bespreek, en kommerwekkend daarby!
Terloops, jy het weereens beklemtoon die ou geseg van 'tuis bes' miskien? Ons is van plan in die toekoms om nie so ver to ry nie, and te mik weer vir die 'Olifant se kus' streek! Zululand se kus streke is ook baie lekker soos jy waargeneem het met die visvang? Was dit met skibote?
Ek stem volkome saam, Kgalagadi bly nog n goeie plek om weer to gaan besoek afle, (ek was in 2001 daar, met my ou L/R), en moenie vergeet van die wilde kus nie! En, Henties bly nog in my verkyker!!

When we were kids we used to holiday at Cape Aghulas, as my famiiy all lived in that region, and fishing was unbelievably good with Gans baai, Struisbaai, SkulpiesBaai, die walle, etc.! Even perlemoen, allikrik, elf (ala shad) and the famous galjoen were daily on our table!
But I now hear that all fishing is strictly controlled!?

Mooi ry en groete,
Chris.

[JG Shields]

Dr Chris,

Dis lekker om jou verslaggie oor die trip te lees. Mosambiek het iets spesiaal aan hom wat tropiese kus liefhebbers altyd daarheen sal trek. Ongelukkig is dit so dat onverantwoordelike kommersialisering baie van die opwinding daar dood smoor.

Jou visvang ervaring (min vir) is 'n feit. Ek glo ons gaan in die volgende paar jaar wesenlike veranderinge sien plaasvind in die voorkoms/gedrag van see lewe om ons kus gebiede. Ons was gedurende Desember ook by die Moz kus en die see was morsdood vir ongeveer 5 dae. Een oggend het ons opgestaan en die see het gewemel van die vis...asof hulle almal iewers weg was vir 'n konferensie. Ek sal graag wil weet by die marine spesialiste wat dit veroorsaak. Hierdie verskynsel gaan maak dat jy dieselfde ervaring met jou "in-vlieg" trip gaan kry. Een keer gaan jy baie vis vang en volgende keer gaan jy ook maar niks kry nie.

Ek moet byvoeg dat daar darem nog 'n paar weggesteekte plekkies is langs die kus van Moz wat iets besonders inhou. Jy het toevallig baie naby aan een verby gery.

Lekker beplan aan die volgende trip!

[Kagiso II]

Dr Chris ... het een van daai Moz mense jou kamera gesteel ????

[Dr Chris]

More Oom Mac,

Nee, die meganisme vir 'n ou battery vernandering het gelei tot probleme.
Ongelukkig was die batterye wat ek saam gevat het, nie van toepassing nie, (al was dit 'n Sony, maar ek dink dit was a "scam" tipe, wat ek oorsee gekoop het!)
Die engiste batterye wat ek plaaslik toe kon kry, was juis die goedkoop Eveready tipe, en interssant genoeg, ek het les geleer, toe ek weer in Durban aangekom het. Die ouens (Whysall's) het my vertel dat ek NOOIT die goedkoop tipe battery moet gebruik nie, want dit kan tot massiewe skade lei!
Dit lyk vir my asof ons altyd net die beste batterye (bv NiHM tipe) wat baie duurder is, (maar wat lank hou tot 300 pics neem), moet gebruik.
Hopelik goeie raad vir ons almal?
Terloops die kamera is nou piekfyn!

Groetenis,
Chris.