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mozman
Administrator
3356 Posts |
 Posted - 04/01/2010 : 13:37:10
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IF...
you are planning an independent trip to Mozambique:
- on your own and need a guide
- or in a group and need a guide
- or in your own 4x4 (or group of 4x4's)
- or in a hired 4x4 (or a group of 4x4's).
OR PERHAPS...
you would just like me to show you some of my favourite historical, scenic, wildlife, archaeological, beach or other 'secret' spots in Mozambique.
AND...
- you don't have your own camping, recovery, medical (and other) equipment.
- you DON’T want to go on the usual 'tired' guided tours.
- you DON’T want to visit just the usual 'trodden' tourist destinations.
- you DON'T want to have to drop off (or collect) the rental vehicle at the rental depot (I will do this for you).
- you DON’T want to bring along your own camping and safari equipment, food or anything other than your clothes, camera and curiosity.
- you DON’T want to spend time purchasing supplies and organizing meals for your trip.
BUT...
you DO have your own 4x4 vehicle (one or more) or will rent a 4x4 vehicle (one or more).
THEN…
Take me (and, if necessary, some or all of my equipment) with you (see my fee below).
Yes, it will still be completely your own trip, but I will help plan your route, budget and itinerary and can also supply all the necessary camping, safari and other useful equipment.
With due regard to your budget and schedule I can also offer advice and tips regarding choices of route, places of interest, accommodation options and advice regarding activities SUCH AS scuba diving, birding, natural and historical interest and dhow trips.
Before you arrive in Mozambique or South Africa I can buy supplies, plan meals and then arrange to collect you ANYWHERE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA in your OWN 4x4 OR RENTAL VEHICLE, allowing you to fly in to any part of Mozambique and its surrounding countries with all your land-based requirements already taken care of. I will meet you at the airport ready to go anywhere.
Why take me with you?
* This may be your first 'off-road' trip and you may not want to spend a lot of money on equipment.
* You may be on your own or concerned about the safety of your family members (my young sons have always joined my own trips without incident).
* I have my own ‘special spots’ in Mozambique that only I can show you.
* I have a huge knowledge of almost every aspect of Mozambique from tourism to tourmalines and from culture to calamities.
* My home language is English (and Afrikaans) but I speak Portuguese and can make myself understood in three other local languages (Tsonga/Changana, Sena and Swahili), as well as in German.
* In 1994, my first ‘Guide to Mozambique’ was published by Struik (Cape Town) and my ‘Globetrotter Guide to Mozambique’ (New Holland) is now in its 4th edition and I am continually updating it.
* I have a full set of the Mozambique 1: 250 000 topographic maps, as well as many of the 1: 50 000 sheets, and I know how to use them. Yes we can still get lost, but only if I want you to.
* I can give you the added security and peace of mind that comes with traveling with ‘an old Africa hand’ who is comfortable dealing with situations and discomforts such as malaria, water purification, river crossings, encounters with wild animals, corrupt traffic police, warm beer (or wine), bush-camping, medical emergencies and evacuation, vehicle breakdowns and accidents, border bureaucracy and camp cuisine.
* I have family, friends and contacts throughout Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Malawi who I can call on for assistance before (for advice) and during (for help) our travels in Mozambique and neighbouring countries.
* With over a hundred thousand kilometers traveled in Mozambique by motor vehicle, bus, truck, motor boat, donkey cart, dhow, dugout, kayak, bicycle, airplane, helicopter and on foot, I am hugely experienced and competent regarding all aspects of travel in Mozambique.
* Over the past 17 years I have spent an accumulated period of over 5 years traveling throughout Mozambique, mainly to the more remote and little known regions.
* I can provide full camping safari gear including tents, mattresses, bedding, fridge/freezer, bag showers, folding toilets, cooking and eating equipment, chairs and tables, vehicle recovery equipment (spades, ropes, high-lift jack etc), Garmin GPS (with latest maps) and Jerry cans for fuel and water. In addition I will bring along a full set of mechanic’s tools (I am a ‘bush mechanic’), medical kit (I was a military medic), inverter for charging batteries and laptops, and sundry items such as headlamps, vacuum flasks, binoculars, coffee percolator and snorkeling gear. For special trips I have a small inflatable boat with 5HP outboard motor and/or paddles.
* I can take you into traditional villages; introduce you to cultural practices such as dances, divination (curandeiros) and herbal medicine.
* ‘Special interest’ groups such as birders, natural scientists, geologists, historians, film makers, journalists, curio collectors, hikers, mountaineers and ‘aged hippies’ can rest assured that I share their interests and can show them where to go or help them to find what they are looking for.
* I am not a tour operator and I certainly do not want the expense and responsibility of maintaining vehicles. It is essential therefore that you provide a suitable 4x4 vehicle (or vehicles), whether the vehicle is your own or a rental.
* If obtained from a reputable company (ask my advice) rented vehicles do offer the added advantage of having a replacement available in the event of a breakdown or accident.
* Don’t forget that it will always be your trip. I will just be there to help make sure it is a safe, successful, comfortable, relaxing, extraordinary, and completely unforgettable trip.
* I can even bake bread and pizza and braai (barbeque) prawns and crayfish in the bush and wake you up with a cup of percolated coffee, but then the beers will be on you.
* Of course I would like to join you just for the fun of it, but I have to eat, and my kids have to go to school, so my fee, including any or all of my equipment, is US$250 per day PLUS ALL OTHER EXPENSES SUCH AS ACCOMMODATION, TRANSFERS ETC.
* If you have any questions or require more details regarding my services and the equipment that I have, please Email me at mozguide@gmail.com
Best wishes
MIKE SLATER. (aka ‘Mozman’ or ‘The Mozguide’).
Johannesburg March 2010.
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Ramer
amigo
26 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2010 : 20:21:47
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Hi Mike.
Now you do mean business!
Wishing you the best.
Regards.
Rui |
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mozman
Administrator
3356 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2010 : 07:51:05
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Muito obrigado
Mike |
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Viking girl
uno
1 Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2010 : 06:23:37
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Thanks for your tips by bus to the northern-most tip of southern Mozambique, and a Hotel I could "love". However, a personal guide - you - what a privilege - this may be an option, or a future option! If I could find an ESSA group to share petrol, 4x4 transports costs, carnet, and your guide fee with me - if you get any inquiries in the next short while please, Mike I am interested. I have tent and equipment and still have my dream of a dhow trip on sea near Vilanculos and Magaruque and Ilha Santa Carolina, maybe. Suggest best time May 2 to9 or 16 to 23 May. However any time between May 2 and May 30 also a possibility to explore. Sharing these costs with fellow travelers may bring costs down to what the holiday would cost me anyway. If not I am up for the adventure alone and will try find my own Portuguese guide, Jose - and with your guide book in hand. Many thanks.
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mozman
Administrator
3356 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2010 : 06:30:18
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Hi Viking Girl
Firstly note that guidebooks are always out of date - for starters we Saffers and citizens of Moz neighbouring countries now do not need to get a visa (whether at border, airport, embassy or consulate).
Thanks for your tips by bus to the northern-most tip of southern Mozambique, and a Hotel I could "love". However, a personal guide - you - what a privilege - this may be an option, or a future option!
MIKE: Thanks Mom! seriously, it would be my privilege.
If I could find an ESSA group to share petrol, 4x4 transports costs, carnet, and your guide fee with me - if you get any inquiries in the next short while please, Mike I am interested.
MIKE: For those not of the ¨inner circle¨, ESSA is revealed at www.explorationsociety.org and a CARNET DE PASSAGE is NOT required to bring any vehicle into Moz - just the registration papers and a letter frOm the owner(PREFERABLY ON A SA POLICE LETTERHEAD), if you are not the owner of the vehicle.
I have tent and equipment and still have my dream of a dhow trip on sea near Vilanculos and Magaruque and Ilha Santa Carolina, maybe. Suggest best time May 2 to9 or 16 to 23 May.
MIKE: Sorry booked during your dates anyway. But you will have a great time on your own - many lone female travellers on this forum can vouch for that.
If not I am up for the adventure alone and will try find my own Portuguese guide, Jose - and with your guide book in hand. Many thanks.
MIKE:
OK, if you are comfortable in your own skin and know the difference between a cashew nut and a crayfish, then you are more than qualified to enjoy Moz on your own.
Go Joburg - Maputo with www.intercape.co.za the overnight bus does save you a night´s accomm but pity to miss the scenery down the escarpment to the Lowveld.
In Maputo stay at ´The Base´ (tell Luis that I sent you) www.hostelz.com/hostel/21363-The-Base-Backpackers" target="_blank">http://www.hostelz.com/hostel/21363-The-Base-Backpackers
www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g293819-d1749068-Reviews-The_Base-Maputo.html" target="_blank">http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g293819-d1749068-Reviews-The_Base-Maputo.html
You will get all the advice and info that you need to get up to next recommended stop which is ¨Turtle Cove¨ at Tofinho (near Tofo) - tell the wild Greek (Nic) that I didn´t send you. www.turtlecovetofo.com/" target="_blank">http://www.turtlecovetofo.com/
About that dhow trip...
Vilankulos offers a few commercial dhow trip to the islands - you can look up ´Sail Away´ or ´dolphin dhow´ but if you want to get to Santa Carolina, and have a far less touristy experience then get up to Inhassoro, camp at SETA (can't miss it - on left as you get to the sea), and put out the word that you may be interested in a dhow to Santa Carolina - sail dhow much cheaper but slower and yes you may end up taking a day or two longer than planned.
Take along some ´padkos´ such a jar of peanut butter, dried fruit, coffee, tea, sugar to keep you going when food is scarce - otherwise buy what is available. I do carry a little camping gaz stove when backpacking as I cannot survive without my tea and coffee.
Change rands to mets - budget say R300 per day all in - at The Base and your cards will work at the ATM´s.
Buy an mCel starter pack and airtime and let a few good people back home have your Moz cell number just in case (Most of Moz is now covered by mCel).
Any other worries, offload!
Mike
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Julia Thring
uno
4 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2010 : 05:12:10
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| What is the Baobab Beach Camp site in Vilanculos like? We are driving to Moz in a group via Kruger/Pafuri gate in December and want a clean, safe camp site on the beach. Do you have any better suggestions? |
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PierredW
amigo
12 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2010 : 07:28:05
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quote:
[i]Originally posted by Julia Thring[/i]
[br]What is the Baobab Beach Camp site in Vilanculos like? We are driving to Moz in a group via Kruger/Pafuri gate in December and want a clean, safe camp site on the beach. Do you have any better suggestions?
We are going in August. From what I heard is that Blue Waterbay, 7km south of Vilankulous is the best. |
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PierredW
amigo
12 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2010 : 07:28:57
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quote:
[i]Originally posted by Julia Thring[/i]
[br]What is the Baobab Beach Camp site in Vilanculos like? We are driving to Moz in a group via Kruger/Pafuri gate in December and want a clean, safe camp site on the beach. Do you have any better suggestions?
We are going in August. From what I heard is that Blue Waterbay, 7km south of Vilankulous is the best. |
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mozman
Administrator
3356 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2010 : 07:43:30
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Hi Julia
Boabab Beach OK for backpackers and budget travellers but certainly not a campsite I would recommend for a group of overlanders.
If you have to camp then yes Blue Water Beach a better option, or otherwise for budget accomm in Vilankulos go to www.smugglers.co.za
Mike |
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Julia Thring
uno
4 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2010 : 04:14:46
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Thanks for that - by the sounds of things its a better option for us. Please advise an email / phone number / how we can go about booking the campsite. Look forward to hearing what you thought of it when you get back. quote:
[i]Originally posted by PierredW[/i]
[br]quote:
[i]Originally posted by Julia Thring[/i]
[br]What is the Baobab Beach Camp site in Vilanculos like? We are driving to Moz in a group via Kruger/Pafuri gate in December and want a clean, safe camp site on the beach. Do you have any better suggestions?
We are going in August. From what I heard is that Blue Waterbay, 7km south of Vilankulous is the best.
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mozman
Administrator
3356 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2010 : 05:09:43
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For Blue Water Beach you can try:
res@cradleresorts.co.za
If no response let me know and I will see what I can do.
Mike |
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Julia Thring
uno
4 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2010 : 07:32:37
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Thanks Mike. I have tried to email but get an 'undeliverable' message. Any other ideas? JTquote:
[i]Originally posted by mozman[/i]
[br]For Blue Water Beach you can try:
res@cradleresorts.co.za
If no response let me know and I will see what I can do.
Mike
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mozman
Administrator
3356 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2010 : 07:52:50
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Have you tried all these?
From
www.cradlehotels.com/destinations/bluewater/contact.html
Information
Tel: +25 (0) 82 938 4512
Fax: 086 514 6154
Email: info@bluewaterbeachresort.co.za
Reservations
Tel: +27 (0) 861 272353 (CRADLE)
Fax: +27 (0) 86 512 4808
Mike |
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Right by your side...
