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LindyP
bambino
7 Posts |
 Posted - 01/21/2010 : 11:09:56
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| Do you know of anybody that has stayed at Areia Branca near Inhambane. The place looks lovely but it is difficult to decide where to go seeing that this is our first trip to Moz. Do we need mozzie precautions in June. Last question - we want to sleep over in Xai Xai on our way up and near or around Maputo on our way out, any suggestions? |
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
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LindyP
bambino
7 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2010 : 14:39:01
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quote:
[i]Originally posted by LindyP[/i]
[br]Do you know of anybody that has stayed at Areia Branca near Inhambane. The place looks lovely but it is difficult to decide where to go seeing that this is our first trip to Moz. Do we need mozzie precautions in June. Last question - we want to sleep over in Xai Xai on our way up and near or around Maputo on our way out, any suggestions?
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LindyP
bambino
7 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2010 : 14:45:40
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Hi Mike
Thankyou for your advice. We will be staying in chalets at Areia Branca. This forum is great and we have picked up many tips and ideas. Will report back on our trip.
Cheers
Lindy |
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RudiK
amigo
21 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2010 : 11:58:50
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I am a little confused. We stayed at White Sands in August 2008 right next door to the lodge Areia Branca. However, I think that it is one and the same complex and that the camping area is known by the English name and the chalets by the Portuguese name. We were told that White Sands had lost its licence to run a camp-ground, but that we could have three chalets instead - one for each couple (at very good rates). The chalets were yards from the sea at high tide, and hundreds of yards at low tide. Although the chalets are very rudimentary, we enjoyed our stay there and especially enjoyed the isolation as we were the only guests. The prawns that we bought from the locals were absolutely delicious. It is a self-catering set-up and I do not know whether you can get any meals there. We certainly could not as we were left completely alone as the owner / manager had to go elsewhere and we were trusted implicitely to pay for any of the drinks that we could have got through one of his staff.
The one negative was that we certainly needed insect repellants during our stay there and I would suggest that upon arrival you drop the mosquito nets and spray them well with Doom or Target or something similar. We were made a meal of the first night.
Be warned that the area is very sandy. You might have to watch the tides in getting there and when leaving again. When we stayed there the road, once past Barra Lodge and Flamingo Bay, deteriorated into a track which could not be used at high tide. The tidal rise and fall is huge, as it is everywhere along that coast. There is an alternative route which takes one across the dunes and through a very sandy area, but we did not know of it in advance, and the signposting led us along the sea front. Areia Branca is close to the end of the peninsula, so there is nowhere to go from there. We enjoyed our stay there as it was so isolated, but a complex called Duna Branca was being built very close by and that looked as though it was going to be quite a big complex. That might have resulted in improvements having been made to the access tracks.
Enjoy. We did.
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Edited by - RudiK on 02/07/2010 12:12:18 |
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 05:30:10
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Thanks Rudi
Mike |
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Rooibaard
uno
2 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2010 : 13:45:32
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| We're going to be camping there April 2010, confirmed booking via mozcon.com, will give feedback here on the state of the place. |
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AndreM
uno
2 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2010 : 06:47:08
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| We stayed at Areia Branca for 10 days in June/July 2008 and am returning June this year. We found it to be basic (as everywhere else in Moz) but well maintained. It certainly was quiet. We had a great time and hence the return trip. The other post refers to the tidal lagoon in front of the chalets which retreats for kilometers with the tide. At low tide this is the road to Areia Branca. On the other side (short walk) of the peninsula is the full beach and Indian Ocean. In June/July we experienced few insects except sand fleas, but little to no mozzies. My wife is neurotic regarding safety and security around our young son, but we had no problems. |
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 11:35:28
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Thanks Andre
Areia Branca on my list for my next visit.
Mike |
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LindyP
bambino
7 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2010 : 04:47:08
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Hi Mike
We have just come back from an 11 day stay at Areia Branca and will most definatley be returning. Our hosts Jan and Joey made us feel most welcome and saw to all our needs with a smile. We did the executive camping bit ie. you have a chalet with 2 bedrooms, separate toilet and shower and 2 beds in the dining/kitchen area but you have to take all your own linen, cutlery etc. The chalets were very clean and we had hot water every day. We paid a minimal fee for a helper who did all the cleaning and our washing daily. The resort has a bar and a small take away. We had no problem at all with security. We didn't stay on the lagoon but in the row just behind. We were really thankful for this as the wind blew every day and some evenings were cool. The lagoon is beautiful and the sea was just 200 meters behind us. We can really recommend this place.
It was our first trip to Moz and we had a great time. We had no hastles at the border either way (under a hour each way!). We were stopped once for speeding and weren't sure if this was official or not as he had a radar and we could observe the reading. I am sure this was a hoax but we paid him Mt 500 and were on our way, thought it better than to argue. We stayed over at Honey Pot going in and at Casa Lisa coming out. Both ok for stopovers.
Areia Branca is close to Tofo where we did most of our shopping and some swimming on the beach. We had a few meals there as well and we can most certainly recommend Dinos for their Pizza's, must be the best in the world and Comer de Sol (a little verandah restaurant about a block away from the beach) for seafood and dessert. We ate at a few other places in Tofo and can't remember the restaurants names but never had bad food. We were disappointed in the food that we ate at Barra Lodge, we waited for ages (longer than the normal long wait) and the food was not good. We had chicken and pizza's and will not go back there again. Flamingo Bay is a beautiful resort and although they are pricey their food and service was good. We were just so amazed at how friendly all the people were. Shopping in Moz was also a treat and we could get most basic groceries if we ran out.
We also bought a lot of prawns and fish from the locals that visited the resort daily. The locals also sold bread at our resort daily.
The roads were ok but the first 100km from Xai Xai to Inhambane is really bad. But despite this piece of road, the holiday was really fantastic and we will certainly be going back to Mozambique soon.
Cheers
Lindy
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2010 : 08:29:30
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Many thanks for the detailed report back, Lindy.
Mike |
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philippa
uno
3 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2010 : 09:30:58
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Hi Lindy
Very interesting reading your visit as we are going to Areia Branca over Xmas. How bad are the roads - will we get stuck without a 4 x 4? We are staying in a 4 to 6 sleeper chalet. Which chalets are the best in terms of beach access or are they all the same? Do they have an ample size freezer to take frozen stuff for about ten days? I didnt realise we had to take our own linen and cutlery - I thought they were all fully equipped!! |
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2010 : 09:58:06
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Phillipa
hope Lindy answers but in the meantime you should know that the last few kilomentres to Areia Branca does have very sandy patches where 2x4's often get stuck. Pushing and tyre deflating (1.5 bar) may be needed but with a little help, you will get there. If you have experience in driving a 2x4 in sand you could get there without stopping. Trick is soft tyres, keep up momentum and don't stop unless on firm ground.
Mike |
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philippa
uno
3 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 07:54:28
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Hi Mike
Thanks for that - we will be in a 4x2 which we used last year when we stayed at Sunset Beach in Chidenguele. We got stuck once when we arrived but I think the weight of the trailer is what pulled us down in the dunes. Just was concerned that the sand dunes may be worse at Ariea Branca as this time we will be towing a rubber duck. Would you happen to know if it is true that the visa cost for Brit passport is now R600?
Also, we heard that it is better to go through a different border post than at Komatipoort (Ithink near Swaziland?) - would you happen to know?
Cheers
Philippa |
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mozman
Administrator
3361 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2010 : 03:09:52
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Visa charges have jumped from US$25 to $85 at the land and air borders. This applies to all passports (note citizens of al Moz neighbours and most southern African countries do not need a visa). At SA Moz consulates visas for UK passports are R750 (about US$100).
Beach is quite flat at Areia Branca - no real dunes but yes soft sand in patches. Of course tyre pressure on vehicle and trailer will have to be reduced to 1bar for the last few kilometres and if the trailer stops you I think it would be easy for you to drive to Areia and ask for someone with a 4x4 to tow for the last few km's.
Mike |
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LindyP
bambino
7 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2010 : 06:19:24
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Hi Philippa
When going over Xmas you can't make use of the executive camping ie. taking all your own cutlery, bedding etc. The chalets are fully equipped. We stayed in the second row of chalets as the wind was quite hectic but I don't think is should be a problem in Dec. All the chalets are nice and have plenty of shade. If we went in Dec I would probably request the front row in the middle. All the chalets are facing the lagoon and the sea is behind the resort +- 200 m. We didn't swim on the beach behind the resort but rather where the water comes into the channel at high tide. We also went swimming at Tofo and near the Lighthouse as the beach there is beautiful. The deep freeze should be big enough but don't put any fresh fish in it (as we did). You just can't get the smell out after that. We took a bar fridge for the milk and butter etc as opening the deep freeze all the time doesn't work too well. Quite sandy at the resort itself but didn't pose to be a problem. Our 4x4 packed up and were able to drive most roads. Got stuck on the beach near the Lighthouse where you are allowed to drive (for parking purposes only) and had to be pulled out. If any of you guys are into horse riding, I would highly recommend it. You book at Barra Lodge and you go out for about 2 hours along the beach. It is stunning! We had a rubber boat and went into the mangroves but there are no fish and sadly there seems to be no birdlife. You are welcome to contact me should you require any further info. Please send me your email address and I will send you some photos.
Cheers
Lindy |
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Areia Branca
