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After 3 nights in Vilanculos, I headed a few hours south to Tofo. I was really excited to visit Tofo because there is a lot of hype about it and it is the place I was trying to visit four years ago when I got in that car accident.
My initial thought upon arrival was, “what in the world am I going to do here for 6 days?!?!” It is just a beach, and I get bored sitting around. When I asked other tourists how long they had been in Tofo, the shortest response was a week. After staying in Tofo for the 6 days, I understood too. I had to leave to meet with the Rotary club in Maputo, but I could definitely stay here for an eternity.
The View from Tofinho Point
The Hammocks at Fatima's Backpackers
In Vilanculos I met a journalist on her first trip to Africa. As travelers usually do, and journalists even more so, she asked me how long I had been in Africa and what I was doing here. I explained that I had been working in microfinance in Tanzania, and now I was just traveling for a few months before heading home. She asked me if the experience was rewarding, and I blurted out that no, it wasn’t rewarding. She and I were both equally surprised by my response. I later thought about why I didn’t find working in microfinance to be rewarding. The truth is, I wasn’t really doing anything special. The concept of microfinance is cool because it is a sustainable method of development where the poor get a chance to help themselves. It isn’t about giving charity, which is not sustainable and likely to make them dependent on aid anyway. These people were finally just getting a chance to make something of their life and business, on their own. And they were doing it in a fair and responsible manner by borrowing money and paying it back in a timely fashion, with interest. Rewarding for me? No. Inspiring for me? Most definitely!
If you also like the idea of microfinance and want to get involved, check out www.kiva.org where you can lend (you’ll get paid back at the end of the loan term) as little as $25 to an entrepreneur in the developing world so he or she can expand his or her business.
Vilanculos explains why tourists come to Mozambique despite the lack of infrastructure and tourism development. The place is a paradise. The town stretches along clear blue waters, and in the distance you can see the islands that make up the Bazaruto Archipelago. Small fishing boats slowly pass by as the fishermen make their way to the dock with the day’s catch. Young boys stroll along the beach trying to sell locally made handicrafts. And women, with babies on their backs, sell fresh fruit.
I stayed at a nice little backpackers called Zombie Cucumber. It is worth mentioning because it is definitely the best place to stay in Vilanculos. It has a really interesting dorm setup with mattresses on the floor in a circular, open-air structure.
Other than the two days I spent relaxing, (which I deserved after the effort it took to get here) I spent a day visiting Magaruque Island, which is part of the Bazaruto Archipelago. We sailed to and from the island, snorkeled on a magnificent reef where marine life is plentiful, enjoyed a freshly cooked lunch, and just relaxed on the pure white sand overlooking pristine blue water.
A view of the ocean from Vilanculos
Magaruque Island. Stunning.
Sailing to the Island
The dorm at Zombie Cucumber
