BMW Motorcycle Club Central

2006 Mozambique Adventure

Written by: David - 7th January 2009

5th - 12th AUGUST 2006

What a ride!!

Met at Auto Alpina on the cold morning of the 6th of August 2006 and rode through to Milly’s where the rest of the group joined up. After warming up by the fire and having breakfast, group departed to Komatipoort border, where we arrived at 13h00 (much warmer).

Border formalities took about an hour and everyone was in Maputo by 15h00. Checked in at the 4-star Pestana Rovuma Hotel, where we had a warm welcome and our bikes were well looked after. After freshening up, taxis were organized and everyone went to dinner at the well-known Escorpiao restaurant.

Everyone tried out different Portuguese-style starters, including octopus salad, clams, and amongst other items, the famous prawns! Lobster featured amongst some people’s choice of main course! The next morning, after an excellent buffet breakfast, we left on a mini-tour of Maputo city, including the famous Polana Hotel. Round about 09h00 we were on our way north to Xai-Xai. Road was in excellent condition and riding was pleasant.

After Xai-Xai, the road deteriorated with pot-holes and 2 gravel detours, where Hannes and Giel Gildenhuys buckled rims. Thanks to Auto Alpina’s Mannie Koutsoudatts and their back-up vehicle, Giel’s motorbike was loaded and Giel and Gerda traveled further in the van.

Got to Inhambane at approximately 17h00. This is the closest town to Makolo Bay beach resort where we were booked. The last 20km of tarred road were tackled and the fun started with the next 6Km of hard sand road. Thereafter it was only another 2Km to the chalets!!!! Problem….. thick, loose beach sand was then encountered! Sun was fast setting, everyone was tired after 550Km riding and in a hurry to get to their chalets; result: un-deflated tyres, no panniers were removed, and some bikes and their riders hit the sand!

Finally everyone got to the resort and after a good night’s sleep and the famous Mozambican hospitality and 2M beer, there were beaming, happy faces all around. For the duration of our stay, the weather was really good (ocean temp. 25?C ; ambient temp between 25 and 28?C), and apart from just relaxing in the ocean or at the chalets, and scuba diving, a dhow trip across the Inhambane Bay to Maxixe was organized.

The market was visited and on our return, lunch was ready at Pensao Pachica in Inhambane. The brand new resort of Flamingo Bay was on our doorstep and a great place for sundowners. Barra reef resort being next-door was the preferred choice for snacks & drinks. Breakfasts and dinners were served at the Makolo Bay Beach Bar.

The week went by all too fast and Thursday the 10th arrived: Bikes were taken to Barra Lodge workshops where tyres were inflated and kept safely overnight. The next morning panniers were clipped in and we were back on the road to Inhambane , Xai-Xai-Maputo.

After checking in at Pestana Rovuma Hotel again, people freshened up and taxis were once again called to take us to an evening of African jazz at the Polana Hotel, including an excellent buffet dinner.

Saturday morning, after breakfast, we departed back to SA.

N.B.: Africa is NOT for sissies!!

A big THANK YOU to:

Auto Alpina Motorcycles and Mannie;

Stewart and Maureen Anthony for being tail-end-charlie;

Sanette van Schalkwyk for organizing logos for T-shirts;

All the members/non-members who participated;

Makolo Bay management for taking us around in their vehicles at no cost;

Pestana Rovuma Hotel for the special rates afforded us.