For a short holiday Jozef Verbruggen leaves with the family for Zimbabwe which ends on the beach of Vilanculos in beautiful Santorini Mozambique.
Nelson Mandela and Hadada ibises
With a direct flight from KLM we land eleven hours later in Johannesburg. The first night we stay at the Saxon, still the number one of the city where Nelson Mandela has made history. After a wonderful night’s sleep we are woken up by Hadada ibises, always ready in the early morning hours. We’re in Africa, joehoe!
After a delicious breakfast we head towards OR Tambo and after an hour and a half of flying we land in Harare.
Harare is reinventing himself
Zimbabwe’s capital – located at 1,500m altitude – is reinventing itself. There is a fresh wind blowing, people radiate hope. The avenues around the Kingsmead Guesthouse look great. It is a sea of blue purple of the many Jacarandas that exhibit their spring splendor.
Another avenue is bright orange-coloured from the ‘flamboyant’. Both imported but who cares in a city that can use some color.
Phenomenal views over Lake Kariba
With a charter we reach our destination in the bush, Bumi Hills Safari Lodge. I’ve been here for the renovation. It was already a beautiful place, insanely beautiful with phenomenal views over Lake Kariba. You feel like you’re on the shores of the sea. (Kariba is the largest man-made reservoir in the world.) Bumi is a great place to start a safari but also to finish. You have all the facilities (infinity pool, gym, restaurant with excellent cuisine) but with elephants, thousands of impala, hippos and crocodiles on the 200 meters lower beach it is surely a top accommodation in a rugged wild natural environment.
During the boat trip we arrive in the middle of a large group of buffalo and the next day with sundowner the local ‘pride’ lions are surrounded by a large group of elephants. Wow… I never expected. Bird life is also incredibly good; on arrival we already spotted a ‘barred owl’ and later a couple of ‘hawk eagles’ with young. During lunch hours there are various activities in and around the pool or cards we all play in the family suite. In the evening we are surprised on the beach with huge campfire and braai to finish.
Last stop after a flight of one hour and 50 minutes is the beach of Mozambique. If you are with a large group/family you better use a charter to avoid the long journey time via Harare and Johannesburg to Vilanculos and this does not come much more expensive. With children it’s great to bridge this distance quickly. Vilanculos is a totally different world from the bush. Here you can smell shrimp, lobster and the fresh fish from the local fish market. Africa at its best, people of color, friendly people and an open atmosphere. It’s carnival, what a party.
A Chapel, a beach villa and a monastery building
We stay in beautiful Santorini Mozambique. The South African owner once enjoyed a holiday on the Greek island and became so attached to the destination that they have set up a ‘chapel’ with two beautiful rooms, a beach villa with three rooms and a monastery building, the central part, on the banks of the Indian Ocean. Everything in original Santorini style. Separate but beautiful.
It has a view to tell you against the Bazaruto archipelago, but with the great advantage that you sit on the mainland. You can grab local markets and sit 15 minutes from the centre with its many shops with authentic stuff.
Africa remains one of the largest theatres on our planet
Our holiday is coming to an end, Chekov is sticking his head up. Old unspoken sentences are being stir-weeded up… It’s time to go home but, not without catching a last glimpse of the seagull, which is waving us. What a wonderful holiday to remember! Africa remains one of the largest theatres on our planet, where the sun illuminates the stage for free!
