Mozambique > From Maputo to Tofo

By half past six, the breakfast buffet is ready. I have already been awake for a while. It became light around half past four. The plan was to leave at seven, but the truck is delayed. Around half past seven, the blue truck arrives.

Mozambique - Our travel truck with luggage tents and cooking gear stored below and seating above

The lower section has space for luggage, camping, and cooking equipment. Up top, we can take our seats. At the front, six seats are arranged across the direction of travel, while the rear seats are in bus-style rows with two tables on either side. At the front, there is a small cabinet with travel books. It looks cozy and perfect for the weeks ahead. We meet Israel, our cook for the upcoming period, and Aron, the driver. Aron drives the truck out of the city for a long travel day toward Tofo. Daily life passes by outside. Soon after leaving the city center, the stone buildings give way to wooden and thatched houses—a stark contrast with the capital.

Mozambique - Traffic struggles to avoid the potholes in the road

I continue to find it fascinating that women can balance everything on their heads without holding it. Can only women do this? We make a short stop by the roadside to buy fresh cashew nuts. With some nuts in hand, I get to know all the fellow travelers in the truck. At lunchtime, a fresh salad and sandwiches with cheese and sausage are prepared by the side of the road. Hygiene is strictly observed—everyone washes their hands in Dettol beforehand. As we continue toward Tofo, the road becomes increasingly worse, with large potholes in the asphalt. Aron does his best to avoid them, often driving on the wrong side of the road. The road isn’t busy anyway. The truck bounces quite a bit, but according to Bas, it’s still manageable (?). Around half past four, we arrive in Tofo. Charming thatched huts await us for the night, complete with tiled bathrooms (specifically highlighted in the flyer). I am glad we have arrived after so many hours of driving and bouncing in the truck. We have a beer on the terrace at the bar, enjoying a beautiful view over the bay as dusk slowly falls. Tomorrow we will snorkel with the whale sharks, which is said to be a unique and special experience at this location.