The gorgeous view from our bungalow.
Text by Augie Favazza
Photos by Teresa Favazza
Parting thoughts of our African sojourn that certainly had variety — exotic animals, lush rain forest, adventures in transport, and gorgeous sea and surf:
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Our chariot into the wild-blue-yonder!
We bid adieu to White Pearl Resort staff around noon on Tuesday (March 5) as we climbed aboard a Piper Cherokee 6 aircraft, following a 45-minute drive that led to a remote clearing, a small building, the aircraft and grass runway. There was just enough room for pilot, the four of us and our luggage. The takeoff and landing strip was in need of good Cape buffalo grazing. Sam, the resort manager, came along in the luggage vehicle to evaluate this means of transport as a backup to the out-of-service helicopter.
Laura, who flew Cherokees in her early pilot days, seemed at ease, and so without reservation — and no security line to go through — we went aboard and soon were off into the wild-blue-yonder.
The runway was ready for takeoff?
What made the flight even better was flying over the car ferry terminal in Maputu. The transport took a little over an hour instead of the jarring 5-hour ordeal it took to arrive.
We tipped the pilot, keeping just a few hundred Mozambique currency "meddicals" for the all-important shrink-wrapping of our luggage, as advised by our South African acquaintance back home, Leigh-Anne. The pilot said, "Wow!" when Laura answered "commercial DC-9" to his question about what size plane she now captains.
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Last night's dinner was in the dark as electricity failed for a good length of time. The White Pearl resort staff hustled about with "torches" — an African term for flashlight — to make sure all rooms were candlelit in addition to the expansive boardwalk and common buildings, especially the dining areas. The candlelight enhanced the ambience.
By the time we arrived back to the room, the power was back on.
We checked out at 11:15 the next morning, giving us time for another walk on the beach, and it proved to be one last hurrah. Teresa, Katy and Laura discovered a newly-hatched sea turtle coming out of a crab hole. Finding turtles is a favorite vacation past time of the Nielsen women, and we were told that the last hatchings took place a few weeks ago. Laura showed one of her photos of the sighting to the resort manager, who had yet to see one in her time here.
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Laura heard back from the Cybele Resort about the disappointing bush dinner in Kruger. The resort manager appreciated her feedback about the difficulty of scheduling more than one excursion a day due to its remoteness. The resort refunded the cost of the dinner, which pleased Laura and will earn Cybele a good rating. The resort was always checking on our satisfaction and corrected any problems.
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The captain of the excursion boat told Laura and Katy that the Chinese, who are already operating a concrete factory that we rode past en route to White Pearl, are pushing to gain the rights to ship coal from this area. Captain Jazz was concerned because the Chinese also want all fishing rights, and the shipping operation would devastate the coral and probably drive away dolphins and other marine life.
You would assume the Mozambique government would have had enough of foreign control of its resources. The Mozambique people, I forgot to mention earlier, continue to speak in the colonial language of the Portuguese. Teresa and I have several first-generation Portuguese friends in our Old Orchard Beach condominium, and they would be quite at home here.
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As I close out this African adventure blog, I hope readers have learned a little more about South Africa and Mozambique and maybe you’ve been inspired to go on safari. Laura will surely return to Africa, maybe Nambia, and she has been trying to persuade Teresa and I to join her in climbing Kilimanjaro She wants to take the gradual trek that takes 9 days.
Our guide Patrick gave me some tips on handling the rifle, just in case.
I will attempt to stay in contact with our Savanna guide Patrick by email and maybe Skype. Upon observing my blogging around the WIFI connection at the lodge, Patrick asked if I would help him to tell his story, in words and pictures. And, pardon, the pun, I’m game. We will send him a copy of the souvenir book Teresa, Laura and I will put together of our photos and blog installments. Just maybe the spirit of Edgar Rice Burroughs will help spring forth interesting tales of an African native whose respect and life work interacting with these wondrous African beasts would make Tarzan proud
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