FishBazaruto Family Road Trip

FishBazaruto Family Road Trip: We just finished an amazing two-week family road trip � last year we had a month-long trip during the same time when the boys have mid-term month long school holidays. Due to work commitments, we really did not have any time this time round but seeing we had to go and check out Uplands School and Duarte had to do assessment tests we both said � what the heck let�s stretch it and just make a road trip out of it!!!

This was last year�s road trip�

Cyclone Filipe Road trip to PapaPesca and beyond!

First up was a 5-hour drive south and a nice long (but always feels to short) stopover at Tofo Beach where we stayed with good friends Patricia and Carolina and just had the most amazing time swimming in the waves (somethings special when you live in Vilankulos), surfing nonstop and just generally spending time with good friends and good vibes.

As usual this included big long family style delicious dinners all over and as usual a special treat (not crab curry this time ) of oysters & cold smoked everything delicious night @nobina.m from the famous #sumi_bar_and_kitchen @tofobeach

First stop on Family Road Trip & Kaito and Duarte digging deep into fresh oysters & loving it!!!!

We then had a long 9-hour drive to Belo Horizonte, just outside Maputo so we could be as close to the border as possible without having to get into city chaos!

Next up was 4 nights at Marloth Park, a wildlife sanctuary situated on the southern boundary of the Kruger National Park. Marloth has its own wildlife waking up and walking around Kudo�s, warthog�s, waterbuck, giraffes, zebra, and all other kinds of wildlife literally at your house�s doorstep and having little bush babies jumping on you at the outside dinner table was one of the most memorable experiences for the kids. It�s just so unique and one gets great deal on some

really nice houses!

Warthog family joining the Family Road trip on our stoop for an early breakfast�

Obviously, we had to make a day trip to the Kruger and as usual it did not disappoint!

Within the first 4 hours we had seen the Big 5, except Buffalo, but with the added bonus of cheetahs.

Yes, the BIG 5!

The boys have been very privileged to have spent a lot of quality time on the bush at some remarkable places and have literally seen every wildlife animal there is to see and have had some amazing experiences but somehow Lions had always eluded them.

Not this time and after spotting a big solitary lone lion in the veld, mane in the wind at about 10am, half an hour later we saw a big pride of lion and lionesses. Amazing!

But the best was yet to come…

A unique experience that none of us had ever seen before.

We had decided to drive all the way to berg-en Dal rest Camp for a late lunch when half way there we came across two bull elephants fighting on the road just in front of us.

We stopped the car and for the next 45 minutes just watched as the smaller model full of testosterone broke branches, made a whirlwind of dust around him and periodically half engaged with the bigger model, who was just very laid-back and stood his ground.

Cars had come and gone and after all this time we were right in front and they were closer to us. I slowly moved the car so that if anything went wrong, I had an escape route.

Well, it did!

Somehow their behavior changed and all of a sudden, they seriously engaged up to a point where the smaller one started running (big one in tow) right to us� not charging but we were on the way!!! We just had to goooooo�and this went on for almost a km before the smaller one eventually turned right into the bush!!!

Cars on the other side eventually got to us and were just telling us how close they had gotten!

Insanely frightening and exhilarating!

Family Road Trip – The two bulls� elephants just as, after an hour of agro, the big boy chased the smaller one right on top of us!!!

Still shaking on the adrenaline rush, three kilometers down the road we saw a big herd of smaller males, females and calves so most likely those two bulls were establishing dominance over that herd!

Next, we went west to White River and got to our final destination (before heading up) to have a look at @uplandswhiteriver where Duarte did assessment tests and we had a whole morning tour of a bit of the 130-hectare school which turns 100 years in 2027. Very impressive indeed, beautiful scenery and those old tresses are just amazing. Duarte absolutely fell in love with the school, and that is where he will probably move into next year.

The rest of our days in White River were spent shopping, chilling and the boys spent most of the days fishing for bass @eden_cottage.

Of course, we had some really nice braais every night and the boys were loving all the meat, something they don�t eat that much back home!

Skipper Dario taking angler Duarte in their special bass fishing vessel around the dam�

Then it was time to get back. We slept one more night in Marloth park and the next day drove all the way to magical and peaceful place @Chidinguele to sleep a night @elsalvesantos beautiful house by the lake.

Great swim at sunset, another braai and next day we were on the road again�

The boys below decorating Tia Elsa’s guitar with bougavillas�

Our last stop was another very special place that is very dear to us since our teenage years and where our good friend (brother from another Mother) Steve established the amazing @periperidiversmorrungolo @Morrongulo

Unfortunately, he was not there but we spent some awesome time with his son Kien and mama Martina who prepared the most welcoming, beautiful and delicious dinner.

The boys surfed and snorkeled their hearts out and Dudas had a great first light spinning session of the beach catching trevallies, garfish and the likes!

Yeahhh!!!

On the last morning we got on the land rover and drove 40 minutes to this amazing spot south called 5 fingers to snorkel and fish and then it was a mere two hours to get back home�

The boys on the back on the way to another incredible mission to 5 fingers and Duarte and Dario @ a rare moment when they not fighting

…and it is always good to get back home @vilankulos � now it�s over a month of back-to-back charters with @fishbazaruto until the second week of July!

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