Flying Adventure: Indian Ocean Coast – Day 2 (FQMA – FQIN):
Maputo is not really a place where we felt like staying for longer than a night. We have thus decided to fly up north to Inhambane and the secluded Tofo Beach or Praia do Tofo. Tofo beach is a little hidden paradise for diving, fishing or just to relax.
Maputo to Inhambane
It is a beautiful day, and we are looking forward to a stunning scenic flight, low level along the coastline up north. We will pass some spots he had explored in the Jeep some years back, such as Praia Bilene and Praia Xai Xai. He is excited to see them again, this time from the air.
We take off from Maputo, level off at 1000 feet and route out to the coast. It’s a beautiful vast coastline, and largely unspoilt.
As we pass Xai Xai we come across some isolated rain cells. These are very fascinating phenomena and generally easy to circumnavigate, or fly through in between them. Just remember to use your carburetor heat to avoid icing. Even with outside temperatures well above 20 degrees Celsius, fuel vapor can start icing up your carburetor. Rather be pro-activate than waiting for the engine to start running rough.
Past the coastal lagoons to the north east of Xai Xai we route slightly inland straight to the town of Inhambane.
As the winds are fairly strong this afternoon we secure and tie down our aircraft to keep it safe in case one of these rain or storm cells decides to pass by over the next days.
Tofo Beach
We had arranged a taxi to pick us up from the airport and take us to Tofo Beach. The taxi driver was already waiting for us, and we are on our way without a wait.
Tofo Beach is about 22km from the Inhambane airfield or about half an hour by car. Tofo Beach is a beautiful secluded stretch of Indian ocean beach.
Despite the holiday season, the place is not overrun. People who come here, generally know the place and are mostly people who return for their diving of fishing holidays.
We check in at the Casa na Praia lodge which is right at the beach. You don’t have to walk to the beach from your room, you are literally on the beach. As they say here, “This is Living”.
This is not a place where you just want to stop over for a night. It’s a place where you want to stay. One might be inclined to say, a place where you want to live.
We therefore check in for 2 nights with the option to extend by a 3rd night.
Day 3 turns out to be a day we could not fly to anywhere. It starts off with rain in the morning and then remains overcast with a very low cloud ceiling for most of the day.
But it is nevertheless a great day to relax, take a walk through the village and stop at some of the very laid back places for a drink or meal.
Talking about meals, the oysters at the Oyster Box are very fresh and tasty and so it the food at Casa na Praia. Give it a go when you are around in this beautiful part of the world.
