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Bribing into paradise

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Posted by Chris on Aug 25, 2010 in Features, Main | 2 comments

There are still some deserted, faraway places in our immediate world. Milibangalala is one of these, a perfect and gorgeous beach camp just 89km south of Maputo. Granted, it’s 89km that takes you along some of the worst roads I’ve driven (and I’ve driven in Pakistan, Beirut and Johannesburg), and past fat, venal cops who’ll demand a bribe, and the only signposts appear to be novelty ones designed to amuse aliens. But it’s still very doable for people who live close to Mozambique.

Unbelievably, a Holiday Inn

Unbelievably, a Holiday Inn
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The images in the gallery above are captioned, but it’s worth pointing out a couple of things. You need to stay overnight in Maputo, and the Holiday Inn there is right on the beach, and pretty cheap. You WILL encounter a corrupt official you’ll need to bribe. Let your conscience make of that what you will. And you have to carry all your own water, food, and a spade of course.

I travelled with the M&G’s  two talented, smart multimedia interns, Hannah and Aaron, and @amandasevasti (her blog on Mozambique here), and you definitely need a 4×4 to get to Milibangalala. It’s an unusual feeling for a group, being absolutely alone, camping by a beach for 5 days. But it sure gives you time to stare at your potje.

2 Responses to “Bribing into paradise”

  1. Avril says:
    August 25, 2010 at 10:14 am

    A good idea is to take along a few laminated colour copies of your driver’s licence. Helps you get through (informal) road blocks. They like to hold your card in exchange for a few hundred ronts!!

  2. Chris says:
    August 25, 2010 at 10:15 am

    Now you tell me! I could have saved R700 (don’t ask).

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