Once back onto the main road from Pomene, the drive to Vilankulos went well, although we did find large tracks of the EN1 were badly pot holed and in desperate need of repair.

Further on however we reached a two hundred or so kilometre stretch that was in excellent condition (possibly the best stretch of road in all of Mozambique) and we soon settled into our eighty kilometre per hour preferred speed (our previous average in Moz being around forty or fifty) and sped on towards to our destination.

Our first view of Vilankulos was quite dramatic with the bay a vivid blue and turquoise, interspersed with emerald green patches enclosing the hazy islands in the distance. Numerous and colourful dhows dotted the shallows rocking gently in the current. Unfortunately we really just wanted to get to Blue Waters and didn’t take a photo then and there. Needless to say we didn’t get another chance (note to self, always take the picture when you have the chance as you may not get another).

Upon arrival (following a seven kilometre sand track that did its utmost to try and dislodge everything that we’d carefully ratcheted down in the back) we introduced ourselves to the owner Brian (the father of a friend, Heath Turner who I used to work with at Striata) and were immediately upgraded to a comfortable baracca.

Set on grass terraces shaded by beautiful trees with views of the ocean below and the Bazaruto Archipelago on the horizon, Blue Waters was the perfect launch site for our proposed island adventures – but not before a trip into town and a special treat… delicious soft serve ice cream from the Taurus store.

Islands, tropical waters, African sun and soft serve ice cream… life doesn’t get better than this.