Tofo or bust

Dec 25, 2008
We got up early, settled our accounts, and piled into a taxi to get let out at the edge of town so we can hitch hike to Tofo. Our taxi driver let us out where buses stop which we realized then started walking. We walked far, crossed highways, got to a part of the city that seemed smaller, more outskirt like but it was not the end. We stopped and tried to flag down a ride. After a few minutes a guy picked us up and took us to a better place to hitch from- the police check point. It seemed like the 4 of us where there for at least four hours. There were zillions of cars passing by us with our Tofo sign but they didn’t have room for 4, weren’t going our way, or where South African and they generally don’t pick people up. We didn’t want to split into 2 because we weren’t sure exactly where we were going and what if we didn’t make it all the way. Finally a Mozambiquan guy picked us up and drove us half way. It had been a nice ride in a nice car with a nice driver. Now we were back out there with our sign while the rain showered us off and on for an hour. Finally we decided to take a local combi to Xai Xai town. Town seemed to be a long strip of shops and dilapidated buildings. We got out at the bus stop to take us to the beach, still another 10k outside of town. While we waited we waved at cars and after a few minutes a really nice couple from Durban stopped. Xai Xai beach has one hotel and the rest are camp grounds so it’s very self catering and people come prepared with their food, tents, cooking equipment, everything. We had our tents so that was good. Their 4x4 was piled high in the back with all of the supplies one should bring for such a holiday but for 10k we stuck our heads through the sunroof and lay on top of all the equipment. We ended up camping next to this nice couple and they continued to help us out here and there.
Xai Xai beach was beautiful with a rock wall running the length of it and causing the surf to crash. The sand was very shelly, but I loved playing in it.