Life in SA: Paradise found

For the third year in a row we travelled to Mozambique for a week long holiday over Easter. We drove first to Komatipoort, just before the border of Mozambique and south of Kruger park, and stayed there one night in order to arrive at the border early in the morning. To our surprise there was no hassle at the border and no long queues so we reached Maputo Marina early. We parked the car and were picked up by a speed boat for a 90 minutes ride out to Manchangulo Beach Lodge, our destination. The muddy waters at Maputo Marina slowly turned into turquoise, clear sea, and the occasional splash of the close to 30 degrees water was only refreshing.

On our arrival the boat reversed towards the sandy beach, and we jumped off barefoot in the warm, ankle deep water. The people from the lodge where there to greet us and took us to our family villa along wooden boardwalks under the shade of leafy trees.

An hour later they brought us lunch to our terrace overlooking the ocean; grilled prawns on a bed of salad and fries. This felt like heaven already.

After lunch we ran down to the beautiful beach and jumped right into the crystal-clear warm Indian Ocean. Dinner was served on our terrace, a three-course meal beautifully served on plates delivered right to the table. We only needed to pick which wine bottle to open from the fridge.

We all slept like babies under the mosquito-tents that covered our beds, with windows and doors open enjoying the sound of the waves.

The next day after breakfast, we were taken on a small boat across to Inhaca Island and the marine reserve. A gazebo was already set up with chairs and a table underneath, and a cooler box full with cold drinks. The day went by snorkelling and trying stand-up paddle boards and kayaks, which were also brought from the lodge.

Then came a rainy day, which we used to chill, read and play monopoly in the house.

J and S were keen to try diving so they signed up for a discover scuba diving course. After a theory and a pool training session, they were ready for their first dive! It was so cool they decided to go for another dive two days later. This time it was even more awesome with colourful corals, a stingray and a turtle sighting and a catfish, which S really thought was a shark.

The week passed quickly but we enjoyed every minute. By the time we had to return to reality, we were tanned, relaxed and rested, and ready to take on autumn in Johannesburg.