Local Knowledge - Mozambique 2005

LITTLE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE CAN GO A LONG WAY!

Sometimes "local knowledge" is a great thing. If you take note of it! This is a short story of someone who should have, but didn't!

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The tar road to Pomene.

Earlier this year my wife Wendy, I and our two kids set off for a two week holiday to Pomene in Mozambique. Pomene is a remote resort about 650km north of Maputo. The road to Pomene is treacherous to say the least. The last 250km of road is a mixture of sand, potholes and a little tar. Once at Pomene the scenery is fantastic with 65km's of tropical sand road through palm trees to a peninsular that sticks out about 4kms into the sea. The resort is situated at the base of this peninsular. Many a day was spent fishing and snorkeling on "the point", which leads to the sad tale I'm about to tell you.

One afternoon our friends from Johannesburg said they were going to the Point to do some fishing. As it was an incoming spring tide, I advised them not to do this. Ignoring my advice they all jumped into the Land Rover and set off with all their fishing gear, assuring me they would not fish for long and would return before high tide. While relaxing in my hammock, under the Casurina trees, I noticed how quickly the tide was rising and after about an hour I became concerned that our friends had not yet returned. Grabbing a few Dois M's (local beer) for the ride, I set off for the 3.5km drive along the beach, (allowed by permit), to see how things were going.

About 1km from the point I noticed a patch of very wet sand covering the whole width of the beach, the peninsular is only about 100m wide at this point. When driving through this I felt my rear wheels sink in quite a bit and realized that it would no be long before this section became impassable. I arrived at the point and advised my friends to pack up immediately and return to camp. This advice was again ignored and they said they would fish for another 30 minutes and then come back to the camp. With out any hesitation I told them that I would be leaving right away and that anyone who wanted to join me could. A couple of the kids jumped on the back of my trusty Hilux and we set of back. When driving through the damp section of beach, which had become radically worse, I felt the back sink in dangerously. Water was rising up through the sand at this section of beach as the tide was rising. I did a quick about turn and started flashing my lights to get the attention of those still on the "wrong side" of the wets sand. It was with some relief that I saw the Land Rover heading back towards me. This was short lived as I noticed only the driver in the vehicle. He crossed the wet section and it was obvious that back of the vehicle had sunk in quite a bit on the way through.

Incoming tide.

Tom, not the owner, was driving the vehicle said he had only come back to see what all the flashing was about and as it didn't seem too bad and he would go back to fetch the others. Once again I advised him to stay where he was and the others could walk back. "No way! The Landy will handle it easily." Was the reply, and with that he promptly turned back to cross again. The Landy hadn't gone two meters and it almost immediately sank in right up to the chassis. The driver jumped out with a smile on face and suggested that we just pull it out quickly. Well as most of you know a Landy is not the lightest vehicle and as they had no rope, tow strap or snatch strap "just pulling it out quickly" was not going to happen. I quickly radioed the camp and got them to bring out ropes and a couple of vehicles to help get the Landy out.

No Land rovers cant swim!
No - Land rovers cant swim!.

Part of the 3 vehicle train required to pull out the Landy.

We eventually got the vehicle out using a three vehicle train. We also managed to dry the Landy out and drive it back to Jo'burg. Amazing, once you've seen the pics!

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