Mozambique: Maputo and South Mozambique beaches

With the Green Matatu finally back to (somewhat) full health, we set off north from Durban towards Mozambique. With my good friend Denis waiting for us in Maputo, we needed to cover the roughly 500km in good time, but we first had to decide what route to take. The most direct - and scenic - route along the coast through Ponta do Ouro was reputed to consist of a sandy 4x4 track from the border to Maputo and had ensnared many an unsuspecting overlander, but rumors were swirling that the Chinese had just completed a brand-new, tarmac road in its place. The more comfortable route went inland through Swaziland and thus involved the inconvenience of crossing two borders. We were left in suspense until the last minute when a friendly local assured us that the new road was indeed complete and we could 'zip through to Maputo in no time.'

South Africa: Drakensberg & Kruger National Park

I have been neglecting the blog the last few weeks given our trials with the Green Matatu and the resulting need to arrange alternative plans and cover large distances quickly to get our fellow journeymen from pick-up to drop-off points. So I will keep the accounts of this part of the trip brief and focus more on the pictures of this amazing region.

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With Madalina and Chand joining the Alexianu duo, with heavy hearts we left the Green Matatu in Durban for repairs and set off for the Drakensberg Mountains in a somewhat more boring Toyota minivan rental. The Drakensberg range marks the border between KwaZulu Natal province in South Africa and the mountainous kingdom of Lesotho, with its highest peaks reaching an impressive 3,500m in altitude. Given that we were visiting in late June – the heart of winter – we braced ourselves for biting cold at our camp at Injisuthi in the middle of the central Drakensberg.