Africa Unlimited Expeditions & Transfers

Why is it that most tourists want to end a holiday with a couple of days on the beach? A holiday just doesn't seem complete without some sea, sand and sunshine. Visitors to South Africa are no different. But when your plans include a safari in Kruger National Park and surroundings you are very far away from the beaches of South Africa.

With the opening of the new Giriyondo Border Post, almost halfway on the eastern border of Kruger National Park, the coastline of Mozambique is now within reach! The route is very new and not many people have travelled it yet. It is very difficult to find information about the route, the road conditions, places to stay etc.

We have done the route many times ourselves and organize self drive and guided tours combining the bush of South Africa with the beaches of Mozambique.
My last trip was at the beginning of this month. Having left Phalaborwa, right next to Kruger, at 06.00am, my feet were touching the white sandy beach of Bilene at 14.00!!

The journey starts with a pleasant 2 hour drive from Phalaborwa to the border bost. It is only 100km but since the speed limit is max. 50km/h and you want to see some game as well, it takes 2 hours to get there. The Giriyondo Border Post is very relaxed and usually quiet. After 'checking out' from Kruger National Park and filling in the nessecary documents for the South African customs you proceed to the Mozambican side, where friendly officers assist you in filling in the forms and paying the fees. You will notice straight away you are in a different country as the language is now Portuguese!

The journey continues with another 2 hour drive through the Parque Nacional do Limpopo. Together with Kruger National Park, this park forms the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, that was officially opened in 2002 by president Nelson Mandela and his Mozambican and Zimbabwan counter parts.
It is a dirt road all the way to Massingir, with the last hour being a bigger challenge than the first. There are still many people living in the Parque and the road leads you past some of the villages.

A boom indicates the end of the Parque at Massingir. Travel across the dam wall and enjoy the view over the massive Massingir Dam, that will most probably develop into an interesting tourism destination in the future.
From here on it is a straight tar road to Chokwe, the first big town on your route to the coast. The road is usually quiet, which helps you to safely dodge the potholes that are present at certain stretches.

Chokwe is a typical African town, with a busy market lining the main street. After an optional stop at the petrol station it is on to Macia where the road crosses the EN1 Highway. The road follows an interesting canal with small sluis- gates to overcome the various water levels. The area is very flat and the various villages are interspersed with massive millie fields.

In Macia is where you decide which way to go. North towards Inhambane and Vilancoulos, South towards Maputo or in our case, east towards the sea. Our journey went to Bilene, a mere 30km towards the coast. Rolling hills guide you on your way until you reach the small town and a 27km long lagoon. The road is also in a good condition, with local sales(wo)men trying to sell huge bags of home made charcoal, bottles of honey and bags of cashew nuts.

Our experiences at the coast will follow in our next travel blog. www.africaunltd.co.za