20/1/2011

Up at 3am for our 4am ride to the country's capital Maputo. It wasn't a terrible ride, costing £12 and crammed on with locals and other backpackers from Tofo (which was really quiet apparently compared to when it's in season). The scenery was great again but we had to have a nap. At our petrol stop I tried this delicious yoghurt drink and started chatting to a Swedish lad who was saying how good his trip to Kruger NP in South Africa was.

I think we came across the national football team's stadium en-route to Maputo and watched some crazy guy just dancing outside of a shop to some music.

Maputo itself was clearly the capital, way bigger than the other cities we had been and with a fair amount of high-rise buildings. It was somewhat a bit as I expected.

The dorm 'Fattima's' which we had booked into wasn't bad, but after finding a bus ticket shop, we payed for the cheaper night bus so as I could get to Nelspruit near Kruger and Jack could meet his love working in St Lucia (going via Johannesburg). We cheekily showered and used the net at the dorm before eating at a restaurant with a German girl we had just met. 'Nora' was working in Kosi Bay, South Africa with sea turtles. We had eaten only a couple hours prior to this with an American lad and I went through pretty much every flavour of these yoghurt shakes and chicken and chips! I somehow accidentally ordered a seafood pizza though later on but still chomped through it.

We said bye to Nora, it seemed like we had known her for ages (it's weird how quickly you make friends and that when you are travelling), and jumped on the bus.

This was an awesome City-liner which was nice and comfortable and fast. On the border at immigration I got chatted up by a young local girl checking my passport asking me when I was coming back to Mozam or if I would come back and take her with! After five-hour ride I jumped off in Nelspruit leaving just one in the wolfpack.

Luckily a shop was open so I was asking for a taxi to get to Funky Monkey backpackers.A taxi at the garage nearby had to wake up and drive me to my destination, where the gates were locked and no-one was in. The driver told me to jump the gate but some black guy came out of the building and let me in. A couple of South Africans, an English and American lad were up drinking so I stayed up trying to find out info for Kruger.

The American was saying how his safari had cost about 3000 rand (£300) for three days but should have cost 4000, it was just the alcoholic owner who forgot to charge him properly.

So I was not looking forward to departing with a lot of hard-earned dollar!