MOZAMBIQUE COASTLINE EXPEDITION
From the river Lurio to the river Rovuma Kitesurf Expedition
A Kitesurfing challenge, bringing awareness to community projects and documenting a raw way of life, living along the pristine coast line of Cabo Delgado.
The challenge is to travel by kite the length of Mozambique’s northern most province, Cabo Delgado.
A small part of the ancient Arab and Portuguese trade routes, who used the south easterly trade winds known locally as the ‘Kussi’.
The start and finish points are marked by two rivers, the Lurio to the south and the Ruvuma to the north bordering Tanzania.
Five kitesurfers will set sail around the 9th of June, depending on the wind, to cover the 210nm stretch over seven days carrying what we can, using only a small motorboat for support.
During the trip there will be several open water sections and dense mangrove swamps to navigate. These are just some of the foreseeable challenges that we will encounter, while stopping along the way to explore the abundant potential for kitesurfing and absorb the essence of such an unspoilt coastline.
Our first port of call will be Il Pirata, (www.kitesurfingmozambique.com) northern Mozambique’s only kitesurfing school and home to Carlo, who is leader of the trip and has the most experience in the team. From there we will continue our journey north to the Tanzanian boarder, camping along the way.
Our aim is to raise awareness for the need of clean water, and promote current community projects in Mozambique.
The coast line of Cabo Delgado is mainly populated by the Mwani people who have over the years integrated with the Macua people and Makonde people. Coastal communities have embraced the ocean as a source of life and have adapted their ways to co exist. One of the big challenges communities face along this pristine coast line is access to clean drinking water.
Through the support of the NEMA foundation, Guludo Beach Lodge, Water Charity, +H20 and the communities themselves, access to clean drinking water has been provided, all over the world, including a number of projects in Mozambique, Madagascar and Tanzania.
We will be documenting not only the huge potential of new kitesurfing spots but the way of life that surrounds them, hugging Mozambique’s remote coast line.
As early as AD600 the coast line and its communities have been influenced by Arab and Portuguese traders, leaving behind trails of their influence and presence.
Through our passion for water sports and a conscience for the environment we hope to capture life along the coast as it stands today.
A Kitesurfing challenge, bringing awareness to community projects and telling a raw way of life, along the pristine coast line of Cabo Delgado.
The challenge is to travel by kite the length of Mozambique’s northern most province, Cabo Delgado.
A small part of the ancient Arab and Portuguese trade routes, who used the south easterly trade winds known locally as the ‘Kussi’.
The start and finish points are marked by two rivers, the Lurio to the south and the Ruvuma to the north bordering Tanzania.
Five Riders Carlo, Bart, Jack, Nic, Andre. Two boat skippers, Geert, Andt and one Photographer, Cat. Will set sail the 9th of June, depending on the wind, to cover the 190NM stretch over seven days carrying what we can, using only a small motorboat for support.
09/06/2012 Day One:
After the approach to the River Lurio, we start the trip at the river mouth. 13°26’57,88”S 40°34’06,49”E
A 27 NM downwind, passing by several lovely coast villages and some amazing wave spots, will take us to Il Pirata in Murrebue 13°03’30,96”S 40°33’25,41”E
Il Pirata Murrebue, www.murrebue.com will provide for our food and accommodation
10/06/2012 Day Two
The longest leg of the all trip, 45 NM, will take us from Murrebue to Ibo Island 12°13’28,00”S 40°41’03,95”E
This is with no doubt the most demanding leg of the all trip, we have around 10 miles of Open Ocean to sail and we will pass Ponta Diablo, one of the most demanding stretches of water in Mozambique, it is also the whale season, so we count to be accompanied by Humpback Wales as we sail.
On Ibo Island, Miti Miwiri Lodge will provide for us on the Island
11/06/2012 Day Tree
A short leg, 14 NM will take us to Guludo Beach Lodge 12°08’19,00”S 40°29’19,00”E
Guludo Beach Lodge http://www.guludo.com/ will provide accommodation and a logistic base, there we will visit the sites of the Nema foundation projects http://nemafoundation.tumblr.com/ as well as the village of Mipande, where The Clean Energy Initiative, has a very interesting project providing wind generated electricity to the village
12/06/2012 Day Four
With a 27 NM leg, cruising among the fishermen communities in the area, we will reach the village of Quiterajo 11°43’53,60”S 40°26’50,69”E. A fishing community, lying on the mouth of the river Messalo.
We will camp by the village, seeking the hospitality of the local community.
13/06/2012 Day Five
The second longest leg of the trip, 39 NM will take us to Metundo Lodge Private Island 11°08’44,95”S 40°40’23,44”E
The Leg start with the crossing of the River Messalo, we are particularly excited about this crossing, while Dugongs, the marine mammals heavily threatened by extinction, have been spotted in these waters. We will also cruise by villages whose fishing communities are reachable only from the Ocean, and the small town of Mocimboa da Praia.
Metundo Lodge Private Island will provide for our accommodation and a logistic base.
14/06/2012 Day Six
Island to Island, 23 NM Leg, taking us to the Island of Tecomaji 10°46’01,27”S 40°39’16,16”E some awesome wave spots along the way, time to play!
We will land on the Island, where the crew of the Lodge on the Making, will host us.
Guy, Project Manager on Tecomaji will join us for the last leg the following day.
15/06/2012 Day Seven
Uncharted Waters, 15 NM to get us, as close as possible to Quionga 10°35’41,08”S 40°30’33,82”E, costal border post with Tanzania, End of the trip
We will start cruising across the lovely Palma bay. The little town of Palma is the hub of the Gas explorations off shore and is witnessing a huge development in recent days, next check point is the light house of Cabo Delgado, which gives the name to the most northern province of Mozambique. Next, the Rovuma river mouth, where sadly we will put the kites down and End the Trip.
We will ten work our way back to Tecomaji where we will wrap up the trip.
16/06/2012 Day Eight
Time to go home, some of us will go back by boat while the others will travel by road on any available mean, from Palma to Pemba
We have a number of spots along the way where we can surf the net!
