And so we move on south

Hopping down the west coast, we dropped the hook at six islands, some a bit too open to the waves or swells, others quite calm.  We managed a few snorkel sessions namely at Nosy Iranje and Nosy Saba as well as some nice, albeit hot, hikes.  Nosy Saba was the tiniest island where, surprisingly, we found a fairly substantial and luxurious resort; it even had a small runway to bring in the guests.  The buildings, facilities and individual cottage units were quite spectacular but the island is extremely dry and void of any of the draw cards we would have thought essential for a tropical hideaway.  Even the snorkelling, which we found to be fairly good, was not near the resort but rather on the side of the island where we were anchored.

We spent a couple of nights there as the holding was excellent and the anchorage well protected behind a long white sandy spit.  We discovered some fascinating rock formations with interesting striations on the northern end of the island then lava-like mounds throughout the remainder.  We would have loved to have had a geologist with us to explain the islands geological history; it looked intriguing.

The following stop, Nosy Lava, was horrible; bouncy in the extreme and very uncomfortable.  It did settle a little through the night however we weren't tempted to go ashore but rather left at first light to make the forty-odd nautical mile passage to Moramba Bay where we knew we'd be in more comfortable conditions.

The winds are amazingly predictable all around here with the offshore breezes helping us along in the mornings.  By midday, they switch and an onshore breeze takes over.  These have been some of the most pleasant sailing conditions we've ever encountered.  If it was always like this, you'd be hard-pressed to get me off the boat.

Every single day, we watch the fisherman sailing out in their dugouts or dhows, off to more favoured fishing grounds then, right on cue, they return in the late afternoons.  Very few have any means of propulsion other than sewn-together rice bags on the dug-outs and huge heavy canvas sails straight out of biblical times for the larger wooden dhows.  They create a wonderful sight as they fill their sails and ride their outriggers.

Just as we were to round the corner into Moramba Bay, we broke our fishing drought by catching a lovely 15kg wahoo!  Paul suddenly became a very happy camper as he was beginning to despair after hearing how many fish some of our predecessor's had caught this time last year.  

Yum, sashimi for dinner that night and a topped up freezer!

PHOTO ALBUM: *

* incomplete as the poor internet connection would not allow me to finish.

 

We thoroughly approved of the restaurant's name