Hennie and Adri enquired from official operators about a potential trip to a nearby island (Santa Carolina, otherwise known as Paradise Island), but were informed the trips leave earlier in the morning. We then decided to support locals that promised us a “big boat with an engine”. Two Spanish back-packers asked if they could join us, to bring the cost down. They were very friendly, and as the man was born in a region of Spain close to the border with Portugal, he spoke a dialect that assisted him in understanding and translating the discussions with the locals. This came in very helpful later!
On the beach we waited and waited, whilst the locals had discussions with a man that looked like an official. We were not briefed about the content of the discussions, but about 90 minutes later we learned that the boat does not have the necessary “papers” to take tourists to the island. We were stranded! This we found out with the assistance of our new Spanish friend. At this stage we decided to abandon the trip, as it was nearing lunch time, and we could not get our money’s worth, as the island is at least 1 hour away by boat. We proceeded to ask for our M1,000 deposit back, but since it was used to purchase fuel for the engine, it could not be returned. Things got interesting when Adri seized the engine and loaded it on the Dokka. We have in the mean time decided to treat ourselves to a chalet the next evening, and packed up camp.
Havoc broke out as they prevented us from leaving, and the poor Spanish guy tried to understand Portuguese and then translate it to English, in which he was also not fluent. In the end Adri settled to take the petrol and a small cash payment, but we would not have reached that point without the backpacker’s assistance. In the mean time Hennie and I went to BillFish Lodge (a recommendation by Mark), to secure a chalet for the evening.
It is a brilliant setting, run by two South African partners. We had a chalet that can sleep up to 10 people, with a nice veranda looking out over the sea. It has a bar area, restaurant and a pool deck. The chalets were very clean, and very well equipped, possible our best accommodation for the trip.
We had another superb restaurant dinner, with 3 of us eating the calamari, and Adri settling for the parrot fish – to Anita’s annoyance! And a nice bottle South African red wine, or two…
On the beach we waited and waited, whilst the locals had discussions with a man that looked like an official. We were not briefed about the content of the discussions, but about 90 minutes later we learned that the boat does not have the necessary “papers” to take tourists to the island. We were stranded! This we found out with the assistance of our new Spanish friend. At this stage we decided to abandon the trip, as it was nearing lunch time, and we could not get our money’s worth, as the island is at least 1 hour away by boat. We proceeded to ask for our M1,000 deposit back, but since it was used to purchase fuel for the engine, it could not be returned. Things got interesting when Adri seized the engine and loaded it on the Dokka. We have in the mean time decided to treat ourselves to a chalet the next evening, and packed up camp.
Havoc broke out as they prevented us from leaving, and the poor Spanish guy tried to understand Portuguese and then translate it to English, in which he was also not fluent. In the end Adri settled to take the petrol and a small cash payment, but we would not have reached that point without the backpacker’s assistance. In the mean time Hennie and I went to BillFish Lodge (a recommendation by Mark), to secure a chalet for the evening.
It is a brilliant setting, run by two South African partners. We had a chalet that can sleep up to 10 people, with a nice veranda looking out over the sea. It has a bar area, restaurant and a pool deck. The chalets were very clean, and very well equipped, possible our best accommodation for the trip.We had another superb restaurant dinner, with 3 of us eating the calamari, and Adri settling for the parrot fish – to Anita’s annoyance! And a nice bottle South African red wine, or two…
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