Page 158 - Wedding Essentials & Essential Groom Issue 7

Mozambique! It might be one of the poorest coun- full time housekeeper.
tries in the world, but it is also one of the most beautiful, boasting 2500 kilometres of unspoilt coastline that is home to more than 1200 species
of marine creature, including the rare Dugong.
While the north of the country is still finding its feet following the devastating Cyclone Idai, the unaffected south is still ticking along and very much open for foreign business.
Ponta do Ouro and neighbouring Ponta de Malogane are seaside playgrounds, just a stone’s throw away from the South African Kosi Bay border. Once you turn off the only tarred highway in Mozambique, the road network turns to sand and the area is only accessible via a very bumpy 4x4 ride.
Sitting on the shores of a pristine clear beach and enjoying a small but booming economy, the area is home to the local Mozambican Shangaan population, who speak both their native tongue and Por- tuguese as well as a little English. They are a peaceful and friendly community and own a variety of traditionally rustic bars or baraka’s, that serve up pints of R&R, a local tourist special made of an even mix of Mozambique dark Rum and a fizzy raspberry soft drink.
It really is the ideal setting for those couples wanting a toes-in- the-sand kind of rustic wedding ceremony - on clear white shores, with a bride who arrives on horseback (or quadbike if that takes your fancy), bridesmaids carrying actual pineapples as bouquets, paper plane confetti, and a super romantic wedding shoot with cloudless skies and turquoise waters as a backdrop.
Mozambique is cheap, even for South Africans who can enjoy a 4:1 exchange rate against the Mozambican Metical. If you’re after an exotic but secluded beach wedding in near perfect surroundings, but without the exorbitant costs, (and can handle the mosquitoes) then this is the place.
The majority of foreign nationals, including South Africans, cannot legally get married in Mozambique, so you will either have to get married properly back home or source a travelling minister who is based in Mozambique or willing to travel there.
If you are travelling with a large wedding party, then consider the luxury beach villas at the privately owned Wakene Beach Estate. It’s located on 18 acres of coastal dune forest and borders the 50 000 hectare Maputo Elephant Reserve, which is home to approxi- mately 200 elephants.
Space is a plenty here as is privacy and beauty. Each villa can accommodate 10 -16 guests and boasts majestic views of either
the luscious forest or the private beach front. We stayed at Casa Madeira, which is designed to accommodate larger groups or up to 3 families together. The unit is fully equipped with 6 en-suite bed- rooms comprising 3 rooms with queen size beds and 3 rooms with twin beds. There are four additional pull-out beds with mattresses and linen, which alongside the bath towels are changed daily by a
The unit has a self-catering set up but the open plan kitchen is well equipped with a standing fridge/freezer, a separate full fridge, microwave, oven, electric kettle, 5 plate gas hob and electric oven. There is a large chest freezer in the laundry which also includes a washing machine, tumble drier and ironing facilities.
Food supplies can be bought at the local food market, which offers a selection of freshly baked breads and rolls, known locally as
Pau, basic vegetables and salad ingredients, cigarettes, beers, cool drinks, cashew nuts and coconuts. A must try is the strong fresh cloves of garlic and the speciality Peri Peri garlic sauce.
There is also a selection of restaurants offering traditional Por- tuguese cooked chicken, pizzas and burgers but you really want
to get your hands on some fresh seafood, caught that morning in Maputo bay and sold by informal traders in Ponta do Ouro.
Unlike other units on the Estate, Casa Madeira has an 81 square meter deck, with an extra-large alfresco dining table and benches that offer amazing sea views. The owners of Wakene entered a special arrangement with the Mozambique authorities to build Casa Madeira within the 100 metre zone of breakers and the result is truly spectacular.
You come to Wakene to enjoy natural peace and tranquillity. Close encounters with rare birds, some of which are endemic to the coastal forest, are very common and there are a number of mam- mals including red duiker, suni, bushbuck and bush pig as well
as tree dwellers like the red-tailed squirrels, greater bush baby, samango and vervet monkeys.
From the deck, watch the resident dolphins play, view the migra- tion of the humpback whales from June to October, or see the Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles on the sands every November to January and the giant Ignobilis Kingfish from December to March.
For those wanting a little bit more, Wakene is centrally situated to explore the 24 reefs off Malongane and the unspoilt rock pools of Fredrico’s Bay which is 2 kilometres north. Here you can snorkel amongst a variety of marine life such as manta, whale sharks and nudibranchs as well as rare corals between one and two meters deep.
Other activities include surfing, kite surfing, quad biking, scuba diving, paragliding and spear fishing. Fishing boat charters offer views of pelagic game fish species such as Wahoo, Dorado, Tuna and Couta as well as sailfish, black and blue marlin.
The best part of holidaying and marrying in Wakene is that you’re already near your honeymoon. The Bazaruto and Quirimbas Ar- chipelagos islands in Mozambique some of the most romantic and secluded beach destinations in the world.