Christmas in Vilanculos anyone?

How often do you get to spend Christmas in a beautiful tropical country against a backdrop of sandy white beaches & the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean? For some it’s a once in a life-time experience, but it’s often asked how Christmas is celebrated in our parts, so we’d like to share.

There are approximately 350 million Christians in Africa & Christmas is celebrated throughout the African continent. In Mozambique, along with the indigenous religions, the main religions practiced are Christianity & Islam as a result of the cultures that have dominated the country throughout history. Whilst the Arab traders introduced Islam, the Portuguese made it one of their missions to spread Christianity in the 1400’s. Statistically, 60 percent of the Mozambican population practices a form of traditional indigenized religion, 30 percent are Christian, and about 10 percent are Muslim.

The strong Christian presence means that Christmas is a special & reverent time.  In the bigger cities such as Maputo, there are large Catholic cathedrals which hold traditional midnight Christmas Eve ceremonies where age-old carols are sung. Additionally, decorations are hung & celebratory dances held, often with elaborate traditional costumes.

Good to know:

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• Ø  Christmas Day is also called Family Day in Mozambique.
• Ø  A dove (symbolizing peace) and a cross form Mozambique's logo for the Christian Council, and this symbol is often found on trees during Christmas time each year.
• Ø  Gifts are given at Christmas but the holiday is not quite as commercial as it is in Europe or America, with a new set of clothes for the Christmas church service being a most popular gift.
• Ø  Various international organizations operating in Africa make sure that the very poor receive food donations to make the day special.
• Ø  Unless you're in the mountains, there's little chance of having a white Christmas in Africa!

For us, close to the coast, Christmas Eve dinner at Casa Rex includes popular seafood delicacies & inherited Portuguese favorites.  Lunch on Christmas Day is sumptuous with more time-honored fare such as ham, turkey, lamb roast & all the trimmings just to give those far from home a taste of the traditional. Finished, of course, with a decadent sweet!

Check our website next week for our full Christmas menu. Casa Rex’s a la carte restaurant is open throughout the holidays & it is essential to book early. Call us on +258-293-82048

No need to worry about over-indulging – there’s always lots to do to work it off – from a simple walk along the beach as the sun sets, to the more adrenalin-inducing activities & water-sports that the area has to offer in the days that follow…

However you choose to spend it, we take this opportunity to wish all our guests, business colleagues & you - our readers – a fun-filled & memorable holiday season.

Boas Festas from sunny Vilanculos & we hope to see you in the New Year!

Meet the Dugong...

Dugongs of the Bazaruto Archipelago - Photos courtesy of dugong.org

Part of a National Park & a World Heritage site, the islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago lie off the coast of Mozambique & can be seen from mainland Vilanculos. 4 of the 5 islands which make up the Archipelago (namely Bazaruto, Benguerra, Margaruque, Santa Carolina & Bangue) are visible from Casa Rex. The shallow, protected coastal waters between the sand-dunes of the islands & the mainland are home to the dugong – the rare & unusual marine mammal, whose last viable population lives in the western Indian Ocean.

Interesting to note:

• Ø  The dugongs’ half fish & half mammal appearance may have inspired the concept & sea-faring stories of mermaids & sirens.
• Ø  They are often referred to as sea-cows with a diet that consists largely of sea grass, but are actually more closely related to the elephant.
• Ø  Dugongs can stay underwater for 6 minutes before surfacing & can breathe by standing on their tails with their heads above water.
• Ø  The difference between a dugong & a manatee is the dugong’s fluked tail, which is much like that of a whale. 

Sadly, the dugong population is under threat – from a combination of: habitat loss from the silting of sea grass beds, pollution, boat traffic & illegal hunting especially in developing countries. They have been listed as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species & international trade in dugongs is banned by its listing on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The United Nations Environment Program has also addressed the status & protection of the dugong.

Like to get a glimpse of a dugong? Contact us for information on year-round dhow safari options to the islands. We’ll be happy to accommodate you at Casa Rex or Sol Resorts Rentals!

Want to help? See www.dugong.org Through conservation efforts, education (via the “Observe, Preserve and Conserve”  initiative), research & the recruitment of sponsors & ambassadors, they are doing all they can to: 

(i) in the long term provide a better & broader understanding of the conservation and sustainability of the marine environment; and 

(ii) more immediately, save these gentle mermaids of the sea from extinction.

We're thankful for...

...our Management & Staff!

Casa Rex is perfectly placed in a bay, high above the pristine beaches, yet on the beachfront, affording unsurpassed views from every vantage point. Being architecturally sound & aesthetically pleasing further make it an excellent choice for holidaymakers, honeymooners, business people & guests stopping over for a night or 2 on the way to the islands. 

However - what really makes the difference at Casa Rex is the personal touch – the feeling you are looked after from the moment you walk in the door. The warm hospitality extended to our guests has been a large part of our success.  

Since its inception, Casa Rex have been privileged to have a staff complement of approximately 35 people that are in the words of one of our guests “..friendly, warm and helpful in the extreme. They go out of your way to ensure you have all that you need.” (Trip Advisor Review, Sept 2013) Paired with a super-efficient, hands-on management team, our staff have made all the difference over the years in making sure that our guests have - not just a pleasant stay - but an unforgettable one.

To quote James Cash Penney –

“Growth is never by mere chance – it is the result of forces working together.”   

This week our team lost a special member, Sr Vicente, who had worked with us for over 15 years, since even before Casa Rex’s opening in our days of operating on Magaruque island. 

Sr Vicente was a dedicated & loyal member of staff who will be sadly missed & remembered with respect & fondness.

Yoga Retreat in Paradise...with Sol Resorts

13 years ago, Stefan Berg, a certified Yoga Alliance Teacher from Germany, started practicing yoga & in 2007 discovered Anusara Yoga, a Hatha-based yoga style. Anusara yoga makes use of the Universal Principals of Alignment & combines elements of traditional spirituality with the more health-oriented Western approach.  This December we are delighted to host him at Deacra, one of our resorts in Vilanculos, situated only 5 km from Casa Rex. 

With breathtaking views over the tranquil Indian Ocean, superb sunrises & sunsets & the picture-perfect Bazaruto Archipelago islands in the distance, there is no better place to be in touch with nature & at peace with your inner-self.  With the help of this qualified instructor, we invite you to explore your boundaries, embrace change & grow both personally & spiritually from this experience.

Our villas & bungalows at Deacra where you will be accommodated both have direct access to a secluded stretch of beach as well as private swimming pools where you can while away the time in between sessions. The Bazaruto Archipelago with its magnificent coral reefs & abundant sea life allows for a variety of exhilarating activities & watersports - the perfect complement to your yoga experience. Three fresh-produce meals & healthy snacks during the day will ensure that you’ve never felt better! 

Check out our website www.deacraretreats.com for more details – we look forward to extending you a warm welcome. With love & light!

It's Marlin fishing time at Casa Rex!

Marlin fishing is at its peak in our parts at Casa Rex! Magnificent big-game fishing draws anglers to the area year round, but it is now – October to December - that is peak marlin season. The reefs of the Bazaruto Archipelago are home to some of the most impressive game fish in East Africa. Some of our guests are keen anglers & opt for this amazing experience. A great catch can take up to a couple of hours to land, as these fish give a good fight!

Courtesy of bazaruto.org

A profusion of marine species, the black marlin being one of them, are pushed directly into the Bazaruto Archipelago and the reefs that lie in and around it by the strong current that runs north to south through the channel between  Mozambique & Madagascar. Other fish that can be caught year round in this area are: king mackerel, numerous species of kingfish, wahoo, tuna (bonito, skipjack and yellowfin), bonefish and dorado.

Some interesting facts about Mozambique’s sport-fishing;

§  Historically, a group of local Mozambicans & South Africans discovered a black-marlin fishery in the late 50’s rivaling that of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

§  Johnny Harel, a Zimbabwean angler caught a record-breaking 1,298 pound black marlin in the Bazaruto Archipelago in 1998. Every year since then, fishermen have reported catching marlin in the 1000 pound category, qualifying as world record catches.

§  Mozambique has been called” a new frontier in big game fishing”  by Coln Sarfeh in ‘The Waterman’s Journal – he goes on to say that “While the Great Barrier Reef still reigns supreme as the top worldwide black marlin post, there might just be a new game in town”…!

Visiting Casa Rex & would like to know who to get hold of to arrange your trip? Try bigbluevilankulo or Duarte Rato, a local skipper from Vilanculos who’s spent the last 12 years fishing for Marlin in Bazaruto as well as big-game fishing in the Madeira.