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.