Community Upliftment at Casa Rex

At Casa Rex & Sol Resorts we believe that strength lies in our community pulling together – we have seen it countless times with some remarkable results.

In the small coastal town of Vilanculos, there are many initiatives & efforts towards building a better & stronger community that go unnoticed. We would just like to point out a few that directly involve our staff & their families, & show them that we, too are committed to helping out wherever we can. As an example we have picked 2 incidences – the first where one of our staff has outdone himself in running a local English class from a make-shift classroom in his garden - & the second a touching story of the help given to 2 twin girls born to another one of our staff.

At the beginning of 2013 our dedicated Head Housekeeper -  Sr Sergio Manga founded the Escola de Inglês da Comunidade de Alto Macassa – the Alto Macassa Community English School.  He realized that there are many adults in his community who do not speak English and are, as a consequence, disadvantaged when applying for jobs in the predominant local tourism industry. He decided to teach them!

The move was welcomed by the Secretario de Bairro - the area Administrator, who himself asked to be a pupil and the fledging school was opened.

Sergio built benches from local wood under the trees in is garden paying for the transportation of wood himself.  Casa Rex and other members of the ex-pat community assisted with the purchase of books, pens, blackboards and chalk.

Teaching when he finishes work, Sergio already has two classes. One at 4.00  pm for children and another which starts at 6.00 pm for adults. The benches are filled to overflowing and the appreciative students are progressing well.

The good rains this year have however highlighted the need to build a more sheltered structure. Casa Rex has donated roofing and funds are currently being raised to purchase other building material and more exercise books and dictionaries.

Empowering the enthusiastic students is a worthy project and Sergio, our special Housekeeper, is deserving of support in his non-profit venture!

The second example involves one of our gardeners, Filemone Chissumba, working at Deacra (Sol Resorts’ self-catering villas).  A month ago, Filemone’s wife died tragically whilst giving birth to twin girls, leaving him with the monumental task of looking after these 2 babies. Our manager at Casa Rex (who we commend for always being ready to assist in like-situations), most effectively put the word out, encouraging the community to help out. It was very touching to see the community response, as Filemone has been inundated with donations of clothes & other essentials. As the picture indicates the girls are doing well & we will continue to follow their story!

To conclude, in the words of Mother Theresa – “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.” 

Romance is in the air...Weddings in Paradise at Casa Rex!

With Mozambique’s famous Bazaruto Archipelago Islands as your backdrop, Casa Rex Boutique Hotel in Vilanculos provides the ultimate venue for your dream wedding.

           

The hotel is perfectly situated for romantic occasions, with panoramic views across the multi-hued azure waters of the bay. Here nature conspires to make unforgettable memories…

Fourteen exceptional en-suite rooms, all with a great view of the bay & with air conditioners, fans and a hot beverage station await your guests. The Honeymoon Suite with its bougainvillea-fringed veranda and spacious interior is yours with our compliments.

Dedicating its entire facility to your event, the Casa Rex Wedding package includes:

           

Rooms:  2 Premium rooms, 4 double Acacia rooms, 4 twin Acacia Rooms and 4 Courtyard/Family Suites

Honeymoon suite: Complimentary with a welcome bottle of Sparkling Wine and Romantic Turndowns every evening.

Combined cost: US$3776 per night for couples or individuals sharing above rooms.

(20% discount off normal rates) The rate includes a full a la carte breakfast and airport transfers.

Meals:

Breakfast – Included in room rate.

Dinner  - your choice of 3 courses from our delicious a la carte menu = US$35 per person.

Wedding feast: Seafood cooked with Mozambican flair is our specialty, but we are happy to discuss the menu with you to provide a banquet that is entirely to your requirements.

The ceremony:

With its elevated position and stunning views, the magnificent indigenous gardens at Casa Rex provide the perfect setting for your ceremony. A bougainvillea-bedecked arch frames both the view and the bridal couple as they confirm their union.  As the bride walks across the lawn to where her life partner awaits her, few can doubt the romance of the occasion.

Cost of decorations : As per requirement.

Cost of lay minister for blessing/ Photography/ Wedding cake : Per quotation

Activities:

With a wide range of activities to choose from, Casa Rex staff are happy to organize these for your party. Snorkeling, scuba diving, kite boarding, sunset cruises, island visits, spa treatments and many other activities are available to suit every requirement.

...Casa Rex – Pristine Paradise, Picture-perfect Wedding                                   

Wining & dining in Mozambique...

In every country & culture, there are culinary favorites - Mozambique being no exception. Because of its heritage, Mozambique’s cuisine is largely Portuguese with Eastern influences. A visit to a local market, or Mercado, provides a wide range of fresh produce, fish & seafood, along with a host of other items that you would find in a regular supermarket.

• National specialties include peri-peri chicken, Zambezi shellfish & succulent prawns.
•  Vilanculos is known for its bountiful seafood – prawns, lobster & calamari (lulas), as well as game fish such as sea bass, red snapper, kingfish, tuna & dorado caught in the warm waters of the Bazaruto Archipelago. Fresh fish & seafood is also often available from local fishermen on the beach.
• For in-between times, Portuguese-style bread & pastries are also a favorite, with cafes & ‘pastelarias’ being a common characteristic of most of the bigger cities & small coastal towns.   
• Cashew nuts & huge, juicy pineapples for sale typify Mozambican roadsides & are definitely worth sampling.
• Local Mozambican beer is hugely popular with 2M (Doiseme) being the favored brand & known far outside its borders. Wine lists, however, usually include a selection of imported South African & Portuguese wines.

At Casa Rex's a la carte restaurant you’ll find the aromas of classic Mozambican & Portuguese dishes in the air: prawns cooked with lemon and garlic butter, the spicy & smoked flavor of peri-peri chicken, the specially-prepared crayfish feast or the traditional creamy codfish or ‘gomes de sa’. If a light lunch (or hearty snack!) takes your fancy, there’s nothing better than a seasoned prego or steak roll.

A beach holiday conjures up images of relaxing in the sun with a cocktail in hand, & Casa Rex’s menu does not disappoint, offering traditional cocktails like pina coladas, caipirinhas & the essential Bloody Mary.

Mozambique’s gastronomy is as much a part of the whole holiday experience as the majestic palm trees, pristine beaches & spectacular sunsets over the ocean. A must for those who haven’t tried it yet!   

Dreaming of a sun-kissed beach?

With brutally cold temperatures in the US & Canada this past month (ushering temperatures   in the US Midwest of –37C and shattering a 118 year old low temperature record on the East coast in early January), and with more than 100 flood warnings in England, Scotland & Wales earlier this month, at CasaRex we’re extremely fortunate, and grateful, to have some of the best weather conditions in the world for the most part of the year!

With a tropical climate, the weather along the coast of Mozambique is sunny and warm even in midwinter. The summer months from October through to April bring the rainy season & very warm & humid conditions, whist the winter months from April to September are cooler & drier.

Being directly on the coast has meant that Vilanculos has seen a number of tropical cyclones over the years, perhaps the most significant being Cyclone Favio in February 2007. What is interesting to note however, is that being as structurally sound as it is, Casa Rex has never been grossly affected by any of these.

Coastal temperatures during the day average 27C and can rise up to 32C in the summer, and 13C to 24C in the winter. The average annual rainfall of Mozambique is 800 to 900 mm. Water temperature is generally between 22C in winter & 27C in summer.

Tips for the best time to visit weather-wise if you love to…

Ø  Dive!

June to September if you want to see migrating humpback whales. Whale sharks can be seen most of the year, but the best time to see them is from October to March. Visibility is from 25 – 40 meters.

Ø  Fish!

Between September & November is the best time to catch large black & striped marlin in the warm waters around the Bazaruto Archipelago. May to September is peak time for sailfish, May to August for yellowfin tuna, August to March for king mackerel & September to April for kingfish.

Ø  Kite-surf! 

August through March is when the wind is best with trade winds blowing between 15 – 22 knots either from the SE or NE. Preferable not to kite-surf when it’s wet & there’s not much wind.

…these & many more activities are on offer whilst in Vilanculos.

So if you have had to endure freezing temperatures or incessant rain this January and are dreaming of a sun-kissed beach…come visit us at Casa Rex, a warm welcome is just the start!