The serene and wonderful ILHA DO IBO of Mozambique, Africa is indeed a great place to relax for a few days. The Times Online foreign correspondent Christina Lamb selected this particular island for solitude after being shot at by the Taliban during her assignment. The northern Mozambique island helped her sort of come to terms with things after her terrible ordeal.
No more web cafes, no more hustle bustle of the city. Just imagine yourself and the waves coming at you. The experience at Ibo island can be quite surreal indeed. The island is a part of the recently created Quirimbas archipelago. The ancient mansions with their grandeur and wrought iron terraces attract many tourists to the island. These mansions are actually home to visitors of the island. Also available are the island lodges.
Fishing and tourists are the two things that Ibo dwellers thrive on. As Christina Lamb mentions in her article, the island is controlled by tide. Tides can make it or break it. Boats take off early in the morning during high tide known to locals as maji-mwingi. This is when traders guide their boats through the local mangrove forests. I would like to try out the guided mangrove excursion.
Along the fishing adventures, tourists can experience scuba diving with a qualified local guide. Ibo also offers sea kayaking for the adventurous. To get to the island board a flight from Dar-Es-Salam. The room rates at Ibo lodges vary from $80 to $280 and children over 12 can stay for half price. I think this sounds like a great island to get away from the hustle bustle of the city.
Image Credits: Eyesonafrica, Technoserve, Akdn
