MAPUTO ROCKS
Rea Khoabane joins a mission to share the delights of Gauteng with our neighbours, and finds they have some delights of their own
A joint fashion-and-tourism initiative put a shine on Mozambique’s capital
WHEN the day finally arrived, I was as excited as a child. My bikinis, head wraps and shades were all packed and I was prepared to have the best time.
Gauteng Tourism — believing that taking local brands to the rest of Africa will encourage them to visit Gauteng too — had invited a group of creatives and journalists on a three-day visit to Maputo.
The mission was to display the best that Gauteng has to offer — in fashion, music and adventure experiences — to the African traveller.
We were 25 passengers on the bus, plus the driver, and we headed out of Joburg at noon. Luckily, the company was great and the drinks kept the conversation flowing, making the 10-hour trip to the Mozambique border bearable.
It was midnight when we finally arrived at the elegant Hotel Cardoso. Overlooking Maputo Bay, the art deco hotel has the classic look and feel of the 1920s and is very homely to boot.
This is also the where, the next morning, the creative market would be set up.
From fashion by Ephymol to the boutique sneaker-cleaning and shoe-care service Walk Fresh, Gauteng’s best exports worked on building relationships with the people of Mozambique.
The market was set up in the hotel’s garden, atop a cliff with a beautiful view. South African street band Kitchen Mess provided the jams.
That night, we were invited to the South African embassy — turns out there’s nothing quite like partying with diplomats. We left at 2am to continue the party back at the hotel until 5am — well, it was too hot to sleep anyway.
The following day, after some beauty sleep, we had a photo shoot on the beach.
We were not in the best spot but designer Ephraim Molingoana of Ephymol planned around the setting to create a beautiful shoot.
For lunch, we got to enjoy the best of local food and culture at the fish market, indulging in fish, prawns, calamari and chips.
The fish market reminded me of the township shisa’nyama — no fancy settings or furniture because the food does all the talking. I was impressed with the street vendor who showed me the talent of the Mozambican people, who create things with their hands such as wire models and carved wooden birds.
I also got to be a model myself with a mini photo shoot — I hadn’t packed those bikinis, shades and head-wraps for nothing! When you find yourself on an African beach, I always say, find a boat and channel your inner queen and that’s exactly what I did wearing my Maasai headwrap.
As the sun set, we returned to the hotel to dress up for one more party in Maputo — at Mundo’s Restaurant — until the early hours of Sunday morning.
I always love travelling in Africa and this was one of my best trips. — Khoabane was a guest of Gauteng Tourism
Hotel Cardoso prices start from R2 609 a night per room. See cardoso-hotel.com.
Mundo’s claims to be “the most vibrant restaurant, pub and sports-bar in Maputo”. See mundos.co.mz.