In between Tofo and Maputo is a place called Xai Xai, just by the beach. It's almost in the middle so it's a pretty convenient place to stop off as we're driving back south.
We go in search of a place to stay and stumble upon some luxury villas (stumble upon = Alicia insists we go check them out.) There's a guy there who looks like the owner and he tells us there's a one bed villa available at 650 South African Rand (=$65). One of the staff shows us the villa and we're immediately sold. A couple of seconds negotiating and we've got it for 500 Rand ($? - you can work it out!)
Xai Xai is beautiful. The villa is beautiful; one bedroom, kitchen, living room and a balcony that overlooks the ocean. We're happy.
The guy who looks like the owner turns out in fact to be the owner’s friend and just looking after the place for a month. What a great deal - a free holiday in Mozambique! He spends his normal life working in finance and living in South West London, in a place called Surbiton – we probably won’t have heard of it… We have a laugh when I explain I grew up in neighbouring Kingston and my brother lives less than five minutes from his house.
We only planned to stay in Xai Xai for 1 night, but the place is so nice, we have to stay another. So after 2 days of lounging in luxury, we hit the road. Back to South Africa....
