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The Blue Lagoon and Coconut Palms

GPS coordinates:

Maputo Bypass

See Bulletin Board

NB. these waypoints are available in the file vdc.wpt which can be sent to you on request from info@villadcocos.com. Email this address and we will forward the file to your email address.

Turn left off the EN4 at

(1) 25^o 39. 608' S  032^o 14.596' E to Moamba.

After plaza in Moamba turn right at

(2) 25^o 36. 206' S,  032^o 14.559' E.

North of Moamba the gravel road starts at

(3) 25^o 33.771' S,   032^o 15.472' E and ends at

(4) 25^o 02.568' S,  032^o 39.437' E. The road passes through Xinavane with its 6 speed bumps and after 25kms joins the EN1 25km South of Macia. There is a clear signpost at the right turn to Bilene.

Detailed Lat/Long of the Sabie road:

Turn left off the tarred road north of Moamba at

(3a) 25⁰ 33.765' S,  032⁰ 15,443'E  and find the steel girder bridge at

(3b) 25⁰ 33.861'S,  032⁰ 15.224'E From the bridge join the tarred road a

(3c) 25⁰ 33,900'S,  032⁰ 15.017'E and proceed to

(3d) 25⁰ 19.356'S  032⁰ 15.252'E which is in the middle of the town of Sabie. Continue to

(3e) 25⁰ 19.012'S,  032⁰ 17.460'E at which there is a substantial bridge over the Sabie river, and on to

(3f) 25⁰ 18.590'S,  032⁰ 18.239'E where there is a similar bridge. At

(3g) 25⁰ 05.396'S,  032⁰ 24.839'E a road joins from the left. (Going in the other direction you would take the left fork) and proceed to the washed out bridge at

(3h) 25⁰ 05.396'S,  032⁰ 24.842'E  This bridge is the first potentially impassable point during the rainy season.

From Lat/Long

(3i) 25⁰ 04.150'S,  032⁰ 24,874'E to Lat/Long

(3j) 25⁰ 02.303'S,  032⁰ 25.518'E  you should beware of some surprise curves in the road which could have your trailer overtaking you if you hit them going too fast. At

(3k) 24⁰ 59.822'S,  032⁰ 34.688'E  there is another road which joins from the left (take left fork going the other way) and at

(3l) 24⁰ 59.733'S,  032⁰ 34.934'E there is a bridge which is susceptible to damage during heavy rains. At

(3m) 25⁰ 00.259'S,  032⁰ 36.269'E  another road joins from the left (take left fork when southbound) and then it is through Magude to

(4) 25⁰ 02.570'S,  032⁰ 39.440'E where you meet the other gravel road and turn left over the level crossing to Xinavane

Bilene to Villa da Luz by the Legal Road

Travel east along the waterfront road in Bilene (towards the circle at Palmeiras) until just past the market and before the nursery at

(5) 25^o 16.982' S, 033^o 15.448' E where there is a left turn to the North (away from the lagoon) on a sandy road which crosses a stream. There is also a sign to 'Nhabanga 23km'. Follow this road to

(6) 25^o 16.400' S, 033^o 15.466' E where there is a right turn. Turn right. A short distance along this road, which is our only divided highway, to

(7) 25^o 16.391' S, 033^o 15.555' E  where there is a turn to the left. Turn left.

Follow this road to

(8) 25^o 15.816' S, 033^o 15.985 E where there is a fork. Take the left hand fork to

(9) 25^o 13.970 S, 033^o 16.200 E where there is another fork. Take the right hand fork to

(10) 25^o 12.549' S  033^o 20.556' E where there is yet another fork. Take the right hand fork to

(11) 25^o 14.005' S  033^o 21.121' E where the road from Zongoene joins from the left. Keep straight ahead and pass through the village to

(12) 25^o 14.907'S  033^o 20.514' E where there is a stump of a palm tree and a turn to the left. Turn left and proceed to

(13) 25^o 15.445' S  033^o 20.477' E.

 Please observe a 20km/h speed limit through the village, there are lots of children and lots of chickens running around. Please do not give anything to the children.  All gifts should be given to our headman for distribution by him.  Giving to children direct turns them into raucous, demanding little beggars.

This is the start of the final and most abused section of the road and, if inept drivers have been ripping it up with wheel-spins, the vehicle should be prepared for soft sand on a steep incline. See 4wd Deflate your tyres to achieve flotation and proceed to

(14) 25⁰ 15.610' S, 033⁰ 20.490' E where there is a fork at which the left branch leads to the ocean.  Take the right fork and continue to

(15) 25⁰ 15.728' S, 033⁰ 20.206' E where there is a turn-off to the left.  You will only turn left here if the level of the lagoon is exceptionally high in which case you will proceed to

(17) 25⁰ 15.616' S, 033⁰ 19.831' E and then to

(18) etc.

Otherwise continue to the lagoon shore and follow the shore to the left to

(16) 25⁰ 15.667' S, 033⁰ 19.995' E where you again turn inland and proceed to

(17) 25⁰ 15.616' S, 033⁰ 19.831' E and turn sharp right.  Then continue to

(18) 25⁰ 15.616' S, 033⁰ 19.748' E, where you turn sharp left and to

(19) 25⁰ 15.646' S, 033⁰ 19.712' E, where you turn left to (25) for Vista d'Montanga  or right to

(20) 25⁰ 15.594' S, 033⁰ 19.672' E, and to

(21) 25⁰ 15.574' S, 033⁰ 19.595' E and you will have arrived at Villa da Luz.

To go to Vista d'Montanha follow to power poles to

(22) 25⁰ 15.946' S, 033⁰ 19.481' E where there is  left turn and follow the track up the dune to the campground.

 Please unlock your differentials and disengage 4wd before maneuvering your vehicle on our lawns. See 4wd.

Bilene to Villa da Luz by the Illegal Beach Road.

(Not recommended)

See Bulletin Board for latest information.

Using the route over the beach from Bilene to Villa da Luz is illegal but common practice when the lagoon mouth is open and the water level is low since this route is 10km shorter.  The standard fine is R1500 and passports as well as vehicles have in the past been impounded pending payment of the fine.

To get to the beach road proceed east along the waterfront to the circle at Palmeiras. Exit the circle at 12 o'clock and pass through the boom at the caravan park. If the boom is manned you will be asked to pay 15.00 MTn,  otherwise use the right hand lane and drive over the chain.

There are 4 shallow rivers to cross between Bilene and the village of Nhabanga. The entrance to the village is the first left turn after the fourth river.  This will take you to GPS point (12). It is possible to bypass the village by continuing along the beach but this will take you past the front of Villa N'banga and cause unnecessary annoyance to it's residents. The banks of some of the rivers are quite steep and long trailers are likely to drag their tail-boards.

The locals dig wells for drinking water all over the beach and you should keep a sharp lookout to avoid driving into them. There will also be piles of fishing nets near the water's edge.

Be advised that wheel hubs on most vehicles leak to some extent, and salt water in your wheel hubs or U-joints will lead to premature (and expensive) failure. Many have discovered this to their cost. If you use the beach road, or immerse your axles in water for any reason, have your wheel bearings and prop-shaft joints checked as soon as possible after the event. This also applies to trailer axles. Remember all those boat trailers you've seen standing at a rakish angle at the end of a long scratch with one wheel lying 100 meters behind? That's what a wheel bearing failure looks like. A vehicle with a collapsed wheel bearing cannot be towed, it will stand where it breaks down until it is repaired, or carried away on a roll-back or a trailer, and during this time will require a 24 hour guard.

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Last modified: 02/18/07