 My Beach in Africa — Mahangate, place of water and fish — By Mush Nichols
I HAD a beach in Africa, on the shores of the warm Indian Ocean. The beach runs north to south for 70 kilometres from the San Sebastion Peninsula in the north to the Bambi River in the south. For two decades my family and a few friends have had the privilege of the finest sport angling imaginable at this paradise, both beach and boat, almost exclusively to ourselves.
Unfortunately, much of the southern Moçambique coastline is in a depleted state due to overpopulation and the failure to police conservation. However, it is heartwarming to know there are a few places that have escaped human abuse and deserve the right to be titled “pristine”.
One such place is Mahangate, “my beach in Africa”. The remoteness and distance from any town, which in turn resulted in a sparse human population, has been the saving of this Eden. Have you ever seen baboons, red duiker and bush pigs on the beach? It’s hard to believe, but true — this is Mahangate.
Progress is inevitable and, yes, my beach has been discovered. And, yes, Mahangate is presently being developed into an elite, eco-friendly resort.
Mahangate derives its name from the chief who first settled this sparse area overlooking the Rio Bambi estuary. The local people pronounce it “Bumbi” and it is marked so on some of the old Portuguese maps.
Spending several days with the owners made up for my initial disappointment of them discovering my secret fishing spot. I soon realised that these people were totally committed in their planning to maintaining the pristine nature of the entire area. They have also committed themselves to training and employing the local residents in the establishment and management of a high-class coastal resort.
Read the full story in the September/October 2009 issue of SKI-BOAT.
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