Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Cruising through....





Hi all!

I have found a really great site if you are wanting to rent a 4 wheel drive -
"Drive South Africa":

http://www.drivesouthafrica.co.za/

You are able to collect your 4 x 4 directly from either Johannesburg or Durban airports which makes life even MORE easier :)You can also hire a car from R 143 per day on this site!

Avis is still pretty good with their rates! For 12 days rental of a 4 wheel drive Toyota Hilux double cab, its R 7746.16.

There are plenty of local card rental companies that could possibly come in cheaper than the above mentioned http://www.car-rental-south-africa.net :
Budget
Hertz
First
Tempest
Europcar
Kenings
Kea (4 x 4's)

Happy "surfing!"

Saturday, June 18, 2011

"It's cool to carpool"




Hi all,

Just some helpful tips, if you are planning to attend our wedding:

- Become a follower to the blog. You are able to sign in if you have a google (gmail), twitter, yahoo account.
- This allows you to comment on the blog posts and enter into a discussion with other guests that will be attending.

Ultimately, you will be able to arrange carpools to get to the Mozambique border (especially if you are flying in from overseas)and plan your holiday with other guests in order to cut down on costs etc.

Just to give you all some ideas on costs - one weeks car rental of a non 4 x 4 vehicle is around R 1300. Split that by 4 = a lot cheaper! To park your car at the Mozambique border costs R 30 per day. Split that by 4 = a lot cheaper! Petrol costs (well, these fluctuate all the time), but you are looking at around R 10 per litre (YES people, cheaper than Swedens fuel prices ;) )

If you would like the guest list so you are able to see who is also attending, let me know and I can send the list along with everyones contact details in order for you to arrange your trip!

Monday, June 13, 2011

“Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity.”






Finally, our wedding invitations are complete. We had so much fun making them... Each and every one, different, tailor made, especially for you!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

FREE / GRATIS / MAHALA Breakfast Buffet on Sunday 18th March!




We have come to realise how important it is that all tummies are full and satisfied, especially after a "hard days night" of drinking, dancing and singing! Therefore, it is without question, that we provide you all with a tasty buffet breakfast on the house! Please still sign up at reception if you would like to join us for breakfast on Sunday 18th March. No need to pay anything however. It will be an opportunity to reminisce about the night before, meet new friends and say your goodbyes if you plan on leaving Mozambique that day :)

Välkommen / Welcome!

Monday, June 6, 2011

"We love cheap"


For our international guests, I have found some cheap flights from Sweden to Johannesburg starting at R 5300 return!!!Insane actually :) Egypt Air has these rates and you would fly out from Copenhagen in this case, stop off in Cairo, then head to Johannesburg South Africa.

Other reasonably cheap airlines are Turkish Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines.

The three great search engines that I use to find the cheapest flights are http://www.skyscanner.net/ , http://travels.kilroy.se/ and www.pricerunner.co.uk /www.pricerunner.se.

Good luck!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Further information and details: Fri 16th, Sat 17th, Sun 18th March



Dear guests, below is everything that you need to know regarding the wedding. We have mentioned what we require from you in order to secure your accommodation and other bookings . If possible, we would like for you to arrive at Coco Rico by Friday 16th March 2012. You can view the venue at www.cocorico.co.mz.

1. TRAVEL

By Air
- Fly to Johannesburg (OR Tambo Airport) OR Durban (King Shaka Airport) OR Richards Bay airport.

By Car (Hire either a NON-four wheel OR four wheel drive from the airport – Avis is our recommendation)
Please note that you require a four wheel drive in Mozambique as the roads are all sandy tracks and not tar.
- Distance from Johannesburg airport to the Kosi Bay Border (Borders Mozambique and South Africa) = 630 KM (7 hours).
- Distance from Durban airport to the Kosi Bay Border (Borders Mozambique and South Africa) = 460 KM (5 hours).
- Distance from Richards Bay airport to the Kosi Bay border (Borders Mozambique and South Africa) = 266 KM (3 hours).

2. KOSI BAY BORDER CROSSING (Border times: 8 am – 5 pm)

NON-four Wheel Drive

- Parking at the border = R 30 per day .
- Please inform Jeandre if you require a border transfer—the date and time from the border as well as the date and time back to the border.

Four Wheel Drive
- You require your vehicle ownership documents.
- Motorists whose cars are still financed by the bank need to get an authorisation and insurance repatriation confirmation from the same bank before attempting to cross the border.
- Vehicles which are fully paid will require the original registration papers.
- Should a different person, other than the owner, drive the car, the written permission of the owner is required.
- A valid drivers license is also required.
- Vehicle Insurance is required in Mozambique - if your current insurance covers Mozambique you must get a letter from the insurance company on official papers clearly stating that minimum of third party insurance is covered, it must show the vehicle registration and the country 'Mozambique' - not 'covers all SADC' or 'Southern Africa'. 
- Temporary 30 day insurance cover is available at the Mozambique border and the cost is R150 (payable in cash only). We recommend Hollard Insurance.
- If you are bringing in a boat/trailor/jetski it is R 80 for a temporary import licence.
- It is compulsory for any South African vehicle, caravan or trailer to have a ZA sign displayed when it crosses any of the borders. The ZA sign must be placed on the rear of each vehicle, caravan and trailer in a visible position and may not be within 150mm of the rear number plate.
- When travelling in Mozambique with a vehicle in tow, you are required to display a set of blue and yellow warning triangles. One triangle must be placed on the front right bumper of the vehicle and the other on the rear of the vehicle towed.

3. PASSPORT CONTROL

Everyone requires a valid passport ( your passport should be valid 3 months after your arrival in Mozambique ).
South Africans and Zimbabweans do not require a tourist visa, however EU citizens, Brits and Americans do.
(This can be obtained at the Kosi Bay border on arrival).

Contact the Mozambique embassy for the exact cost. EU citizens pay approximately R 420, whereas Brits and
Americans pay approximately R 1000. (Tourist visas valid for 30 days).

Passport Control NON-four Wheel drive
- Go into the cabin on the left on the South African side.
- Passports are stamped out.
- Then it is across to the Mozambique side (200 metres) and onto the sandy roads. 
- On the right is a window in a building where you hand in your passport. Get stamped. Buy your visa here if required.

Passport Control Four Wheel Drive

- When you arrive at the Kosi Bay border, park up on the left on the South African side, and go into the cabin on the left.
- Passports are stamped out. (Usually no vehicle paperwork is required although this can change).
- Then it is across to the Mozambique side (200 metres) and onto the sandy roads. (let your tyres down!).
- On the left is the vehicle paperwork hut.
- Fill in two A4 sheets of information (they contain a sheet of carbon paper. Make sure the carbon works and is clear on the bottom sheet).
- Take it back to the desk and they will stamp it and return half to you. You need to pay a fee of around R 12. (This could change).
- Back out on the right is a window in a building where you hand in your passport, get stamped and you are “A for away”!
- Insurance is required and there is usually a man at the border asking if you need to buy it. Hollard has a hut here.

4. ACCOMODATION

- Accommodation comprises 8 sleeper duplexes and simplexes. I will group guests of 8 together and mail the groupings to everyone at a later stage. (Please inform Jeandre if you have any preferences).
- Rates are R 197 per person per night during the weekends including the wedding weekend: Friday 16th March and Saturday 17th March . (Please note that this rate is only valid if each duplex/simplex is occupied with 8 people).
- Please deposit the amount for the wedding weekend ( Friday 16th March and Saturday 17th March (Total of R 394 per person) as soon as possible, to secure your booking, with your name as the reference, into either :

Daniel’s account:
Daniel Ramström
Swedbank
clearingnummer 8169-5
kontonummer 903 431 588-8

OR

Jeandre’s account:
Miss J Le Roux
First National Bank (FNB)
Branch: Howick
Branch No: 220725
Account No: 62060850669

- If you wish to come slightly earlier than Friday 16th March, or stay on after from Sunday 18th March, the cost is R 169 per person per night in an 8 sleeper duplex/simplex. Please let Jeandre know your arrival and departure dates and times if you would like to arrive earlier than Friday 16th March or stay on after from Sunday 18th March. (You can pay this separate amount for early arrivals or late departures on arrival at Coco Rico’s reception).
(Please note that this rate is only valid if each duplex/simplex is occupied with 8 people).

5. FOOD AND LINEN

- Please let Jeandre know if you have any dietary requirements.
- Dinner will be provided on Friday 16th March.
- Dinner at the wedding on Saturday 17thMarch will be provided.
- Breakfast buffet on Sunday 18th March will cost R 60 per person. You can sign up and pay for the breakfast when checking in at Coco Rico, at the reception.
- Tea/coffee/milk/sugar/dishwashing liquid will be provided.
- Please bring along any additional food that you require (there is a fully equipped kitchen available in each duplex/simplex). (There are also many restaurants to choose from in the area and you are able to purchase basic foodstuffs in the village.)
- Linen towels are provided. Please bring your own beach towels

6. THINGS TO DO


Markets / Shebeen (local pub) and beach bar hopping / Diving and dive courses / Swimming with dolphins / Whale watching /Quad biking and 4 x 4 trails / Surfing and surf courses / Snorkelling / Kite Surfing / Wind surfing / Paddling / Surf skiing / Deep sea and shore angling / Boat rides /Paragliding /Jet-skiing


(Please let Jeandre know if you are interested in any of the above activities highlighted in green so that she can arrange special packages for you—at your own expense!).


7. HELPFUL TIPS

- Malaria is low risk at Ponta do Ouro. Mosquito repellent is sufficient. (You can take malaria tablets if you wish).
- Mozambique water is not drinkable but you can drink from the taps at Coco Rico accommodation.
- Bring cash. Rands and meticais are accepted. There is a bank and there are some places that accept credit cards.
- There is a chemist and doctor in the village. In an Emergency, there is a hospital in Manguzi, on the South African side.

8. DIRECTIONS


From Johannesburg
Visitors driving from Johannesburg to Kosi Bay will travel via Ermelo, Jozini, Kwangwanase (Manguzi) to the Kosi Bay border.
From Johannesburg take the N12 to Witbank ;
- From Witbank take the N4 to Middelburg; the N11 to Hendrina and then onto Ermelo; 
- Take the N2 to Piet Retief and then Pongola; 40km after Pongola turn left to Jozini and Jozini Dam; 
- Immediately after going through Jozini, the road splits - take the left fork, go over the dam wall and continue north;
- 40km after the dam wall at the T-junction, turn right (not left to Ingwavuma) and travel a further 70km to Kosi Bay.

From Durban / Richards Bay
Visitors driving from Durban / Richards Bay will travel north to Hluhluwe, Mbazwane, Kwangwanase (Manguzi) to the Kosi Bay border.
Take the N2 north towards Empangeni; 
- Go past Empangeni and take the off-ramp to Hluhluwe / Sodwana Bay; 
- Drive through Hluhluwe and then follow the R22 and directions to Mbazwana; 
- Continue passed Mbazwane for a further 45 kilometres and at the large traffic circle turn right, signposted KwaNgwanase / Kosi, Emanguzi / Manguzi.

Driving with a Four Wheel drive from the Kosi Bay border to Coco Rico, Ponta do Ouro
- Once leaving the border you have many road options (all sandy tracks) .
- Follow the Coco Rico signage.
- The right hand track leads to the Ponta do Ouro Village (You can get to all lodges from the village).
- Usually everyone is very helpful and will point you in the right direction!
- Coco Rico lies to the left of the only petrol station in Ponta do Ouro.


We look forward to sharing our special day with you! Daniel and Jeandre

Official Invitation


“Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone,But requires all mankind to share it.” Mary Baker Eddy

Daniel and Jeandre,
Invite you to share in their special day,
as they exchange marriage vows on Saturday the seventeenth of March ,
two thousand and twelve
At four o’clock in the afternoon
Coco Rico, Ponta do ouro, Mozambique

Dress Code: Smart Casual

RSVP: jeandreleroux@gmail.com

With your shoe size and favourite song