Awesome African Adventure. Day 42 – May 19, 2025

Ifaty – Coastal Activities

Suzie took a pirogue ride with Benj to the Village and back again. The rest of took another different a pirogue (local outrigger canoe) out to the Massif de Roses reef for a snorkel.

Here is Benj’s outline for the day today.

Day 13: May 19th, 2025 – Ifaty : Discovery and Relaxation

07:30 AM: Breakfast at Princes du Lagon.
08:30 AM: Free activities-Snorkelling experience in the lagoon or visit of a fishermen village.
12:30 PM: Lunch at Princesse Du Lagon. Afternoon relax. Briefing for the following day by Benja
06:30 PM: Dinner on the beach animated by local musicians

Accommodation – PRINCESSE DU LAGON, Ifaty

The snorkelling was very enjoyable lots and lots of fish.
Chocolate and chrome fish
Moorish Idol
Emperor Angelfish
Trumpetfish
Sargeant major fish
Parrot fish
Butterfly fish
Palette surgeon fish
Schooling Bannerfish

Obviously no camera so will try and pinch some web pics.
The pirogue ride was also very good – watching the guys paddle us along the coast and then hoist the sail to catch the wind and that was all human powered, no winches -just ropes and poles, and a plastic hessian sail. They used a long pole that had been sitting across the outrigger to tension the sail. Very effective. On the way back which wasn’t the fastest we had gone – I measured it at 8kmph.

We had a coffee on the beach after our snorkeling adventure and awaited Suzie’s return from her pirogue Village visit.
Then we lunched at the hotel Princess du Lagoon.
A lazy arvo around the beach until tea time. Josh has arranged a bbq on the beach with animated local musicians and dancers. The group were called Amherisa- (it’s plain,) they are local Ifaty people.
We sat on a tarp on the sand decorated with palm fronds and bougainvillea flowers. There was a fire being lit as we arrived. Drinks and food appeared from behind. Quite the spread – a whole fish, grilled octopus, octopus in sauce, shrimp, plus cassava chips, fries, sautéed veg.
It all seemed to happen at once, food, music and dance while serving up and eating. A little hard to see what I was eating – the fish was really tasty, all the food was good.
Eventually we had to get up and join in the dance party.
The guitars were made of light wood like the pirogue, there was a drummer and two dancers. The ladies didn’t seem to move much but boy they could wiggle the hips and shake their booty. Mid dance a small boy – prob 4 or 5 stood and watched for a few seconds before joining in. He was with them and had all the moves and was cute and very tired all at once.
The whole outfit was very animated as Benj had suggested.
We got up and tried to join in. Phil got a guitar we others had to try and emulate the shake your booty moves ( very badly).
Home along the beach with stars and boats reflecting in the dark waters. Beautiful.