WARNING!!!- Dodgie backpacker's in Vilanculos, Mozambique

This warning is aimed at the backpackers out there that like smoking other things other than just tobacco. Although obviously illegal in Mozambique it is very common to find and be able to consume marijuana at various backpackers throughout the country.

Well Bao Bab Beach backpackers, in Vilanculos, Mozambique, is one of these places, it has a great vibe and provides what appears to be a safe environment. Well, there is an employee of neraby 'Dolphin Dhow Safaris' (a company which organises trips to the Bazaruto Archipelago and who is associated with Bao-Bab) who deliberately hangs out at the backpackers and as soon as he sees anyone smoking anything illegal he contacts his friends at the local police station, who come down guns blazing, take the backpackers to the police station and scare them into offering a heavy bribe to get out of the situation. Later the bribe money is divided between the cops and the guy from 'Dolphin Dhow Safaris'. It is a shame, and the expression "shooting yourself in the foot'' comes to mind but this is how it is. I wouldn't want to blacklist these two companies as they also employ and are run by decent people who would be effected by a boycott. I just thought I would put the info out there and let the backpackers decide whether they want to be careful when they go to these places or if they want to avoid them all together.

Kudos to Dolphin Dhow Safaris and shame the back packers who brake the law and bribe the police. I am disgusted with these tourists who think they can do anything and feed the corruption because they are in Africa.

Oh give me a break! Backpackers don't smoke pot just because they're in Africa and "think they can". They smoke pot because they like smoking pot and they'll smoke it wherever they are, whether they're at home or on a trip, no matter how illegal it is.

Fulana, I've forgotten whether you are African. The reason this makes a difference is that if you're European or American, your "disgust" seems to me a bit over the top. But if you're African, and therefore complaining about the way you see certain backpackers behaving in your home country---disrespectful, perhaps, or immoral---then I think this gives your views a certain weight.

I'd feel similarly about all sorts of behaviors. My fellow Westerners can be offended all they please, but basically I'm going to dress and act as I want....within the limits preferred by residents of the country in which I'm traveling. I could give examples by the dozens, but it hardly seems necessary.

Mark

Kimon26,

Mmmm....people have choices.

To smoke...and all the implications that come with breaking the law in a foreign country.

To pay a bribe....compared to spending some time in Mozambican police custody.

If people go there, with full awareness of the possible implications of their own decision making...the problems belong to them. Thanks for the warning about the situation there, I hope you can help people make better, reasoned decisions but, I doubt it.

Hello everybody.
Smokers & non smokers. Hope you all well.
I see that there is some false information about the event that took place at Bao bab Backpackers in Vilanculos Mozambique regarding the "Dodgy Warning" for Backpackers.
Firstly I would like to say that I am Michael from Dolphin Dhow Safaris.
I would like to clarify that the story mentioned is true. How ever the person that was causing the trouble is not a employee of Dolphin Dhow Safaris.
His name is Vadio & he operated tourism freelance for everybody in the area.
Vadio did in the past bring customers to enquire about I

Hello everybody.
Smokers & non smokers. Hope you all well.
I see that there is some false information about the event that took place at Bao bab Backpackers in Vilanculos Mozambique regarding the "Dodgy Warning" for Backpackers.
Firstly I would like to say that I am Michael from Dolphin Dhow Safaris.
I would like to clarify that the story mentioned sadly is true. How ever the person that was causing the trouble is not a employee of Dolphin Dhow Safaris.
His name is Vadio & he operated tourism as a freelance finder for everybody in the area.
Vadio did in the past bring customers to enquire about Trips to the Islands & YES! AS WE DO EVERYBODY...We gave him commission.
Please understand that we accept business from anybody who brings us clients and I guess we always will.

To my friends Alex & Crew " the 12 of you who beat the crap out of that guy at Bao Bab, I have great news for you and any other travelers that are interested to know. Junior & I recently had Vadio arrested and thrown in Jail far away from Vilanculos." Long Story"

We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the group of 12 people that had to deal with that situation.

Warm Regards Michael & Junior

We stayed at Baobab and thought it was much nicer than Zombie Cucumber. I agree with some of the above comments - hash is illegal there and if the backacpkers who think they are oh so cool to smoke in public dont mind the risk, thats their problem. no-one likes a grass so I am not defending his actions, just pointed it out that they got what they deserved.
If the bar at Baobab had been reeking of weed I dont think I would have enjoyed my stay so much. Just a thought from the other side.