Our destination is Tofo beach near(ish) Inhambane. Between us and there was a long drive through not a lot. Lessons learnt from previous trips we filled up on necessitates like fuel, water and biscuits! We also bought a local SIM card so we could at least make a phone call if there was any problems with the car. Our friends thought we were slightly insane pushing on but whale sharks are calling.

Half way up the lonely planet (my go guide provider) suggested a resort that had a restaurant with a stunning view. But on Christmas Eve would it be open? A bumpy sandy track later we find it was and the view was stunning as promised! Unfortunately the pool was closed due to filter issue but that didn’t stop middle man who still ended up going for an unexpected dip trying to catch a crab.

We enjoyed a pleasant lunch and then pushed on to our destination wanting to arrive in time for Santa to wrap presents 😱🤫

Our accommodation was a slight step up from a tent to a room in a youth hostel. It was a bit rough around the edges but pleasant enough. We arrived mid afternoon and spent the rest of the afternoon taking it turns to look after the kids (on the beach or in the bar) whilst the other wrapped. We had an un-traditional Christmas Eve meal of pizza (and rum) before turning in for an early night.

At Christmas is when I miss family the most, we try very hard to keep some of the traditions alive but as the last couple have been on the road it’s not always practical. We put up a sparkling (super tacky) Christmas tree, stockings and put out a drink for Santa. But I must admit I miss the time preparing with the extended family. I shouldn’t complain though as our recent Christmases have been full of adventure doing things many people only dream of! Tomorrow we are heading out on a boat to see if we can find whale sharks!

Christmas morning is the same as it is in most western family’s across the world. A very early start involving squeals of delight, temper tantrums, flying wrapping paper and way to much chocolate before breakfast. The boys are over the moon with their pile of presents and especially excited to try out there new snorkeling gear.

After more chocolate on their pancakes at the breakfast we set of with 3 sugar high children to find our boat. What could possibly go wrong 😄.

Most companies had refused to take little ones on the two hour trip but owners of liquid dive (parents themselves) were very accommodating. And even had small life jackets.

With baby blue strapped to my back in the trusty Manduca we help push the ducky out into the waves. Daddy throws the big boys aboard when they can no longer touch the floor, and I quickly climb up behind them. The guide shows the big two where to sit and how to hold on to the ropes whilst the rest of the tour group continue pushing the boat deeper. Soon all but the tallest had jumped/been dragged on board. My boys thought it was hilarious watching daddy get soaked wave after wave. Telling him they were gonna leave him. They even tried to push him back into the water when it was his turn to jump on!

With everyone on board, the boat driver quickly accelerates over and around the last couple few breakers. My adrenaline junky Middle Man squealing happily as the ducky bounces over the waves.

Soon we are flying along smooth water happily. I release baby blue from the Manduca and put on his life jacket. The boys happy chase a small crab around the bottom of the boat while me and daddy look eagerly for any signs of whale sharks. The odds are in our favor with the last 4 tripe successfully finding the giants of the ocean. But as with any nature tour there is no guarantee.

45mins in and no sign the driver decides to make a pit stop at a reef for a bit of snorkeling. Baby blue obviously can’t snorkel (18months old) so we take it in turn to take in the big boys. Middle man is still bit nervous when out of his depth (4 years) so takes a bit of convincing but eventually gets to use his mask whilst lying on the small inflatable lilo we had bought along. Lego boy on the other hand is super keen and jumps straight in after a small discussion about him needing to wear a life jacket (“but I can swim”).

To be honest there want much see with the reef being quite but nevertheless it was an experience both boys (in particularly Lego boy talk about to this day (over a year later). A sudden shout from the boat it’s time to get on board as the driver had been told over the radio of a whale shark sighting not far away.  (I don’t believe there is a graceful way to get on a ducky?)

Soon we are zooming over the water towards a couple of empty duckies. There parcipants snorkelling around in the water. A good sign! As we get closer the driver slows as not scare off the sharks. We silently slide up and start to find our masks but before any of us are ready someone pops up and tells the whale shark had dived. We had missed it ☹️

And with only 30mins left on the tour it was looking unlikely we would see one of these beautiful creatures.

Our driver says we will take a slow trip back to the beach and see what we can find. All the boat octupants desperately looking out for any sign.

20 mins later the driver suddenly cuts the engine and points to a peace of ocean that looks to me exactly like the rest of it, then I see it, a fin! Less than 15m away. Within seconds the boat was practically empty! Husband had gone! One lady was still in the boat, she says to me go! She can’t swim so is hear to watch from the boat anyway. She will look after the boys. I didn’t need telling twice! Seconds later I am in the water with Lego Man in tow! (Middle man refusing) we are swimming towards the others when it appears! Massive and beautiful and graceful and did I say massive!!!

It’s swimming right towards us! It’s a sight I will never forget! It swam right under my big boy! His face showing the same awe I felt! Not long after it passed daddy appears at my side. Go! I have swam with it for a bit I’ll have Lego boy. I swam along side the whale shark for a few minutes just overwhelmed with its size and the way it effortlessly moved through the water. It didn’t appear afraid or bothered by the presence of the 6 people garping at it. It changed direction and put on a spurt of speed so we lost him but what a few mins that had been. Looking up I was shocked at how far away from the boat we were.

Once back on the boat I deeply thanked the lady who had so generously offered to have the boys. She told me how the shark had swam straight next to the boat and her and the boys had a clear view also. Middle Man shouts “it was as big as the boat!”

Husband and daddy were the last to get back on board! “Mummy I saw it! I saw it again! It swam under me again!” Apparently after the rest of us had lost the whale shark it had gone straight past my Lego Boy again! Seeing his eyes shining with excitement and wonder is exactly why I travel with my kids!

(In fact as I am writing this blog he comes up to me and asks what you doing mummy? I tell him I am writing about the time he swam with whale sharks, “Oh mummy read it to me”. So I do. At the end his face is lit up in the same way it was on the whale shark tour. “I love that story, it’s one of my favorites! Anyway I’ve gone off on a tangent! Back to Christmas Day 2016!)

The trip back through the breakers was just as exciting and the boys loved that the driver literally drove the boat up on to the beach!

The sand was boiling hot and again I was in flip flops carry children across up the beach in what is now becoming a familiar painful game. The day ended perfectly at a beach side seafood restaurant serving amazing food and cocktails to our low table on the sand. Not a traditional Christmas but definitely one to remember!