Beach traders

Chutes de la Lobé (Lobé Falls) is one of the few waterfalls on Earth that pour directly into the sea. It is a lovely place and the UN are considering classifying it as a World Heritage Site. You can read about that on this page (in French).

To get to it, come out of the Ilomba, turn left and keep walking.

If you are fortunate enough to enjoy this walk, with your feet in warm waters, you will meet many people who want to invite you to their restaurant and give various excellent descriptions of their dishes. You will also meet local artists who offer some very nice traditional carvings, such as masks and also of local animals.

Local custom dictates you never say “No”, unless you want to insult someone.
“Do you want to come to my restaurant for lobster?”
“Hmmm... let me think about it – maybe later in the week” - this conveys the message, but politely!

“Do you want to buy some carved monkeys?”
“They are very nice, I like them – let me think about it...”

Unlike NI, we were able to go off and think about it and consider the price of souvenirs. None of the “That's the price, if you don't like it go home” business that tourists at home may complain about.

We are used to haggling and stalling only over the purchase of a car or house. Here it is the done thing to haggle and stall over many, many things and the traders expect this. The better you know the rules, the better you play the game, the more respect you get and the more likely they are to remember you in the future!