For the latest discussions on Real Estate, Investment & Island life visit the new Cape Verde Forum here

Formed in 2010 by residents of Santa Maria, the group intends to address many of the problems that the town currently faces by way of a petition to be presented to parliament by the formation of a municipality.

The group, ACMSM, has been heavily backed by several influential business owners in the town is chiefly campaigning for:

* Action to be taken to combat the issue of rubbish and waste
* Improvement to street lighting including the pier
* The creation of green recreational areas and pavements
* Houses painted and finished
* Connection of mains water, electricity & sewage to the indigenous population
* Development of the sewage system
* Improve quality of policing
* Renovation of the church & all public buildings including the cemetery
* A roof to be built for the sports centre
* Another secondary school in addition to a technical college
* Improvement in quantity of social housing

For more information visit the group’s website here (Portuguese)

At time of writing, Monday 10th May 2010, there are three direct flights to Sal from the UK, operating from London Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester. All of these flights are operated by Thomson who for the last few years have enjoyed a monopoly on the market and for those who wish to fly direct, they can expect to pay anywhere up to £500 for a return flight. As several key resorts such as Vila Verde and Tortuga Beach Resort near completion, there is growing pressure from the local business/property owners for the Cape Verde islands to become competitive as a tourist destination and the first step of this is to get the price of the flights down.

A petition has now been setup where you can enter your name an email which will be sent to several key airlines to show the volume of interest – if you would like to support this excellent initiative by adding your name to the list please click here for low cost flights to Cape Verde

A selection of images of the archipelago taken from the air:

Brava

Front to back - Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente & Santo Antao

Fogo's Caldera

Boa Vista

Fogo

Sal Island approached from the North East

Santiago viewed from the North

The unihabited islets "Grande" and "de Cima"

Maio

Click here to view the latest flight offers direct from Thomson.
Last update Monday 20th July 2009

Airport codes
SID: Sal Airport Amílcar Cabral International Airport, Sal Cape Verde
BHX: Birmingham Airport, West Midlands, UK
LGW: London Gatwick Airport, UK
MAN: Manchester Airport, Uk

For more information or to book contact the Sal office on (00238) 2429110

To receive updates from AboutSal on Cheap flights London to Sal, Birmingham to Sal, Manchester to Sal register for the newsletter and RSS feeds

Price shown is inclusive of all taxes, charges and fuel supplements, they do not include meal on flight
Please note that the web price is with hand luggage only and the cost, per item, to add on hold luggage is £8.50
Whereas our price includes 20 kilos of hold luggage and no limit on number of bags plus 5 kilos of hand luggage
All prices are subject to change – please confirm at time of booking
All payments must be made in cash Euro or Escudo

Click here to view the AboutSal.com classified advertisements!

Why use AboutSal.com?

For sellers
* Superb Value – One-off yearly fee of 24.99 euros – less than 50 cents a week!
* No agent commission to pay once sold
* Instant uploading of your property details with the option to amend your listing at anytime
* Fully self-service and easy to use
* Secure on-line credit card payments with Paypal
* Puts YOU in full control of the sale of your property – no waiting around!

For buyers
* Deal direct with the owner or by an approved agent
* Constantly monitor the very latest properties on the market in Cape Verde
* Secure the property for the best price

FAQ
1) About AboutSal.com Real Estate Classifieds?
To provide a platform enabling sellers to list their property/investment & buyers with a portal to view them

2) Does this website offer real-estate advice?
NO. An important ethic of the AboutSal.com website is that it is NOT a real estate agency website. 

3) How much does it cost?
The introductory price is 24.99 euros per year or 9.99 euros for 60 days.

4) What can I list?
Apartments, villas, commercial property and land for sale in Cape Verde.

5) Are there any hidden costs or commissions to be paid on the sale?
No. If you would like professional quality images taken or the text written for the advertisement then this can be arranged separately 

6) Can I change or add to my advertisement once it is online?
Yes, you will be sent the access codes to your email.

7) How do I pay?
Via credit card or Paypal.

Money back guarantee?
If you are unhappy with the service for any reason a full no-questions-asked refund will be made as long as you notify us within 24 hours

Click here to view the AboutSal.com classified advertisements!

Important Note: AboutSal.com is not a Real-Estate agent nor does it give advice on real-estate investment. This service is provided on AS-IS basis to provide sellers and buyers with a service to list/view real-estate in Cape Verde.

Loggerhead turtles are also seasonal visitors and are found nesting on sandy beaches on all the islands from June to October. With approximately 17,000 arriving each year, the archipelago is the third most important loggerhead nesting site in the world (after Florida and Oman).

Unfortunately, in common with all marine turtles, loggerheads are under extreme threat of extinction. In Cabo Verde there are pressures from illegal hunting, poaching of eggs and loss of habitat through development.

At a recent workshop held on Sal for everybody involved in turtle conservation in Cabo Verde, a new coalition – The Capeverdian Sea Turtle Network was formed to ensure a more cohesive and effective strategy.

Delegates from the Department of the Environment, Fisheries Department and Camara Municipais from many of the islands stated their determination to ensure the survival of loggerhead turtles in Cabo Verde through increased protection and legislation.

Not only this, but many are also aiming to increase the population so substantially that Cabo Verde will overtake their two rivals and become the world’s most important nesting site for loggerheads!

This year should see a substantial decrease in the mortality of nesting female turtles, with new initiatives being started on Boa Vista, Maio, Sao Vicente, Santo Antao, Sao Nicolau and Fogo.

On Sal island, SOS Tartarugas will continue to work with the Camara Municipal, the military, martime and national police forces to improve on the 72% reduction of dead turtles that was achieved last year.

The first turtles are expected in the next two weeks and it is still possible to become involved. Part time Rangers of all nationalities are welcome and a commitment of only a few hours a week could make a big difference.

Please help us with a beach clean up on World Ocean’s Day June 7th from 8am – midday (come when you can) on Costa Fragata. Followed by a barbeque at Grijinha. For more information call Neal on 00238 976 9681.

For more information on volunteering call 00238 974 5020 or email info@turtlesos.org.

For information on night time turtle walks (starting approximately last week in June) call 00238 974 5019 or email neal@turtlesos.org

Visit our website www.turtlesos.org

What does SOS Tartarugas do?
• Deter hunting through night time beach (June to October)
• Collection of scientific data to improve conservation efforts
• Relocation of ‘at risk’ nests (flooding, destruction by vehicles, poaching, brightly lit areas & pollution)
• Incubation under natural conditions in a hatchery (June to December) and immediate release (hatchlings lose their instincts if they are kept in unnatural conditions and are unlikely to survive)
• Protection of beaches through clean ups and discouraging illegal practices such as driving on beaches and removal of sand for building
• Outreach activities including conducting guided walks for residents and visitors.

Cabo Verde’s Loggerhead Nesting Season

March, April, May
Male and female loggerheads are seen in the surrounding waters. Mating can be observed from boats and by divers.

June & July
Female turtles come ashore to lay their nests. The exact start and end date varies from year to year depending on temperature and other factors. Both male and females are still seen in the water and may be migrating between islands.
On Sal, turtles nest on every bit of sandy beach and while many return to exactly the same beach, some will lay their nests on different parts of the island.

In 2008 the first turtle track was seen on the 12th June.

August & September
Nests are still being laid, usually peaking in mid August. The first of the hatchlings will be born in the middle of the month, approximately after around 56 days incubation.

October
Nests are still being laid but the frequency is much lower. The last tracks seen on Sal in 2008 was 27th October.

November & December
Babies continue to be born during these months and the incubation period is longer, probably due to the lower temperature. The last nest to hatch in 2008 on Sal was on 25th December.

Adopt a Turtle

Type of adoption

Adopt a hatchling €10.00 Adopt a nest €40.00

We will contact you by email

Make a donation to SOS Tartarugas

Born in Ilha do Sal, Mitu Monteiro grew up on one of the most beautiful wave spots in the world. After mastering nearly every single discipline that was likely to adapt to this wave, it was in Kite that he finally decided to express himself. Today, strong from his Wave Master World Champion title, Mitu develops his unique style everywhere in the world. And every time he goes back to Cape Verde, he finds his wave again and works his magic, pleasing Sal’s new-found paparazzi on the rocks.

Mitu… Why Mitu ?
To begin with, it was Nitu, a nickname given by my mother. But my aunt and grandmother could never remember it and called me Mitu. As time went by, the whole village remembered Mitu, so it stayed.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, in general, from when you were a kid until now?
My first contact with the sea when I was four or five years old, with my uncle. I was actually frightened by it (the sea). By the time I was six, I would go fishing or playing with small boats (cuttlefish and wooden sticks) on my own in the lakes created by the shore break that gets stuck inland. When I was seven, I got on a bodyboard for the first time. It belonged to a South-African and as soon as I was on the wave, I fell in love with it. I immediately tried to surf on a windsurf board. I bodyboarded until I was twelve years old, taking part in every single local competition and winning most of them! Whenever I had some free time, I was in the water. Then my interest turned to windsurfing as there were more and more windsurfing tourists arriving in Sal every winter. Back then, it was hard to learn and after a few attempts with a garbage bag as a sail, my aunt offered me a real board. From that moment, I learned quickly and in 2003, I was taking part in my first PWA international competition in Pozzo.

And kitesurfing?!
Hold on, I’m getting there! At that time, kiting was starting to appear and in 2001 I got my first 2-line & a directional board. Right after, I got myself a 4-line. Once I was sixteen I started working in a windsurf centre and I was kiting, windsurfing and surfing. In 2003, I ranked 5th at one of the first legs of the Wave Masters of KPWT. Back then, it wasn’t easy to ride Ponta Preta with a kite with the off-shore wind and the wings with no real depower but we were already exploiting the site differently than what we could do in windsurf. After breaking a lot of very expensive windsurf equipment, Kitesurfing became a much more interesting option even though we still didn’t have good directional-strapped boards. A regular board was good enough and each session brought new sensations.

And your introduction to competition?
In 2005, F-One started giving me some equipment, which really helped me to progress more and more each session. In 2006, I went to Como, Italy for my first freestyle competition. I ranked 9th, same thing the following year, 7th in freestyle and 5th in race. I went on to Guincho but there was no wind. I dropped the competition because I had no sponsor to carry on the tour; here, it’s not easy to find sponsors and it’s expensive to travel to Europe. It’s at that moment that Jerome got me back on track and helped me with the sponsors so that I could participate in all the stages of the Wave Master 2008. At the same time, I was opening my own kite school in the Italian hotel Vila do Farol (Bravo Club). In Portugal, last summer, I won the titles of Water Man and Wave Master of the KPWT. I gained a huge amount of experience from the other competitors. I’m the first Capeverdean to win a World Title in a watersport and it was a real national pride.

You’ve travelled quite a lot. Looking back, what do you think about your country, kite-wise and life-wise?
My island is a paradise for kiting. We have all sorts of conditions, off-shore, on-shore side-winds, portside, starboard side, lefts and rights… There are 10 islands in Cape Verde, each one different from the others with an amazing landscape, quietness and a good climate to live well, no stress!

Your island has been changing a lot these past few years, what’s your view on this?
Every year, there is more construction and more people living on the island. On one part, it’s advantageous since it brings a lot of jobs but on the other side, it’s destroying the landscape and it’s beauty. The government is aware of the importance of the watersports and wants to get more involved… But it’s clear that the first thing they need to do is to preserve our spots.

Living in Cape Verde, how do you go from the kid who watches to the kid who rides?
By freely taking a step towards the ocean…

Where did your love for the waves come from?
From bodyboarding.

What do you like so much about waveriding?
Finding the tube, I think.

You’ve developed a particular style, aerial, feline. You use the power of the wave but also the power of the kite. Where did that style come from?
I think it’s a mix of all the watersports I’ve tried, probably also combined with my knowledge of the ocean.

Why do you think you are so comfortable in waves?
It’s a very beautiful, very pure sensation of fusion. You have to experience it to understand. It’s hard to explain.

Are you scared confronted with heavy conditions? You give the impression to have demystified all that…
You’re right, I’m not scared. However, I’m very respectful therefore conscious of the risks. After the first wave, it’s gone…

What relationship do you have with the sea?
The ocean is my source of energy; the noise and the power of the waves, the wind and the sun contribute to my peace of mind and my confidence when I’m riding the waves.

Describe riding the wave at Ponta Preta?
The wave is very fast and the wind almost always off. It’s therefore very hard for re-entry tricks. It’s a wave with a lot of down-the-line to place your bottom in order to hit the lip of the wave at thedeepest point of the break. Then you have to slow down to find the tube if that section allows it.
The greatest danger is if your kite goes down – if the kite starts surfing on the lip of the wave, you end up getting dragged underwater, which can be painful!

What does your World Champion title represent to you?
The title is very important since it opens a door for the young Capeverdean athletes. There are many young talents here but very few sponsors and no structure to supervise them. It’s also a great pride for my country.

I know that you have a special relationship with Raphaël Salles?
Raph has been coming here to Sal for a long time. At first, I only knew who he was when Jerome, who uses and represents F-One in Cape Verde, introduced me to him. That’s how I started using his wings. I love his style in the waves and I learned a lot by watching him to improve my own. He’s an adept of work well-done and I’m the same. Maybe that’s why we get along so great.

What kind of board do you ride?
Bambu 5.6 strapped for big waves, choppy water and a strong wind to be as radical as possible in my manoeuvres.
Bambu 6.0 Strapless in light winds to use more the power of the wave with the board.

Strap, strapless, hooked, unhooked, how do you ride?
It really depends on the conditions but generally in descending order: Strap, hooked, strapless, unhooked.

What makes a quality session for you?
Being able to make the most of the wave’s energy. You have to be able to exploit each opportunity of the break to make manoeuvres and feel in harmony with the sea.

Which is the nicest wave you’ve ridden?
Fontana and Ponta Preta.

You’re one of the best strapless freestyle riders… You do that while you wait for the waves or is it a real passion as well?
I do that a lot when there’s very little wind, to learn new tricks that I can integrate later in the waves.

Your favourite freestyle trick at the moment?
F-16, kite loop, back loop strapless.

What are you hoping for in the future?
To improve forever and always, always riding more quality waves and to keep on travelling. And then to make my kite school tour.

Can you comment on the photo session we just had?
Nothing else than yet another perfect session in my back garden…

One more thing… Why are all women crazy about you?
I had never noticed… But if you say so, I’ll pay more attention from now on.

Thanks Mitu

Source: Stance Mag France
Translation from French: Yseult Laganière (y_laganiere@hotmail.com)

Images:
Front Image & Profile shot: Courtesy of Pascal Laborde
All other images: Courtesy F-one/Gilles Calvet

The best Surfwear and Surf/kite gear place in town. Tout’ Sab Surf Shop Sal
www.caboverdewaveriding.com

Villa Praihina: Beachfront accommodation in Santa Maria
www.caboverdewaveriding.com

Looking for pictures of your daily water sports in Sal?
www.pontapreta.net

January 2007 – Life on Sal
My rented apartment here in Santa Maria is a large studio, with a bathroom and large terrace, but as I’m on the ground floor I can’t really use it much as it’s a bit like being on the telly if you sit outside, with all the world walking past…

I finally have my gas, and a new set of saucepans, so I’m glad to be cooking at home; for the first week I had to eat out every night, which obviously requires drinking as well, so eventually you end up a bit squiffy, fat and skint which is not really the intention, I’m not on holiday after all, I am living and working here. Last night I managed to find a shop selling fish, although they only had giant prawns and something called ‘choco’ which I purchased, when I put it into the frying pan it expanded and was squid! Lovely, and all for €2. They also had meat in the shop -  some chops and some very red sausages, and then the pride of the display was a chicken kind of doing a handstand with a bit of parsley in its neck. I also managed to find a potato and 2 carrots, but had no knife for chopping them –I asked the lady in the shop in my best Portuguese if she sold knives, she didn’t but sent her daughter out back and she came back and lent me her very own! Must remember to take it back today, I don’t feel that comfortable with a sharp vegetable knife in my handbag.

It’s been very busy with clients, and they have all been nice people. Thursday is the day the flights go back, so I have a little bit of time to myself…. I have started the day early with a run right down to the southern tip of the island. You have to go early, the temperature rises by 9am, this week it has been averaging about 85.

It was truly wonderful, all alone in a desert, you can imagine what the island was like before the development began. Running on sand and black rocks, hardly a soul about, one girl with her headphones on, and one man playing with his dogs. At the very tip of the island I stopped to walk up to the sea edge (no beach), and someone had made some beautiful ‘crop’ circles, about 7 circular designs, made from small black rocks and very light brown coral. Absolutely lovely, and exactly at the spot I had chosen to stop. I then ran on a bit more and found a tiny beach, and some deserted huts. So quiet, the sea crashing in, and the wind blowing very strong. You could hear all sorts of strange noises if you turned your ear to the right angle. Very spiritual, reminded me of  a beautiful song written by my late Partner, Robert Jacob, entitled ‘Stone People’. A very emotional moment, but that’s another luxury of this place, the freedom to have emotional moments, no-one around to see you, and the sun dries your tears very quickly. I love it here, and going out into the ‘desert’ like that puts everything into perspective. I am looking forward to being here and watching the whole island grow…

October 2007 – the true story of importing one’s furniture from the UK

It seemed like a good idea at the time; that is, back in July 2007, in the UK, emptying the entire contents of my home into a container, which would set sail for Cape Verde, and I would be reunited with my clothes, my music, my jewellery; in fact, my life. Didn’t seem worth buying a load of new furniture here when I had plenty at home, which would only be put into storage and loneliness for years to come.

So,family and friends gathered on 12 July, carefully wrapped everything in approximately 100 metres of bubble wrap and cardboard and brown paper, sealed the doors, and off she went on the back of a large lorry, a resplendent orange container, not to be opened until reunited with me in Cape Verde, some 3000 miles yonder. Maybe we should have paid heed when the lorry driver, upon being asked when it would arrive in Cape Verde,  muttered  ‘ might be 6 weeks, might be 6 years….’

I had confidence, I put it out of my mind, I had faith and decided not to even think about it for 6 weeks, and if it came during the suggested time, then I would be pleasantly surprised. So, I didn’t start to think about it until 8 weeks after it had left the UK. At this point I thought I would get in touch with the carrier,  and so I emailed them eagerly, about 5 times, and received no replies whatsoever. Funny, before I paid them the fee of £2200 they responded very quickly to every phone call or email, but after I paid the money I never heard from them again…

So, I tried the shipping agent in Las Palmas, which was supposed to be the first port of call, however it had already been via Hamburg (lucky little holiday for my possessions!) After having a shrieking fax siren wailing in my ear on the first few efforts, I finally got through to a lovely chap who sounded just like Manuel from Faulty Towers, who advised me that the ship with the container had arrived in Las Palmas, but that there were ‘hydraulic problems’ and that the container would have to wait there one week, but would be shipped in 7 days. I called on the 8th day… unfortunately all the containers had managed to get on to the Cape Verde ship… apart from 4, of course, mine was among these 4… they could not give me an alternative date, they didn’t know when the next ship would sail to the Cape Verdes. Nothing more could be done, except wait…..

About 10 days later I tried again, and YES… it had left Las Palmas for Sao Vicente and should be there within 2 days….

I called the port in Palmeira 4 days later, and YES (again) it had arrived in Palmeira, merely a 20 minute drive from my apartment, excitement began to mount,  but alas, no it was not to be. ‘The crane is bro-ked’ I was told, and the container had been sent back to Sao Vicente.

I tried to keep calm, breathe in, breathe out, nothing could be done, live with the power of now, accept…

One week later, I tried again… my container was here. It was a Friday. So, no, I could not collect it until Monday. (Friday, Sexta-Feira, no unloading, PUB of course!)

So, on Monday at 8am I arrived at the office of the Despachante, smiling, being polite, keeping calm.

We drove to the port, and waited for an hour while they checked my paperwork.
This, of course, after 3 and half months, was not in order. I had everything I needed, a complete listing of every item in the 138 boxes, in English and in Portuguese, the bill of lading, a letter from the council in the UK confirming that everything in the container was second-hand goods from my house. The most important thing was missing, a STAMP on the letter from the council…
I begged and pleaded and said I would get the letter stamped and forwarded, just let me have the container. I demanded to see the Head of Port who said he could help with the storage costs but not with the customs officials. Then, a momentary breakthrough. If I got the letter from the council translated into Portuguese, they would re-consider. 

So, back to the office of the Despachante, where he duly transcribed the letter for me, with the aid of a dictionary, word by word. This took another hour. Then the port was closed for lunch. A coffee and a menthol cigarette and two hours later, back to the port. The Despachante took the letter. I sat outside the customs office, smiling like a demented woman at everyone who passed, in case it helped. It didn’t. The Despachante came back shaking his head and sighing. It was not to be. No stamp, no container. On the way back to the Despachante’s office I decided to turn up the King Curtis CD playing in the car to full volume, to cheer myself up and not weep. The Despachante asked, ‘this is English music, yes?’, no, I replied, American music from 50 years ago. ‘ah, classical music’ he replied. Bless his heart.

And what is the final outcome of this story?
10 days letter, I returned with the duly stamped letter. I couldn’t go in, I waited outside customs like an expectant father.. he came out nodding, smiling, with the paperwork to release my possessions. He then left me.

I spent 25 minutes waiting by the container in 28 degrees, not knowing what I was waiting for, but not daring to speak… finally a man came and broke the seal with a huge cutting device. I looked in, I got in, I sat amongst my Buffalo Boots, my CDs, my futon and chairs… It only took another 3 hours, 2 official stamps, €350, a marvellous large operation involving a giant fork lift and a lorry, a 20 minute slow drive and then a 2 hour unloading session aided by 2 helpful and cheerful Cape Verdians. The apartment was full of 138 boxes, now to unpack!

The last words of the Despachante to me were, ‘next time it will be easier’. The last words from me to the Despachante were, ‘there will never be a next time…’

About the Author: In January 2007 Bev Chadwick swapped gigging in the UK for a lucrative career in real estate in Cape Verde. Despite her hectic schedule, she still manages to perform two or three times a week in Santa Maria and is considered somewhat of a local celebrity, particularly with the South American contingent, who arrive in their dozens for every show.

After months of being pestered, she finally agreed to write a regular column for the AboutSal site to share with us her experiences.

Door to door shipping of anything, either personal or commercial goods can be arranged from almost anywhere in the world through to most islands within Cape Verde.
For packages which need to be received rapidly and/or are relatively light, air freighting of goods is usually the most cost effective form of shipment above DHL and the standard post office prices. For items which are heavy or if you need to send a greater quantity of goods then sea freight becomes a better option. Shipping items to Cape Verde via sea freight is usually in 20ft (30 cubic meters) or 40ft (60 Cubic meters) standard containers, if you do not need to ship a full containers worth of goods then it is usually possible to send only part load containers.

If the goods being sent to Cape Verde are new then it is necessary to pay import duties upon their arrival even if they are for personal use. In order to clear the goods through customs it is necessary to have an import license for your company or to use an import agent who can act on your behalf to clear the goods.

Import tax in Cape Verde is charged as a percentage of the cost of the goods plus the cost of shipping. On top of this tax you will also have to pay 15% IVA (VAT) which is calculated on the cost of the goods + the shipping cost + the import tax.

Tax rates vary according to the product being import. Below are some examples of products and there applicable tax:

Furniture such as beds, tables and chairs, kitchen units etc generally = 50%
Crockery and kitchen electrical appliances = 30%
TV’s and Stereos = 20%
Clothing = 30%

New vehicles such as a general diesel 4×4’s = 20%
In addition to this 20% tax, for used vehicles there are further taxes. Again these are calculated on the cost of the vehicle plus shipping cost.
Examples of these are as follows:
Over 4 years and up to 6 years = 30%
Over 6 years and up to 10 years = 60%
Older than10 years = 150%

These import duty percentages are guidelines only, taxes may vary on individual products within categories.

Importation of Personal effects:
If you plan on moving to Cape Verde then you are eligible to benefit from a law which stipulates that you are entitled to import your own used personal belongings tax free if living or retiring to Cape Verde.
If you wish to import personal household effects you do not need to pay import tax providing that the goods are used and not new. As with everything being imported, new or used, Customs will inspect the goods on arrival to ensure that they are indeed used and not eligible for taxation.

Cape Verde Imports is an import and shipping agent based on the island of Sal, Cape Verde, specialising in the complete logistics for the transport of goods to any island within Cape Verde from anywhere worldwide.
For any enquiry’s or further information on the full door to door service by either air or sea freight including customs clearance and delivery or just for import agent assistance within Cape Verde please either go to Cape Verde Imports for more information or email info@capeverdeimports.com.