hello
how are you all, i can not believe it is almost two week since i last did a blog entry! Well i hope you are all sitting comfortable with a cup of tea because this is going to be a long one! The project in Zimbabwe is really good but i felt i wanted to see more of the country. I was aware that the group from Zambia was going on a trip around Zimbabwe so i decided to go along too and i am glad i did.
Friday 23rd February
I was picked up by the Zambian overland truck around 10am and set off on a 2 hour journey to Dete in a place called Hawange. We stayed at Miombo lodge which had a variety of small thatched lodges, that had two beds in each and outside toilet and shower, i know its not everyones taste but they were really comfortable and the shower was great. On the way the truck broke down and we all had to push it until it started, took us a while as we were laughing so much, however, i did manage to take a back seat at one point and took a picture.
In the evening we had a three course meal and an African dance and drama group called Ingonyama performed for us. They sang a few songs and did animal impressions such as a Giraffe, using two/three of them, (i know this is difficult to explain but hopefully i can show you pictures at some point) it was just brilliant. After the show we went straight to bed as we had to be up and ready for 5.30am to leave for a game drive in Hwange National Park.
Saturday 24th February
Up at 5am and ready for the game drive, what can i say apart from amazing! The vastness of the area is just breath taking. In terms of game we saw a hyena stalking zebras, cheetah (which is apparently quite rare), hippos and crocodiles. In Hwange at 5am it is absolutely freezing, we were all in the truck snuggled up with blankets and a frog decided to join us too. It was sat on top of the blankets.
After breakfast we set off again, this time for a 5 hour drive to a place called Matobo hills, in Matoba. The lodge we stayed at was called Granite Ridge, made up of a number of cottages with thatched roofs and housed 2-3 people. The most notable thing about Matobo is that it is surrounded by rocks, that are different colurs as a result of minerals and lichens, and therefore patterns are formed, there is a rock known as the "Mother and Child" which looks like a mother with a child on her back, it is hard to believe that it is natural and not man made. After lunch we were taken to Matobo National Park to do a Rhino walk. Fantastic place, it is hot and surrounded by rocks and then being close to the Rhinos is just like a scene from a film or an artists impression, it is very surreal but beautiful. We then moved to an area for some more food overlooking the lake. On the way back the guide took us to some caves so we could see drawings from the local bushmen from hundreds/thousands of years ago-got some good pictures of this!
Once back at the lodge, the guide, Brian told us that at the back of the cottages there was a path that led to an area which overlooked the whole Matoba area. The path was sign posted all the way and actually turned out to be a bit of a rock climb instead. This path went up and up, it was actually a bit worrying and hard work. However, once we got to the top it was just breath taking, i have never seen anything so beautiful, everyone was just speechless. It was like being on top of the world. We stayed there until sunset taking group pictures with the camera on timer. It was such an amazing place that we all agreed to get up at 5am next morning to watch sunrise.
Sunday 25th February
Getting up at 5am has never been so easy, knowing that after a 15 minute hike up the rocks will take you to one of the most beautiful sites you will ever see, its like an addiction, you can not wait to see it. Sun rise was special too and then we went back down and had cups of coffee to warm up as it was quite cold up there.
After breakfast we then set off to a place called Gweru, to one of the other National Parks, Antelope park. It is another Lion project like the one in Victoria falls where i have been working. To be honest i preferred Vic falls as Antelope park is more man made, not as much bush and just open land. Managed to fit in another booze cruise (thats three now in 7 weeks). We stayed until Tuesday and the we had a 10 hour drive back to Victoria Falls. I decided that i would go back to Zambia with the group earlier than planned (only 5 days) but Zimbabwe is definately a place that i would like to return to again and again.
Thursday 1st March
So now i am back in Zambia, doing home based care, clinics, orphanage, just generally having a good time. Still yearning to see Matobo hills though, beautiful place!!!
Lots of Love
Andreaxxxx
Wednesday 28 February 2007
Thursday 15 February 2007
Working in the Bush
Hello, it is me, the "crazy weirdo that jumps out of planes" How are you all? I am good. Really enjoying Zimbabwe. The lion cubs are grat, there are 2 four month old cubs called Nduna and Nandi, 9 month old cubs called Lokotula and Langa and three 14 month old cubs called Amanzi, Nala and Narnia. I must admit despite them being cubs they are actully quite big. Still building up confidence with them though.
The best thing i like about this project though is the amount of time you spend out doors in the bush learning about the trees, plants and the insects. The other day i had forgotten to brush my teeth so one of the guides showed me two trees, the Lead wood tree (also known as the tooth bush tree) and the Diamond leaf tree (aka Colgate tree). Although i did not use the Colgate tree i did clean my teeth with the lead wood tree-amazing it really works, although Eunice and the lion guides were laughing at me because they said i was too girlie. I was horrified when they said i had to spit the bark out(never really spat in public before).
I also like watching all the insects, the other day i was on a client walk (when tourists pay to walk with the lions) and saw a dung beetle in the middle of elephant poo, rolling a ball of it down the path. The reason they do this is push the elephant dung down a hole so it can lay an egg. The larvae then eat there way out of the ball of dung. Fascinating or what!
Tuesday we went on a day trip to Zambia, so i managed to catch up with my mates in Zam, which was good. I have 10 spare days after this project so i am hoping to go back to Zambia to work abit more on that project. Its easy to arrange.
Still good to here your comments
Lots of Love
Andreaxxx
The best thing i like about this project though is the amount of time you spend out doors in the bush learning about the trees, plants and the insects. The other day i had forgotten to brush my teeth so one of the guides showed me two trees, the Lead wood tree (also known as the tooth bush tree) and the Diamond leaf tree (aka Colgate tree). Although i did not use the Colgate tree i did clean my teeth with the lead wood tree-amazing it really works, although Eunice and the lion guides were laughing at me because they said i was too girlie. I was horrified when they said i had to spit the bark out(never really spat in public before).
I also like watching all the insects, the other day i was on a client walk (when tourists pay to walk with the lions) and saw a dung beetle in the middle of elephant poo, rolling a ball of it down the path. The reason they do this is push the elephant dung down a hole so it can lay an egg. The larvae then eat there way out of the ball of dung. Fascinating or what!
Tuesday we went on a day trip to Zambia, so i managed to catch up with my mates in Zam, which was good. I have 10 spare days after this project so i am hoping to go back to Zambia to work abit more on that project. Its easy to arrange.
Still good to here your comments
Lots of Love
Andreaxxx
Saturday 10 February 2007
Zimbabwe
hello
how are you all, hope you are well. I am currently in Zimbabwe and i quite like it, a very different experience from Zambia. The country is very green with lots of bush and wildlife. This project is also quite varied, some days i spend time at Masuwe lodge where the lions are, taking part in walks, cleaning lion enclosures, feeding the lions, spend time in Zambezi National Park, monitoring game or conservation work. We also spend some time with horses, grooming and riding them. The day is quite long and you end up going to bed quite early, but its all enjoyable.
Thursday night we spent a night camping on an island in the middle of the Zambezi River, this was my first ever camping experience. I really enjoyed it, a very surreal experience, watching the hippos from the island is such a wonderful sight.
I am quite suprised i didn't have many comments complaining about my sky dive. I tried to put some pictures on the blog in Zambia but it took about 20 minutes just to upload one picture so i gave up. Will try again soon, but not here.
If i do not email or do blog entries often it is because the communication here is not too good, but i am fine. Love to here from you all soon.
Andreaxx
how are you all, hope you are well. I am currently in Zimbabwe and i quite like it, a very different experience from Zambia. The country is very green with lots of bush and wildlife. This project is also quite varied, some days i spend time at Masuwe lodge where the lions are, taking part in walks, cleaning lion enclosures, feeding the lions, spend time in Zambezi National Park, monitoring game or conservation work. We also spend some time with horses, grooming and riding them. The day is quite long and you end up going to bed quite early, but its all enjoyable.
Thursday night we spent a night camping on an island in the middle of the Zambezi River, this was my first ever camping experience. I really enjoyed it, a very surreal experience, watching the hippos from the island is such a wonderful sight.
I am quite suprised i didn't have many comments complaining about my sky dive. I tried to put some pictures on the blog in Zambia but it took about 20 minutes just to upload one picture so i gave up. Will try again soon, but not here.
If i do not email or do blog entries often it is because the communication here is not too good, but i am fine. Love to here from you all soon.
Andreaxx
Sunday 4 February 2007
Jumping out of a plane!!!
hello
how are you all? It is Sunday 4th February, My last weekend in Zambia, awww!
Yesterday i jumped 8000 feet from an aeroplane over Zambia-what a wonderful feeling-i could quite easi8ly take it up as a hobby (Joke Mum) although i am sure i will do it again. You are taken up in a little aeroplane with no door and you are attached to the instructor, he is called Gary and originally from Southport. It takes about 20 minutes to get to 8000 feet and all the way up i kept thinking, can't do this, can't do this, but then at 8000 feet you can't see anything just cloud, Gary asked me to put my feet out of the plane, this is unbelievably easy but at this point you are dangling out of the plane, head and feet back so you are curled like a banana and then you go. Free fall lasts about 20 seconds and the the parachute opens and you are taken back up. It is such a fantastic feeling, you feel so light and the view is amazing. I have a dvd with it on, definately one of my best personal achievements.
Tomorrow i am going over to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria falls to start the Lion Project although i may arrange to come back here for a few days at some point. Not sure what internet services are like over there but hopefully will still be able to keep you up to date with everything.
Lots of Love
Andreaxxx
how are you all? It is Sunday 4th February, My last weekend in Zambia, awww!
Yesterday i jumped 8000 feet from an aeroplane over Zambia-what a wonderful feeling-i could quite easi8ly take it up as a hobby (Joke Mum) although i am sure i will do it again. You are taken up in a little aeroplane with no door and you are attached to the instructor, he is called Gary and originally from Southport. It takes about 20 minutes to get to 8000 feet and all the way up i kept thinking, can't do this, can't do this, but then at 8000 feet you can't see anything just cloud, Gary asked me to put my feet out of the plane, this is unbelievably easy but at this point you are dangling out of the plane, head and feet back so you are curled like a banana and then you go. Free fall lasts about 20 seconds and the the parachute opens and you are taken back up. It is such a fantastic feeling, you feel so light and the view is amazing. I have a dvd with it on, definately one of my best personal achievements.
Tomorrow i am going over to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria falls to start the Lion Project although i may arrange to come back here for a few days at some point. Not sure what internet services are like over there but hopefully will still be able to keep you up to date with everything.
Lots of Love
Andreaxxx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
