Zimbabwe is a beautiful country!!

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