zimbabwe
MY JOURNEY 59
city, which covers an area of nearly 80 ha, was an important trading centre as far back as the Middle Ages onwards. From a deep cave on top of the rocks, Lovemore, our guide gave a great shriek which echoed far down the valley, apparently to warn the King’s hareem in the walled city below of impending invasion. Although ransacked time and time again, this incredible stone city built of granite rocks without mortar, remains in remarkably good condition. In equally good state are the San rock paintings in the
caves in Matobo National Park outside Bulawayo, dating back some 6000 years. Intricately detailed, the drawings are high up in caves now frequented by leopard. Matobo Hills are also the chosen resting place of Cecil Rhodes.
Elephants in camp Hwange is Zimbabwe’s most popular and largest national
park. I was unable to walk back to my tent on my fi rst evening in Wilderness Safaris’ tented Davison’s Camp while a herd of elephant wandered through. In a park the size of Belgium, with an elephant population in excess of 45,000, it is hardly surprising that they should make their presence known in such close proximity. Equally close was a Little Owl which fl ew into our dining tent to catch its own supper!
The mighty Zambezi Victoria Falls was our fi nal point of call but our sunset
cruise along the Zambezi was eclipsed by monsoon rain. We did have a few dry moments in the next 24 hours during which we saw Black Rhino in the safe enclaves of Stanley and Livingstone’s private game reserve and took a helicopter fl ight over the Falls. Thankyou to some of the wonderful people I met along
my way, - Tango Mike, Africa, Paddington, Trust, Smile and Pride and to our generous hosts, Felicia of ZTA in London, Nellie of ZTA in Harare and Jon Danks, head of marketing, South African Airways.
Delivered straight to your car window
Bead dolls line up in Bulawayo market
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Ancient rock art in Matobo National Park
A little visitor at our dining table in Hwange
Save the Black Rhino!
What a bargain, if you like eating bugs!
THE ITINERARY
with Zimbabwe Tourism at Meikles.
meikles.com Drive to Eastern Highlands. Overnight
at Inn on The Rupurara.
innonrupurara.com Drive to Gonarezhou and overnight
in Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge. chilogorge com Visit to Mahenye School and game drive
in Gonarezhou National Park.
chilogorge.com Great Zimbabwe Ruins and a climb to
the top! Overnight.
lodgeattheancientcity.net Bulawayo for a market shopping spree.
DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6
DAY 7
Drive to Matobo Hills.
matobohillslodge.com Drive out to Cecil Rhodes’ grave
and climb to the San cave paintings. Head Fly into Harare with SAA and dinner
for Hwange Safari Park and Wilderness Davison Camp.
wilderness-safaris.com Early morning game drive and
DAY 8
afternoon talk with the Wilderness guides. Elephants in the camp! Overnight at Davison. On to Vic Falls and a game
DAY 9
drive in the private reserve at Stanley and Livingstone.
stanleyandlivingstone.com Mantis launches Bear Grylls
DAY 10
Survival course at the Falls. Helicopter fl ight over Vic Falls. Overnight at The Victoria Falls Hotel.
Mantiscollection.com bonisair.com victoriafallshotel.com Fly home!
DAY 11
WHERE TO BOOK IT EXPERT AFRICA
A nine-day/10-night trip to Zimbabwe visiting Hwange, Motobo Hills and Bulawayo from £2,774pp sharing. Overnight fl ights in each direction with SAA, changing planes in Johannesburg.
020 8232 9777
expertafrica.com
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority
zimbabwetourism.net
South African Airways fl
ysaa.com
A break from lessons at Mahenye School
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