The statistics show that...

I love stats. How far? How long? How many? So I took the time to look at some of the stats for the Serengeti Trip 2011 and the figures are impressive to say the least! I'm not going to share all of the numbers with you, because I have to leave some of the good stuff for the WegRY articles, but here are a few statistics that I thought you might find interesting:

According to Google Analytics, which constantly monitored the website's activity, the blog received 4260 visits by 1301 unique visitors, resulting in 11000 page views! This includes followers from 61 different countries! The majority of visitors were from South Africa - 2833 to be exact - followed by the USA (389 visitors), UK (173 visitors), Denmark (144 visitors) and Australia (110 visitors). 

The blog had 135 official "Followers" who registered. I must apologise to everyone who struggled to register or to post. I didn't realise that this was such a difficult process and I'll keep that in mind in the future. Despite this little issue we still received comments from 74 different people! In first place was Ji's mother, Almarie, with 58 comments. Dankie Tannie! Spots 2 to 5 go to Talita (47), Rayno (45), Tabby (39) and my Aunt Annie (35). Thank you so much for lifting our spirits with your comments, jokes, inspiration and love. Thank you to every single person who commented on the blog!

The stats as shown in Google Analytics

When it comes to animal sighting the stats were astounding! Who would have ever guessed that we would see 178 lions in 70 days!!! And who will forget the 40 lions in one afternoon in Ruaha!!?? You'll remember that a lot of you guessed numbers for certain species on day two or three. Well, no one guessed right for any species! The closest guess has to go to Almarie for guessing that we'll see 1794 elephants when we ended us seeing 1852! Ji's guess of 17 cheetahs was also very close (we saw 18) and my guess of 10 leopards was also pretty good (we saw 9).

Two other stats that will blow your mind are both Hyena stats: First, we drove 15354 km in 70 days! More impressive, however, is the total number of hours spent in the Hyena. Wait for it...321.04 hours!! That's 13 days!!...or enough time to watch 240 rugby matches! Thank goodness for Ji's iPod! :)

Wild, powerful, stamina, bum always lower than its head - it can only be a...

a Hyena!!!

I'll share a few our (and your) favourites with you tomorrow. As I've said, I'll try my best to keep posting until the end of the week, because I know there are a few of you who will suffer from withdrawal symptoms once we stop.

Enjoy your Friday!

Villiers

PS: Please note that the itinerary is still a rough one. I will update this soon to show the actual camps we stayed at.

Braai relings:

Vir die van julle wat die braai gaan bywoon, hier volg die reeling weer:

Tyd: 18:30 vir 19:00

Plek: Oulandsloop 449, Die Wilgers. Onthou die buurt is toe en julle moet vanuit Rubida Straat ingaan. Wanneer julle by die hek stop, sal julle 'n klein ogie langs die motorvenster sien. Waai eenvoudig jou hand naby voor dit verby en die hek sal oopgaan. Geen kode is nodig nie. Bel my op 0827988817 as jy probleme het.

Bring: Jou eie drinkgoed, vleisie en eetgerei.

Wie? As jy vreeslik lus is om saam te kom braai, KOM ASSEBLIEF! (Dit sluit julle in Rayno!) :)

Onthou: As julle vroeg gaan waai, parkeer asseblief buite, anders sit ons met 'n verkeersknoop!

Dankie!

DAY 70: And so it comes to an end

70 days after we set of from Pretoria in our trusty hyena the Serengeti Trip 2011 has made a full circle. I'm going to keep today's post very short for one simply reason - I am exhausted. Ji and I left Mapungubwe at sunrise in order to reach Gauteng when the traffic is not too bad, because I quickly had to shoot through to Joburg to drop off the Satphone at Shana from Sat4Rent. We stopped at my mother's house at midday to say hello and pick up my flat keys. Ji's girlfriend, Talita, also came to pick him up here. It was wonderful to see our loved ones and just as great to see their expressions when they saw our not-so-smooth faces! I'm sure Talita will be happy to see Ji's beard disappear. 

Villiers hugs his mom, Esther

Talita and Ji, back in each other's arms

I'd like to thank all of you for your kind words and great suggestions regarding the blog - we appreciate it very much! I will make up for today's short post by posting some interesting statistics tomorrow, including total number of hours spent in the hyena, some favourites campsites of Ji and I, AND the impressive Google Analytics stats! This will allow you to see how many people from how many countries visited www.serengetitrip.com. 

I know Ji is spending tonight with Talita and I will be spending it with my parents and two best friends - Servaas and Liese Verster. It feels fantastic to be back in Pretoria and as I said to Ji earlier today: "We've created a massive wave - now we've got to ride it for as long as possible!" So my hope is that this is by far not the last you've heard of the Serengeti Trip 2011! You can look forward to a series of articles in WEG's sister magazine WegRY (DriveOUT) and hopefully our effort with the video camera and GoPro will result in a great documentary! We'll keep you posted!

Have a wonderful day!

Villiers

PS: I don't want to bother Ji for this one, but I'll speak for both of us when I say: 

Lowlight of the day: That the trip is over 

Highlight of the day: To be back home!!! (and to see our loved ones)

DAY 69: One day and counting...!

And so an adventure of a lifetime comes to an end. Today was our last full day on the Serengeti Trip 2011 and the feeling in camp Ji-and-Villiers was part sadness, because we only have one day left on the road, and part joy, because tomorrow we’ll be home! It was a treat to sleep in this morning in an air-conditioned room and it took us ages to become fully mobile. We spent a great deal of the morning in what must be one of the best swimming pools in South African National Parks. Leokwe camp’s lovely little rock swimming pool attracts a lot of birds, lizards and dragonflies, all of which Ji tried to photograph at close range. He managed to get some really nice ones of the bright red insects! 

Ji stalks the dragonflies with his Canon 100-400mm lens, sponsored by Outdoorphoto

...and the result!

Not only the dragonflies were flying!

Some time was also spent organising the just-over 10000 photographs we took during the trip. It was a near impossible task to choose a selection of our favourite photos, which we plan to share with those of you who will be joining us on Friday evening. Speaking of which – some of you might still be wondering who exactly is invited!? Regrettably we don’t have the space to invite every single person who followed the blog, but maybe we’ll have the opportunity to organise a mass get together in the near future. Friday evening’s braai is for close friends and family, including our friends from church and Bible study. It would also be great to see old school and uni friends, so please join us if you can! Like I’ve said before – if you’re unsure, just come! :) Please RSVP. Directions and details are on yesterday’s post. For those of you who we don’t know, but who’d like to ask us questions about the trip, don’t hesitate to contact me on 0827988817 or villiers@absamail.co.za to organise a coffee! 

Okay, back to today. We took a looooong afternoon nap before heading to the spectacular confluence decks next to the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers. Here we recorded the final interviews for our documentary, talking about our experiences, highlights and lowlights in Africa. Looking through all the photos today helped us a lot to choose favourite campsites, sightings, experiences and roads… To end the day we were treated with one of Mapungubwe’s incredible sunsets. 

The final documentary interview

The perfect sunset for our final evening on the road...

Ji is busy making toffee bread for us now and the plan is to eat, pack and then sleep before an early departure tomorrow. Thanks again to every single person who followed the blog, left a comment, gave us advice, support and sms’s, hosted us during the trip or sponsored satphone data or a piece of equipment. You helped to make the Serengeti Trip 2011 a huge success! 

For our loyal followers, don’t worry – we’ll keep posting at least until the end of the week! The last few posts will include some highlights, but also some interesting stats about the trip, so please keep checking www.serengetitrip.com until Sunday! For those of you who haven’t voted already, please vote for your favourite: 1) Wildlife photo, 2) Road trip photo; 3) Photo of Ji and 4) Photo of Villiers. Choose these by scanning through the previous 69 posts. Thanks!

Then I'd like to ask one last favour: Ji and I would love to have some "official" feedback about the blog. If you enjoyed the website and following our adventure, please leave a short comment that includes your thoughts about www.serengetitrip.com - what you liked, what you'd like to see added next time and anything else that might be of value. The plan is to use these feedback comments when we try to get sponsors for future trips, so your effort here will be greatly appreciated! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

See you tomorrow!!!

Villiers

Highlight of the day:

Villiers: The final interviews on video camera

Ji: The swimming pool!

Lowlight of the day:

Villiers: That it's our last night on the Serengeti Trip 2011!

Ji: The heat!

DAY 68: Back in SA, but not home yet...

 Before I tell you more about our day, a few admin comments: 1) Thank you for those of you who voted for your favourite photos! I know it takes a lot of time. Those of you who haven't voted yet, please check yesterday's post for more details. We want to know what your favourite wildlife shot, road trip shot, Ji-shot and Villiers-shot is!?? Please leave your answers as comments!

Then there's the Back-in-Town braai! We'd like close friends and family to please join us Friday the 1st of April at my mom's place in Die Wilgers. Here are the details:

Date: 1st of April

Time: 18:30 for 19:00

Place: 449 Oulandsloop, Die Wilgers

Bring: Your own dop, tjop and cutlery please

For those of you who plan to leave early, please park outside. Those who plan to push through, you're welcome to park inside. Please approach the house from Rubida Street since the neighbourhood has recently been closed for security reasons. If you have any questions, please phone or sms me on 0827988817 on Thursday. And if you're wondering whether you're a close friend, haha, come anyway! :) Please RSVP!

And now back to today's post:

“Knock, knock!” came our wakeup call…at 04:30! Fish, our ranger at Mashatu, had accidentally woken us up an hour too early, but by 06:00 all was back to normal as we headed out on our last game drive. We only had three hours to make it count. Fish and Aaron produced the magic again, but not without Ji’s spotting skills. Our first major sighting of the morning was of the lions and it was Ji who noticed them lying in an open area near Baboon’s Bedroom. It was the two mothers with their five cubs and all of them were extremely playful after last night’s rain. 

A very active Majale Island Pride

We followed them for about 30 minutes before driving to Cheetah’s Koppie. From the top you have a 360-degree view of the reserve and as we were admiring it Fish and Ji both spotted a cheetah in the distance. We raced down to catch up with her and followed yet another playful cat in stunning golden sunlight. She was so playful in fact that she even jumped into a tree, seemingly just for the fun of it! We left the cheetah to look at a young male leopard in a Mashatu tree when the news came over the radio that the cheetah had just killed an impala – wow, what a busy morning! 

A cheetah climbing a tree! Not something you see everyday...

A very lazy young leopard male

Unfortunately our drive was cut short with news that the Limpopo River was rising again. This meant that we would have to get to Platjan Border Post as quickly as possible to avoid having to drive all the way around to Martin’s Drift some four hours away (double the distance to Platjan). After a quick breakfast and sad goodbyes we hit the road. Fortunately we got to Platjan in time before the water got too high to cross the low cement bridge across the Limpopo. We both sang the National Anthem out loud when we hit South African soil! Man, it feels great to be back after 68 days outside the old R.S.A! 

We made a pit stop in Alldays, before heading north to Mapungubwe National Park. We have Ji’s parents to thank for this visit: Baie dankie Tannie Almarie en Oom Kobus – dis ‘n regte treat om hier te kan bly, en dit nog in ‘n huisie ook! Those of you who know me well will know that I LOVE Mapungubwe! I tried to count and it seems like this is my 14^th visit in the past eight years! 

We spent the last two hours of the day admiring the impressive treetop walkway next to the Limpopo River and the breathtaking views over the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers. The scenery in Mapungubwe really is some of the most dramatic in southern Africa…! 

The view from the walkway

Villiers in his element!

The view over the confluence

Tomorrow we’ll go on our last game drive, but we’ll also use the time to reflect on what has been a trip of a lifetime. I can’t think of a better place to let my mind rewind a bit… 

As you can see from this final photo our spirits are high, probably due to the fact that we’re getting closer and closer to those we love so dearly. In less than 48 hours these two clowns will be back in Pretoria, so enjoy the peace and quiet while you can! 

We're almost home! Two days and counting!!

With love, 

Villiers

Highlight of the day:

Villiers: To be back in Mapungubwe! Oh, that view over the confluence...!

Ji: This morning's game drive in MAL-shatu!

Lowlight of the day:

Villiers: Listening to hunters in Alldays talking about shooting lions and elephants...

Ji: That our morning drive was cut short.

DAY 67: Finally - Five out of Five!

Good morning! Before I tell you about one of our best game viewing-days of the trip thus far, let me tell you a little bit about Mashatu. I used to work in this incredible reserve between 2004 and 2007 studying the local leopard population. During those years I fell in love with the landscape, the people and of course the animals. Few South Africans know about this wonderful safari destination a mere five hours’ drive from Pretoria. You can read more about Mashatu on their website www.mashatu.com. I’m sure you’ll agree that the room we’ve been staying in is a bit of an upgrade from our little tent!? 

Larger, cooler and more comfortable than our tent

The man to thank for this unforgettable visit is my good friend and camp manager, Bobson Kontle. He and his partner Caroline have kindly offered some of their bed nights so that Ji and I could stay here these three days. Thank you also to Mashatu, and in particular to Pete and Jane le Roux, for the opportunity to visit. It has also been fantastic to see Hannetjie, Fish, Bashi and all my other old Mashatu friends who made my stay here so memorable! 

Villiers, Bobson and Ji at Mashatu Main Camp

Since the beginning of the trip Ji and I tried our level best to spot not only the Grand Slam of cats in one day, but also the Grand Slam of large carnivores: Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Spotted Hyena and Wild Dogs! If it was ever going to happen it was going to happen here…and it did! Our very first sighting of the day was of five spotted hyenas close to Main Camp. They had stashed a carcass in one of the riverbed pools and were resting close by. Soon after we came across a big male lion with only one good eye. He had killed a zebra foal last night and was busy finishing the last morsels. 

Ji and Fish in search of large carnivores...

One of five spotted hyenas in the Majale River

I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark ally!

We were desperate to find a leopard and searched in all the best places on the reserve. We would have to wait for the afternoon drive before we found one, however. Soon after we found the female cheetah again, Fish lead us to a young male leopard resting in one of the few forest areas of Mashatu. We were able to stop less than ten metres away from him and must have watched him for a good fifteen minutes. As luck would have it a couple of wild dogs were spotted very close to camp so we raced there to complete our large carnivore Grand Slam. The two males were on the move and only gave us one or two opportunities to photograph them. It was an unforgettable day in the bush and we have Fish and Aaron, our tracker, to thank for it! 

We also had some amazing elephant sightings this morning!

A cheetah resting in the tall grass

A young male leopard very close to our vehicle

One of two wild dogs close to Main Camp

Last night I took the time to scan through all 66 previous posts (thanks to Mashatu’s free wifi) and I was astounded at what we have already experienced on the Serengeti Trip 2011. So I got an idea: As soon as you get bored at work again today, take ten minutes to scan through some of the previous posts and please let us know what your favourite photos of the trip are. These are the four categories: 

1) Your favourite wildlife photo, 

2) Your favourite road-trip photo, 

3) Your favourite photo of Ji, and 

4) Your favourite photo of Villiers. 

Category one has to be of an animal or bird, category two can be any other photo taken during the trip, and categories three and four are obvious – they just have to capture either Ji or Villiers. You can post your votes as a comment below and use a short description of the photo and that day's post name for each category. Please, we need your participation in this one! We want everyone’s opinion! Thanks you very much.

Tomorrow we go on one last Mashatu game drive before heading to Mzanzi (for sure!)... It will be weird and absolutely wonderful to be back in South Africa. Before we drive home to Pretoria we have two days in one of my favourite South African National Parks - Mapungubwe!

Have a great week! (and don't forget to tell us which trip-photos you like the best!!!)

Villiers

The perfect way to end the day!

Highlight of the day:

Villiers: Mashatu, Mashatu, MASHATU! Driving through it makes all my senses work overtime - I love it!

Ji: The whole day! We had to incredible game drives and fantastic sightings!

Lowlights of the day:

Villiers and Ji: There were none!

DAY 66: Uiteindelik kry ons bietjie oefening!

Hi daar!

Hoop dit gaan nog goed met julle almal! Ek het nogals lanklaas 'n dingetjie geskryf, so verskoon die spelfoute... Nee grappie, seker Villiers sal sorg dat daar geen is nie. Dit is vandag alreeds dag 66. Dit is ongelooflik, tyd vlieg darm! 

Die vroee-oggend Mashatu bos

Ons is vanoggend vroeg op om die Mashatu bos beter te leer ken. Maar die keer te voet. Dit is altyd lekker om so vroeg bietjie aktief te wees, veral as jy die laaste twee maande op jou agterent deurgebring het. Elvis, ons sprankelende gids, het gesorg vir vele vermaak, maar ongelukkig was musiek en sang nie deel daarvan nie... Hy het al die kleiner dingetjies wat mens gewoonlik miskyk uitgewys. Die stap het op 'n uitstekende klimaks geeindig, bo op 'n krans wat bo oor 'n droe rivierloop uitkyk. So uitsig het ek nog nie in Pretoria gesien nie!!

Ek en Elvis...

Villiers geniet die uitsig.

Ons het net terug by die voertuig gekom, toe hoor ons 'n luiperdparingsroep vanuit die omgewing waar ons minute vroeer was! Ons moes reg langs hulle verby gestap het en die twee wittebroodkatte nie eers opgemerk het nie. Vir 10 minute lank het ons gewag maar hulle wou hulself nie wys nie. Gelukkig het 3 hienas vir nog bietjie meer vermaak gesorg. Terug by die kamp het ons weer ingespring en onsself trommeldik geeet, en daarna net voor die tv gaan plak... 

Nes 2 kinders in 'n swembad.

Villiers het vanmiddag besluit om nie saam te gaan op die middagrit nie, sodat hy bietjie kon opvang met sy ou vriende. Ek is wel uit en almal op die voertuig wou baie graag 'n luiperd sien, maar ongelukkig het die kat ons weer ontwyk. Na sowat 'n uur se ry, merk ek 'n opmerking dat die bos baie stil is, en WHALA, daar staan 'n jong olifantbul voor ons. Nie 500m verder nie kry ons toe 'n jaluiperdwyfie, ook trommel dik, le en sweet van die hitte.

Dink haar pens en Villiers s'n is omtrent ewe vol...

Altyd op die uitkyk vir gevaar

Na sowat 20 minute saam met die wyfie het ons weer aanbeweeg, nogsteeds opsoek na daardie luiperd. Fish, ons gids vanmiddag, merk toe 'n rooibokkarkas in 'n boom op. Na 'n oogwink en uitmintende 4x4 vermoens staan ons toe onder die boom, maar weereens is die skugter kat nerens te sien. Ons het toe maar weer verder gery en naby 'n troppie rustige olifante gestop vir 'n 'sundowner'. Op die nagrit terug kamp toe het ons nog 2 jagluiperde gesien. Ongelukkig is my fotografiese vermoens nog nie (klem op die "nog nie") op profesionele standaard nie en het ek gesukkel om die ma met haar welpie met net die kollig af te neem.

Moreoggend gaan ons weer vroeg opstaan, maar die keer gaan die luiperd-man saam. Hopelik kan Viliiers dan bietjie wys wat hy vir 4 jaar op Mashatu gestudeer het...!


Geniet die laaste deel van die naweek asook die laaste deel van ons toer.

Groetnis
ji

Hoogtepunt van die dag:

ji: Die eerste jagluiperd 'sighting'
Villiers: Die stap saam met Elvis


Laagtepunt van die dag:

ji: Om te hoor dat Nala, Talita se hond siek is!
Villiers: Gister se krieket, nogsteeds!

DAY 65: Home away from home...

Good morning! I first thought of naming today's blog "I can't believe South Africa choked in the Cricket World Cup again!!!" but then I decided to stay away from the negative and focus on the positive. After a very hot night at LVHS we spent a moment or two with Cor and Jamie in what must be the best sand pit in the world! And with two dogs helping you to dig holes, what 3 year-old boy wouldn't want to play here?!

 

Ji, Cor and Jamie with Cleo and Suko (?)

One extremely lucky little bush baby!

After saying our goodbyes we headed straight for Mashatu Main Camp approximately 45 minutes from LVHS. This used to be my home for 3 and a half years during a leopard study I conducted here between 2004 and 2007 so obviously it felt like I was 'coming home' in a sense. On the way to camp we came across an African Rock Python, which I just couldn't resist holding. At camp the fun really started! At first each staff member would just look at me with puzzled expressions when I greeted them on their names. Then I would see them recognizing me, or at least a part of my face, before they started laughing out loud and making wild gestures with their hands showing what they thought of my beard. "Villias! What's happened to you??" This carried on for most of the day as I bumped into old friends in camp and in the bush. 

Villiers holding an African Rock Python

The beard that confused so many old friends today

Most of the morning was spent catching up with my old camp friends and after brunch Ji and I relaxed in front of the television to watch South Africa play New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup. Let's not go into the result of the game. At 16:00 we went on our first game drive and as always Mashatu did not disappoint. Highlights included two extremely relaxed saddle-billed storks and a pride of eight lions, including five small cubs. We spent a short while with them before finding a nice spot for sundowners. We also stopped to watch the stars on the way back to camp and it's incredible how bright the Milky Way is out here!

A very relaxed saddle-billed stork

Two thirsty little lion cubs

Time for play...

We'll show you a bit more of Mashatu and its wonderful people and animals tomorrow. We've got free wi-fi in camp, but cellphone signal is very poor.

Have a great Saturday!

Villiers

Highlight of the day:

Villiers: The stars!

Ji: Imran Tahir's reaction when he took his first wicket against New Zealand plus the fact that we were out on a game drive when South Africa lost!

Lowlight of the day:

Villiers: South Africa choking AGAIN!

Ji: I'm not even going to say the cricket, because it was a given right from the start. My low light is the fact that the light was already too poor for good photos when we found the lions.

DAY 64: Limpopo Valley Horse Safaris

This is not a typical post, but then…today was not a typical day. None of the photos below were taken today, or even on this trip for that matter, but it will all make sense in a moment. Last night we had to close our tent’s zipper with pins, because it has finally given in. Hearing a leopard close by at 01:00 didn’t make the sleep any more comfortable. 

We got up at 07:00 and were on our way to Botswana at 09:00. Getting through Plumtree border post was a breeze, but half way to Francis Town I got my third speeding ticket – 90 km/h in a 60-zone. In my defence – it was a massive, freshly tarred road still under construction with very little traffic on it and I wasn’t the only one driving a bit faster than the speed limit. The traffic cops now have radars in their cars, which makes life very difficult indeed! Anyways, I was charged P700 for speeding, which was later reduced to P400. I paid at the police station in Francis Town and believe me – it’s not a simple process over lunchtime. On the upside we were able to buy KFC in town! There’s nothing like a Hawaiian Twister to get rid of the traffic cop-blues… 

Our hope was always to sleep as close to Mashatu as possible and somewhere between Matopos and Francis Town I remembered about LVHS – Limpopo Valley Horse Safaris. This is a unique adventure operation within the Northern Tuli Game Reserve run by good friends Cor and Louise who kindly agreed to not only host us for the evening, but cook us dinner as well! Thanks for your hospitality guys – you’re lifesavers! 

So to return the favour I’ve decided to tell you a little bit more about LVHS. I have actually photographed their setup on a number of occasions in the past and have decided to share some of the photos with you below. Horse-lovers – this is especially for you! For the most accurate information you should probably visit www.lvhsafaris.co.za, but here’s the basics: LVHS specialises in horse safaris in big game country. The Northern Tuli Game Reserve is home to elephant, lion, leopard and many other common species, all of which you have a chance of seeing from horseback. You have to be an experienced rider to go on one of their multi-day safaris, which operate from a number of different semi-permanent bush camps. I’m not a rider myself and can therefore not tell you anything about the ride or the horses as such, but what I do know is 1) The reserve is breathtakingly beautiful and full of game, 2) The LVHS team is highly professional with pleasantly warm personalities that make for unforgettable social outings, and 3) The safaris are wild in the true sense of the word and are experiences a rider will never forget! It’s nice to know that this is no sugar coating on my behalf – it’s really that good! So I’d like to invite everyone adventurous horse rider out there to visit the LVHS website and to contact Cor or Louise with any queries. Thanks again guys for a great supper! 

Team LVHS riding at sunset

One of the fly camps next to the Limpopo River

Comfortable accommodation at the LVHS base camp - Two Mashatus

What a way to watch game!

In Cor's (and all the other guides') hands you are always safe!

Tomorrow we head for Mashatu Main Camp, my second home. 

Cheers

Villiers

Highlight of the day:

Villiers and Ji: The wonderful "kuier" with Cor, Louise, Jamie and Adam tonight!

Lowlight of the day:

Villiers: My THIRD speeding ticket!

Ji: Zimbabwean corruption. I'll never forget the traffic cop's words: "I'm so happy that I can arrest you today!"

DAY 63: Making friends at Matopos

Hello! I hope you all had a wonderful Wednesday. We have only one week left on the road. I can’t believe time has flown by so quickly! Our day at Matopos was very relaxing. The cool weather and shade allowed us to sleep until 08:30 – by far the latest we’ve slept in weeks. A few horses joined us for breakfast and were eventually difficult customers to get out of our camp. They were so tame that Ji took the opportunity to give a couple of them makeovers. It’s amazing what a bit of mane pampering can do to a horse’s look! 

Maleme Dam - the view from our campsite

One of many new friends we made today

Around 10:00 we took a drive to Cecil John Rhodes’s grave. He really chose one of the most amazing places in the world to get buried. No wonder he named it “World’s View”. From the top of the hill one has a 360-degree view of the dramatic rocky surroundings. A few massive boulders surround his grave like guards and also provide shade and shelter for literally hundreds of colourful lizards. They are so tame that they will climb right onto your body if you lie flat on the rock. The main reason being that they’re keen on catching the little flies that constantly zoom around every human’s face in search of moisture. 

Ji next to Cecil John Rhodes's grave

Only two of MANY lizards on the rocks

Villiers couldn't do it when he was 7 and he can't do it now! (World's View)

From there we went to the local curio market and met some extremely friendly, but desperate Zimbabweans who have all felt the worst effects of the political crisis. They literally struggle to survive on a day-to-day basis. We didn’t buy any carvings from them, but we left them most of the food we had left, because at Mashatu we won’t have to cook for ourselves. We also showed them some of the smaller, more practical gifts we bought in Malawi, urging them to make curios that will be easier to transport and serve as great gifts. It was wonderful, and incredibly sad, to speak with these people and to hear their stories. But the one thing is for sure – they all have faith that things will turn for the better in Zimbabwe. If you decide to visit Vic Falls or Hwange, do come past Matopos. Not only will you see one of Zimbabwe’s (and indeed the world’s) most beautiful parks, but you’ll have the opportunity to assist a community in desperate need of foreign support. Bring old clothes (that are still in a good shape), food and of course money, and buy local curios. You can change lives in the process! 

The showers in the campsite are not working so last night I took a shower under a tap and Ji boiled water from the Maleme Dam to make a proper bush shower. Today we decided to shower in the rest camp’s public ablutions so at least we’re clean again. 

Ji next to his 'bush shower' rig

Tomorrow we head for Plumtree border post and back into Botswana. I’m not 100% sure where we’ll be camping, but it will be as close to Mashatu as possible. As you would have noticed – our itinerary looks dramatically different from the one on the blog, but that was always going to happen. At least we’re still on our way south… Believe me, the urge to carry on north was massive! 

Have a great day! 

Villiers 

Highlight of the day:

Villiers: World's View

Ji: To have made a difference in people's lives

Lowlight of the day:

Villiers and Ji: To see how much the locals of Matopos are struggling