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
6 comments:
Sjoe, ek het gladnie gedink dit is nog so erg nie! JI, gelukkig het jy darem seker 'n paar moulose nommertjies wat jy graag wou weggee voor jy terug is by die huis?
Nou ja, slaap veilig en koel met dankbare harte...
sjoe vilj....het net vanaand na servaas se foto's gekyk toe julle daar was. Nogals weird om te sien! Dit lyk stunning. Sal verseker eendag n draai daar maak....eendag!!!! My hart gaan uit vir die mense daar. weet my hartjie sal dit nie kan vat om hulle so te sien. sal smr my klere van my lyf af vi hulle wou gee. Julle dun goed.....asb moenie noord gaan nie... SUID is verseker die beter opsie.....hehehehe. Yeah nog net a week vir ons wat verlang.....en ahhh nog net n week oor vir julle wat dit so geniet! Lekker slaap en mooi ry more!!! T
Sjoe dis pragtig daar en wil definitief eendag daar 'n draai maak! Ek hoop jy kon so paar van JI se perd makeovers vasvang op kamera, dit klink interessant :o) Geniet huge baie en als wat mooi is vir die laaste wekie!
Ai, julle! Dis so hartseer om daai arme mense so weerloos te sien en dan het hulle nog nie alle hoop en geloof op 'n beter toekoms opgegee nie! Wat 'n voorbeeld vir ons almal! Geniet die laaste kamp in die vodde tentjie voor julle in die land van melk en heuning aankom waar julle soos ware BBP's getrakteer gaan word - koebaai aan die lenige(1) lywe! Groete aan al die wonderlike mense van Main Camp. E
Ja ons het, afgesien van die wonderlike natuurskoon en diere van Afrika, ook deur julle oë bewusgeword van 'n ander lewe vir daai mense - anders as ons s'n. Ek dink julle sal seker ook nou die stadsgeriewe met ander oë beskou. Seker 'n moet dat 'n mens gaan self gaan kyk. nê? Dankie egter dat ons elektronies kon "saam reis"! Voorspoed vir die "stert" van die epiese tog deur Afrika. Geniet dit!
Hey! I'm a big fan of your nosy neighbours! Curious about what a mane-makeover looks like though...
Zimbabwe doesn't get much notice these days - old news I guess. I heard from a Zimbabwean friend that things were looking up but I guess these things take time. Nice of you to help out!
Enjoy Mashatu :)
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