Long drive south today to Bulawayo about 300 km ‘s. Frustrating drive due the horrendous potholes all the way. Big trucks swerving around the worse ones and going off the road onto the verges. Really dangerous narrow road. This is the National route from Vic Falls to Bulawayo. Probably averaged no more than 60 Km’s an hour. Tomorrow we have further to go to the SA border. Ugh! Holiday Inn tonight and eating in restaurant. Used the rest of US dollar cash getting diesel, petrol stations don’t accept cards, cash only.
Up at 06.00 to do our final drive through Hwange. Headed south to Ngweshla camp where the game is supposed to be good. No better than other roads through the park. First sighting was a fleeting glimpse of a Sable antelope, quite beautiful but quickly went into the bush. Then a trail of ants crossing the road on a mission. Looked like a snake. Spied some vultures at a waterhole and on closer inspection saw a hyena on a carcass with the vultures surrounding it. Also saw elephant, kudu, waterbuck and hippo. Arrived back at camp at 2.30. Beer and a swim.
Left Robins Camp at 8.00 to head south through the centre of Hwange NP to Gwango Camp. About 160 Km’s. Stopped at several water holes and saw lots of hippos but generally didn’t see that much. The odd giraffe, zebra but some different bird life. Arrived Gwango about 4.30 and went for a cooling swim. Hot outside. A little rain also.
Up early and took a drive to Detema Dam about 45 mins away. Good viewing of elephants, hippo, impala, birds, giraffes and for a real treat a load of crocodile. Back to camp for late breakfast. Did some clothes washing. Went to pool for a cool dip and chilled. Went off again for a drive at 3 pm. Went to Big Tom pool and Salt Pan. Briefly saw the buffalo herd again and giraffes and zebra. Had dinner at the restaurant.
Heading back south today towards Hwange National Park. Had to go and see the “Big Tree” which is a 1200 year old baobab. Went to ATM to get some dollars. Tried three cards before I got anything. Making payments with cards a nightmare. Economy is shot. Goods in supermarkets priced in old worthless currency , have to divide by 17,000 to get price in dollars. Bizarre. Expensive country. Diesel same price as UK , wine twice the price as SA, National park fees for 2 days $100. $230 to enter the country, all going to a corrupt government I suspect. People are charming and intelligent. Such a shame. Drought in all areas and small farmers have no food , maize crops up here non existent. Arrived Robins Camp in Hwange NP at 12.30. Nice camp and lodge area. Had a swim and went for a game drive at 4pm. Saw large herd of buffalo, Zebra and Waterbuck. Hot
Earlyish breakfast so we could get to Vic Falls by 8am, all went well taxi picked us up at 7.45. We followed the track which leads you to several view points. It was amazingly big and noisy. We got very wet with the spray from the falls. Very majestic and impressive sight. The walk took us about 2 hours. The falls are very difficult to photograph, the sun not in the greatest position first thing in the morning and of course all the spray. Photos don’t do it justice. We finished with a coke on ice at the cafe by the gate. Our taxi picked us up, we spent an hour or so at the lodge before getting in the vehicle and going for a game drive. We went into Zambezi National Park, saw very little for a while then got into very close quarters with a herd of elephants. We were in before we realised and needed to make a quick retreat. There were some pretty big bull elephants!! Apart from seeing about 50 elephants, we saw zebra, impala, baboon, warthogs. The elephants were by the Zambezi, tearing down bushes, we thought we may be next, so got out of their way. Dinner at the lodge, I had stir fried crocodile, it was really very nice a cross between chicken and fish. Good WiFi at the lodge. Not sure what we are going to get for the next 4 days in Hwange. Whatch this space.
Decamped from Mwandi View and left for Vic Falls. Stopped off in Kasane for diesel and a little shopping. Short drive to the border which went reasonably well but still a lot of people to do the jobs of one. $230.00 in all to enter Zimbabwe. $110 for visas and $120 for some sort of road tax? Generally officials polite and efficient unlike the equivalent in Botswana. Took about 45 mins. Straight road with no traffic to Vic Falls. About hour and a half. Checked into Phezula Lodge at about 1.45. Nice place and a real bed for two nights. Had a nice fish meal in the restaurant. Nice change from steak or chicken. Ordered taxi to take us to the Falls tomorrow at 7.45. Pleasant and efficient staff.
