Zimbabwe

Our first stop in Zimbabwe was Matopos, famous for its Rhinos and national park.  Poaching is still a major problem here as rhino horn can fetch up to $100,000 per kilo and an average horn weights 10 kgs.  However, Zimbabwe has introduced a shoot on sight policy and there are over 50 rangers constantly patrolling the rhinos in order to protect them. 

We had the opportunity to trek after the rhinos and were lucky enough to see seven.  We also saw the amazing rock formations in the national park and the cave paintings from thousands of years ago.

Andrew getting a good viewpoint for the rhinos

David getting a good shot of the rhino

White rhino

A short drive took us to Antelope Park, a private game reserve.  We spent a few nights here, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the camp and getting up close and personal with the wildlife.  Antelope Park have been running a program over many years to try and reintroduce lions back into the wild.  As such, we were able to walk with lions that are used to humans, as well as witness lions being fed.  Some of the group also went out at night and were lucky enough to see lions hunting.

Alison playing with an elephant

Alison with a lion

Jan stroking a cat

Sissy and her horse

Steve playing with an elephant

Tony & Lee at one with the wildlife

To entertain us we created a hair dressing salon.  Tony went for a purple Mohawk, whilst Bruce decided on purple facial hair.  Purple was the only hair dye available at our salon.

Bruce having his facial hair dyed purple

After all the fun with wildlife, we had a bit of culture, and visited Great Zimbabwe, the second oldest historical site in Africa – only second to the pyramids of Egypt and the north of the continent.  Myself and Tony stayed behind to do breakfast for the group.  There were a lot of monkeys around trying (and sometimes succeeding) to steal our food.  But we were prepared with our water pistols! We also made a special breakfast for our Irish contingent….

Horse riding was not available so we improvised and used Tony.  It turns out Tony hasn't been broken in, and so Sissy fell off.

Irish breakfast - green porridge with a potato on top

Then we were off to the Bvumba mountains.  A beautiful spot for walks and relaxing, and our last stop in Zimbabwe before heading to the beaches in Mozambique…

Em & Ciara taking refuge from the flies at a lunch stop

Leanne & Ciara having lunch under a mozzie net to try to avoid the flies