ZIMBABWE | SAFARI STORIES
SAFARI STORIES
[ WRITER / PHOTO: Michelle Berry ] In July 2021 we decided to visit parks that we hadn’t seen before. We set off to Chinhoyi Caves, which is an absolute must see for those who haven’t been. We spent one night there and the following day set off on the long drive to Matusadona National Park.
[ WRITER / PHOTO: Charles Chare ] Zimbabwe is a tea pot shaped country and offers a special kind in uniqueness. Close to Beit Bridge, on the banks of the Limpopo River, is the Nottingham Estate which in my opinion is a wonder.
[ WRITER / PHOTO:
Lee-Anne Russell
]
Come to Chiredzi, and the Gonarezhou National Park, which means ‘the place of elephants’. You can explore it from south to north and see the Chilojo cliffs and the Chipinda pools, to name just a few places.
Right before the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020, we were lucky enough to squeeze a trip into Hwange National Park. This is not our normal time of year to travel to the parks but we went anyway.
We have the Save Valley Conservancy and the Malilangwe Trust Conservancy, and the Chirinda Forest in Chipinge, where you can see the Big Tree, Zimbabwe’s tallest indigenous tree, a red mahogany that has been declared a National Monument.
Our sightings included 27 lions over the four days and not one but two leopards. This beautiful young female was absolute pure chance. We had gone into the park in the morning as normal and drove around for a while, I remember feeling not so great and saying to my husband, “let’s go out already.” It was 8:30am, virtually unheard of for me to leave the park willingly let alone early.
Chimanimani is a paradise on its own with the Bridal Veil Falls and Tessa’s Pool, walk the Mbira Trail in the wilds of Chimanimani and see the bubbling pool and the squeaker frog, endemic to Chimanimani and once presumed to be enxict but recently discovered in the clear waters in the Chimanimani Mountains. At the Nyanga National Park you can hike to the top point in Zimbabwe, the Inyangani Mountain, explore the Mtarazi Falls and Nyangombe Falls, the pit structures and experience the zip line. I end with some photos of my recent trip to Hwange - sunset at the Dete Vlei between Sable Sands and Hwange Safari lodge, at Ngweshla with Humba as he rest.
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TRAVEL & LEISURE | Jan - April 2022
We were driving towards the main boom gate when I spotted this leopard (proud moment as I usually suck at spotting anything myself). I spluttered out who knows what to get my husband to stop the car and slowly back track towards the cat. She was barely 15 meters from us, climbing higher into the branches. She chose a fairly high out of normal sight branch and proceeded to have a nap. She stayed there till just after 11 in the morning. When she came down from the tree she disappeared into the bush. I was shocked at the level of camouflage and then realised why spotting them is so rare.
The road to Matusadona was busy being repaired and although it took us most of the day it was mostly a pleasant drive. We camped at Tashinga which is absolutely lovely! The African parks officials were very friendly and helpful and we thoroughly enjoyed our first trip to this beautiful park. We spent one day in camp and we were lucky enough to see a raptor trying to use our car as camouflage and catch a guinea fowl. We also had an elephant spend most of the day with us and take leaves off our car roof. It was a great stay. We decided to try another route on our way out and spent one night at Chizarira National Park, a gorgeous park which definitely deserves more exploring on our part! On our way home we stopped at Hwange for one night to break up the journey. This is probably still my favourite part of Zimbabwe. Maybe because it is so close. But also because the sightings are magnificent. They had a special on so we splurged and spent the night in a chalet at main camp. Zimbabwe has absolutely amazing parks and we as locals should explore more!
