THEMA: Beautiful Zimbabwe! - September 2013
02 Okt 2013 13:21 #306615
  • Freebird
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  • Freebird am 02 Okt 2013 13:21
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Dear FoMis,

We returned from Zimbabwe early this morning after having spent three weeks in this stunningly beautiful country with its welcoming people.

Over the next weeks I will start a detailed trip & photo report here and will also try & respond to any queries some of you may have if you planning to travel to Zimbabwe shortly.

Our itinerary:

8. 9.2013: over-night flight London to Johannesburg

9. 9.: flight Johannesburg to Livingstone, Transfer to Zimbabwe - over-night in Vic Falls

10. to 13.9.: Walking Safari in Hwange

14.9.: Receipt of a 4x4 Hilux and over-night in Vic Falls

15.9.: Early departure from Vic Falls direction Mana Pools - over-night at Makuti Lodge (we arrived at Sanyati River at night fall, couldn't find the camp [the sign had been stolen - apparently by the gold diggers ...] in the dark and decided to drive on to Makuti, which we reached at 23:00)

16.9.: Early departure for Marongora (collection of the entry permit for Mana Pools) - overnight at Nyamepi Camp - the first magical place of our trip.

17. to 19.9.: Canoe Safari in Mana Pools - what an experience! Overnighting on the banks of the Zambezi river between Vundu Camp and Chikwemya Safari Lodge.

20. to 22.9.: Early morning / late evening 4x4 excursions around Mana Pools - overnight at Nyamepi Camp with elephants patrolling the camp during the day & hyenas, hippos and lions at night.

23.9.: Mid-morning departure for the Sanyeti River Camp where Merrick was our welcoming warden.

24. to 25.9.: Tashinga Camp / Matusadona - the second magical place of our trip. The fig trees were in fruit and the elephants were therefore in camp day and night.

26.9.: Early departure for Milibizi - over-night at Milibizi Resort.

27. to 28.9.: All-day excursions around Hwange - the third magical place of our trip - over-night at Main Camp.

29.9.: Mid-morning departure for Vic Falls - where we spent 2 nights.

1. 10: Early departure for Livingstone airport and the flight back home via Jo'burg.

Any questions - just ask ....

Liebe Gruesse
Joachim

PS: Ich werde den Bericht in Englisch verfassen - nach 20 Jahren in England liegt mir die Sprache einfach naeher - hoffe das is OK.
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02 Okt 2013 14:44 #306629
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  • brakkies am 02 Okt 2013 14:44
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Thanks for your report!
Please tell me, what are the roads like to Matusadona?
We are planning of going NAM,BOT, ZIM ( Hwange, Chizarira, Matusadona) up to Malwi in December.
Best regards from WHK :)
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02 Okt 2013 15:13 #306636
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  • ANNICK am 02 Okt 2013 15:13
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Hi Joachim,

Many thanks for your feed back! B)

I am really looking forward to your detailed trip with pictures. :)

Best regards from France
Annick
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02 Okt 2013 17:01 #306646
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  • Freebird am 02 Okt 2013 13:21
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Hi Brakkies,

there are two possible approaches to Matusadona when coming from the Binga/Karoi road as shown on the attached.





We took the shorter eastern approach on arrival & departure - the first 13km were well maintained. The problem starts immediately after the junction where eastern & western approaches meet mainly caused by steep & rocky slopes, we used the low gears on occasion, mainly to protect the brakes & suspension. There were ca. a dozen of small stream crossing with steep banks and a concrete bases [which could see some fast flowing water after heavy rains] and one larger rocky river crossing [ca. 60-80 meters across]. We travelled in the dry season and therefore only felt the discomfort of being slung about by the rocky road - matters could be quite different in wet weather though! This rough section stretches for ca. 55km and flattens out after the road descends from the escarpment. The remaining ca. 13 km were not as good as the first 13 km, but they posed no problem.

The rough section has two short diversions covering the worst two flat stretches. Coming from the Binga/Karoi road the first veers off to the right and goes on for some 400-500 meters, the second is shorter and veers off to the left - it's hard to overlook them if you know they exist.

The terrain is tough on the tyres. Rick & Sue from Durban, whom we had the pleasure to meet at Tashinga, experienced a flat tyre when arriving at ZimPark's Tashinga Office.

However, all the trouble was worth the effort on our occasion, which I will detail later within the actual trip report.

Hope this helped a bit!

Cheers,
Joachim

PS: We found Tracks4Africa's Zambia/Zimbabwe map really useful in connection with a PC and a Garmin SatNav device
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02 Okt 2013 18:25 #306657
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  • Birgitt am 02 Okt 2013 18:25
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Hi, Joachim

so schnell ist die Zeit um, und schon bist du wieder hier.
Freue mich auf einen Bericht von dir, mit schönen Bildern.
Wir müssen noch gut 5 Wochen warten..... :(

Lieben Gruß
Birgitt
Der Erde eine Stimme geben

REISEBERICHT 4 1/2 WOCHEN BOTS UND NAM
REISEFOTOS UND KURZER BERICHT: UGANDA IM LAND DER KOCHBANANEN

REISEBERICHT : ZIMBABWE - NOVEMBER 2012

REISEBERICHT : ZIMBABWE - NOVEMBER 2013

2014 Griechenland
2015 Austria und Griechenland
2016 Costa Rica und Panama
2017 Bretagne und Griechenland
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02 Okt 2013 18:47 #306660
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  • brakkies am 02 Okt 2013 14:44
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Thanks so much :-) Highly appreciated!!!
Only now that I saw your pm.
Will answer you more detailed there...
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