October 2001: Southern Zimbabwe

[Matobos] [The Great Zimbabwe]

[Africa Home]

October 2001 found us again with spring break at the boys' school, and Lee, Richard, and Andrew traveled south of Harare with Randy Huizenga, a friend of Lee's who flew in from Chicago for the occasion. The men-folk drove from Harare, through Kadoma, Gweru, and Bulawayo to a National Park called Matobo. There, the boys spent all their time swimming, while Lee and Randy went on several game drives, and saw a lot of rhino. It is Randy's pictures on the linked pages.

After three nights at Matobos, the guys drove to Masvingo, where the Great Zimbabwe National Park is. The Great Zimbabwe (or large house of stone) is Zimbabwe's claim to early civilization. Then it was back to Harare and back to school for the boys.

Imiri * Bird's Life * June 2000 * Motobas
Beach Holiday * Wange * More Wange *
Xmas 2001

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More Animals

One has a notion, from seeing movies like Out of Africa, that when one is in Africa, one can expect to see the African animals everywhere. This just isn't so. There are built up areas, such as where we live, where ones sightings are limited to birds, reptiles, and insects. The rural areas are often put over to farming, and the last thing that farmers want on their land is a herd of grazing animals. So in Zimbabwe, at least, the bulk of the "African" animals are found in parks and preserves.

A giraffe and a flying banana.

Even once one is in the parks, what one sees is often a matter of luck. One can drive for hours through the scrubby brush and not see much of anything. Or one can be treated to all sorts of animals within a short distance. We are told that the end of the dry season, when we drove through Hwange, is the best time for game viewing because the animals tend to stay close to the water holes.

Imiri * Bird's Life * June 2000 * Motobas
Beach Holiday * Wange * More Wange *
Xmas 2001

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hess create!!
Victoria Hess
Box 6777
Jackson, Wyoming 83002

Web design, writing & editorial services in the Jackson Hole area.
© 1999-2008 Victoria Hess


Contact me:

 

hess create!!
Victoria Hess
Box 6777
Jackson, Wyoming 83002

Web design, writing & editorial services in the Jackson Hole area.
© 1999-2008 Victoria Hess


Contact me: