Author: admin

Rutenga, Masvingo, Zimbabwe 24 September 2013 Arrive Bannockburn station in the early hours. Very small station in the middle of nowhere judging by the hour’s drive along Zimbabwean strip roads to the main metalled road. Overhear one of the Canadians telling the train manager to put them on another mini-bus, “I don’t want to be… Read more

Somabhula, Zimbabwe 23 September 2013 Another freezing night on the train. Day at Antelope Park activity lodge run by whites. A well organised affair. Greeted by tea and biscuits on the lawn served in those old cream and green enamel teapots your Great Aunt might have had in the 60s/70s. Could quite easily be an… Read more

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe 22 September 2013 As it’s been so hot, hot, hot usually sleep with just a sheet over me. Wake at 0500hrs nearly dying of hypothermia. It’s FREEZING! A gale is blowing through window. In a “Heritage” cabin. It’s the original 1951 windows. You know. The sort that were designed before U-values. Can hear… Read more

Dete, Zimbabwe 21 September 2013 Departed Victoria Falls last night. Good to be moving south again after a week stationary. Three weeks of travel remain. Where has the time gone? A lot smoother on the rails now we’re travelling in Zimbabwe compared to the TAZARA rail network in Tanzania and Zambia. Train speeding along quite… Read more

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 20 September 2013 It’s only been two days since the new arrivals but there’s already a queue to punch certain little old ladies in the face. Annoying so they are. One has asked the train staff if there’ll be mosquitoes. In Africa of all places?! When told there will be she opts… Read more

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 19 September 2013 Another trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana. It’s a repeat of what we did last week. Except there are 82 of us which means a much longer queue at the border. The Swiss try and do a bit of queue jumping on account that they’re Swiss and contribute… Read more

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 18 September 2013 Whine. Whine. Whine. Went the mosquito. Within the mosquito net covering the bed. Won’t sleep with that it in my ear. It’s midnight (at the oasis). Spend the next half hour finding and killing two mozzies that have somehow found their way through the net. Back in bed but… Read more

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 17 September 2013 I’ll be feeding the vultures now. They’re circling overhead. Follow Zulu. Meat is thrown about. He retires to a safe distance. As do I. Suddenly they all descend. It’s a scrum. Dust cloud forms. Fights beak out between Marabou storks and vultures and between vultures. Various tugs of war.… Read more

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 16 September 2013 Check out and check in. New hotels please. The lodge is out of town and overlooks a watering hole. Local called Zulu approaches over lunch advising everyone, “I’ll be feeding the vultures now……if you’d like to join me…..follow me.”. Lots of vultures circling overhead. Marabou storks strut their stuff… Read more

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 15 September 2013 Sunday. A day of rest. Hot. Very hot. A local tells me later that it was 45C at the airport today. Everyone knows the melting temperature of an Englishman is 20C. Enjoy the AC whilst updating all these blogs. They’re like buses. You wait ages for one and then… Read more