Category: Cape to Cape

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

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 14 September 2013 Wake at 0100hrs roasting hot and stuffy. Switch AC on to cool things down. Wake at 0500hrs freezing cold. Switch AC off and pull up a blanket to warm up. Fond farewells to everyone as they disperse back to reality. Say goodbye to the Crazy Dutch Girls. Full of… Read more

Chobe National Park, Botswana 13 September 2013 Another day. Another country. Popping into Botswana an hour away. Botswanan tour company require us to sign indemnity forms. Sign our life away. Nothing but trees all the way. Short queue for Zimbabwean immigration. They’re actually very friendly and not what you expect. Friendlier than any other immigration… Read more