Our Trip to Zimbabwe – 2011 – with Cederberg 4x4

We were just 3 vehicles, 3 couples, absolutely magic people Left to right – Emelia, Anton, Charles, Coenie, Reinette & the cool photographer added on (ha,

ha)(couples = Charles & Emelia, Anton & Reinette, Coenie & Trix)

Now before we went to Zimbabwe we had no idea what to expect there.

We were warned to be careful.

The internet warned to not expose our wallets re snatch and grabs.

We left with trepidation, entering the unknown

What were we to experience there?

I have never, in all our travels, met friendlier black people. They were absolutely amazing. Everyone we came in contact with says, “Hello, how are you?”. With great big smiles on their faces.

- Everyone speaks English – they study the language at school.- The country is green and beautiful- No potholes in the roads- No beggars- Positive attitudes- Lots and lots of wildlife, the most we’ve ever had in our campsites.- The shops are well stocked with food.- The weather was great- Police at all road blocks just waved us through while hassling the locals.

The friendliest black people I have ever The friendliest black people I have ever met on all my travels, they were met on all my travels, they were

absolutely amazing.absolutely amazing.

Sunsets over the Sunsets over the ZambeziZambezi

More wildlife More wildlife in our in our

campsite campsite than in any than in any

other countyother county

Lots & lots of waterLots & lots of water

Lots of stuff to Lots of stuff to dodo

Everyone we came in contact with said, “Hello, how are you?”, with great big smiles on their faces.

Everyone speaks English – they study the language at school.

The country is green and beautiful

Positive attitudes

No beggars

Lots and lots of wildlife

The shops are well stocked with food.

The weather was great

Police at all road blocks just waved us through while hassling the locals.

Our rendezvous was at Khama Rhino Sanctuary in the south of Botswana, that’s where the Botswana trip ended (16 vehicles – 36

adults and 11 children)

The trip started on such a special note – the fellow above The trip started on such a special note – the fellow above came to drink water right next to our vehicle and the next came to drink water right next to our vehicle and the next

morning he rubbed his horn on the vehicles bumper while we morning he rubbed his horn on the vehicles bumper while we were still in the rooftop tent.were still in the rooftop tent.

Big Cave Lodge in the south of Zimbabwe, our first stop.

A wonderful introduction to the A wonderful introduction to the countrycountry

Highly Highly recommendedrecommended

Of courseOf coursewe campedwe camped

in thein thebeautifulbeautifulcampsitecampsite

PrettyAblutions !

!

And we didAnd we diddiscoverdiscover

a newa newmode ofmode of

transporttransportfor for

Cederberg 4x4 !!Cederberg 4x4 !!

The roads, scenery The roads, scenery & vegetation are & vegetation are

great.great.

No Potholes, that’s No Potholes, that’s more than we can more than we can say for our own say for our own

countrycountry

Our next stop was Hwange Nature Reserve (previously Wanki) where we spent 2 nights, allowing sufficient time for the other two couples to go on gameDrives, where they saw a good varietyof animals. Coenie and I tookadvantage of the time to justpark-off in the campsite.

On our way from Hwanke National Park we stopped at a school because On our way from Hwanke National Park we stopped at a school because Charles & Emelia brought boxes of school supplies, from sponsors, for Charles & Emelia brought boxes of school supplies, from sponsors, for

the students and Anton & Reinette brought Bibles for the teachers. the students and Anton & Reinette brought Bibles for the teachers. Everything was received with extreme gratitude and joy.Everything was received with extreme gratitude and joy.

Then off to Victoria Falls !

LotsLots&&

LotsLotsofof

WaterWaterand and

PowerPower

Sunset Cruiseon the

ZambeziA great

campsite with

lovely restauran

t

What a

pleasure.

We left Zimbabwe at Vic Falls to drive for one day through Zambia instead of three days through Zimbabwe.

Huge mistake

Zambia was dilapidated, neglected and oh so sad

Next time we’ll

rather take 3 days

going through Zimbabwe.

Kariba Dam is amazing, nearly 400 km long & it’s man-made

Our campsite was beautifulOur campsite was beautiful

The pub on the water’s edge was a good place to park off and relax

Elephants grazed justElephants grazed just outside the campoutside the camp

While we braaiedWhile we braaied at night, hipposat night, hippos

grazed around usgrazed around us – absolutely amazing

Antelope Park is really something An amazing

Lion breeding

project

Great facilities

You canwalk with the lions

You canenjoy anelephant

ride

Hippo Creek Lodge, near the Zimbabwe Ruins, our last stop

John the hippo grazes around the camp in the eveningJohn the hippo grazes around the camp in the evening

The chaletsThe chalets have huge, have huge,

stunningly tiledstunningly tiled bathroomsbathrooms

Very largebeautiful

bedroomsAnd a great

swimming pool

What a magic trip it was to Zimbabwe

Anyone thinking of heading in that direction, we highly recommend it.

We’re sure to be going again next year, so plan ahead and come join Cederberg 4x4 on a tour through this amazing

country.

Trix RadynTrix Radyn