Thursday 15th August
It's been a long time coming; this epic safari through Zimbabwe and Zambia. Over a year ago we planned the route and Hanlie started the bookings for the Zim Parks; the exclusive use campsites book up fast.
It's a lot of work putting a trip like this together...but all the planning pays off in the end.
Our group this year...
Gail and Neil
Hanlie and Andrew
Rina and Rupert
Stephen and Vivienne
We set off from Joburg on Thursday to spend the night at Zvakanaka outside Louis Trichardt.
We had just picked up the "new"caravan so we had lots to learn. The retractable step stopped working before we left Joburg!!
Friday 16th August
We decided to leave at sunrise, not knowing how busy the border might be...Beit Bridge is one of Southern Africa's busiest land borders..We breezed out of SA and things on the Zim side were very quiet..
This new caravan is double axil, so we weren't allowed through the light passenger vehicle channel..but Neil and I navigated the complex sequence of counters, officials, forms and payments alone without the help of Cleopatra of Zim tourism, the "fixer" helping our travel mates through on the other side.
Next stop, Econet at the Baobab Spar in Beit for 5 Zim Sims and a few last minute groceries.
Travel in Zimbabwe is slow with single lane roads being in pretty bad condition and loads of trucks and tankers heading north.
We stopped in Chiredzi for fuel ( they do take credit card or even ZAR here ) and then it was off to the Chipinda Pools Entrance to Gonarezhou NP in a cloud of dirt road dust...
Don't underestimate travel times in Africa and stops with 4 vehicles and 8 people always slow you down way longer than you think.
We always have a roster for meal prep, which may sound a bit pedantic, but you will definitely all thank me for this at some stage on your trip. There are no roadside services or take out restaurants in these parts, so it's a real time saver to be handed your 'padkos' for a long journey day like this.
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