Zimbabwe

On the drive to Zim

Little did I know when I got a multiple entry visa that the maximum amount of time stayed in a single entry to Mozambique would be 30 days at a time. So, in order to avoid a heavy fine and also so that the Meyers could get a work visa, we left the hot coastal city of Beira for the mountains of Zimbabwe.

The drive into the mountains took us past cornfields, mud huts, cement huts, stick huts, palm trees, and into lovely green hills crested with wispy clouds. The roads weren’t pleasant with potholes and a 300 km journey took us 6 hours at 60-80 kph (or 120 km with Claude’s fast pace). Going through customs was a $30 visa to enter and the Meyers had to pay another sum for the car.

Driving up to Leopard Rock - looking out over Burma Valley

Leopard Rock

Leopard Rock Golf course

Vumba/Bvumba/Vumbai Valley drive

Mutare, city proper

Mutare, Zimbabwe is about 30 degrees cooler than the coast. It’s much more developed, more clean, and a second world country (if that exists?) People hurried on the main streets in Mutare, (as opposed to in Beira where there’s no point really in hurrying anywhere.) We stayed at a nice hotel called the Wise Owl just outside the village. We also visited Leopard Rock Hotel (at $250 a night, only the bus of Zimbabwean Parliament members could afford to stay there.) Apparently Queen Victoria stayed there in 1952 and it had a golf course that made me want to pick up golf (I know, what?) It was a pleasant afternoon in mountains that reminded me a little of Wyoming and Colorado with some of the red sandstone marks on the mountains, but more of a Hawaii and Switzerland mix with huge escarpments of rock and beautiful clouds hovering over the mountains.

It was a great respite!!

Mutare Post Office

In other news... with power outtages and intermittent internet access now, I will be back-blogging a bit to edit and update. Sorry if I dont get to emails right away either!!