Tinashe's Africa Trip, Zimbabwe & Botswana, Apr 4 - 24, 2024 - 5 - Shashani Hills Lodge to Bomani Lodge, Tuesday, 9 Apr 2024

 Tuesday, April 9 -  Shashani Matobo Hills Lodge  to Bomani Lodge - 

Via Natural History Museum & Long Long Drive to Bomani Lodge in Hwange NP

Today we transferred from Motopa NP (Shashani lodge) to Bomani Lodge near Hwange NP. Still in Zimbabwe. It was very long day. We were supposed to leave by 7:45a, but again, our bus arrived a little late.

We first drove to Bulawayo to visit a huge Natural History museum. Best laid plans for a 45 minute tour of the history section, but our adorable young guide had other plans & we got a full tour of the animal section with full taxidermy specimens in beautiful dioramas (old - most completed in 1964) that took about an hour (Tinashe had told her to skip that since we were going to see the real thing), then to the bird exhibit, insect, display, & finally to the Zimbabwe historical section describing the 2 kings & their interactions from British occupation as Rhodesia to their independence. Then on to a really cool walk through mine, the fossils & even a rock collection. So 45 minutes turned to 2 hour 15 & now we were 3 hours late to complete the 6 hour drive to Hwange.

To make matters worse a storm had come through the day before & made the bad road a complete mess! Worse potholes we had ever seen! The last 3 hours was on dirt road in 4x4 safari jeeps (open) in the rain!!!!! But we made it in one piece & had a fabulous steak dinner waiting for us!!!!

We were supposed to have been staying at Camethorne.  A 5 star resort, but the storm had knocked the power out there & none of our rooms had power & it couldn't be fixed for several days.  They luckily they had cabins available at Bomani Lodge.  It was only a 3 star, but the cabins were up on stilts & on the water & actually quite nice.  And they had power!  Tanashi had split up Marge & I into individual cabins because they only had 1 bed.  Worked out okay.  We were on either side of the main lodge & in the closet cabin to it.  The food was excellent and the staff were very friendly.  We were all exhausted & went straight to bed after eating.  

Tinashe's Africa Trip, Zimbabwe & Botswana, Apr 4 - 24, 2024 - 4 - Shashani Matobo Hills Lodge - Rhino tracking & Cecil Rhodes World View

Monday, April 8 -  Shashani Matobo Hills Lodge  - 

Matopo Hills National Park, the World View (Cecil Rhodes Grave) & Rhino tracking

Woke at 4:03am by loud noise & for some reason thought power had gone out.  Thought Marge was up & said aloud for her to put on the bathroom battery light, then realized she was in bed & the light was on!  Then never got back to sleep.  She didn’t either.  Up about 4:46am.  Showered & got ready easily. 

Over to breakfast about 5:45am. 

Supposed to leave at 6:45am, but the bus had gotten stuck.  Ended up shuttling us down to them & it was 2 vehicles instead of one. 

Hour and a half drive to Matopo NP.  Met by Andy & he loaded us into his jeep & we immediately went to the rhinos.  He said he had used the hour we were late to find the rhinos & we were going there first & would walk!  

Took about 20 minutes to get there, then a short walk (less than a mile) to see a Mama & Baby rhino. We went to all sides to get the best view. It was absolutely incredible. Andy was fantastic!!!!!

The dominant male showed up while we were there. It was amazing!!!!

Then on to see Cecil Rhodes burial site on top of World View.  Gorgeous.  Got a group picture (minus Marge).  Have to edit her in. 

Stopped for a little shopping (Marge bought me a really neat stone necklace).  Then to see petroglyph painting of rhino.  Also stopped to see a Memorial for Tin Hats (MOTH - Rhodesian soldiers who lost their lives in WWI & II.  

Dropped off at gate about 4pm & drove back to lodge. John, Connie, Marlyn, Danny & John, the guide walked up the mountain across from the lodge. Ken & I got pictures.

Decided to call George & he actually called us & used video and he chatted with everyone except Ken & Sue & Tinashe that were having their first hot shower!

On to dinner outside.  It was delightful!  Steak 2 huge pieces of Rump steak, polenta, spinach, & veges.  Delicious.  Apple crisp for dessert.  Stars came out.  Sat with Tinashe.  He’ll give us a star briefing on the ship on Kariba.

Back to room about 9pm.  Packed & updated journal.  Marge in bed about 9:15pm.  Me about 10:15pm.  Lovely Day!