Bambazonke Nhasi

19/11/2024

Hi All

Last Saturday evening I, along with about 100 others, was invited to a well-organised book launch at The Beach House in Harare. Well-known wildlife enthusiast, Jan Teede, had arranged for three very different books to be published by his printers in Cape Town. The three authors, Jan Teede, Kirsty Jean and Natalie de Chassant were all in attendance autographing newly printed copies of each book for those attendees that purchased originals.



We, at Bindu Books, have accepted numerous copies of these “Must Read” books and will be selling them now for anyone interested in giving a Christmas present to someone who appreciates good literature.

Each book is selling for US$20 or buy all 3 of these titles for just US$55.



Bo and the Whale Shark: Not long ago, one of Author Kirsty Jean’s young sons expressed a keen interest in Sharks asking Mom all sorts of questions that she had little knowledge of. The net result is a beautifully animated “Children’s” book that cleverly showcases the life of sharks today with detailed paintings of about 30 different species. It illustrates how Bo spends much of his time diving in the seas befriending a Whale Shark. The storyline progresses to how netting and plastic bottles are having a major effect on the future of sharks worldwide giving a few simple ideas that all kids could benefit from long-term. Bo & the Whale Shark makes for a good quick read for teenagers and adults alike.

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Mana Pools National Park – A Field Guide: Jan and Fiona Teede have, arguably, spent more time wandering around Mana Pools than any other city folks. They have compiled several publications highlighting a wide variety of subject matter from this magnificent National Park bordering the Southern part of the Zambezi River.



Jan Teede has now assembled a very detailed Field Guide for Mana Pools that will surely be a mandatory addition to the literature carried around the parks by both field guides and regular visitors. It’s one of those books that any school library must have available for their pupils to gain knowledge of our wildlife heritage.



The first 75 pages of the Introduction give a concise, but very detailed, summary of the dos and don’ts on subjects like “Staying Safe”; Camping; and Parks Regulations. This is followed by 500 pages on all the Mana Pools species of Wildlife, Birdlife, Reptiles and Trees / Botany finishing off with all the Anthropods (Spiders et al)

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From Dust: Modern Poetry: - Natalie de Chassant. Poetry has long been used to aptly describe scenarios in a precise format using powerful combinations of words that have a major effect on the reader. Natalie has put together an anthology of 36 thought-provoking poems along with very appropriate illustrations from leading Zimbabwean artists.



A single word has been used as the title for each poem: “Gratitude”; “Betrayal”; “Carefree”. This collection is a must for those who want to start the day with an inspiring, allusive message.



The summarised remarks on the back page read:



“ ’From Dust’ is a collection of poems, illustrations and art that tap into the wonder of human existence. The pages tell of beauty through pain, healing through heartbreak, and the fullness that comes with deeply experiencing our connection to ourselves, the Earth and Each Other.”

15/11/2024

🎉The Ndeipi Weekender brings you exciting weekend activities for you to choose from to make memorable memories with friends and family. As for this weekend, whether it's the Junior Schools Wildlife Quiz at Mukuvisi Woodlands for the kids or the exhilarating Cimas iGo Half Marathon at ZB Sports Club, there's something for everyone. Embrace the opportunity to create lasting memories this weekend, and don’t forget to mark your calendar for future events that the Ndeipi Weekender has planned just for you🎉

Check out our website for more weekend fun🎉

14/11/2024

World Diabetes Day: 14 November

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the body cannot effectively use its insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels.

World Diabetes Day, recognised globally on the 14 November, aims to raise awareness about diabetes, which comes in three main types: Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational diabetes. This day holds a special significance to me due to my family’s history with the disease. On my mother’s side, it's common for women to develop diabetes, putting me at a higher risk.

Growing up, I watched my mother, and aunts manage Type 1 diabetes daily, teaching me valuable lessons. Although there is no cure, a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise can prevent or manage diabetes.

Today I want to share more about Gestational Diabetes. I experienced this during my pregnancy in 2022-2023. Despite being aware of my family’s history, I was unprepared for this challenge. Gestational diabetes affects not only the mother but also the unborn child. When my diagnosis was confirmed, I felt scared and unprepared. The diagnosis meant immediate treatment. Despite my fear of needles, I had to learn to inject myself with insulin twice a day, alongside taking numerous meds/tablets that I had to stay on top of. Adjusting my diet and controlling my diet was tough, especially trying to follow my mum’s strict diet even during pregnancy. Driving past Classic Desserts became an extreme sport for me, given my doctor’s offices were right next door.

Support from my family and friends was crucial at this time and it got me through a lot of difficult moments. Monitoring my diabetes required constant monitoring of blood sugar levels, meal tracking and regular calls and texts with my doctors. Despite the challenges, my baby and I came through it without lasting diabetes. My experience taught me a lot. Although my sugar levels stabilized after birth, I remain at high risk due to my family’s history. Continuous monitoring and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are essential for me.

A healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding to***co can help prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes. With proper diet, medication and regular screening, diabetes and its complications can be managed or delayed.

On this World Diabetes Day, I want to bring awareness to everyone living with diabetes. Stay strong and keep fighting!

Yours Truly, Nyasha N.

05/11/2024

Hi All

A good Zimbabwean friend of mine, Helen, who lives in Perth, came back to Zimbabwe a couple of years ago where we met up for coffee. Helen is one of those kind people who spend lots of time selflessly motivating their immediate communities.



She told me about a very successful project that works for all the older guys in Perth known as “The Men’s Shed.” Essentially this involves these chaps meeting in a small shed, or hall, regularly on a Saturday morning to work “Shoulder to Shoulder’ making things for their community. Generally, one of the guys donates a spare cottage, or container, somewhere that he no longer needs. Other old-timers bring along their old rigs, saws, or drilling kit from home whilst someone else drops off an old fridge, chairs, or a braai.



Research in Australia has proven that key factors in longevity involve older folk knowing that they have mates who are expecting to meet up with them at a regular time and place every day or week. Another factor is feeling wanted by their community. The bottom line on these days is a bunch of guys joking with each other and reminiscing about the Good Old Days.



Another mate of mine has just sold his home in Mount Pleasant and has a whole garage full of lathes and tools that would be a good starting point for setting up such an organisation here in Harare.



If anyone has any suggestions or would like to help me start up such a venture, please feel free to send me an email to [email protected].



Read below Helen’s comments from her email to me over the weekend:

Cheers Mike G.

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“Back in 2018 the one I visited most of the tools and machinery were donated.. e g retired gents no longer using them, wood offcuts and the like donated, likewise nuts, bolts, screws etc.



The above group started off in a small shed given to them to use by I think the Lions Ass. and eventually, with donations and help, built like a garage shed.



The guy's fixed tables and chairs for schools, clubs, groups, and charitable organisations, and the word spread for the benefit of both…



What I was told though…..the health and mental benefit for the men who joined was a real eye-opener in many respects and openly discussed between them as opposed to keeping silent…and the mutual support between them was invaluable.



A few of them played a musical instrument, formed a band, and often played at dances, local dinners, and fetes, for a small donation to build their own funds to cover some of the sheds own expenses and time out as a group for a meal, fishing , a social evening ….”

Men's sheds or community sheds are non-profit local organisations that provide a space for craftwork and social interaction. The movement originated in Australia around the 1980s as a way to improve the health and wellbeing of older men. However some have expanded their remit to anyone regardless of...

30/10/2024

Hi All

We have a very large Elephant population in Zimbabwe with some folks claiming there are too many. I’m told that there is something like 65,000 in Hwange National Park with Gonarezhou “housing” some 15,000 in their 5,000 square kilometres. Just 3 per square Kilometre is surely not a lot. Should we be concerned? I don’t know the answer. Then what about the destruction of trees and plants in times of need?



Over the years I’ve spoken to lots of people in wildlife management about this sensitive matter in the past and every one of them gave a different perspective on the matter



If you consider the facts like the number of mature, breeding females that only give birth once every 4 years, there are probably 1000 new Elephant born in Hwange every year. In years of extreme drought, many Elephant lose much of their strength and are either dropping down dead or becoming cheap pickings for their predators. During those periods we could lose several thousand Nzou. Even during the good times Elephant still fall prey to the likes of Crocodile, Lion and Hyena.



Many years ago, it was common practice for teams of marksmen to participate in a weeklong Elephant Cull. The overriding principle was that the whole herd was taken out in one fell swoop. This practice is, however, commonly thought of as cruel and unacceptable to wildlife enthusiasts. Even if you do take out a small family herd others in near proximity will sense their demise either through basic instinct or smell. That could make the remaining ones “very skitsy”.



I feel it is essential to have a community discussion on this topic so that informed decisions about our Ellies can be made by the right people. I look forward to reading constructive reader comments on the subject over the coming few days. Assuming I receive enough short, yet relevant comments, I will compile a selection of them to send out as “Readers' Comments”



Ciao Mike G.

23/10/2024

Hi All

This weekend I drove down to Chilo Lodge on the edge of Gonarezhou and spent 3 nights in their self-catering lodges. Our outward journey took us through Mutare returning via the alternate Gutu route. They have patched up all the potholes on the 260km stretch between Chiredzi and Chivhu, so the long return journey was a whole lot more enjoyable. I must rate the countryside views along the road near Zaka as some of the best in Zimbabwe right now with lots of high-standing granite kopjes littered with trees sporting beautiful, verdant green leaves. We also saw only one large truck on that long stretch. Imagine the difference if we had the same scenario on the Chirundu/Kariba roads.



On Sunday we were driven to the Chilojo Cliffs some 70km from the lodge – a full day’s trip but we had an excellent guide, Dumisani, who entertained us with some great sightings and interesting facts. As I’ve stated in the past, the best guides know when and where to comment or introduce some humour to your day. Impala are generally split into two distinct groups: one with a dominant Ram and multiple females; the other with just males known as a Bachelor Herd – Dumi’s tongue-in-cheek term was “A bunch of Losers!” Impala are known to most regulars in the bush as the McDonalds because of the similarity of their black rear-end markings.



My bucket list for the day included the Grysbok – a rare timid little antelope that Dumi found for us late in the afternoon. We also came across two pairings of Steenbok – something I had never seen before. Gonarezhou National Park is some 5,000 square kilometres with several different vegetation types each having its own range of wildlife. Over the course of the day, therefore, we were witness to all sorts of animals – Giraffe, Wildebeest, Eland, Jackal, Dwarf Mongoose and many more. Lots of Nyala around this park with the darker males seen more often.



The Bird Raptors are prolific – my favourite is the Martial Eagle with one of them giving us a magnificent flyover. As we came around one corner a tenacious Tawny Eagle swooped into the bush alongside us and used its very strong claws to whisk away a very unfortunate Mongoose.



The views from the deck at Chilo Lodge are a sight to behold with many crocs coasting the Save River below. With this being such a dry year, the Elephant must wade through the river every day looking for greener pickings on the other side. One of the resident crocs was spotted taking out a baby Elephant on Sunday afternoon from the midst of a breeding herd showing no fear of being taken out by the Matriarch. The law of the jungle makes its own rules.

Ciao Mike G..

17/10/2024

Hi All

It is debatable whether one should be buried or cremated when your earthly days are done and dusted. My late brother, Roy, chose cremation and it was his expressed desire to have his immediate family to have a memorial for him somewhere near the Hwange National Park. So, last weekend three of us went off to camp at Tuskers campsite (Ivory Lodge) located some 3km off the main Vic Falls Road just before the turnoff to Main Camp.



In my opinion, Tuskers ranks amongst the best campsites in Zimbabwe. We were welcomed by a charming, young camp manager, Tinashe, who went out of his way to help us set things up. The facilities are first class with showers and toilets set up in small, thatched rondavels. Solar power is used to bring in water to fill the water tanks and give enough power for ample lighting plus plug points to charge your phones.



A water hole has been set up in the Vlei that one overlooks with water being pumped in using the solar panels. We were witness to several herds of elephant ambling down to the water hole – such fun to see the babies sprint the last few metres excited about the impending chance to splash around in the mud and water. There is a resident group of three giraffes that slowly slipped out of the bush ever glancing around looking for any danger. These were followed by a few Side-Striped Jackal and Impala. Lots of Spring Hares bounding around in the evening with a few duiker eyes reflecting the light from our powerful torches in the evening.



Camping is, to me a far better way to enjoy our spectacular outdoors sleeping under the stars; breathing that fresh air; listening out for that recognisable mix between a roar and a growl of a lion somewhere out there in the dark of night. Places like Tuskers are ideal for introducing young children to the true outdoors – so much better than being cooped up in a fancy room with prepared meals and air conditioning. Nothing quite like sitting around a campfire in the early evening enjoying the sounds of silence



The National Park is just 25 km away, so we spent a day travelling slowly around the various pans – our best sightings were at the Dom and Makwa pans – both within 20km of the Main Camp entrance – Vultures galore, giraffe, Kudu, Zebra and a special sighting of seven Sable. I’m sure Roy would have appreciated our trip.

Ciao Mike G.

24/09/2024

Hi All

I’ve just returned from a 4-day trip to Gaborone where I joined 230 other guys from all over Southern Africa playing in the annual Nomads Botswana National golf tournament. This year we played at the city golf club. The dominant vegetation there is Savanna, interspersed with Shrubland, bordering on semi-desert – lots of dry bushveld dotted with Acacia and Mopane trees. Fever trees (acacia xanthophloea) abound many of the fairways.



With water being in short supply, the committee have used recycled water very cleverly resulting in verdant fairways and full coverage on the greens – the latter were fast but true according to your putting stroke. The trick on these types of courses is to stay on the fairway. If you hit a wayward shot, you mostly found very hard, sandy lies with the odd one being lucky enough to land on a small tuft of dry grass.



We played medal Stableford, as is the norm for Nomads, with a compulsory pickup if you hadn’t sunk the ball and were one over par for any given hole. Day one on Friday was a typically hot Botswana day with fierce Autumn windy conditions. No encouragement was required to drink copious quantities of cold, thirst-quenching water or alternatives being offered along the way. The winds did, however, bring about a complete weather change the following day with most of us sporting a warm top to beat the unusually cold conditions.



Even though most of the guys playing in these types of tournaments are very competitive it doesn’t take too long for them to accept that they will not be in the winner’s circle at the end of the weekend. It’s more about catching up with old friends from past nationals and meeting interesting new guys. I, personally, made two very useful contacts: - one from a business perspective whilst the other was a very astute guy whom I conversed with for a good couple of hours.



The Botswana Nomads had just completed the building of a well-thought-out, covered seating arrangement on every hole – each sponsored by local business for the forthcoming two years.



Always good to be back home though. Ciao Mike G.

11/09/2024

Hi All

It was so rewarding to see so many entries to our August Short story competition – 182 in total! Split evenly amongst the 3 age groups. It has taken us a long time to sift through them all working out which ones had merit or showed a latent talent for writing.



I can now empathise with all those English Teachers who must mark their student’s essays. Judgement, thereof, must surely depend on what the reader enjoys seeing in a tale. I was always taught to have an introduction of the topic, and the main storyline finished off with a conclusion that leaves the audience with relevant answers to the plot. Good grammar and spelling are a given. I’m a firm believer that the more novels one reads the better stories one will write



One of our main objectives with this competition was to give people from all walks of life an opportunity to try out storytelling; to see how personally rewarding it can be to put pen to paper expressing your thoughts for all to read. Imagine if one of our contributors turned out to be another internationally recognised author like our own Paula Hawkins?



We have spent the last week or so uploading all the stories onto our website for anyone to read. Acclaimed Zimbabwean-born writer, Rory Kilalea, has been the main adjudicator for the contributions and he has given most of them marks ranging from 4 -10. We have tried to place all of them on our website with the best ones being shown first.



Magical Parade / Dream Come True (7-12 yrs old).

Winner: the most original layout was contributed by a very young Natalie Mandiopera from “Kids are Kids” Junior School. She has won a $50 book voucher generously donated by a very new Bookshop in Highland Park called “World of Books” - Magical Parade

Excerpt: “Once upon a time, there lived a princess called Luna, she had always wanted a parade,…. She was sad but did not give up.”



Second Place: a highly motivated teacher at Froggy Pond School in Bulawayo arranged for about 10 of her pupils to write short essays for us. The best entry was from Tinotenda Mhuru who receives a $50 gift voucher from LNA stationers in Bulawayo. - Magical Parade



Third Place: Tadisa Malunga from Hearts Christian College in Norton - Dream Come True - US$ 25 book voucher from World of Books in Highland Park



A Stranger I Met / Beyond the Horizon (13-18 yrs Old)



Winner: the best writer from all the stories must be Nigel Chirambagowa who wrote two excellent essays –A Stranger I Met and Beyond the Horizon

Rory commented “Nigel Chirambagowa will be a writer or journo-he has the spark...”. – He wins a large Coleman Cooler box courtesy of Big Sky in Pomona



Excerpt: “In just a few hours, a stranger had made a lasting impact on my life. Alex reminded me of the beauty in fleeting moments and the profound connections we can make, even with those we may never see again. That brief encounter left an indelible mark on my heart, teaching me that sometimes, it’s the strangers we meet who change us the most”.



Second Place: Jordyn Boyd of Chisipite Senior School wrote a very different, yet mature, essay A Stranger I Met that Rory feels deserves the second place in this age group. Jordyn wins a US$ 50 gift voucher from Big Sky

Excerpt: “It all started as something innocent, a shadow that always seemed to follow me.”



Third Place: Matipa Mndaka wins the 3rd prize in this division for her fun story on “A Stranger that I Met” - a US$ 25 book voucher from World of Books



Over Coffee (19 and over)

With so many entries in this section, it was very interesting to note a few different takes on the title – many wrote about sharing a coffee with a friend or a lover and lots with strangers that approached their table.



Winner: Tinotenda Sambo – She wins a 20-litre tin of Dulux Luxurious Silk White paint kindly sponsored by Dulux Paints.

Tinotenda’s essay "Over Coffee" is about a fun meeting with a stranger that ended with “Though they had crossed paths for only a fleeting moment, Emily knew that the memory of their meeting would forever hold a sacred place in her heart, a reminder of the extraordinary possibilities that can unfold over the shared warmth of a cup of coffee”



Second Place: Brittany Lightfoot sent in an unusual contribution that starts with “I, a humble coffee bush, found my roots sinking into the rich, dark soil of a burgeoning plantation…” Brittany’s prize is a dinner for 2 kindly sponsored by the 5-star “Amanzi Restaurant” in Kambanji.



Excerpt ..“As I reach the end of my days, I feel a profound sense of peace. My journey, from a tender sprout to a wise old bush, has been intertwined with the story of this land and its people. I am but a small part of a grand tapestry, a witness to the resilience of the human spirit. My berries, once a symbol of toil, now represent hope and the promise of a brighter future.”



Third Place: Tinotenda Tawha – wrote a thought-provoking essay about enjoying the absolute quiet of the early morning lost in thought far away from “the busyness of Life” - A lunch voucher for 2 Kindly sponsored by Cresta Lodge.



On behalf of all the management and staff at Bindu Media, I would like to thank all the contributors for taking time out of their day to compose their own story- we will be sending an email to all the participants over the next week or two attaching a Small PDF Certificate that they can store or print. It has been a mammoth task to upload all the essays – we have just placed them with the names of the entrant starting with the better ones first. We hope you have fun reading some of them in your spare time.

All prize winners, please contact Nyasha at 0787 199277 to arrange for collection.



Ciao for now Mike G.

11/09/2024

Hi All

Croco Motors does a lot of advertising with us in both the Nzira Travel Magazine and the daily Bambazonke Nhasi emails. We have also produced a 48-page hard copy Croco Magazine that was placed in their showrooms. Croco Motors are the Ford dealers in Zimbabwe, and they asked me to represent Zimbabwe at the 5-star Ford Everest Travel adventure ( ) that took place last weekend in the highly rated, South African private game reserve, Kapama Resort, just south of the Kruger National Park in South Africa.



Ford Africa had flown in about a dozen Media representatives from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand – mostly thirty-somethings that produce world-class content for international magazines, Social Media, and YouTube. Ford Africa have a separate division known as the Ford Adventure Club who contracted the top-drawer services of Gideo Basson and his exceptional team at “Red Moon Conferences and Incentives” to put this major event together. They have now flown off to Northern Namibia to host an even larger incentive event showcasing the latest Ford Raptor Rangers.



Twelve brand new Ford Everest vehicles had been trucked up to Kapama and were all lined up waiting for us to test drive as we arrived at the local airstrip in our 9-seater PC 12 Pilatus light aircraft. We were split into 2 teams of 6 vehicles with drivers paired off for the weekend. Ford had sent up 4 different models of the Everest – all basically the same vehicle with contrasting finishes. The Everest XLT is the only one of those that is available from Croco Motors here in Zimbabwe



Kapama is a large game reserve of some 50,000 hectares so we were given many chances to drive through all sorts of off-road scenarios – deep gullies and riverbeds – some with just sand; others with water flowing at a depth of about a metre.



My 4-wheel drive experiences have been limited to a few occasions to driving around Mana Pools in the rainy season. Thankfully though, there are many different features and accessories in these Ford Everests that make driving through harsh terrain feel like a bit of a doddle. The vehicles are all fitted with the Watt’s Linkage suspension making for such comfort whilst traversing bumpy roads even for those sitting in the rear seats.



On the first afternoon, I started off as a designated driver being introduced to the excellent road handling of the Everest driving up, down and around steep rocky ascents and descents – all the time on the lookout for wildlife meandering through the bushveld nearby. A few regal lions lay on one anthill causing a change in direction before a couple of serene-looking giraffes loped alongside.



Halfway through the afternoon, we stopped at a secluded spot to chat with some of the Ford representatives about their top-drawer vehicles. They related how well the Ford Everest was being rated compared to some of the other well-known SUVs in the region. We were also shown how and when to use the 6 different drive modes. These allow one to set up for conditions that require Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud and Ruts or Sand driving. Other dials allow you to switch over the 4High, 4 Low, 2 Normal with Diff-Lock as well as a Hill Descent Control Function.



The next sector was giving us all a chance to drive some 300m through a very sandy, windy riverbed using the Sand Driving Mode. Such fun with a few of the more daring learning how to spray the cameramen with loose sand as they passed them filming from the verges.

On day 2 we started with a mandatory drive through quite a deep river before ascending the very steep Mariepskop Pass ending with a drive through the clouds at a height of over 2000m. Cloud nine for some of us.



Those of you that drive or aspire to drive an SUV would do well to read the newsfeed about the Ford Everest that Ford Africa prepared for us.

Better still why not go down to your nearest Croco Motors showroom to take one of their Ford Everests out for your own test drive – you should be suitably impressed. Ciao for now Mike G.

25/07/2024

Get ready to unleash your creativity with Bambazonke Nhasi's electrifying short story competition, in partnership with our beloved Ndeipi Magazine! Back by popular demand, we're thrilled to announce the return of our epic short story showdown that will have you reaching for your trusty pens, dazzling laptops, or sleek tablets! Whether you're a seasoned wordsmith or a budding storyteller, we're counting down the seconds until you impress us with your imaginative tales!

Imagine the thrill of seeing your masterpiece showcased on our platforms, captivating audiences far and wide! And that's not all – fabulous prizes await the champions in each category, ready to spark joy and celebration!
Don't miss this golden opportunity to let your literary prowess shine – the adventure begins now!
Let the storytelling magic begin!

17/07/2024

Hi All,

I drove down to Mutare last Friday to join 32 other players in the annual Goldberg Bowls tournament – it’s been a long time since they’ve had so many competitors. The standard of play was high and very competitive – lots of fun and comradery. Eleven teams played a Round-Robin of 2 wood trips all day Saturday and Sunday morning. Bowls seems to flourish more in smaller towns with squads travelling East from Gweru, Kadoma and Bulawayo. Good to see so many locals watching the Irish / Springbok Rugby match on Saturday night in the main clubhouse. Kadoma Sports Club has a big Potjie and a bowls competition this Saturday afternoon if anyone is interested in joining in.



This is the time of the year when our Msasa trees start their blossoming for Spring and the bushveld colouring is that magnificent dry, light yellow – in stark contrast to the boring old Eucalyptus that border the Australian roads I was traversing last month. I chatted to a couple of guys from Mutare who are in the forestry business – both expressed concern about the number of forest fires that can be expected in the Eastern highlands over the next four months – the thick undergrowth is dry, and it just takes one wayward match to create a massive fire that can sometimes take days to overcome.



On Monday I drove south from Mutare to Masvingo via Birchenough Bridge. Once again, I was mesmerised by the views along the way– just Indigenous trees and stunning granite outcrops – not one pothole either on my whole trip. There are, however, goats wandering all over the roads, so this calls for alert driving. One unfortunate baby goat was hit by a GP car driving just in front of me – the driver just carried on as if nothing had happened. The poor kid looked like it had broken a leg and had been left bleating to die in the middle of the road. I stopped and carried it over to lie under a nearby acacia – I didn’t have the heart to do anything harsher!



One cannot visit Mutare without playing a round of golf at Hillside which I duly did – the condition of the course and greens is great for this time of the year. Self-elected club manager, Kevin Woodward, does a fantastic, pro-bono job caretaking the course using his limited resources very cunningly. Make sure you plan a trip to the Eastern highlands over the next school holidays to admire the Msasa and Munondo tree colouring. Ciao Mike G.