Berkeley Place

Visit Rhodes Matopos National Park.

by K.Knight

"Rhodes Matopos National Park"

My most vivid memory of Bulawayo is the fact that this was the first of several days that I was struck down by a stomach virus! After a couple of days I felt like this baboon...only my backside was brighter!

Although Bulawayo is a remarkably large city, Anne and I found that it was really only good for purchasing a few supplies for the continuation of our trip through Zimbabwe and also a good opportunity to check our emails.
However, some 40 km's south of Bulawayo lies the Rhodes Matopos National Park. The park is divided into two sections - a general recreation area where horseback riding trails are popular, and a game reserve. Matobo has the highest concentrations of Black and White Rhinos remaining in Africa. Leopard are plentiful but are seldom sighted. Other wildlife includes Giraffe, Zebra, Baboons, Civet, Genet, Black-backed and Side-striped Jackal, Wildebeest and Caracal.

"The Matopos star attraction....White Rhino!"

After what could have been our last meal..Our guides decided that it was time that we placed our lives into their hands and walk out to see these rhino at close quarters. We were assured that if we remained up wind, the rhino would not know that we were there and they would continue digging up the salt that they were licking. I am surprised that I held my camera still enough to get this shot as we were only a few meters away from this young male and his mother.....the male was constantly circling his mum and mum seemed to be constantly looking our way!

"Monkey business."

Although the main reason for visiting the Motopos National park is to see the endangered white rhino, the drive through the park gives you the great experience of viewing a lot of the wildlife that this area has to offer. I did not mind if we did not come across any rhino until later in the day as the drive was pleasent and the wildlife was easy to spot.

The gateway to the Rhodes Matopos National Park

by Alain_Smeets

The next day Saturday the 17 October we had to travel to Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. For doing this, we had to pass the border. This can take up to 2 hours, Jacques says. We did it in less then 1 hour. He never made it as fast as that. Is this an indication that I could win that bet? Well we traveled the whole day below the clouds. More than 1200 km in 2 days and always clouds, no sun. Can you believe that?

Going through the border is an experience for me, OK we also have that when we fly to an other country. In Europe there are only border controls outside the European Community. Here we had to stand in line, fill in a form for leaving the country, filling in an other form for entering Zimbabwe. The bus has to be declared and then all of us has to get a stamp in our passport. But especially the vehicle has to be checked in. Before that was done, we couldn’t stand in that line for our stamp. I’m wondering what they do with all those papers at the end of the day. Just stack them and sort them of throw them in the garbage can?

The streets of Bulawayo

by Bigs

"Main Street"

Bulawayo has very broad streets, that lasts back to the time of horse carriages. They were build that broad, so that a carriage could had turned on them....

It´s Zimbabwe´s second biggest city and you can find some interesting shops, parks etc here....

It´s very close to the Matopos Nationla Park!

"Central Bus Station"

I loved watching the busses here at the main station in front of the government building...

Many thins where tied on the roof as it´s a common sight all over Africa I think....

"Typical handcraft market"

As in every Zimbabwian City or Street you could find handicraft sellers here! Many of their products are just wonderful, but rmember that you have to carry them back home on the plane.. It´s a shame though.......