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The lower parts of Chimanimani National Park are are reachable by car from Chimanimani.The higher parts are only reachable by feet.From Mutekeswane basecamp you can make a short hike of one day or stay one night in the mountains in a mountain hut and come down the next day.There are also people who do five days wilderness treks in this area.
From the top of the Pork Pie Hill we had a wide and splendid view at the impressive Chimanimani Mountain wall of the Chimanimani National Park. This park of 175 square KM is a wilderness of steep peaks, rivers, savannah valleys and woods of stone columns.The elevation of the park ranges from 800 M to Binga the highest peak of 2.440 M.The park is a real paradise for hiking.
We went to Nyamzure or the Pork Pie Hill by car, but when we arrived, we decided it was nicer to walk along the tracks.We enjoyed the nice views all around at the mountains further away. At the other hand we could have a close look at the flowering plants at the slopes of the hill.
From Chimanimani we visited the Eland Sanctuary and Nyamzure or Pork Pie Hill by car. The sanctuary was established to protect elands and other antilopes. The odd thing of the Eland Sanctuary is, that there are no elands. Apparently they are all poached ....We saw a lot of waterbucks (picture of fellow-traveller), just standing beside the road.Then we rised to the top of Nuyamzure,1992 M. The views from here at the rocky mountainpeaks of the Chimanimani Mountains in the National Park are fantastic.After we descended a bit, rounding the hill we had also a very good view at the town Chimanimani.
A weir above the falls supplies the town Chimanimani with water, so in drier months there is less water in the falls.You can climb besides the fall, but be careful, it's very slippery !! I returned halfway.The area around the falls is fantastic for picknicking in the half shade under the trees. There are picknicktables and surprisingly very clean toilets with running water, a piece of soap and paper in the middle of nowhere !It's a pity that's forbidden to camp here. Beware, the water of the pool under the falls is icy cold.
From Chimanimani it is a nice walk of 6 KM to the Bridal Veil Falls. The red-earthen road twists, climbs and descends around wooded slopes to the falls carpark.On the road we met two friends, who returned, scared because they saw two fighting baboons groups on the road.So we decided to continue with four. The baboons were disappeared, we only still heard their noise in the bushes.The Bridal Veil Falls is a slender falls of 50 M on the Nyahodi River in a perfect setting.
During our walk to the Bridal Veil Falls we had nice views at the surrounding green hills and scattered villages.In the villages we saw nice round huts with earthen walls and thatched roofs. By the use of natural materials the huts formed a perfect unity with its surroundings.The people of Chimanimani, we met during our visits in the town and our walks were very friendly, waving and greeting us.
Chimanimani is the starting point for hikes in the Chimanimani National Park 15 KM to the east at the border with Mozambique.From Chimanimani you can also visit the Chimanimani Eland Sanctuary & Nyamzure (Pork Pie Hill) and Bridal Veil Falls.We could camp in the gardens of the or book a room in the Chimanimani Hotel. It is a nice looking colonial hotel with splendid mountain views and delicious food ( 6 courses for less than 5$). There was bar with cheap cocktails and a great fireplace. It was very cold at night, so we appreciated the alcohol and the fire very much. There is one problem: no jeans and females without male escort allowed after 6 pm !!!!
It's nice to walk in the centre, to visit the shopping malls and the streetmarkets, to do some shopping.For a rest you can sit down in the gardens, the park or cafes and watch the streetscene and the people from there. Streetvendors, musicians and al lot more that gives the African taste and color at this modern city.When you want more African taste, you can go to the Mbare masika, township market, a few KM from the city centre.
Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, has 2 million inhabitants.After one week Southern East Africa we saw here the first high-rise modern buildings.Harare looked like a modern city with high buildings, a lot of traffic and urban action.Harare is the commerce centre of the country, has a good variety in shopping malls, hotels and restaurants. There are galleries and some museums.We spent two days in Harare, not enough to see all.
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Q: Can anyone tell me what the weather is usually like in May. I travel light so I was only going to take one fleece jumper and a...
A: As before: http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Zimbabwe/Climate But Zimbabwe is a country, so its climate averages are not as accurate as for specific...
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