Author Topic: Zimbabwe Gravel Travel Tour 2012. Epic!!!! (Read 10520 times)

Malibu · « **Reply #60 on:** November 09, 2012, 01:57:57 pm »

Hey Markie Mark... where is the rest...?

Mooch · « **Reply #61 on:** November 09, 2012, 03:24:30 pm »

We want more...

THE EDGE 1 · « **Reply #62 on:** November 13, 2012, 09:30:23 pm »

What an adventure bud and such an interesting read ....please more

THE EDGE 1 · « **Reply #63 on:** November 13, 2012, 09:33:49 pm »

Quote from: Mooch on November 09, 2012, 03:24:30 pm

We want more...

Please don't stop

ALLEN I · « **Reply #64 on:** November 18, 2012, 12:14:21 pm »

we where considering doing a zim trip but where advised against it due to the kak in the country and harassment

Just Blip It! · « **Reply #65 on:** November 25, 2012, 11:53:48 am »

Quote from: ALLEN I on November 18, 2012, 12:14:21 pm

we where considering doing a zim trip but where advised against it due to the kak in the country and harassment

Not true Bud! Less kak and harassment than here in SA!

Just Blip It! · « **Reply #66 on:** November 25, 2012, 02:12:27 pm »

Day 5.

This was probably the highlight ride of the trip. We rode through the mountains on a remote track to Cashel, another small mountain village. We traveled very close to the Mozambique border in fact at times the GPS showed that we were in Mozambique. The scenery was breathtaking, we climbed high into the mountains along a disused trail lined with the rusty red and orange Msasa trees which brought beautiful spring colours to the distant views.

We passed by small village settlements remote huts dotted on the mountainsides, here we took time to hand out more stationary to the children. They were absolutely thrilled to see these big bikes coming through their villages, the excitement showing all over their faces!

We came across this derelict old farmhouse, we stopped and paid our respects to a time gone by. This used to be someones home where their hopes and dreams had been destroyed. I could just imagine there had once been a family living here that toiled and worked this beautiful land into a productive producing farm..............................now it stood here in ruins, looking silently over a still magnificent view of the mountains. Sad, very sad!

We found another small track that actually took us on top of the mountains into Mozambique and gave us the most breathtaking and exquisite views into Mozambique. A mental note was made for possible future rides!

We found a lekker river crossing and proceeded to see who could make the biggest splash! Henry on his GSA won this hands down as the big GS parted the waters as if he was Moses himself! The cool shower was most welcome in the sweltering heat!

The route from Cashel onwards got remarkably dryer and hotter as we pushed onwards through the mountains. We were lucky enough to see some wildlife, a few trophy sized Kudu.

We stopped for fuel at an old pump which was still hand operated!

We rode a loop through the Vumba mountains travelling trough the most beautiful indigenous forest with towering trees on the way to our sleep over at Inn on the Vumba (Bvumba is the Shona name for "mist".) A quaint little Inn between Vumba and Mutari run by a very sweet and helpful old-school woman.

Before settling down for the evening I changed the fuel filter on the 990. The filter is located in the tank, not a nice job, but necessary, my filter was black with all the dirty fuel taking it's toll on the filter from previous trips to Swaziland, Lesotho, and of course the Zimbabwe fuel!

That evening we ate and drank like kings, served by a waiter by the name of Lancelot. With the setting of this quaint old Inn with it's antique furniture we felt like knights of the Round Table relaxing after a hard day in the saddle!

Malibu · « **Reply #67 on:** November 26, 2012, 07:41:06 am »

Those mountains are home.... Still gives my heart a good flutter to see them... So beautiful!

funacide · « **Reply #68 on:** November 26, 2012, 10:54:24 am »

Really awesome scenery and pics, thanks for sharing.

Can you also please post your trip log from the GPS if you have it, would be awesome to see the route...

Doug C · « **Reply #69 on:** November 26, 2012, 07:56:56 pm »

Such an interesting ride report. Each instalment is eagerly awaited.

Are you able to fix/restore the missing photos on pages 1, 2 and 3? Or are they permanently lost?

Ian in Great Brak River · « **Reply #70 on:** November 26, 2012, 10:34:15 pm »

Stunning place if it wasn't for the regime.

Thanks for sharing and I too would love to see the missing photo's on Pg: 2 & 3.

Mooi Rooi · « **Reply #71 on:** November 27, 2012, 09:48:25 am »

Great RR - Truly loved it. Well done.

Hermit · « **Reply #72 on:** December 10, 2012, 09:01:48 pm »

I really missed a great trip here ...

Will never make this mistake again !!!

Stunning scenery and great pics, Mark.

DikZol · « **Reply #73 on:** December 20, 2012, 11:22:03 am »

Great scenery and looks like you had an awesome ride!

Just Blip It! · « **Reply #74 on:** February 24, 2013, 11:57:28 pm »

Day 6, 7 and 8. Nyanga.

With an early start the following day we travelled through the city of Mutari and replenished our snack boxes and camel packs.

We then travelled up through Penalonga towards Nyanga, a trip of about 270km through rural area with massive granite mountain outcrops to our home for the next 3 nights at Rhodes Nyanga Hotel.

Stopping for a swim in a river along the way.

Henry bought some local school children a Coke each, there were big smiles all round!

The Rhodes Nyanga Hotel is set in the heart of the Nyanga National Park, the finest trout fishing location in Zimbabwe.

Sadly that night we made a group decision to only stay the one night as the food, service and constant power failures was not an enjoyable experience. Moving on about 30km down the road we found another fantastic hotel, Pine Tree Inn, which happened to be part of the same hotel chain as Inn on the Vumba. Here we received the best hospitality and meals with the main chef waiting on us and taking a lot pride in what he served up for us.

Luckily for the next two days we could explore the area without the weight of our luggage and how glad we were about this as the next two days rides were long, fast and technical as we were treated to the most amazing change of scenery all within an 80km radius of our hotel.

We started by visiting the spectacular Pungwe and Mtarazi falls then headed down into the Honde Valley dropping more than 1000m in just a few kilometers into one of the premier birding destinations in Zimbabwe, offering a wide range of species difficult to find in most other parts of the country, this fertile valley lies 850m above sea level and is one of the major tea producing areas of Zimbabwe.

We visited the beautiful Aberfoyle Lodge where we hit a few golf balls on their spectacular 9 hole course.

Aberfoyle Lodge.

Another swim in another crystal clear mountain river.

Then I suffered the first puncture of the trip!

The culprit!

We stopped for lunch at the famous Troutbeck Hotel then we proceeded to the well know Worlds View lookout point with an amazing view over a vast valley of rolling granite hills.

GPW · « **Reply #75 on:** February 25, 2013, 05:13:53 am »

about time. please dont hold for so long again

J-dog · « **Reply #76 on:** February 25, 2013, 08:16:21 am »

WOW!! Thanks for the RR - is it over?

Just Blip It! · « **Reply #77 on:** February 25, 2013, 08:40:59 am »

More to come! Sorry guys, moved house, battled with internet for a few months.

Mooch · « **Reply #78 on:** February 25, 2013, 09:21:20 am »

Niiice Thanks!!

Brandt · « **Reply #79 on:** February 25, 2013, 09:26:04 am »

Zim looks like a beautiful country. What a pity about the government