If you were having coffee with me, I would take you through a virtual tour of this tea-pot shaped country of mine, Zimbabwe. I think I would name this tour something majestic, something mysterious and something mythical. Hang on to you tea cups.
Our first stop would be at the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, located a few kilometers from the city of Masvingo.
The country Zimbabwe’s name is derived from Great Zimbabwe, which literally means Great House of Stone. Sometime between the 12th to 15th century this was thriving settlement, the largest in southern Africa. A demonstration of power opulence and architecture of almost unparalleled brilliance beyond their time.
Second only to the pyramids in Egypt would you be surprised to find people still debate who built this ancient monument? Some have tried to credit it to the Queen of Sheba, Phoenicians, Europeans even perhaps aliens from out of space, but scholars and archaeologists have since agreed Shona ancestors reigned here.
If you were having coffee with me we would visit the Lodge At The Ancient City a resort on a mountain top overlooking the Great Zimbabwe complex. The resort is fashioned in a stone style and décor that’s natural in tributary reminiscence to the Ancient monuments.
A meal in the Summershed
A glass of wine in the garden
A sundowner by the pool
While still in the Masvingo province we will go into the Zaka district to visit Weza. This virtually unknown location has a massive granite structure with a map of Africa etched into it and there are bare footprints round the map as if someone walked on the still molten rock, and drew a map. Who did it? Nobody knows. Maybe it was our ancestors but the soles of their feet must have been fire resistant, and back then how would they have knowledge of maps, a curious school of thought says maybe aliens did it. Some say God did it, because there is a somewhat similar feature in Epworth Harare, a place called Dombo raMwari(God’s Rock)
We can’t pass through Dombo raMwari without checking out The Balancing Rocks. There is no mystery there each just an interesting geologic feature.
you can even find it on our “local currency”
If you are having coffee with me we would head out to Chinhoyi to see the caves and the sleeping pool.
Why is it so blue? How deep is it where does it end up You can catch more of my thoughts on the sleeping pool here Chirorodziva: The pool of the fallen
And then a quick visit to Chirinda forest; Chipinge but first we stop by the Christmas Pass on the road to Mutare. Its beautiful at night and the view is breathtaking.
Night mode
The Valley of Giant Chirinda Forest,
The big Tree
This place feels the way a rain forest should feel, trees stretching so high up it boggles the mind. Oh yes and caution; behave with respect and proper reverence or else a fog will befuddle your senses and you wont remember which way you came from or where the car is parked and you are doomed to walk the forest, forever or till you die or whichever comes first; unless your kin can find a traditional doctor to perform an appeasement ceremony.
If you were having coffee with me and we were on a virtual I would tell you that whats visiting Zimbabwe without seeing the animals first hand? We dash off to the Antelope park. It’s an award winning private game reserve located just out of the city of Gweru. They maintain a famous lion pride, and other wildlife trying their best to preserve the ever dwindling animal population that used to roam free wild and graceful before man happened.
A horse drawn carriage ride can get you up close and personal with unexpected friends.
walk with elephants
walk with elephants
Meet the Ngamo pride
And as the sunset on our tour we can relax by a fireside
I will tell you stories, that will keep you up at night, are you afraid of the dark?
~B
PS ah yes the Victoria Falls I didn’t forget about that majestic Smoke That Thunders but I know you know about it already.
Day 29 Blog every day Challenge
Photo credits;
Things You Want To Do
