Hwange National Park -Zimbabwe

Wednesday 13.03:

In the morning we visited the painted dog conservation center were we got a private tour by the local guides. Unfortunately those animals are close to extinction.
Then we drove 300k down to Bulawayo the second biggest city of Zimbabwe. Via the Mugabe Avenue we crossed this truly African city and arrived at dawn in the Matopu national park to find a beautiful camp site next to amazing granite rock formations. We felt safe because we were assured that no big animals roam around in this area. Let's hope it’s true.

Tuesday 12.03:

We woke up early by the morning speech of the main officer to the 30 police students who lined up just in front our rooftop tent.

Throughout the day we crossed the national park which has the largest elephant population in Africa with 30000. Every now and then families of them suddenly crossed our path but they were more peaceful then in the Kalahari.

At night we left the park and found refuge in the painted dog refuge. Were we invited john the night guard for a pot of spaghetti Cooke on our stove. We peacefully went to bed to the cries of the nearby baboon family.

Monday 11.03:

We left Shoestring backpackers at noon to drive to a huge baobab tree upstream of the Victoria Falls. The afternoon I spent getting Zimbabwean Sim cards for me and Ju so we will have internet even here in the middle of Africa. I also got some help with my broken laptop. I asked for help in a shop where they sold everything even fashionable wigs for the African lady. After two hours about 10 guys from the village stood around the laptop giving their expertise. In the end we agreed that the problem will fix itself by itself with given time.

Ju had to sit the whole time at our car to watch out for it since Vic falls main street did not seem like the safest place.
In the late afternoon we decided to head 100k south to Hwange national park. We arrived in the dark and found shelter at the district's police school.