Middle Zambezi

10 to 22 December 1994

Journal

Saturday 10^th December 1994

Leaving Johannesburg very early in the morning (about 04h00), I was able to drive north, reaching Beit Bridge by 09h00.

Entering Zimbabwe, I drove north-west towards Bulawayo, and turned off to Matopos in the late afternoon.

Sunday 11^th December 1994

I spent the day exploring the Matopos Hills, and managed to find the local special bird - Boulder Chat. However, I failed to find Mackinder's Owl - the local sub-species of the Cape Eagle Owl.

Monday 12^th December 1994

(map also covers adjacent areas of Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia)

In the morning I spent some time at the Aiselby Sewage Works just outside Bulawayo. From there I drove north to Victoria Falls, and then east into Botswana. Not bothering to stop (for long at least) in Chobe, I continued north into Namibia and camped at a site close to the main lodge in Katima Mulilo.

Tuesday 13^th December 1994

I spent the day exploring the area around Katima Mulilo, and discovered that it was very expensive to cross into Zambia from here - the ferry would cost nearly US$ 100 for a foreign registered vehicle. I took the sundowner cruise along the river from the nearby lodge.

Wednesday 14^th December 1994

In the morning I drove east to Popa Falls, and spent the late afternoon bird-watching around the falls.

Thursday 15^th December 1994

I spent most of the day in the eastern side of the Mahango Reserve where it bordered the Okavango river, before returning to the falls in the late afternoon.

Friday 16^th December 1994

This time I spent the morning on the western (drier) side of Mahango, before driving south into Botswana. I drove past Shakawe and hoped to be able to find birds, but unfortunately was unable to see virtually anything from the road, so I returned back to the falls in the late afternoon.

Saturday 17^th December 1994

Leaving Popa Falls in the early morning, I drove back through Katima Mulilo, back through Botswana to Zimbabwe, where I reached Victoria Falls. From there I crossed into Zambia, and turned west to head back along the north bank of the Zambezi. However, the road was in terrible state, with trees growing out of it in places! So I stopped off at a lodge quite close to Livingstone, where they offered a room for the same price as camping - so I stayed at the lodge.

Sunday 18^th December 1994

I wandered around the riverine forest near to the lodge during the day, and in the evening watch several Bat Hawks catching bats over the Zambezi.

Monday 19^th December 1994

In the early morning I drove back to Livingstone and then south to Bulawayo, before heading north-east to Harare, to stay with friends in Borrowdale. It was a long drive, but there was no better route to take.

Tuesday 20^th December 1994

I spent the day in Harare, and managed to meet with Derek Solomon, the local Birdlife Zimbabwe organizer.

Wednesday 21^st December 1994

I spent the morning exploring the Marlborough vlei in Harare, hoping to find some interesting rails and flufftails, but I must have been just too early - there were none to be found.

In the afternoon I started south, staying at Denise's Kitchen for the night - it was a pleasant lodge with excellent food.

Thursday 22^nd December 1994

I left early, and reached Johannesburg by around 20h00.