20 to 21 January 2024 A shake-down, warm-up, first camp out in the tent. I had hoped to use the Menzi ridge as a way to get down to, and cross, the Chirwe river in preparation for Mumunzi, however it was (of course!) the rainy season, and so, at the tired end of the day … Continue reading
9 to 11 February 2024 For my intended through-hike to Aberfoyle there have always been two looming obstacles: a) how to get up out of the Gairezi river valley and up to the plateau, in the direction I wish to travel (ie without taking a circuitous route via Nyafaru or the National Park road); and … Continue reading
26 to 28 January 2024 I had spied this plateau and escarpment in the distance on previous trips in the Chirwe / Dazi / Gairezi area but the distance was always against a day trip. After quite a bit of Google-mapping on line – was there a route down from the far end of the … Continue reading
7 February 2024 Preface: I am ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’ from YouTube here, namely the ‘Long Suffering Hiker’ and his Improve a Lanshan 2 Backpacking Tent? Try these 13 modifications video! I first, avidly, watched the above advice when in Scotland over Christmas then added some adjustments once the tent was in Zimbabwe, … Continue reading
3 to 4 February 2024 An overnigher down in the Chirwe valley, tributary to the Gairezi (north, north east of Mount Nyangani, towards Dazi) (not named on any modern satellite images – see map, from 1972, at bottom). No path down from my direction so I took to Google Earth for inspiration. This is typically … Continue reading
Take-two involved a bit of preparation with the acquisition of two ‘high lofting’ sleeping mats – actually sacks filled with our high-altitude pervasive weed known as ‘hanya’. Of course this was not yet comfortable as the almost wooded stems dug in painfully. Now the user was at least off the floor so not as cold and … Continue reading
Eastern Highlander 