Parked at Mai Joy Matema’s cabbage emporium on the tar below Matema and headed north on the rough dirt road through the terraced fields (makondiwa – but this is a very local word I think). It looks green here because of its location, on the side of a hill, with some irrigation, but the crops … Continue reading
9 – 10 March 2024. An overnighter close to the top of Demera (Bepe Peak) mountain in Nyanga. I eked out a pitch here as there was some wind shelter behind this ancient Shona wall, and the rain was approaching from Nyangani. There are a great many Shona remains on top and a round Kuwira … Continue reading
On Thursday in Sakubva market in Mutare I picked up a Gregory Stout 65 litre rucksack for $30. In very good condition apart from the front stretchy pocket which has a repair patch sewn through to the main compartment underneath rendering it unusable. Still, hundreds or thousands of km and dollars away from an outdoor … Continue reading
This hill is called Mumunzi on the 1972 era maps and has been solidly standing there, side by side with the now familiar Menzi ridge to the north west, just looking a lot more ominous and out of reach. Now with the advent of camping man in January 2024 I had to give it a … Continue reading
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
Eastern Highlander 