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-- Log 31 --
Antelope Park – Gweru – S19.30.380 E029.43.116 – 4 462 ft amsl – 8/12/02
– 11/12/02 - Camping - US$2.50 pppn – Lion Walk US$9.00 – Elephant Walk
US$12.00 (1 hour)
The Elephant walk took us for a tour of the Park, we saw giraffe,
wildebeest, zebra, vultures and leopards (cages). We can definitly tell
you that riding an elephant is not the most comfortable experience –
weird - yes! It was interesting though. Both elephants are African,
female and about 9 years old. They are amazing creatures.
We took an early morning walk with the lion cubs, which proved to be
incredibly rewarding. It is amazing that one can participate in such an
experience. We were armed with small walking sticks (not really for
walking), which we used to keep the lion cubs occupied – rather get them
to chew the stick than your leg! All in all they are extremely well
behaved and amazingly ‘people friendly’. We were astounded at how lazy
lions actually are, and in order to move on – one of the cubs had to be
carried, as every bit of shade she found she kept lying down.
Tom and lion cubs
Sue and Lion Cubs
Sue especially enjoyed feeding the smaller cubs their bottles. The park
has a successful breeding programme, and cubs rejected by their mothers
are hand reared. The fully-grown lion’s are kept in enclosures away from
the lodge.
The facilities at Antelope Park are exceptional. They cater for every
need, camping, overlanders, tented accommodation, and Lodge
accommodation. They offer communal meals, and tea, coffee and mazoe are
available free of charge. They do not have a liquor licence, but you are
welcome to bring your own. The meals were of an exceptional quality,
bearing in mind that things are not easy to get.
They have a beautiful swimming pool, and their grounds are exceptionally
well kept. There is horse riding, fishing, canoeing and walks through
the park. You are allowed to walk in the park on your own, provided it
is not during the lion walks!
The Park has a self-help programme at the Weavery, where cotton is spun
and various articles are made. The work is of a high standard and very
reasonably priced.
The Management at the park has worked hard to keep the activities
affordable and within everyone’s reach. They do a good job. We
thoroughly enjoyed our stay and recommend the park to everyone visiting
Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe Cricket Team spent a night at the park before their game at
Kwe Kwe against Kenya. So we decided to take in our first live cricket
game:
Zimbabwe won the one-day match
Back to reality … Harare …..
Fuel queues
“Food and petrol prices are kept artificially low by government price
controls, which in part have led to food shortages because it has become
more expensive to produce food than the returns manufacturer gets. Land
invasions have seen the national beef herd cut by 80 percent, leading to
meat shortages. Shrunken dairy herds see Zimbabwe producing only a third
of its milk requirements. Manufacturers and stores are increasingly
ignoring price controls and food prices have soared 100 percent in the
past month. In the stores, there is baking powder but no flour, tea but
no sugar. A 250 g of South African butter costs Z$2800.00 or R28.00 at
parallel market rates of Z$100 to the Rand – the official rate is Z$6 to
the Rand – therefore the butter cost R467.00. The same amount of butter
costs R7.00 in South Africa. Car Hire requires a deposit of US$1 500
deposit for a VW Chico!
No one appears to have employment; few houses have electricity or water
because of unpaid bills and cut offs. Everyone is hungry. HIV positive
people are succumbing to Aids quickly as inadequate food sees immune
systems collapse faster and opportunistic infections take hold. Across
Zimbabwe those who work with HIV/Aids report that clinics have no
medications. Zimbabwe has the capacity to produce generic medications
for HIV given free by Thailand, which helped it, set up production
lines. Production was to have begun in February. Nothing has happened.”
Excerpt of an article in Financial Gazette – 19/12/02
“Under the agreement with Libya and Zimbabwe buys oil in local currency
in exchange for Libyan joint-ventures with Harare in tourism and exports
of Beef and Soya beans.” Zimbabwe independent – 20//12/02
2003 inflation to reach 282% - current 175.5%
Official rate US$1 – Z$55 - Parallel Z$1300 - Z$2 500
Official ZAR1 – Z$6.00 – Parallel ZAR1 – ZS100 - 200
Yes, Zimbabwe has it’s problems – really big ones – but, the amazing
thing is that the people just carry on, life as normal. They do not
grumble and groan – being negative and miserable. Their attitude is
positive, and they have a great hope. They are survivors – over-comers!
They will make it!
Just get rid of “Robber Grabber Mugarbage”
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