Kariba showing off for us...everything is green and it seemed all the animals were out to welcome us back. Plus a trip to Spurwing Island.

 




We took the trip back to Kariba slowly, and decided to stop in at Chinhoyi caves on our way back. After weeks away, Lily wanted sadza and chamolia for lunch (she has graduated to full Zimbo kid!) Her brother has too, you'll see why 3 pictures down.




Capenta anyone?



I think it is safe to say that the kids were completely happy to be back. They were thrilled to see their dad, and excited by all their happy memories of Kariba. Living amongst wild animals is just special beyond words. The elephants were close by when we got back, the Zebras were inside the dome restaurant and we had 4 hippos in our garden one evening!




Lily has tea parties with her barbies, and loves to ride her bike to the playground, with faith in hot pursuit.




Our friendly wild zebra's came to say hi again! Apparently they hang around near people when the lions are close by. That turned out to be true when lions were seen not even 3km from our house. Prints were also seen at our harbour a few hundred meters away and Tim was very excited that he saw prints at their work site too one morning. 


School time...never lasts very long when there is so much playing to get done!



LJ made friends with a little guy called Richard (8) who lives around the corner, the 2 of them spend hours riding bikes, shooting catties, making mud pies out of termite mounds, having picnics and playing lego. 


October vs February in the same spot...



We have spent more time in the pool too and Lily can now swim AND take breaths so that is a relief! She is working on her freestyle now.


Rowan and Nikki (with John and Mikey) came to Kariba again for a few days and it was lovely to see them again. Mikey says that Louie is his best friend forever and the 2 of them just played and played. We went on their boat for a quick fish but Louie reckons the fishing is better at the bream farm because you don't have to wait as long for the fish to bite.





With Tim's project nearing completion and no hope for the next phase to continue consecutively (thanks to covid)...we decided to try and make the most of our last few weeks in Kariba. We planned a trip to the beautiful Spurwing Island that everybody raves about. It certainly didn't disappoint. Louie learnt to navigate the boat and did some open water driving, and we were greeted by the most beautiful bull tusker who was washing his grass before he ate it. We got right up close to him (which is not really something you do with these Zim ellies!) because he was at the waters edge. What a magnificent creature. Elephants are undoubtedly my favourite animals.








By the time we arrived at spurwing and offloaded our bags, the kids were ready for a swim. We had a delicious buffet lunch and made some new friends. 







We went for another sundown cruise and visited bed island (where 'operation Noah' was run from. They rescued hundreds of buffalo and other game that got stranded on an island when the wall was built and the water rose very quickly).


Tea and rusks outside our room before breakfast. 


"Look mom, a butterfly!"







The next morning we headed down the gorge for a lovely cruise before heading home. It is untouched beauty, simply magical. Sunshine, water and mountains are a beautiful combination. We are so grateful to have experienced this little wonder of Zimbabwe.


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