A Magical Zimbabwe Adventure
Guest Post by Guy Arnold
As a huge lover of the outdoors, Zimbabwe seemed one of the most exciting places to witness some of earth’s beauty. I wasn’t disappointed when I learned that, on the way to the world’s largest manmade lake, Kariba, on the northern border with Zambia, there are the Chinhoyi caves. When it comes to the outdoors, caves rank pretty highly on my list of must-sees, so passing up this opportunity would’ve been a bad idea.
Located about 8km north of the nearby town of Chinhoyi, the cave system is made mainly from limestone. Once inside, I was able to make a deep and mystical descent to the shimmering pool, often called the ‘Sleeping Pool’, at the bottom. It’s particularly popular with scuba-divers purely because of its depth. But they’re not the only ones who’ll want to witness this beautiful lagoon nestled in the inky blackness of the Chinhoyi caves; anyone with good eyesight would leave wanting a return visit to this place.
But, it gets better. After a quick stop at a nearby picnic site, and an indulgence into some quality Zimbabwe food provided by the hotel’s staff that same morning, it was time to head for Lake Kariba. Stretching over a massive five thousand square kilometre area, the lake is one of Zimbabwe’s more popular attractions, and not just for the tourists; every year in October, a tiger fish tournament is held. Dozens of local fishermen flock to the waters of Kariba and compete to make the heartiest catch. I wasn’t there for the tournament, though, but no matter; the views were exceptional, and so was the wildlife. Birds of all colours, shapes and sizes adorned the waters and surrounding bush which I could observe in blissful silence but for the gently lapping waves and soft buzz of insects.
Also available at the lake were houseboat tours. I couldn’t resist, and soon found myself lazing on the deck of a trundling vessel bubbling along to itself. The onboard staff served more incredible local food, fish mainly, which would satisfy anyone with an appetite. Lying back on the boat with a full belly and a smile on my face, I was treated to a spectacular finale from Mother Nature as she illuminated the sky with a blazing orange glow, and the sun began to dissolve on the horizon.
For more insight and information into Zimbabwe check out My Destination Zimbabwe
The author, Guy Arnold, from leafy Hertfordshire, England, who is currently studying for an MA in Creative Writing. Specialising in poetry, and travel writing being a new passion! 🙂 – Travel Feeder, your ultimate photo travel blog
About The Author
Cecil Lee
The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.
