ALOE FARM

Our very good friends have recently obtained a charming little property that once was the Aloe Motel, just some 24 kms out of Bulawayo.  Their initial intention in buying it was not actually to run it as a lodge, but rather to continue with their farming ways.  However, seeing as all the infrastructure is there, they decided to dust it off - or rather ... scrub it off as it has been closed for some years - and make it available to those wishing to stay there.  It's very handy for Falcon School families as it is much closer to the school than if one stayed in town !! They plan to make it available on a self-catering basis, all bedding, towels, kitchenware provided, and they will also be building some DECENT ablutions (the existing one has been destroyed before it fell over !!) and make it available for campers, seeing as there currently appears to not be a decent & secure camping site in Bulawayo.  It is convenient and easy to get to, being right on the main highway, although this can be a bit of a drawback as the noise of the traffic can get quite hectic at times.  Although I did notice that it was very noisy on one day, and very quiet the next, so I guess it's just the luck of the draw.  It didn't detract from "being in the country" though !!!  The plan is to also use it for events such as bike rides, walks, parties, conference meetings etc.

We went and stayed there for a weekend and had a great time.  There is lots of space, and every day I went for a nice long walk or 2, and again did some birding and came up with a good number of birds (including another 2 "first-timers").  There is a clean swimming pool which kept the youngsters entertained for hours on end.  What is also very charming, is that early in the morning and in the late afternoons you can hear the Chipangali Lions calling .. quite unexpected at first, but I started listening out for them and it was really a pleasure hearing them, which adds to the outdoor experience !!!!

A charming little place which will grow from strength to strength under the loving care and attention it is receiving from it's new owners !!!!

MSUNA

On our return from Mozambique, we did the washing and re-packed for a few days at Msuna, where we were going to meet a friend who was celebrating a "significant" birthday.  It was a quick easy drive from Bulawayo - possibly because I slept most of the way (can't stay awake if I'm not driving !!!), and we arrived there in the early afternoon.  Most of the party was out fishing, but we found our lodgings and a friend and moved in.  The house that we stayed in is really lovely, and is available for the public to hire.  It has 5 bedrooms, 2 of them have ensuite bathrooms and are air-conditioned.  The other 3 are upstairs, where there are 2 shared bathrooms.  There are fans throughout the house.  It is fully equipped for self-catering, and there are 2 very pleasant staff to cook and clean.  With lots of space, a wonderful view of the water, a private swimming pool AND someone to cook, it's a great space for a Zambezi break.

I always enjoy getting on to the water - so long as their are no hippos in the vicinity - but as the years have passed my desire to actually fish has waned, and I prefer instead to bird watch.  This was really rewarding on this trip and I managed to notch up a few "first-timers".  I got close to spotting 40 species, which is really good for me, and excludes all those that I didn't identify.

There are some lovely houses at
Msuna, all privately owned, some are rented out and some aren't.  Recently renovated are the little lodges at "Indibiri".




These and the house we stayed in are my definate favourites at Msuna.  The Resort itself is looking magnificent, the gardens are beautifully kept and everything was green, green, green, and lovely and hot !!  The men partook of some "fishing with green stuff" and managed to bring home some good catches from the river bank fishermen !!!!  We had a wonderful few days there - as always, too short - but we had been away from home for some time altogether, so we needed to get back and knuckle down to some work (to pay for the next trips !)