Zimbabwe Gravel Travel

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After action satisfaction

 

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We stop at a viewpoint just outside the city of Mutare and the border post between Zim and Moz. Track waiting in line for kilometres on both sides. Mutare was the cleanest and best organised city/town we rode through. Looked like a DA run town in SA

 

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From Mutare we ride over Christmas Pass to Penalonga where we will be staying at the lovely La Rochelle. La Rochelle is the the former country house of Sir and Lady Courtauldt.

We enjoy beers in the bar and thereafter a fantastic 3 course dinner.

 

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[Grunder]

I thought that country is bankrupt?

How do these beautiful places keep their doors open?

Wow...magnificent place!

 

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I thought that country is bankrupt?

How do these beautiful places keep their doors open?

Wow...magnificent place!

I also had a very different image of Zimbabwe in my mind before this trip. There are people making very good living in Zim just like elsewhere in Africa and the world.

 

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[Ian in Great Brak River]

This RR gets better day by day ...

 

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Highlights of the more than 2 hours gopro footage I took on the day

 

[Roxtar]

I changed a fuel pump on my Defender one night around 9pm on that pass outside Mutare...... dropping a tank was no fun and I still curse the idiots at LR who told me the pump was fine.... Good thing I took the spare along and can spanner bit. I cut a hole in the floor after that trip which saved me tons of hassle when I had to change the pump again in 2019 on van Reenen.... never travelled without a spare pump or housing after that Zim trip in 2005....

We spent 2 days in Mutare, and agree, a neat town at the time even back then....

 

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DAY 5 - PENALONGA TO JULIASDALE

A “short” day of riding, with only 140 km planned for the day. I should’ve known what that meant…..

We head for the Nyanga highlands on what would prove to be one of the best days on the bike on this trip!

The morning starts off with a nice colonial breakfast and then @White Rhino has to fix a puncture.

Kort Ken en Lang Len

 

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Straight off the bat we have to contend with a washed away bridge. The drop off wreaks havoc with my acrophobia and I am relieved to clear the obstacle and stand filming on the opposite bank, drenched in sweat.