Zimbabwe "Have a safe Journey" Tour May 2024

[Rydog]

Having the privlage of spending my junior school years in Zimbabwe I have longed to go back and explore more on my Bike, Back in those days i was lucky enough to have a Suzuki Er 125 and Later a Yz 125, My Dad & I Rode around Bulawayo bushvelt and later I was allowed to Take my Bike to my Oupas Sawmill 15 km from the Gwaai River Hotel & this is where my love for Exploring Began, He was cutting Rhodesian Teak for the South African Railways at that time so there was allways Plenty Chainsaw Petrol available & it was Mixed... What a Bonus, I was allowed to take the .22 Rifle and had a wooden crate on the back of my bike for my dog Jet, and this is how i spent most holidays in the Gwaai, Saturday's we would go to the Gwaai hotel and I was allowed to drink Coke and eat Chips and they had a pool, all the Ballies would be sucking Lion Larger, Those were propper days & I enjoyed them,

41 years later I was able to Re Smell the Zimbabwe bush from 2 Wheels,

I took 2 of my Friends (Mark Grant aka Pondo & Piere Stapleberg)along for the ride and I was way better than we expected,
Beitbridge was a breeze 1 hour in and out was a very pleasant surprise,
Our Budget was 1000 usd while in Zim and we almost spot on,

Here are a Few Stats from our trip.

3650km in Zimbabwe
Made up of 750km Tar and 2900 km Gravel,Jeep Track with occasional single track,
2 x Front Punctures
1 x Rear Puncture
Ran out of Fuel twice,
890 clutch started slipping,
890 Engine light came on,
690 Sprocket Seal started leaking,
Mainly camping with a few nights in accommodation when we were late,
2 nights on a houseboat in Binga,

This is a country with very little Traffic and we had NO problems with any authorities, Everyone was friendly,

How Big is you Bikes Engine ?
Where you From ?
And "Have a Safe Journey"
Was the Most common Statments

Guys do Yourself a favor go to Zimbabwe on Tour avoid the A1 & A3 main roads and you will have a Blast,
I have attached a few Pics and a Video so you can get a perspective on the riding Terrain,

 

[Welsh]

I had to drive a few times in 1982/83 up to Wankie/ Hwange when I couldnt get a flight into Vic Falls, we were involved in building the Power Station there, the Gwaai River Hotel was a mandatory beer stop.

I had to sleep in my car on the Garage forecourt one night running low on fuel at Fort Vic, I was later told it was not a clever move as that was "Red Brigade" territory.

 

[Vis Arend]

Awesome adventure and lekka vid, thanks for sharing.

 

[Sheepman]

Great trip and cool video

 

[0012]

lekker lekker lekker!

 

[Chrisl]

Love the red helmet with speedo you sure were serious about safety!!
Would love to see ZIM off the tar.

 

[Rydog]

I had to drive a few times in 1982/83 up to Wankie/ Hwange when I couldnt get a flight into Vic Falls, we were involved in building the Power Station there, the Gwaai River Hotel was a mandatory beer stop.

I had to sleep in my car on the Garage forecourt one night running low on fuel at Fort Vic, I was later told it was not a clever move as that was "Red Brigade" territory.

Yes Those Days were Dangerous, we had to lie down in the back of the Peugot 404 bakki with railway sleepers packed around us for protection, crazy

 

[RobLH]

Fantastic trip, thanks for the report

 

[Gumba]

This man is an incredible person with a passion for life ! And encourages everyone around him to push the limits! Sometimes a bit sadistic. He has been a fantastic brother to his younger boet who sadly passed away and has a funeral tmr. Rip boomerang.
And all our prayers are with you and your family.

 

[KnopKop]

Matopos?

We went there on holiday in January with Zim Family, what an awesome place, we were in 4x4's but man I missed my bike!!

What a great trip!!!

 

[Heimer]

Great ride report. Thanks

 

[Amsterdam]

I really enjoyed the video, the music was a good mood enhancer for this.

 

[m0lt3n]

thanks for sharing. thats a great trip

 

[BB King]

Rydog, what a trip man!!
Could I be so forward as to ask for the route file?
We did Vic Falls, Chinhoyi (Chinhoyi caves is a MUST SEE!), and so on last year but mostly tar.
Would really love to go back in '25.
Thanks again for sharing!

 

[Rydog]

Rydog, what a trip man!!
Could I be so forward as to ask for the route file?
We did Vic Falls, Chinhoyi (Chinhoyi caves is a MUST SEE!), and so on last year but mostly tar.
Would really love to go back in '25.
Thanks again for sharing!

You can have my Track no problem at all, I can send it to you On GIA Maps, it's the app I use, just send me your cellphone number

 

[skydiver]

Enjoyed the video
Some serious dust on those roads

 

[ExZimbo]

Rydog, what a trip man!!
Could I be so forward as to ask for the route file?
We did Vic Falls, Chinhoyi (Chinhoyi caves is a MUST SEE!), and so on last year but mostly tar.
Would really love to go back in '25.
Thanks again for sharing!

See you there in2025. Id like to do off road this time too. My wife and I just got back in Feb from a 4390 km trip around Zim. But the fun is off road with 2 day fishing excursion. Can’t wait

 

[Frikadella]

Great report!!