kkuter

My last hike in Zim was in the same area as my second hike in Zim. It is fun going back to the same areas and exploring just slightly different paths and hills. A hike along the same trail heading in a different direction can feel like a completely new experience given the change in perspective. This has been the case for my hikes in Zim. While I am looking forward to exploring new areas, I have enjoyed any opportunity to hike even if I have already visited the area.

This hike was advertised as a HARD IMPACT and only confirmed members of the Mountain Club of Zimbabwe were allowed. Thankfully, I submitted my application after my third hike with the group, which was over two weeks ago. So I was allowed to join this hike. There was not another hike being offered, so this was my only option, unless I tried going somewhere on my own, which would require renting and driving a car – something I intend to do one of these weekends.

The hike lived up to its hard rating. On this hike, we actually climbed Domborembudzi instead of just skirting as we did the first time I was in the area. As with all other hikes I have been on, this hike had its fair share of bushwhacking and rock scrambling. However, this hike took the scrambling to the upper-limit of class 3 and at times into class 4. At one point, I was crab-walking down a rock face due to the steepness (thankfully there are no pictures!). The palms of my hands are actually quite sore today from the amount of crab-walking I did and the fact that the rocks were scorching hot from baking in the sun all day!

Other highlights of the hike include the cave formed by an immense rock overhang and my first sighting of baboons! Sadly, I don’t have very good pictures of the baboons. We saw them as we were descending slightly in approaching a plateau and we stopped to give them time to clear out. They were rather large and can sometimes be aggressive, not good given how big their teeth are. It was still so cool to see them!

I also learned on this hike that the dirt road we drive on to get to the starting point used to be paved at one point. You can actually still see remnants of asphalt in some places as I tried to capture in my first photo below. Due to lack of maintenance, the road has been reclaimed by the natural environment, though it is still used by the villagers that live in the area.

On the way back to the cars, we came down the same way I did on my first hike in the area three weeks ago. Given how hot it has been and the fact that there had been no rain at all, the two pools that were there before were completely dried up. Such a shame as it would have been so nice to take another swim in those pools this time too!