Thursday, April 9, 2020

TRAVEL DIARIES- OUR TRIP TO MUTARE AND VUMBA MOUNTAINS 2003



Towards the end of 2003 we decided to visit Vumba Mountains. I can never do justice to the beautiful scenery in Manicaland. I remember in 2002 when my cousin’s husband died in Honde Valley. We took the overnight train from Harare to Mutare. 8 years before in 1994 when I was accepted for A’Levels to Mutambara High School Chimanimani, I had taken the same train journey from Marondera to Mutare and then the B&C bus to Chimanimani. I got to Mutambara High School and it reminded me of Nhowe Mission and I decided there and then that I would not enroll at this school and came back to Mutare that evening in time for the train back to Marondera. I told my mum that I would look for another school.

When we went to Tsano Mwatse’s funeral we had taken a minibus taxi from Mutare to Honde Valley. We got to the village before the burial. I was told that Mozambique was within a walking distance. We buried my brother in law on the side of the hill in fact most of the land in the area is hilly. I was the eldest male relative from our side so I represented my late uncle Mr Roni Dombodzvuku a former soldier of The Federation of Rhodesia who was posted in Northern Rhodesia and only came back to Zimbabwe from Zambia around 1981.

On this trip to Vumba I drove past Christmas pass and down towards Mutare, every time I drive into Louis Trichadrt it reminds me of driving into Mutare. In Mutare we asked for directions to Vumba and proceeded to our lodge. Some say the scenery in Vumba is similar to Scotland. The view is amazing. I had a miserable time because I was suffering from Hay fever as the plants in that area were affecting me. We stayed at a self catering 2 bedroom flat.

On the third day we checked out of the accommodation, my Mazda 323 struggled to go up Vumba Mountain on the way back to Mutare. I decided that one day when I have a more powerful car I would make the trip again, 17 years later I am still to make the trip.





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