Admiring the view

Today we arrived in Sinimatella camp, which is Hwange Natiopnal Park, the largest in Zimbabwe. I defy anyone not to be in awe of the view from the camp.  Dad and Alex had a lovely time looking out at the view.  The camp is on a hill top that looks out across a valley so wide and long, it’s quite something.  It’s the rainy season, and so the bush is quite thick, but I’m told that in the summer, you can see the animals drinking at the pans and watch the elephants as they do their elephant thing.  Last time we were there, the lions were making themselves known and we could hear them for hours. 
 
Getting to the camp is a very African experience.  The entrance is past the town of Hwange, or Wankie, as it’s known.  Wankie exists purely as a result of the huge coal mine – which you have to drive through to get to the camp.  Only in Africa as they say.   

Our accommodation wasn't exactly what you would want to treat your parents to, and maybe wasn't the best example of a safari lodge they could have had!  Our shower had the paint worn away from the floor from years of water falling on it, the rooms were basic and a shadow of their former glory.  However, this paled into insignificance with the ant invasion.   On the one hand, it was an absolute sight to see, huge ants turning the floor black as they swarmed around.  On the other hand, the last thing you want in your kitchen, especially if you walk in and have them crawling all over your feet (thankfully, this wasn’t me)  Husband to the rescue (of us) and to the massacre (of them).