Mokore

Arrived in Zimbabwe a few of days ago where we are staying with Al & Joy who live on a little 'homestead' called Mokore, surrounded by hundreds of acres of wildlife. Magic! This is our last 'family stop' before heading into the hills for real so last chance to test all our equipment, recharge our batteries, dye our hair (or not?!).

 Al & Joy are expecting twins in four weeks and needless to say they can't wait.

Al taking us for a game viewing ride

Al and Joy's little house

our even 'littler' house

the view from the hunting lodges

Al works as a game ranger here and the whole area is what is called a 'conservancy' which is a multi-owned unfenced area of wildlife where commercial hunting is permitted and the proceeds are used for furthering conservation. This is also a black rhino sanctuary and contains the highest population of black rhino in Zimbabwe with approximately a hundred rhinos. Sadly, this  also attracts poachers and dealing with them is one of the more unpleasant tasks of Al's jobs.

This morning we had a tip off to see a family of wild dogs with 11 pups and we had the most amazing  sighting of the mother getting all 11 pups out of the den to feed them. We were able to watch the whole spectacle from about 30 metres away with four adult females circling the little group and us.

We have finally decided on a route; from here we will head into Zambia, then Malawi, Tanzania then Kenya and from there to Ethiopia. Our Ethiopian visa's run out at the end of October so by then we will be heading back south again but are planning to take a slightly different route, as yet to be decided.