Zany Zimbabwe

(Navyn & Paul) It was Y2K and nobody wanted to celebrate New Year’s 2000 because the media had told us the world was going to end. So Paul and I went to Southern Africa to celebrate the end of civilization. In Zimbabwe we visited Victoria Falls, rafted the Zambezi River, went on a safari and peered over the 364-foot high bridge to the Zambian border where people bungee jumped and said, that is for crazy people.

Anyone have change for ten trillion dollars?

President Mugabe has been in power for over 30 years and his iron fist rule has caused much hardship. Just after we left in 2000, he systematically took land away from white farmers and killed any who fought back. Economic hardship followed. At one point, inflation was so out of control the government started printing 100 trillion dollar bills. It was cheaper to use the local currency as toilet paper than to actually buy real toilet paper.

Fifteen years later we visited again, this time with four kids in tow. We brought our passports to cross the same bridge over the gorge into Zambia and this time think, why not jump? Who knew Zimbabwe was the Queenstown, NZ adventure land of Africa? We tried the Bridge Swing (jumping off a the Victoria Falls Bridge, 364 feet above a gorge and swinging over the rapids until they pull you back up), the Zip Line (fairly standard but with stunning views) and the Flying Fox (a ramp which you must run at full speed off of at which point you are dangling over the gorge suspended by a harness from a high wire). Daringly insane and a perfect outing for my fearless, adrenaline seeking children. See video below for some visuals.

Our next stop was Hwange National Park in northwestern Zimbabwe for the Children in the Wilderness Camp. Many of the Wilderness Safari Camps close down for a few days each year and host children from nearby villages. Twenty children between 9-13 were chosen to come learn about wildlife, conservation and leadership skills over three days. Our girls were lucky enough to be part of the camp as well. Uncle Avias was head counselor and runs a tight but enthusiastic ship. They are busy all day with game drives, team building games, challenges, entertainment all while learning about conservation, ecology and wildlife in the bush.

It is winter in Zimbabwe and it was cold, really cold. I have been sleeping in my clothes with a winter hat just because I don’t want to change clothes in these frigid temps. By noon it would finally warm up enough to take a shower and clean up. Ten boys and ten girls came with small bags holding very little for their three-day camp experience. Most did not even have socks or trousers. When we held hands to make a circle they were shivering from head to toe. Luckily we had planned ahead and purchased gloves, hats, long socks and sweatshirts that helped a little bit. Still I worried, but not a single complaint came from anyone. These are tough kids. Before every meal, they sang songs, said their prayers and not a crumb was left for the birds.

The girls jumped right in. Halle, Zara and Maya each took a leadership role in their group while Jolie helped them with their studies and served them all their meals. I was very impressed with their confidence, compassion, and vigor. They watched closely as these well-mannered children experienced so many firsts. First time seeing an elephant, first time taking a hot shower, first time making friends with a child their age from America. While many had traditional Zimbabwean names, which we struggled to pronounce, some, like a little boy named Brilliant, represented the dreams of their parents. While many have lost parents to HIV/AIDS, we hope this experience takes them on the path to a brilliant future too.

See Zara’s much better blog on this topic, complemented by Maya’s video.