We had to travel almost a third of the way back to Bulawayo to the Dete junction before turning towards Binga and Mlibizi. Again I was surprised at the general state of the roads which remained excellent with only occassional areas where the surface was breaking down into potholes. The country around us was dry and sparsely vegetated. We crossed the Gwai river which was running strongly and there was evidence in the small tributaries of significant prior water flow though they were now empty.
We arrived mid afternoon at the Manzini Lodge on the banks of the Zambezi. A quaint small accomodation at which we were the only residents. Thatched roofed rooms built in and around the rocks and which rambled across the hillside . All open plan with wrought iron as window covers with cane blinds in some of the windows. The sleeping quarters toilet and bath were scattered at differing levels in our room and a large bed covered like a zebra with full curtaine mossie net like a four post bed.
We took a walk around the gardens and had a sundowner on the verandah before being offered a sunset cruise on the resorts small fishing platform. We saw a large croc of around 14 feet swim lesiurely past the jetty and then we saw a pod of 10 hippos and numerous illegal fishing nets scattered across the area we transited through. Also men in small boats rowing themselves between their nets. We were out longer than anticipated but the bonus was we came home under a full rising moon which was magnificent to see.
We had a well prepared meal of fishcakes and chicken stirfry and the kids had a special starter made for them as they did not favor the fishcakes. Courtney thought this starter was the best meal she has had this whole holiday.
We slept early as we needed to be awake at 6 for breakfast at 630 and to be ready for the ferry at 0730.
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