Sunday 29 September - Day at Maleme Campsite, Matopos National Park

Kept awake half the night by cow bells! Eventually gave up and got up at 7am and cooked eggs and wierd sausages.  Ian popped over and explained to the Basque couple that they could get diesel on the North side of Bulawayo but not sure they really understood there could be a problem.  Used the facilities at the chalets by the Main Office - not clear how (or why) they have water when the campsite doesn't but presumably more people use the chalets so more reason to renovate the chalets.

We headed towards the game park having now worked out that the National Park is split into different areas,  This involved going out of the park crossing the road and entering the game park on the opposite side of the road. We were so busy trying to work out if we needed to pay at the second gate, we failed to notice that the entrance gate's thatched roof was lower than the height of our vehicle.  We realised our mistake when we heard an almighty crash.  We ended up bashing the holder for the jerry cans - luckily the jerry cans themselves were OK.  We went back to the first gate to check if it was feasible to avoid the gate - it turned out there was a track that meant you could literally just drive around the gate, shame we hadn't known that earlier.

Very impressive rock formations including the famous mother and child.

We hadn't really decided where we were going so when we saw a sign to a viewing platform we headed over to it.  Only hoping to get a good view we were surprised when three rangers appears from nowhere and offered to take us rhino tracking.  Really excited by this opportunity and not really sure what to expect, we cleared the back of the car to enable two of the rangers, Peter and Jerimiah, to cram in with their rifles.  A short drive ensued followed by a 30 minute hike through the bush at mid-day - it was really hot but it was really worth it as we eventually found a female rhino and two youngsters.  Amazing!!

Had lunch at a pretty reservoir that surprisingly had loads of water!

Headed back to the main park to visit World's View (and Rhode's Grave).  It was still really hot and even though it was only a short walk it was hard work but the views were superb.  The history is troublesome and the hideous mausoleum a real eyesore but the views are definitely worth going.

Visited some cave paintings and a little museum on the way back to the camp.

Stopped at the main office again in order to use the showers and loos before heading back down the hill to the campsite for steak, and fried carrots/spuds for tea.  We packed everything away ready for an early start, and were surprised to see the Basque couple returning for another night camping alongside us - they were supposed to have gone to Masvingo but said they had decided to do some shopping in Bulawayo (this sounded a bit odd but we didn't question it)