Tuesday 24 September - Drive to Sinametalla Campsite, Hwange National Park

Aimed to get away early so alarm buzzed at 6am, quickly showered and car packed ready for quick breakfast at 7am. Ended up chatting to the guest staying in the tent opposite to us so breakfast was not quite so rapid. He had previously booked with Safari Drive but now had his own vehicle - kitted out by Paul Marsh. Amusingly it transpired he was the reason why we had not been allowed to drive the Binga road - he did it 4 years ago and got well and truly stuck, having to be rescued by barge!!

Finally on the road by 7.40 and arrived at the border at 8.30 having quickly topped up the tanks to maximise our diesel ahead of entering Zim. The Zambian border was relatively straightforward and we were soon crossing the bridge ready for our Zimbabwe adventure.

We had been advised we needed to look out for Lucas at the Zim border control - he is an import/export agent and would do all the paperwork to get the vehicle into Zim. This amused us as it took us back to the Serengeti when we asked if we had seen Lucas on a road in the middle of nowhere. We were less amused that we had to pay $80 for this as we felt it should have been paid by the hire company. However it certainly made the experience simpler and we were soon through the border and into Zimbabwe.

Although later than we had hoped we still had time for a quick walk around the Vic Falls park - definitely less water than when we were here last time but still pretty spectacular.  Even had time for chocolate cake with mousse and ice cream - very indulgent!

On the road south to Hwange by 11.45. The road was very straight but quite monotonous.

On route we stopped for some firewood having seen a few bags by the side of the road. We were surprised that the guys didn't pick these bags up but ran off with an axe into the woods and chopped a load of logs for us. We paid $6 which was definitely over the odds but we don't mind too much as we hadn't bought any curios from their stall and felt a bit guilty. We chose to drive through Hwange via Robin's Camp rather than staying on the main road in order to maximise our time in the park.  The road was a bit corrugated but not too bad and we got to see lots of elephants, giraffes, buffalo, warthogs, impala plus a dead hippo being eaten by a crocodile!

Arrived at Sinamatella camp at 5pm. The campsite was pretty busy with a very large group of South Africans. Quickly set up camp - laughed when we realised that the awning had been put on by the garage upside down.  Dinner was braai pork, baked potato and baked little squash - not bad for our first meal back camping on a wood fire.