10 July, Wednesday: Mana Pools -> Harare

As we have been advised by many, we decided to not cycle along the A1 today. This meant that we were going to go via some back routes to get to Harare, so we got up early and got going as the sun was rising. It's about a 2 hr drive to get out Mana Pools to the tar, through a very corregated, dusty gravel road. We headed up the Zambezi escarpment, looking back into the valley of miles and miles of just unspoiled bush. The giant baobabs stick out magnificently without their leaves, Mana Pools has such a unique landscape, nothing like I have ever seen before. There are patches are tall mopani and then areas of barren flood plain places with Natal Mahogany's and sausage trees and the most unusual trees that have thick trunks in funny shapes, looking like they have growths on them. Even though we only got to experience Mana for one full day, we had the most wonderful time.

Sunrise over the Zambezi

Now on the main road to Harare, we can understand why we were warned not to cycle. From using the Atlas, we found a back route from Banket where Dad and I got onto our bikes, Chris still quite injured from his fall. We cycled on a single strip of potholed tar, not having been maintained for years. We passed abandoned, dilapidated tabacco barns and old farming fields. This was emotional having family and many friends who lost their farms. The countryside is beautiful with natural grasslands and indigenous trees covering the landscape.

The day came to an end quickly and we got off our bikes to make it to Harare while there was still light. We contacted the diesel supplier who we met at a very dodgy location and fueled up. Harare to my surprise was much bigger and built up than I was expecting. At the very last minute we managed to make sleeping arrangements, thanks to Shennay, a friend from varsity, who's aunty offered us a bed. Claire has the generator running as there is no electricty in the country. We are so grateful to be indoors as its 3 degrees tonight after a delicious hot soup, we crawled into our cosy beds.

Cycled: 41 km

Time: 2:08 hrs

Ave speed: 19 km/hr

Ascent: 140 m