A Thrillophilia Adventure That Tested My Survival Skills in Zimbabwe

There is a certain kind of freedom in travelling solo. You feel like flying, unchained, unbound. The sky truly feels limitless, and so does the road in front.

Having travelled to more than 9 countries alone, I always had only one motto: Survive and travel until unfit.

It kind of sounds similar to Darwin’s theory, but I have added my own punch to it.

And this review is not about those 9 countries, it is about the 10th one. My latest-

Zimbabwe.

The place is much more than cricket, or this song, or the Black Panther movie in that case…
…It is a place that is a paradise for wildlife to thrive.

And that is exactly what I came here for to explore the national parks- to witness Victoria Falls, and to try their local food! (and if circumstances allow, probably learn a  few dance moves too!)

So, after I reached the airport, I was very excited. To my surprise, it was nothing like what is portrayed of the country by mainstream media. It was a normal city, with normal people, doing normal things.

But as my appointed driver started to go deeper into the remote regions of the country, the landscapes started to change. There was greenery all around, with hills and waterfalls dotting the scenery here and there. Then slowly we crossed the muddy roads and reached a village. There, all the huts had thatched roofs and mud walls, with barricades made of wooden sticks and cattle grazing here and here. It reminded me a lot of India, just that the smell of food and the language was different.

By late afternoon we had reached the first and the only destination of the trip- Hwange National Park. I had opted for a camp stay while customising the package from Thrillophilia, so I was pretty thrilled to spend a night in the middle of the jungle.

Since there was some time left for the sun to set, my driver and guide, Mr. Danai, urged me to go for a short hike on the nearby hill. I agreed readily. There was some kind of feeling coming from my inner self, that this hike would turn out to be one of the best things I have ever done in life.

And Voila, I could spot a Pangolin, the rarest of animals to spot in the region.
(Gut feeling you see!)

The evening was spent munching on some basic food, chicken stew and bread along with some sauteed veggies, while talking with the staff and getting to know about the tales and folklores of the area and the tribes of people living in it. The night, however, was chilly, and I was a bit scared. I would jerk up from the sleeping bag whenever I heard any sound, and there was no possibility of seeing anything because everything around me was pitch black.

I could hear owls hooting, and crickets clicking, but my imagination was running wild and my mind was scaring me more than the actual surroundings.

The morning after, when I woke up to the eye–soothing view of deep green forests, and birds of different colours! It was all fun and good until it got better.

An Elephant! In the premises of the lodge! Near the campsite! Over the pool!

I could no longer control my excitement, but the first rule of staging in a national park is that you have to control your voice and your emotions. So, I gulped all of the thrills down (I drained it from my face but my heart was still beating super fast)

Slowly, I made my way over to the other bank of the pond. There was my guide standing, encouraging me to be calm and inviting the elephant to play. I did what he asked me to, although I did not know if it was working until the elephant itself came near me and showered me with water stored in its trunk.

All the staff and guides stood there laughing, and I too joined in! Apparently, the elephant was named Missy, and she was a regular at the place. She was known for pulling pranks, and today, I was her target! I loved it, so I too started spraying water on her with my hands. But what were my hands as compared to her trunk?

Eventually, we became friends, and she would visit me every day of my stay.

The days of my trip were spent going for game drives, spotting more and more animals and capturing them through my lens. I could spot lions basking in the sun, hundreds of deer grazing on the grasslands, hippos half-asleep while bathing in the river during afternoons, and a lot…a lot of birds! But it was hard to click photos of the birds as I had to change my lens settings every time I got the right angle.

Oh, I probably forgot to mention, that travelling is not just my passion, it is also a part of my job. I am a wildlife photographer.

Anyway, my next leg of the journey was a trip to the majestic Victoria Falls. It stood true to its reputation- grand, ferocious, and unchallenging. It is the world's greatest stretch of waterfall, and the biodiversity around the falls was simply enchanting.

There was a village nearby, named Victoria Falls (yes, you got it right, the name of the falls and the village are the same). I was eager to visit the place as I knew I could spot a variety of birds there. So, I urged my guide to stop for lunch there.

I was right, there were hundreds of species of birds in that area, especially if one moved a bit further away from the settlements and ventured into the forested areas. There I got the opportunity to click good pictures of these little flying angles.

For lunch, we had Sadza, the national dish of Zimbabwe, with Mopane Worms and Kapenta.

So, here is an anecdote about my travel style- Whenever I find myself in a situation where my usual ideas about food are challenged, I try not to dwell on it too much. In that point, for me, nutrition is all that matters, taste and texture are a plus. It also helps one blend in with the local people and earn their trust.

Well, although I did not get a chance to learn dance moves on this trip, I am sure I will get to see more of Zimbabwe on my next trips. And now since I have travelled to this destination once, I will surely be a regular now!

Read More: Thrillophilia Zimbabwe Reviews