Experience the magical aurora of the Matopos hills in this Zimbabwe mountain climbing expedition. The Matopos is an area of immense beauty and is home to the white and black rhinoceros, sable antelope, leopard and klipspringer. Bird life is prolific and includes the world's largest concentration of black eagles. Once the home of the San (Bushman), this area contains the richest source of their rock art found anywhere in Southern Africa. The Pathfinders crew will take you on an exhilarating journey through these rolling granite domes. On completion of this Zimbabwe abseiling and mountain climbing expedition you will have a working knowledge of rock climbing and abseiling. You will be able to set up an abseil climb and run a single pitch climbing session, all culminating in a 3-day task oriented navigational climbing expedition.
The terrific beauty of the Matobo Hills situated in the Matabeleland province of Zimbabwe, home to the Matabele warrior, is the setting for our Zimbabwe mountain climbing and abseiling expedition. Steeped in tribal history and ancient magic, Pathfinders give you the chance to experience, first hand, the splendor of the Matopas hills. See and experience the hinterland symbolic to the life and very existence of this proud people. Contemplate the lonely grave of Rhodes as you ponder the essence of a pioneer's heart, all this under the regal eye of the magnificent Black Eagle.
The bustle of urban life is but a far cry as your team endevour to navigate, orientate, climb, and abseil these rugged granite domes where past and present co-exist. During this Zimbabwe abseiling and mountain climbing expedition, you will be led on a trail through areas of scenic and historical grandeur; Pathfinders will take you to the sites where Matabele armies and the white settlers clashed during the uprising of 1896. Rhodes' "View of the World" is best seen at sunrise when the grand and isolated loneliness of the man's life is reflected in his choice of final resting place. You will have a window into the ways local Ndebele and Kalanga people continue to live their traditional lives, mixing past beliefs and lifestyles with modern ideas and attitudes.
As this journey of rugged charm draws to an end, we bid farewell to our mountainous home and back to the commotion of the city from where you will catch you plane....and before you know it, it's over, but not forgotten, until next time!
Itinerary - Zimbabwe Mountain Climbing & Abseiling, Africa:
Day 1
Morning - Outside based working instruction on ropes, knots, harness use and equipment.
Afternoon - Training session on rock climbing techniques and abseiling
Evening - Night navigation.
Day 2
Morning - Belaying, Leading climbs and Route selection
Afternoon - Anchors, problem solving and setting up.
Evening - Conservation, etiquette
Day 3
Morning - Practical mountaineering session (participants set up and run their own climb)
Afternoon - Practical abseiling session (participants set up and run their own abseil)
Evening - Off
Day 4
Morning - Bouldering and scrambling
Afternoon - Expedition brief and preparation
Evening - Depart on Mountain climbing expedition
Day 5 - Day 7
Multi disciplined hiking, climbing and abseiling expedition.
Day 7
Return, de-brief, clean and pack equipment, issue certificates. Final dinner with slide show of ZImbabwe mountain climbing expedition.
Bush awareness Zimbabwe
Survival Zimbabwe
Navigation Zimbabwe
Orienteering Zimbabwe
Mountaineering Zimbabwe
Abseiling Zimbabwe
Expedition includes
Airport transfers from Bulawayo International Airport for start of expedition
All National park fees
Accommodation as per itinerary
Services of guides and cooks
All food as per itinerary
Accommodation on the nights before and after the mountaineering expedition
Expedition excludes
Items of a persnonal Nature including VISAS and travel insurance
Tips
Personal hiking equipment - sleeping bags, boots etc
Expenditure on all drinks
Orientation & arrival
A full orientation of the Zimbabwe mountain climbing and orienteering expedition will be given by your Pathfinders support team and climbing guides before you start.
Support
All of our crew\guides are highly experienced with an in depth knowledge of the Matopos and its routes.
Accommodation
All accommodation during your Zimbabwe mountain climbing trip will be tented\bivi camping in the bush.
Meals
Meals for the Zimbabwe Mountain Climbing & Abseiling Africa expedition are as follows:
DAY 1: D
DAY 2: B,L,D
DAY 3: B,L,D
DAY 4: B,L,D
DAY 5: B,L,D
DAY 6: B,L,D
DAY 7:B
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner