Geologically, there are lots of things going on in this pic…I took it fairly close to where the road crosses the Ume River, after the turn off to the Bumi Hills. It fascinates me that one layer of sediment is cut off and then another layer is added at a different angle. The pic below is a close up of this rock:
Shortly after, I saw this rock…the layers very clear:
A closeup…
I also have a writing blog. Please take a look here: https://frankiekay.wordpress.com/my-books/
There is something primal about a tree canopy and it’s difficult to capture in an image.
This one, in Vocolo, Filabusi covered the road and gave me that cozy feeling you get from a shady tree overhead. I love the little dark window, calling…
I couldn’t resist sitting under this one.
I wonder if humans evolved under this kind of canopy. I can quite see myself living here…
Then…sitting there, I saw this…!
Tell me this tree doesn’t talk to you? Call you? Well it did me!
And how is this arch of trees as in invitation to Matopos?
This (below) is a tree very near to the orbicular granite site at Diana’s Pools in the Matopos.
I also have a writing blog. Please take a look: https://frankiekay.wordpress.com/my-books/
I took these photographs very close to Tashinga Camp in Matusadona National Park.
We had been driving all day, trying to get to the Matusadona Mountains I had heard so much about…I’m embarrassed to say, we didn’t get there – the roads were too bad. This is a very difficult admission for me to make – she who prides herself on going anywhere!
Below…what is left of the road in some places!!!
I also have a writing blog – please have a look – https://frankiekay.wordpress.com/my-books/
Again!
I’m a little worried Bella could become too much of a feature on my blog. I can’t resist her, she is such a beautiful creature. I go out with the camera, and after a while find myself simply watching her, the way she moves: sometimes leaping, others, just that languid bound, almost nonchalant…always perfect landings too! Bella never trips over her high heels!
Look at that mascara, those green eyes!
And this is her warning look:
In Bella language, this is “Come one step closer dog, and…” I have yet to get her hissing, but I’m sure it won’t be very long! She is nasty to the dog, who really just wants to play! He is one of those dogs who only retreats when I tell him to get out. Get out to Rufus means out of THIS room and into say, the kitchen! With the advent of Bella, who understands that OUT means right out. Like right of the house RIGHT NOW! Poor old Roof…
I’m going to have no gecko’s or lizards left soon – she catches something several times a day and brings it into the room for TomTom…who plays with them and then leaves them around for me to squish!!! Eeuw.
As ever, I leave my favorite for last…
I also have a writing blog – please take a look – https://frankiekay.wordpress.com/my-books/
This is the flower of the snot apple or Uxakuxaku. http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=139720
Its like chewing gum. Its eaten when its dry and has split and sort of oozed out of the cracks. And you chew and chew and chew! I think its an acquired taste! You can’t eat Uxakuxaku politely or with your mouth closed!
I love the way the flowers fade to bright red.
In this pic you can sort of see the hairy fruit developing. I took these pics in January, in Filabusi.
And they look like this by July! I took this photo at Khami Ruins
I have been asked on numerous occasions to photograph Inthabazinduna which is just outside Bulawayo on the Harare road. It’s a fairly obvious landmark, a long, flat topped hill that sticks out above the surrounding, flat flat plateau…But actually, its not that easy to photograph – it just comes out as a long flat hill in an otherwise boring plateau!
So I decided I should maybe get up close, and perhaps it would come out better.
Very near Inthabazinduna is a little round hill, the same height, known as Maxim Hill. This one was easy to photograph…
I’m told its called Maxim Hill (or sometimes Maxim Kopie) because it was the last place the Maxim Gun was used against the Ndebele during the war in 1898.
This is the view of Maxim Hill taken coming down Inthabazinduna with the stunning skies behind. Rain here in dry Matabeleland is always welcomed with intense relief, jubilation and much running about in it! This rain storm soon moved over and belted down in buckets! Below is a pic of the same hill, this time shrouded in much needed rain…
I am afraid the rain foiled my efforts at photographing Inthabazinduna! It came down in sheets and I couldn’t even see the road! But I did open the window and take this one…:
As you can see, it is a boring flat topped hill with a history!
This is what is on top of Inthabazinduna though! A view of Bulawayo and the cement factory (wow…!) and an idea of the vastness of the African plateau – one of the oldest pieces of Gondwanaland remaining. This flat topped hill, and Maxim Hill nearby are all that remains of an even more ancient plateau…
The rocks, Inthabazinduna is made of. (Above.)
The view over Bulawayo and the vast plateau…
And within minutes, the rain came down, the lightening struck and I was in four wheel drive – the mud in that area is legendary!
I couldn’t resist this girl…
I captured these at Diana’s Pools in the Matopos…
Sopubia metallorum
I love the delicate colours – and the dark thingies in the middle aren’t flies!
And a short distance away…
http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantwxyz/wahlenbergiaundulata.htm
These were eeking out an existence on some barren washed out soil…
http://zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=147190
Is a trig beacon overlooking Esigodini Valley, BallaBalla, the Matopos – well all round the area, probably as far as How Mine.
Below is a view of the Matopos…
It’s a popular place to watch the sunrise on New Years Day…imagine, a bunch of inebriated individuals, climbing up there, toting a crate or two of beer…Man – I could hardly clamber up at four in the afternoon, stone cold sober! It’s incredible, the power of alcohol.
The above is a view of the Esigodini Valley and the seven sisters right across the valley near Bushtick Mine.
And these three are a slightly different angle on the Mulungwane, which if you spend any time looking at my blog, are featured many times, although usually from the other side!
Matopos has some very odd shaped rocks. Sometimes I can see a person’s face, other times an animal…
Have a look at these!
Looks a little like Stonehenge doesn’t it?
OK no suggestions on THIS one, (above) maybe a troll???
Amazing how they wear into strange shapes.
Don’t tell me you can’t see a grumpy old man…
Although, other people have seen an elephant, and a horse!
I love the tree holding up this rock!
Look at that pothole, in the middle of the rock. Can you imagine how many years it must have taken to develop? There are a fair number of them here at Diana’s Pools, some of them deep.
Frankie Kay Fotos 