Gusu Sand Woodlands, Zimbabwe

Aeons ago, huge sands were deposited over large parts of southern Africa – worn away over even more aeons leaving only remnants in some areas of Zimbabwe. At some point in time, the weather must have been conducive to the growth of tree seedlings.

Colonists arrived to find huge Teak forests growing in what became known as the Gusu Woodlands.

I was lucky enough to be in what what used to be a cattle ranch (now, communal type subsistence farming) overlooking the Gwaai river and its tributaries. I took the photos in this post in the evening when the light wasn’t too strong overhead.

This stretch of sand, is about 20 to 30 metre higher than the valley – I wasn’t able to get a decent photo (trees were obscuring my view!!) But you can see it, if you look hard at background in this photo:

This is a cattle path down to the water which is about 6km away.

“Mpevu” Nkone coat pattern

A couple of weeks ago, I went to an area (in the Gusu Woodland area, overlooking the Umguza River.) It used to be a commercial farm and now has been converted into a more communal/resettlement area, because someone told me they had a young bull with the “Mpevu” coat pattern.

I cant post a photo, cos the animal I was shown, didn’t look anything like an Mpevu, (it looks sort of as if a brown cow stepped into a bath of white paint – leaving a white underside, a white muzzle and a white tuft at the end of the tail!

However, I did get to see some wonderful views and trees, of course!!!

The new homes have been built all along the Gusu Sand ridge that runs alongside the Victoria Falls road, but it appears their source of water is the Umguza River, about 6km away. In the above photo, you can see it in the distance – a line of darker trees.

I drove down there, where there are more Nkone owners, and took this photo:

There isn’t much water left in this section, but back in the day, herds of buffalo roamed in this area, so I’m guessing it will last until the rains.

I came across this lady on her way to collect water…there is a borehole, but also near the river, about 5km from her home. It’s never easy finding water in the Gusu Sand, and very difficult to drill. I’d also not like to have to walk in that deep, soft sand, with a bucket on my head!

When I find the mpevu bull – Ill post the photos!!!

A woman’s job is never done…

This photo is taken in the Gusu sand area of northwestern Zimbabwe. Many years ago, this area was harvested for Teak – but I didn’t see many…

Much of the forest area has been settled now, but most villages are very far from water.

This photo was taken in the early morning

Early morning on the Kezi Rd, Matopos

This photo is taken on the short piece I drive on the Kezi Rd between where I live and the Anglesea homestead

The frost was thick on the roadside and I had to drive off the road to take this shot – enough to make my wheels skid on the slippery ice

A misty morning on Anglesea Farm, Matopos

These photos were taken as the sun rose – its always a challenge to shield the lens with photos taken into the sun.

All the images are rather grainy…but were taken in very contrasted light