Mbuluzi

Early in the morning the escarpment in Shewula is still except for the bleats of goats, chirruping of birds and wafts of smoke from the homesteads lighting their fires. We ate breakfast in the tranquility (the goats had quietened down by this time) and I had an open air shower with some young kids from nearby farms stopping by to stare.

Another old haunt is Mbuluzi Game Reserve in the lower reaches beneath the Shewula escarpment. It’s another place where I hosted volunteer groups, doing activities such as patrolling for snares, censuses of giraffes and helping with signage and other practical tasks. It was always difficult to keep large numbers of volunteers occupied and satisfied whilst not irritating the Reserve Manager, but we largely managed it. I hadn’t been to the Reserve in November and the dry burnt look gave it a different vibe, yet still with this delightful view of the Mbuluzi River, which I remember well. There is still a robust population of giraffes if today’s short drive is an indication, and I want to return here to camp for a weekend especially as the campsite has had an upgrade (showers with log-burning water heaters: unprecedented).

It’s a drive of around two hours back to Maputo, if the border poses no real problems. It seems to be very difficult to hire a car in Mozambique without incurring some damage from potholes. Two out of two rentals so far. 100% strike rate with incident forms and billable damage. A couple of districts from Maputo I slammed down into a pothole and bent a wheel rim, which I didn’t notice as it is par for the course. I will most certainly be returning to eastern Swaziland, as long as I can be bothered to rent a car, with the inevitable issues that ensue.

In the evening I responded to various Facebook and WhatsApp birthday messages when back home. An old colleague had said happy birthday ‘and many more to come.’ It struck me as not something I would have received on my 21st. I’m hoping to celebrate at least another 45-50 birthdays if no untimely death befalls me.