Our two grandies came to stay with their Mum for a week. One is seven and the other is sixteen months - that was when we decided we are too darn old to be Grandparents!!
But Bulawayo came up trumps in keeping kids thoroughly entertained. When the excitement of the home trampoline, the pool and their old toys had worn off, we visited the Snake Education Centre on Dundee Drive next to Water World. Ahmed Esat gave us a glorious tour of the mambas, cobras, constrictors and crocodiles. It's really brilliantly done and well worth a visit, my grandsons dream came true, to handle a giant snake!!
Of course we then went right next door to cool off at Water World which was also a revelation. It far surpassed what we expected, giant water slides, sparkling clean pools and no less than three food and catering outlets. How delightful it was to teach our seven year old to lie on the hot concrete when freezing from the water, covered with a towel and eating pizza, chippys-on-a stick, and 'Sour Punk' strips!!
The next adventure was to the Farmhouse in the Matopos. Every kid's dream, paths crunching with leaves up the giant dwalas (granite mountains), innovative Geo Caches to keep the visitors educationally and environmentally entertained, Zebras, Giraffes, Warthogs, Kudu and Wildebeeste en mass, a clear pool in the rocks and to end it all delicious Vors on the braai followed by ice cream and apple pie.
Our final adventure was to go bream fishing at a farm just past the airport. Rods and bait for hire for fishing in four large pools nestled amongst verdant green lawns and shady trees. Our seven year old caught ten bream ranging from over a one and a half KG to good sized tiddlers on a catch and release basis. There was a fascinating play area for our energetic Tiny, plus ducks, chickens, cows and peacocks close by. Chairs, tables, braai facilities, a really beautiful venue indeed.
Thank you Bulawayo for a fabulous weekend!!
Snake Education Centre - Ahmed - 077 571 4014
FarmHouse - Maree or Kerry - 077 556 8345
Fish Ponds - Bernie - 073 342 1217