3-mob.com 
So when people think of Domboshava, often it is the incline that comes to mind.
When Dumisani ‘Hikeman’ Moyo of adventure outfit HikersZW suggested going to Ngomakurira, on a whim that Sunday, I was like, “Well, let’s do it”.
Of course, Ngomakurira was a place you had heard of somewhere, probably in one of those videos meant for tourists, telling them what is cool and totally cooler about it, right?
What started off as a possibly 10 people jaunt became a full combi plus two extra cars to conquer the mountain. Among our party were two foreigners from Greece, Elektra and Nikos, here on some business, but with a day off, they were happy to take the hike as well. That was credit to Nyasha from StoneZim.
Solid right?
After waiting for what seemed like an age and a smidgeon of a difference, particularly because we had gotten to the meeting place – Fife Ave shopping centre – we finally left the after having acquired a case and a half of water plus crisps, maputi, and other bits. I can’t remember if there were nuts. This was at around roughly 2pm and some change. With a lot of time to make it onto the summit to catch the sunset, we thought, why the rush?
In the combi, the baseline was heavy. We could hear it from a distance. The car I was in got lost a few times but we made it to the foot of the Ngomakurira where the park rangers in charge of welcomed us.
We went full tourist mode, getting pictures and smiling like stepchildren who just got access to some cove that isn’t usually accessible but is now because the parent doesn’t want to embarrass in front of the visitors.
As we trekked up the first incline, the feeling was, “Did I bite more than I could chew?” Seeing some of the little girls and boys going up had instinct kicking in. There was no way I was going to back down and be that odd fella who got to the foot of the mountain and decided to have a beer there while others went to feel what the air was like at the top.
Halfway up the first incline, there is a place one can take pictures. I imagine people can actually just chill there but that is probably a story for another day. It isn’t particularly big so no more than 10 people comfortably or else it’s a rave.
After a few snapshots for posterity, we went to the summit of the first section. As you get to the top there is a feeling both of relief and dejection. This is because, well, you have done the first one but now, to get to the top of the main mountain, one has to go down about the same distance they just came up and start the journey to the summit almost double the height on very steep rocks.
I tried to keep as close to the leading pack as possible. Nikos and Elektra generally were in the front. With my knee, I was like, “If it gives in, I am not so far behind that people won’t be able to help me”.
So I soldiered on.
Down at the pool, the water did not look great but there are people with great constitutions who washed their faces in it. Another photo-op.
In all of this, a few of the guys, that would be Nyasha and a couple had either stayed behind or gone back. Nyasha said he had to go and find a few of his other guests. He says they climbed up to a point but I didn’t see them. I will take his word for it.
The second incline was tough. Often Dumisani would have to assist those who were struggling because note I said the second incline. There is a third-ish and a fourth. My lungs were bursting but there was no way I was not getting to the top, plastic bag full of snacks in hand. I was going to defeat Ngomakurira
While others chose to go to the caves which meant going down again, with the aforementioned knee, I and a smaller group chose to head for the summit instead.
And it was when you got there that you realised why it was worth it. The view of the whole area was spectacular. That includes the cows being herded by a young fella with whom we shared some of our treats.
There was a group with two dogs, a bloke who went hang-glided of the top to who knows where, people praying (or some similar ritual in some corner), just loads of activity.
It is all this that created a magnificent vibe of sorts. It is the stories that were created, the memories, not only conversations with other hikers which went from music to sex and relationships among other things.
The collective feeling of having conquered what in Ngomakurira seemed before during and after insurmountable was a pleasure.
Going down, because it was getting darker, I led a small pack. That is because of the number of loose rocks as you go down Ngomakurira. No one really wants that as an end to such a fine day.
A lot of it coming together does come to the organisation by Dumisani from the beforementioned Hikers ZW (check them out socials and I hear there are some exciting things lined right up until April if you’re game). For a group that was a bit on the big end it would have been great to have an extra person. And also someone who can tell stories about the different things found in the hike, meanings and so forth.
But for a hike alone and the drinks after Chez Zandi, it was time well spent.
Oh, and if you wonder how the cows get off the mountain, they hike too. They conquer Ngomakurira pretty much every day. We just have to wear shoes with good grip and drink a lot of water when we do.
#KwiriTravels
Comments
Loading…