THE LODGE
Lake Kariba
Situated at the mouth of the
Gache Gache River, the lodge was a friendly but very hot place to
visit in December. During our stay the managers were planning to install
ceiling fans. Here we enjoyed excellent food and hospitality, and the
dangers came from opposite ends of the spectrum: the tiny, silent malarial
mosquitoes, and the hippos who lived just outside our open cottage.
Gache Gache Lodge
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| Our room with the ubiquitous mosquito netting. After
dinner we always returned to find it down and tucked in place for us. As in all the lodges, our
flashlight and whistle were on the night table. |
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We spent a good part of the
heat of the day in the main lodge, where it was slightly cooler
and Keith could help himself at the bar.
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| Our
open-sided cottage. At night we could hear the hippos grazing on the
lodge lawn just outside these windows. They were noisy and often
sounded as if they were in the room with us |
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And
the other open side of the cottage, looking over the hyacinth-choked
inlet where the hippos lived. Hippos may be vegetarian, but they are
among the meanest creatures in the wild. |
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| The pool at Gache Gache. |
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Above is the open bar and dining room at the main lodge. |
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An Elegant Evening at a Zim Lodge
A hot shower, followed by a very quick
application of Eau de Insect Repellent. Then, the Room Dash, from
the bungalow to the main lodge, avoiding obstacles on the way. A
delicious meal, and occasional plucking of insects from the food or
table. Coffee and Amarula after dinner. Then the Room Dash back to
bungalow, followed by Mosquito Net Dive, and lights out. |
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Our
usual candlelight dinner, above, with hosts Craig and Reuben, and
the only other guests at the lodge, Thomas and his son Charles. |
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