Blog Africa

More with Less&

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:57:00 +0200

As we speak this month, I reflect on our environment, on what is taking place around us, and how it impacts our business. The key message is that the global economic forum has changed forever. It has become evident that prudency in all we do has come to the fore and is now a key business imperative more than it has ever been. In order to preserve value for the business, for ourselves and attain sustainable growth, we will have to become mavericks at what we do and in all areas of operation while maintaining our values. Although I use the term maverick, very much tongue in cheek, I must emphasize that we must realize that we will have to do more with less. Income streams from our existing and potential clients are largely rationalized thereby resulting in a ripple effect to the service industry. This means that our guests are more likely to be price sensitive and at the same time demanding better service standards and delivery from us. This expectation has a direct bearing on our staffing and the requisite levels and caliber of personnel handling our guests. I recently presented a paper at the Institute of People Management of Zimbabwe (IPMZ) conference held in Victoria Falls and my talk touched on these key issues of what is expected of our people to enable them to deliver to internationally acceptable standards, yet at the same time managing head count as any efficient business should. The issue of multi-skilling with the right candidates is a real one which should be the backbone of any organization. In order to effectively deliver at all times, we need to identify talent, nurture it, and this will eventually ensure our competitiveness not only on the African platform but on a global scale as well. This forces me to revisit our staff skills competitiveness globally. What comes to mind is that we have pockets of excellence, but in order to change the perception of current skills level for Africa, our current training and development model has to be revamped in order to fit and meet modern challenges. The framework of the past will not work, therefore I leave you with this food for thought, what part can you play in your organization to ensure that your team remains relevant for today's world and beyond?

The World Cup has come and gone...

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:30:00 +0200

The South African World Cup 2010 has come and gone, and oh what an exceptional experience it was! The African continent is proud of South Africa for hosting such a sterling event! Oh, what pride I felt as I sat in the Soccer City stadium in Soweto watching the fateful match between Ghana and Uruguay! As Africans we have come far, and FIFA reiterated this through the rating given to South Africa by FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, of 9 out of 10 in the way the event was managed. The success of the World Cup in South Africa is an example of what the African continent can achieve. What remains now is how do we maximize the benefit from the positive publicity gained after the event?

The onus is on the region and sub-region to support this initiative post the event and ensure that Africa benefits from this exposure. We have to follow through and capitalize on the fact that sub-Saharan Africa held the global centre stage for a month by engaging in below the line marketing activities to showcase our attractions. The World Cup created value for Africa that is priceless. It is imperative for the continent to take advantage of the collateral created by the soccer showcase. In the development of any economy, especially in emerging markets, people first visit, then they trade and finally invest. The first hurdle of visiting has been jumped. The world now knows that Africa is real and a force to be reckoned with! We must prepare adequately to ensure that we stand up and be counted and that we are part of the trade and investment forum as the global economy evolves!

Bafana make nation proud

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 10:16:00 +0200

Gone: the first host nation to fail to make a World Cup second round. But forgotten? Disgraced, even? Most definitely not.

That was South Africa’s extremely satisfactory state of affairs as they bowed out of the tournament with valour in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, deserved winners against 1998 champions and 2006 finalists France.

Just in itself, that is a momentous achievement, French camp turmoil or not. We must not lightly dismiss that.

In fact, roll back the clock several months to when the draw was made, and Bafana were pitted against three teams streets ahead of them on the world rankings.

So featureless and inept did the national team look at that point that critics were perfectly entitled to suggest they might be in danger of not earning a solitary point in Group A.

Well, Aaron Mokoena’s outfit went well better than that, eclipsing the supposed European power into third place and only being eliminated on a three-goal inferiority basis to the other team to finish with them on four points, Mexico.

To put it in simplest terms, Bafana had two sprightly games and one clear-cut dud (against Uruguay) at this World Cup, and they have largely won the hearts of the country as a result – across our various communities.

It is true that France, already at sixes and sevens on their unhappy safari, suffered a ghastly blow under the circumstances with the sending-off (debatable, perhaps, but hardly a scandalous call) of Yoann Gourcuff as early as the 26th minute.

But South Africa, pleasingly, had already got an encouraging foothold on proceedings and led 1-0 courtesy of central defender Bongani Khumalo’s strong leap at the far post to meet a deep, swirling corner kick from Siphiwe Tshabalala.

It was just the tonic Bafana, sporting a massively re-arranged midfield and Bernard Parker to provide beneficial aid to Katlego Mphela up front, needed.

Indeed, when they entered the half-time tunnel 2-0 to the good and presumably quickly aware that there had been a goal in the other group game at the Royal Bafokeng, their Mission Impossible - winning by a genuine bundle - was beginning to look not quite the stuff of fantasy.

But the French “corpse” did retain some sort of pulse, with Franck Ribery suddenly getting his game together to a good degree, and when Florent Malouda pulled one back with 20 minutes to go it was really just about holding on for the pride-restoring Bafana victory.

It was only South Africa’s second ever win in a World Cup tournament, remember, and certainly their biggest scalp at the blue-chip event.

There was great snap and movement about Bafana on this occasion, unlike at Loftus where they had seemed listless, timid and wholly unimaginative against Uruguay.

With a bit of luck they might have prevailed by a wider margin in Bloemfontein and really made Mexico sweat late in their match at Rustenburg before qualifying despite the lone-goal reverse to the same Uruguayans.

Mphela looked like a distinguished greyhound in this game, the tall and athletic striker warranting his goal despite it being a scrambled effort and coming within a whisker of a second when he really ought to have netted soon after the break.

The engines of players like Steven Pienaar and Tshabalala were back purring again, too, while lanky Khumalo thoroughly atoned at the back, I thought, for his traumatic night against the wiles of Diego Forlan and company days earlier.

Mokoena was a muscular defensive presence too – though I hope he saw no need to respond especially to a wacko missive from the ANC Youth League this week questioning his game and leadership.

The entire South African defensive unit deserve laurels for giving Moeneeb Josephs, the goalkeeper deputising for suspended Itumeleng Khune, a surprisingly quiet outing.

Cautiously, I believe we can sum up Bafana’s World Cup - and a few notable friendly wins in the lead-up - by suggesting there is “progress” at the very least in their quest to claw back to much higher rungs on the global ladder.

A good start on that intended northward curve would be to perk up their performance on the continent: they do look capable of ensuring they stave off the ignominy henceforth of failing to make the African Nations Cup cut.

Several of the Bafana players have graduated at the World Cup to near-household names in parts of our country where they were previously unheralded, and it would be good if continued momentum is ensured by South Africa playing more matches at venues where they have previously been seen all too seldom.

Bafana may have exited, stage left, but at least South Africans may continue to wear their colours with sustained pride and simply revel in what’s left of this grandest of global sports bashes…

Source: http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/WorldCup/TournamentNews/Bafana-make-nation-proud-20100622

Travel by Gautrain

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 03:00:00 +0200

Have you heard that you can now take the Gautrain to the airport? This high-speed train links Johannesburg’s O R Tambo International Airport with Sandton CBD in just 12 minutes.

Gautrain buses connect a number of locations to the Sandton Gautrain Station. Whilst each station does have ample parking, the buses allow you to forget about needing a car for a while. Quite refreshing I must say! The bus fare is a standard R20.00, but note that you must pay with a Gautrain Gold Card. These can be bought & credited at any Gautrain train station.

I caught the Gautrain bus from Rosebank, just around the corner from The Grace Hotel. The Gautrain bus stops have the distinctive high-speed train logo and the buses are the only gold buses in the city, so it’s extremely easy to see. In less than 20 minutes I’m at the impressive Sandton Station. It’s a trip in itself just to marvel at the architecture. The station and track here are completely underground and we were at Marlboro Station, before seeing daylight again. By the time I’d settled into my comfortable seat we were already at the airport. That beats sitting in the traffic on the highway anyday!

Gautrain trains and buses run from 05:30 – 20:30 every week day, except public holidays and every 12 minutes during the peak periods of 05:30 – 08:30 and 16:00 – 19:00 and every 20 minutes at all other times. On the weekend and public holidays the Gautrain runs every 30 minutes.

The airport service fare is a flat rate of R100 for a single journey. At each station there is a drop-off zone with 15 minutes free parking and car parks cost R29.00 for the first 24-hours, then R29.50 for the second 24-hours at all stations. The secure parking at Gautrain stations also allows you to drive to your nearest station and then catch a train to Sandton CBD. It’s a great commuter service and a quick way to pop into Sandton for some shopping. Whilst staying at The Lakes Hotel in Benoni, I drove to the Rhodesfield Station and bought a combined train-bus ticket for R27.00, which covered my train to Sandton and the Gautrain bus to Rosebank to meet friends for lunch at The Grace Hotel. It was so quick, simple and cheap!

From June 2011 an additional stretch of track will be operational connecting Pretoria with Sandton and Johannesburg Park Station. This will also add stations at Rosebank, Centurion and Midrand.

Brazil weather Zimbabwe storm

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:44:00 +0200

Harare - Brazil weathered a Zimbabwe storm before scoring twice late in the opening half to set up a 3-0 victory on Wednesday in a World Cup warm-up game here.

It was easy in the end for the team ranked first in the world against one that does not even feature among the top 100, but the South Americans stamped their authority only after surviving several goalmouth scares.

There will be one more African safari for the Brazilians, against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam next Monday, before they face likely Group G whipping boys North Korea on June 15 in Johannesburg.

Left-back Michel Bastos converted a free-kick on 41 minutes, Robinho snatched an opportunist second three minutes later and Elanograbbed a soft third goal 11 minutes into the second half.

President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai were among a capacity crowd as Brazil faced African rivals for only the fifth time in their history after matches against Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa.

The 'Warriors' should have taken the lead on 19 minutes when shambolic Brazilian defending presented France-based Ovidy Karuru with a glorious close-range chance he blazed over.

Zimbabwe, who have never qualified for the World Cup, were stroking the ball about with the same aplomb as the five-time winners in warm, overcast weather at the 60 000-capacity National Stadium.

They came close again when livewire striker Knowledge Musona won a goalmouth aerial duel only to be denied by a diving parry from goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who had replaced Julio Cesar a few minutes earlier.

Warm-up games do carry the risk of injuries and Brazilian hearts pumped a little faster 10 minutes before half-time when star midfielder Kaka briefly clutched his right leg after a hard but fair challenge.

Left-back has been a problem position for Brazil since father time caught up with legend Roberto Carlos and Lyon man Bastos did his claims for a permanent place no harm by opening the scoring.

A free-kick outside the penalty area and right of the near post presented the opportunity and he notched his first international goal with an unstoppable shot that flew into the roof of the net.

If Zimbabwe suspected football gods can be cruel, the view was confirmed soon after when they failed to cut out a Maicon pass and Robinho brought his national team goal tally to 21 with a close-range shot.

Coach Dunga, a World Cup winner in 1994 as a combative midfielder, rang the changes during the interval by introducing defenders Dani Alves and Luisao and midfielder Julio Baptista.

Zimbabwe skipper Benjani Mwaruwari, a doubtful starter for the biggest football fixture in the 30-year history of the nation, gave way early in the second half for Kingston Nkatha.

Brazil were in cruise control and went three goals ahead when Dani Alves burst into the penalty area and passed to Elano, who had all the time and space in the world to stroke the ball over the line.

Source: http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/WorldCup/TournamentNews/Brazil-weather-Zimbabwe-storm-20100602

The Grace Roof-top Fanville

Fri, 28 May 2010 02:49:00 +0200

11th June 2010 to
World Cup Final
11th July 2010

All the World Cup games LIVE!

• Exciting food and beverages!

• Latest LED technology screens

There can be no better place to witness history than at The Grace Fanville!

Opens 12:00 noon on match days

Shingi Munyeza participating in the World Economic Forum

Wed, 19 May 2010 00:58:00 +0200

Our very own CEO Mr. Shingi Munyeza participated in the World Economic Forum in Tanzania last week. Please view the video below:

World Cup

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 03:48:00 +0200

A Month of Top Class Football

World Cup

What does the phrase, "World Cup", symbolise? As a sportsman or woman the chance to represent your country, at the highest level, under the scrutiny of the eyes of the world. It could be the highlight of your career. It could also be the most unexpected disappointment.

This is why the football World Cup is so captivating. The tournament is already on everyone's lips, even people who have never before shown an interest. What is billed as a month of top class football is accompanied by heated discussions and passionate debates. There will be both celebrations and tears, with players and coaches taking both the blame and the acclaim. This year, even before the "Finals", the odour of controversy hung in the air with the highly suspected hand-ball by Thierry Henry that effectively ended Ireland's hopes of travelling south in June.

It is the 19th Football World Cup and the teams of thirty-two nations are currently training to make their countries proud. There are those teams that have been here many times before, that know how the heady mix of expectation and exhilaration can tip the scales either way. They are all too aware of the underdog all too eager to step into the boots of the big boys and shake up the game a little. Then there are those for whom the expectation is not so high, those that can relax a little and enjoy the novelty of having made it this far and maybe, just maybe, spring a surprise!

Who will be that random outsider who shocks everyone by making it steadily through the rounds? Could it be South Africa in their hosting year? 2009 saw Nigeria reach the Finals of the U17 World Cup in their own country. Three times winners; this was not such a surprise. However, the story was of the 'random outsider'. Switzerland, as the debutant, was truly the underdog, yet somehow managed to defeat Italy, Germany, Brazil and finally their Nigerian hosts to take the trophy. No home advantage there!

For African football the biggest upset has already occurred. Three times champions of the African Cup of Nations, Egypt should have been an automatic qualifier. It is both surprising and disappointing that the number one African team did not qualify to play in this historic event. Yet maybe this will only add to the captivating element that is the paradox of the most watched sporting event in the world.

Will 2010 be a much needed shot in the arm for South Africa's hotel industry?

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:50:00 +0200

Recent analysis by Deloitte, the business advisory firm, has found that revenue per available room (revPAR), a key performance indicator for the hotel industry, jumped 157.5 percent to CAD$202 in Vancouver during the month of February when it hosted the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

The question however is, will the FIFA World Cup 2010 deliver the same boost to South Africa's hotel trade as an event like the Olympics Games did to it's host city? Until we are in a position to retrospectively evaluate, this remains an unrealised potential. What is clear though is that the increased profile is part of the legacy that an event like FIFA 2010 or the Olympic Games leaves on the host country. The exposure that Vancouver received during the Games came at the perfect time after 18 months of revPAR declines due to the economic crises.

The exposure South Africa has and will receive is a brilliant opportunity to show the rest of the world what an incredible destination Africa is. We at African Sun fully intend to deliver on this promise and show the world our 'African Sun way'.

World Cup 2010

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:53:00 +0200

World Cup 2010

On African Soil

The World Cup 2010 will see the tournament hosted on African soil for the first time. With over 2000 African players currently playing professional football in Europe and over 40 of these in the English Premier League there could certainly be a few chants of ,"Football's Coming Home".

My memories of the World Cup in 1990 are of magazine photos of 'African' kids in oversized, football shirts and an erotic corner-flag dance that has now been copied by millions. Cameroon had made it to the Quarter Finals and suddenly everyone was watching these incredibly powerful West African players who could move a ball with unbelievable dexterity. Of course, being English, I was relieved to see them defeated against my national team!

So, other than the Indomitable Lions (Cameroon) which African 'Big Five' have qualified for World Cup 2010? U17 World Cup hosts and runners-up in 2009, Nigeria, fly their Super Eagles flag, whilst U20 World Cup winners, Ghana, field the 'Black Stars' senior team. The Elephants (Ivory Coast) and the Desert Foxes (Algeria) will also be demonstrating their instinctive style of play.

The expectation upon the players of a host nation is immense. In South Africa, for World Cup 2010, everywhere you look you see the national team's colours - in the queues at the bus stops, on motorway billboards and in every other TV advert. The pride and the determination to do your country proud does more than just put a spring in the step of the most prolific striker, it could lift a whole team.

So what will be my memorable image of the World Cup 2010? The Diski dance is a collection of dance moves (which I am aiming to have perfected by June 11th) replicating a style of play that will become all too familiar by the end of the tournament. Even if South Africa doesn't progress as far as their supporters would like, I'm sure the dance will continue in the bars and streets of every host city, long after the final whistle of the final game has been blown.

Fortunately there is a far more accessible symbol of World Cup 2010. The Vuvuzelas, the metre long horns, that when blown sound like a trumpeting elephant, are already on the lips or hips of anyone who enters the country. They are unique to and synonymous with African football and will most certainly be the loudest lasting impression of the 2010 World Cup.

Soccer 2010

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:48:00 +0200

Soccer 2010

Love of The Beautiful Game

As an England fan arriving in Johannesburg to witness what will be the finest display of Soccer 2010, I’m going to spend a couple of months discovering why South Africa is so passionate about football. It’s not going to be difficult to find examples of the love for the beautiful game!

In my hotel room I can watch European matches from the English, Portuguese, German, French, and Italian leagues, the Brazilian league and African league games from Nigeria, Zambia and Ghana and of course the South African Super Diski. The quality of football and the associated prestige of the European leagues have drawn many African players away from their home leagues. Four members of the Bafana Bafana squad for Soccer 2010 (Mokoena, Pienar, Van Heerden and Fernandez) currently play in the European Premier Leagues.

At the end of the school day, in Rosebank, children wearing all sorts of colours swarm around the school gates. I see many yellow shirts – some of them Bafana Bafana, some Brazil. I’m not aware of many Brazilians in South Africa, but there will always be people who support the favourites. Then of course there is Spain and England making up what is widely regarded as the top three teams of Soccer 2010. I also see many Portuguese shirts, reflecting links with the former colonisers of neighbouring Mozambique. Colonialism certainly has much to explain for Africa’s fascination for European football.

There’s no disputing that the wealth of talent in African football adds to the quality and arguably the beauty of the game in Europe. African players that immediately spring to mind are: Nayim of Ceuta who played for Tottenham; for Chelsea - formerly Celestine Babayaro of Nigeria and currently Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast; the current captain of Cameroon Samuel Eto'o who plays for Italian Serie A club, Internazionale.

One of the most famous African’s to grace the turf at Anfield was the Zimbabwean Bruce Grobbelaar. Born in South Africa, of Zimbabwean citizenship, he warmed to the fans on The Kop with his eccentric style. However, his football career started with the Bulawayo-based Highlanders FC, in what was then Rhodesia's second biggest city. As a life-long Liverpool supporter, I’ve decided to take the opportunity of being on the doorstep of Zimbabwe to make my Soccer 2010 pilgrimage to Bulawayo. It’s a beautiful drive, particularly on the Zimbabwean side, so I plan to use the luxury of time and take a break from football for a couple of days, at one of Africa’s most famous landmarks, Victoria Falls.

South Africa 2010

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:24:00 +0200

South Africa 2010

The Passionate Host in 2010

Wandering along the Jacaranda lined avenues of Rosebank, taking in some fresh air on a Friday lunchtime I detect a certain buzz in the atmosphere. Almost everywhere I look I see someone wearing a yellow t-shirt. Asking one of the girls heading back into her office I learn of their significance – it is the Bafana Bafana shirt, the football strip of the South African football team. Ever since 2nd March, when the 100 day countdown began, there has been active encouragement from employers for their staff to don team colours in support of the national team. Bafana Bafana means “Boys” or “Little Ones” and their extended family has certainly taken them to heart. Many employers are raising funds for charities by charging employees R10 to wear a Bafana shirt, but R20 to wear a shirt from another country. That’s patriotism for you!

Talking to people about their emotions, most are feeling excited rather than apprehensive. I get the impression that although the clock is now most certainly ticking for those unfinished stadiums, the phrase South Africa 2010 conjures up pride and excitement. People feel great because they are the hosts. The whole country may be busy and perhaps beginning to panic a little, but this is not a country that wants to worry. “Bring it on”, as one keen citizen, remarked excitedly!

South Africa is largely known for its natural wonders – Drakensberg Mountains, Kruger Park and of course Table Mountain. Now welcome to South Africa 2010! The spotlight is on the passion of the people. Football has long been rooted in the culture of South Africa and was one of the few sports, and indeed activities, that managed to transcend race during the apartheid era. The fans of Kaiser Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, the dominant Soweto clubs, have a zealous devotion, which I’m sure will become all too apparent at their local Soccer City stadium on 11th June.

The sound of the Vuvuzelas, instantly synonymous with South African football will soon be making its way into the consciousness of anyone within earshot. I have already seen shops selling them in the colours of whichever of the 32 teams I may choose to support. Of course the airport shops have taken the brand of South Africa 2010 to the extreme. There are wing-mirror hoods, flags of all sizes, t-shirts, jumpers, hats & scarves (remember it’s going to be cold!) and even flip-flops for those misguided Europeans.

Chocolate Decadence

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:34:00 +0200

Share in the joy of Easter during CHOCOLATE DECADENCE MONTH!
Valid: March 26th - April 18th, 2010

Elevator to Chocolate Heaven
A twilight ride travelling to chosen floors of The Grace, each offering a unique meal.
Saturday 24th April. R500.00 per person

Sleep in Decadence Package
Includes a night in a Standard Room, Chocolate Decandence Dinner and breakfast the next morning. R2750.00

Easter Brunch
Indulge in our delightful brunches every Sunday and on Public holidays in the Dining Room and Terrace: R300.00 per person.

View Menu

Chocolate Decadence
An exclusive Chocolate Decadence menu will be available at R300.00 per person.

View Menu

Kiddie Easter Hunt
On Easter Sunday April 4th, 2010, there will be a small Easter Hunt for the children on the terrace.

Make A Booking Now!

More information on The Grace

For bookings:
Contact Lindiwe Zondi
(011) 280 7200

Pacro.grace@africansunhotels.com

FREE underground parking and valet service available.

Skills crisis or private sector opportunity?

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:11:00 +0200

Employing and retaining a skilled workforce is a commonly acknowledged, cross-industry challenge. The number of potential employees with the right skill set to effectively perform their function seems to be at an all time low and while this storm may be something most sectors can weather, for the hospitality industry it is particularly problematic.

Our people are the cornerstone of our business. Even the most luxuriously appointed hotel will never deliver the experience guests expect if the people manning it are unprofessional or unable to adequately perform their function. The way our staff comport themselves is as integral to the positive perception of a property as the quality of the physical product itself. A problem, yes, but an opportunity too.

At African Sun we have taken the destiny of our ‘family’ into our own hands and have leveraged our partnership with HTA to foster excellent service standards and staff training from within. We believe that there is a real opportunity here for other private sector players to employ the same training model, fund staff development from within and ensure that world class standards are at the heartbeat of their organisations, whatever their industry.

In this way, we can work together to not only close the knowledge gap, but knock the impending ‘skills war’ on its head too.

The Drive to Victoria Falls

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:16:00 +0200

"Are you crazy?" This is the response as we tell our friends that we're going to drive to Victoria Falls! "All the way from Johannesburg?" "Why don't you just fly?!"

In all honesty the decision of where to go came after the decision to drive. Having flown all the way to South Africa, it seemed a waste to fly back to Europe, having not explored a little of Southern Africa. Hiring a 4x4 for cross-border travel was easy. A number of companies offer comprehensive insurance with only a small cross-border surcharge.

With Zimbabwe practically on the doorstep, it seemed anything other than a crazy decision. If we'd flown we would have missed most of the country. This way we experienced the beauty of the landscape, the warmth of the people and everything else that our adventure threw at us.

Within four hours drive from Johannesburg we're already at the border. The drive has been easy, huge toll roads almost all the way with signs to Zimbabwe as well as Musina. We stand in line, submit our driving licences and letter of authorisation from the hire car company and patiently wait. Indeed that is all we can do - follow the process - although we are itching to get back in our car and see that sign, "Welcome to Zimbabwe".

Two hours later, with a tank full of petrol from South Africa, we pass that long awaited sign and drive into Zimbabwe. Within a few hundred metres the tarmac road peters out, to be replaced by an uneven dirt road complete with potholes. Thank goodness we've got a 4x4! We're practically driving on unmarked sand, so how do we know which way it is to Bulawayo? The traffic, all two trucks, heading in the opposite direction is our only guide. However, just as we begin to recalculate the time it will take to reach our hotel, we spot tarmac!

The roads for the remainder of our journey throughout Zimbabwe are perfectly drivable. The odd pothole and police road block slow us down, but with plenty of fruit and a few US dollars to pave our way, we're well on course for an early evening arrival. Within four hours drive, we're amongst the wide, tree-lined avenues of Bulawayo. If we'd opted to drive to Cape Town, we wouldn't even be in sight of the Ocean by now.

Before we complete the last leg of our outward journey to Victoria Falls we need to refuel. Then the counter argument hits - it is USD 1 for a litre of diesel and petrol cost us USD 1.50. Availability is also a problem, so we make sure we fill the tank, before we head into the rural areas. The road to Victoria Falls puts this all in perspective. Passing alongside the Hwange National Park we're surrounded by lush, green vegetation, making the drive as refreshing as it is interesting.

It was a great drive, but I think tonight we'll take the boat rather than the car!