Ashleigh Whaley
Our Trip to Aberfoyle Lodge, in the Honde Valley.
Aberfoyle Lodge for New Year.
We celebrated the start of the new year, with a trip to Aberfoyle Lodge, which is situated in the Honde Valley, on the north eastern border, of Zimbabwe.
This is a very lush tropical part of the country, surrounded by wooded mountains.
Old Land Rover Drive.
An amazing experience for the children, was the super slow drive from Harare to Aberfoyle. This journey took place in an aged Series 2, short wheelbase Land Rover. As the top speed for this Land Rover was 70kph. – the journey took all of eight hours to complete!
My uncle, Lester, drove the Land Rover with the children on board. We followed behind, just to be on hand should anything go wrong.
Although it was a very slow trip for us, the ever changing terrain and varied countryside made for a very interesting drive.
The children, of course, loved every minute of their trip a will always remember this unique experience.
Aberfoyle Lodge.
Aberfloyle Lodge is built on a large tea estate, nestled in a small valley. The views are spectacular and the climate is generally hot and humid, with welcome daily showers of rain.
The original country club, which served the tea estates, has now been converted into a beautiful lodge, providing excellent accommodation and food. Many sporting activities are available close by, which kept the children entertained throughout the weekend.
Tea Factory Tour.
An educational tour of the the tea factory was also available, for those wanted to see how the tea is harvested and processed.
Golf.
The lovely 9 hole golf course, meandering through the tea plantations, was played daily.
The first tee box, which sits right outside the lodge entertainment area, was also used for a fun evening golf competition. The challenge was to see who could chip the ball closest to the hole, on the 9th green… This was a hugely competitive event and most entertaining!
Swimming.
Everyday, due to the inviting, centrally placed swimming pool, plus the warm weather, we all spent a few lazy hours in and around the water.
When not in the pool, the children enjoyed swimming in the fresh water streams around the golf course. Another water activity they discovered, was sliding down rocks in the bigger rivers.
Zip Line.
Aberfoyle also has a zip line and tree bridge, both situated in the forest. The children loved being high up in the forest, even though there were some scary elements to the zip line.
Birding.
Due to the ideal tropical habitat, the bird life around the lodge is varied and thriving. A very knowledgeable and experienced birder guide leads early morning walks around the golf course. He mimics the calls of the various birds, to bring them in. He then identifies the different species, as they fly down.
This was an unique experience for us and highly recommended, for both novice and seasoned birders.
New Years Day.
New Year’s Day was celebrated with a bush barbecue. A pig on the spit was beautifully cooked in a golf bunker, beside a flowing stream.
Swimming in the stream and playing games on the golf course made for a wonderful lunch, which was a truly great way to start 2023.
Treasured Memories.
Our group of friends embraced all ages, from babies to grandparents. There were plenty of activities for the young and energetic. For those, who just wanted to soothe their souls, the peaceful environment enabled them to do so…
Due to the friendly lodge staff, the many fun activities and the excellent meals, we all thoroughly enjoy our stay at Aberfoyle Lodge. We returned to our homes duly refreshed, with a bucketful of lasting memories.
Thank you Aberfoyle Lodge, for your amazing hospitality!
‘Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.’ Psalm 118 vs 29
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