OUR LAST SAFARI IN ZIMBABWE

This is a story in pictures of our last safari trip while in Zimbabwe.  On October 11th 2012, just a few days before our return home, we took a 3 day excursion to GONAREZHOU NATIONAL PARK.  This is the tribe that had the honor of traveling with Elder and Sister Heck.  We had to talk like crazy to get the Mission President to go with us, but after a few hours, he loosened up and enjoyed the entire outing.

We were so excited to go on this trip for several reasons, but a few of those reason are:  Our mission was almost complete, We were able to go with the people that we enjoyed the most, We were going to find the last animal that we had not seen yet in Africa, "THE PAINTED DOG!!!!

On our way there, we took this picture of the good people of Zimbabwe doing their laundry in a dirty river, some how they always managed to get their whites cleaner than white.

This was our guide while we were at the Park, his name was Thomas, and was especially nice and interesting to Elder and Sister Heck.  Just full of all kinds of knowledge. 

Sister Heck was enjoying a snack under a native tree!

Just to give you an idea of how large these Baobab Trees are, you can see Elder Heck trying to get to the cavern in the middle of the tree.  The info that we got from Thomas was that the natives would climb the tree and spend the night in the center of the tree to avoid the wild painted dogs and lions that would attack them!

We saw this Ostrich traveling down the same road that we were on, he was huge!

Who need to go to the Grand Canyon when you have cliffs like this in Zimbabwe.  The colors were spectacular.

This is the group at The Cliffs mulling over all the fossils that were on the ground.

Another special moment with Sister Heck.  Notice how slim we are.  I couldn't hold my breath long enough.

Thomas provided a wonderful lunch for the group on the banks of the river.  The colors were unbelievable.  We could watch the elephants in the background as we were eating.

This was our view as we ate our lunch.  In the spring time the water level goes up by as much as 40'.

This guy was kind of mad because he had lost one of his tusks, and was looking to us to help him find it.

The Group at another beautiful baobab tree.

This is a photo of our cabin, #7.  After we told Thomas that we slept with the door wide open the previous night, he told us that while they were remodeling the lodge, they would often go down to cabin #7 and there would be a leopard sleeping on the bed.  That night we closed our doors!

This was our first and last night that we ever slept with a mosquito net around our bed.  Very nice cabin, all the comforts of home.

This was the view from the main lodge.  Hippos across the river.

Seems like every time we went on a Safari, we had the best of accommodations.

This was the dining facilities.

We had 1 day left and we reminded Thomas about his promise that we would see a wild painted dog before we left the lodge.  He took Sister Heck into a facility and showed her this painting of the wild dogs, and then made this statement.  "See the wild dogs."  Just like he promised.

As we were getting ready to cross the river after lunch, Sister Heck mentioned to Thomas once again, that we had seen every animal except the painted dog, and just as she said that someone in the group ask what that was on the other side of the river!!

You guessed it, it was a pack of Wild Painted Dogs.  12 in all.  They were not there very long, but we did manage to take some good pictures and here they are.

Sister Heck was going crazy at this moment, because this had completed her list of animals to see.  Thomas said that we were the luckiest group yet, because this is one animal that you do not see.

On our way home we traveled on a trail that took us back to the main road, and this is what we found.  This was a very special tribe of people that had made their home in this valley for centuries.  Their style of building huts was completely different from anything that we had seed before.

Most of the people ran and hid from us because they did not trust the white man.

Everything was very neat and orderly.

A little further down the road we ran into these young people that were headed to the nearest market.
Note the candy in their hands and the smiles on their faces. 

HADLOCK'S ON SAFARI

HADLOCK'S ON SAFARI
WITH
ELDER & SISTER HECK

ON AUGUST 26TH CONNIE AND LAYNE FLEW INTO HARARE AND THAT IS WHEN THE FUN STARTED...................

It was none stop for 17 full days, and can't say that there is a moment that was regrettable.

We visited Orphanages, Leprosy Colonies, Birthing Clinics, The Dump, Victoria Falls, Botswana, Little Makalolo Safari, went to Church in Marondera, and visited World renown Leopard Rock Golf Course, man what a pleasure and joy it was to have them here.

Here are some of the pictures that we will always cherish and remember these fond moments together.

Connie giving a vendor scriptures on our way to Masvingo.  If she would have had another 30 minutes she would have committed him to baptism!!

This is a Zimbabwe Warning Sign, "Caution Ahead", none of the larger vehicles carry warning triangles, it usually is something like this, a rock in the middle of the road, or a branch off a near by tree that has been thrown in the middle of the road.

This was our overnight stay in Masvingo at Norma Jean's B&B.  Had the most beautiful view and gorgeous gardens, we loved it.

Over looking the "Ancient Rock Drawings" at Masvingo.





At the "Ancient Rock Drawings"

Elder Heck giving a young man a new pair of tennis shoes complements of the Scott & Machele Heck Family.  Thank you so much

Layne and Sister Heck giving a woman a "New Born Kit"



Our best friends in Masvingo checking out the new scriptures and books that were given to them.



Inside of a families "Kitchen Hut" which was spotless in every way.  Note the goat which had been killed by a baboon that morning, and is going to be for supper tonight.

T shirts that the Scott Heck Family sent that we gave to a group of village people in Masvingo rural.

Thanks Machele

Layne, hiding out in the Garden of Eden @ Norma Jean's

Local women who are carrying water in 5 gallon buckets back to their home.  They have to walk about 2 miles like this, and the buckets are full of water.

One mans family, notice the step ladder and no shoes.

 Street market in Bulawayo, and yes Sister Heck and Connie bought some things here, look real hard and you will find them somewhere.

Sister Heck with a very tired little girl.  A picture is worth a thousand words.

Layne trying to catch a ride on the local bus that is headed to town.

Cape Buffalo with a few real nice trophies in the bunch.

This was home for the next three days.  Sister Heck's idea of camping!!!

Can't remember the name of this bird, but it was super sized!

Couple of signs that were very interesting to us.

Elder Heck getting our guide "Bully" who was very very knowledgeable.

First thing that we saw as we were headed to "Little Makalolo Camp"

This big guy was parked right on the path that we wanted to take, and he wasn't moving either.  There are no fences here, so this is the real thing.  If he wanted us for lunch, he would have Jean or Connie, because I know Layne and Al could out run both of them.

This is what you call "Love at first sight, as Connie or Jean to tell you the rest of the story.

This is what these guys tracks look like in the sand, pretty scary to see them before you see the real thing!!

Typical African sun set around the water hole, look real close and you can see the elephants coming in for their daily drink.  One of the most beautiful sun sets we have ever witnessed.