We passed through mining country with the towns looking like all mining towns do. Slag-heaps surround the towns and the countryside is dotted with them. At Masvingo, we refuelled and shopped in the local Spar supermarket, this one being the Balmain Spar! Although the supermarket was well stocked, the selection is nothing like what we are used to at home and simple things like paper towels or tinned soups are just not available.

Next 'big thing' was the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, the remnants of a civilization that flourished 850 years ago. The king's domain was on top of the granite hill so we used the original path up the mountain to see the superb views as well as the amazing dry-stone walls, mostly intact yet unrestored, still standing just as they were in the 12 and 1300s. Our guide was full of information, though with no written records, much of it is speculation. We explored the Great enclosure, home of the king's first wife, while the rest of the structures housed his other 199 wives. Busy man…