New Year’s Eve in The Matobo Hills.
As 2018 turned into 2019, people all over the world celebrated New Year’s Eve in all sorts of fashion.
Partying in the bush in Victoria Falls.
Watching the Ball Drop in New York City.
And lighting fireworks in Sydney, Australia.
However, Safari lovers who chose to be in the scenic Matobo Hills had a unique experience.
There was serenity, warmth and purity.
Surreal balancing rocks, mood-altering reptiles and multi-coloured lichen all combined to create a scene from another planet.
Connecting with Ancient Culture
The Mbibas, a family of four who drove all the way from Harare, spent the New Year’s weekend hiking, rhino tracking and visiting the caves.
Only one word could describe their stay in the Matobo Hills. Refreshing.
Letty Mbiba said that, “It was beautiful interacting with nature on those hikes and rhino 🦏 tracking!”
Letty’s husband and their two children were also impressed with Matobo Hills Lodge and tour guide Bheki.
“Bheki made our stay at the lodge unforgettable! We all looked forward to our escapades with him,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
We knew the Matobo Hills would be a nice, quiet place to reflect on the year gone by and set goals for the upcoming one
As evening fell, other families, couples and solo travellers joined the clock as it ticked away the last hours of 2018.
All that could be heard besides laughter were deep croaks and ribits of toads in the pool.
Lisa, and her family based in England, together with her friends and their family gathered around a bon fire at Matobo Hills Lodge.
Without music or fireworks – they did a good job counting down seconds to the new year at the top of their voices.
A solo traveler on NYE in Matobo The bar at Matobo Hills Lodge Sylish squash on the menu on NYE. The bon fire Poolside view of the Lodge
Travelers on a granite hill
At the stroke of midnight, the two families all raced to take position atop a granite mound, gave a toast to the new year and struck a pose at their very first group photo of the year.
The camaraderie of the group was just contagious.
Lisa, family and friends said that they wanted to do something different and more intimate for New Year’s Eve.
“We came out here just to enjoy the New Year’s holiday as a family. We knew the Matobo Hills would be a nice, quiet place to reflect on the year gone by and set goals for the upcoming one,” said Lisa.
