Mukuvisi Woodlands Nature Reserve and Environment Education Centre

Mukuvisi is currently open from 8 am to 5 pm every day.

Beautiful nature reserve and game park only 5 km from centre of Harare on Glenara Ave/Hillside Rd.

What to do at Mukuvisi Woodlands:
You can walk, run or cycle our gorgeous clearly marked woodland trails of varying distances, any day of the week, mountain bikes available for hire, and you can walk dogs as long as they are kept on a lead throughout.

We have a game viewing platform with high chances of seeing several species of animal at or near our waterhole.

We have a Coffee Shop, offering beverages, snacks and light meals.

Our Woodlands Shop is also open.

Horse safaris and guided walks offered - Pre-booking essential.

Join as a Mukuvisi Woodlands Member - and visit year round at no additional charge. Plentiful plains game and birds to spot, game viewing platform and a year round Eco Schools environmental education programme.

Contact phone number: 0774 198 009.
[email protected]
http://www.mukuvisiwoodland.co.zw
See website for current prices.

BirdLife Zimbabwe
Learn about birds, help conserve them, make new friends. Bird walks in scenic areas, participate in research projects, attend regular talks and events:

[email protected]
http://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org

Bird Walks and Talks:

Birding Big Day Saturday, 7 December From midnight to midnight, anywhere in Zimbabwe. 50 Km Radius Category. The maximum area that can be visited is an area within a radius of 50 km. Please note this a RADIUS of 50 km – so from boundary to boundary it is 100 km.Teams registering for this category will automatically be entered into provincial challenges (this will not be the case for the 6 km radius category).

6 Km Radius Category: The maximum area that can be visited is an area within a radius of 6 km. Note this is a RADIUS of 6 km – from boundary to boundary the distance is 12 km.

The majority (for example 2 out of three or 3 out of four) of the team members have to agree on a call or sighting.Teams are requested to limit the use of callback to attract birds to an absolute minimum (preferably avoiding using callback at all). This is especially true when birding in a nature reserve or national park or targeting threatened bird species.Most importantly have fun and enjoy the day out in the field!

Christmas Social Sun 8 Dec 11am – 2pm at St Michael's Presentation Primary School, 90 Ridgeway North. Guest speaker Clare Griffiths, followed by a raffle and bring and braai lunch. Enquiries 0712 219 311.

Sun 15 Dec 7 - 100 am: Monavale Vlei Walk: Fenella Drive. From Quendon Road turn into Lyndhurst Rd, at bottom follow right hand bend, take first left and second right to BS Leon roundabout. Second exit is Fenella Dve.

6 January 2025 Sun 6.30 - 10:30am: Mukuvisi Woodlands Walk: Blatherwick Road. Turn off Chiremba Road into Ford Road opposite Queensdale shops, cross over Longford Ave and bear left down to the T-junction on Blatherwick Rd. Turn right and gate is about 150 metres on left. Bring a tip for the car guard and refreshments for after the walk when we record species. (Public car park for Mukuvisi Woodlands is off Hillside Road).

Sat 11 Jan 2025 7am - 9:30am: Botanical Garden Walk: 30 Sandringham Drive. Meet at the main car park off 5th Street.

For more information about BirdLife go to:

http://www.birdlifezimbabwe.org

Haka Game Park
next to Cleveland Dam, Harare
Open 6.30 am to 6 pm daily.

Two Entrances Gates, one via the Cleveland Dam entrance off Mutare Rd, just past Harare Drive/Mutare Rd roundabout, the other on Harare Dve between the Arcturus Rd and Mutare Rd intersections with Harare Dve.

Swipe and Ecocash available both gates.

21 Tsessebe were re-introduced to Haka in June 2021 and have settled very well.

In late 2022, four new giraffes joined the Haka family too!

Discounted Season Entry Fees
Receipt provided, which you must bring with you each time, offered for one month entry and six month entry for frequent visitors, to save you money and give you free access throughout the period you purchase. Enquire at Entry Gate.

Spacious beautiful scenic environment, with varied scenery, and great biodiversity, where you can freely walk, run, cycle, horse ride, drive, canoe, picnic or braai, plenty of birds and game to spot including giraffe, eland, wildebeest, zebra, tsessebe, impala, duiker, warthog, bush pig, jackal.

Also some amazing San rock art sites.

Ice, wood, charcoal and cool drinks sold at gate.

If you bring your dog to walk in Haka:

IT MUST BE ON A LEAD!

Please be aware that plains animal species (eland, wildebeest, zebra) view all dogs as predators that they do not want in their space - and will very likely give chase if you are with your dog or dogs.

Do NOT go anywhere near these species with your dog/s and NEVER let it/them off leash in the game park.

[email protected]

There are outings to cater for all levels of fitness. Camping trips and expeditions outside Zimbabwe are also organised and rock climbing is also offered weekly. LOW impact walks suitable for new and inexperienced hikers. MEDIUM impact walks suitable for fit hikers with stamina. HIGH impact walks suitable for very fit and experienced hikers. For information about the club, and joining: [email protected]

Annual Membership Subscriptions
Single US$20
Couple / Family US$30

New Membership
Ask for a form once you have hiked or climbed with MCZ a few times, then fill in and return to [email protected]
Applications go to MCZ Committee for virtual approval. Once approved, annual subscrition payment is due.

As we walk in Communal Lands and National Parks - dogs not allowed on our hikes.

A weekly notice is issued on or around Wednesday each week on the Mountain Club WhatsApp Group, confirming leader, route/area, timing, cost for transport (on top of the standard hiking fee if you are not the driver), area, terrain and impact.

Meeting place in most cases is Sam Levy’s Village car park at back of Village opposite Khumo Tyres (but not always). Departure time and return depends on leader. Departure is prompt. Return is scheduled for before dark, but does depend on season and traffic.

Weekend hikes are usually publicised here, and to MCZ Members via Whatsapp Group. Watch this space!

Sun 8th Dec Hike: Zhombwe; Murewha - beyond Domborembudzi: Led by Mitch Whaley: 0772 237 534. Meet at Sam Levy Village back parking near Khumo Tyres and Village Greek restaurant. at 6am for 6:15am departure. Medium Impact: Total Ascent approx 330 metres, distance approx 4 km. Reasonable fitness required. The climb up is off track pathfinding with some rock scrambling. The descent is on a path, if found, with some shade! Normal hiking fees. Transport cost US$15 per passenger payable to driver. Driver pays the toll. Approx. 96 km, only the last 1.2km is dirt, so relatively quick to get there.

Calendar: Rest of December 2024

Sun 15 Dec: Hiking area: An Old Favourite!
Led by: Martin Steenkamp (0773 255 794). Meet at Sam Levy's back car park near Khumo Typres and Village Green Restaurant. at 7.30 am, depart 7.45. Medium Impact. Total Ascent 223m distance 7.6km. Some fitness required, easy walk into a steep ascent into a gentle downhill and walk along a dry riverbed. NB Pace will be slow, novice and new comers welcome! Normal hiking fees. Transport USD15 per passenger payable to driver.
30km Tar 15 km Dirt each way via Shamva Road. High Clearance recommended, road condition unknown. Positive energy and happy vibes mandatory. Strictly No Earphones, No Hangovers, No Fasting. Emergency Recovery is not possible.
WILL BE HOT - KEEP HYDRATED – SOME CHANCE OF RAIN.

Sun 22 Dec: Area TBC, led by Patricia Barber

Tues 24 Dec: Christon Bank, led by Martin: 077325 5794.

30/31 Dec - TBC.

To enquire about joining MCZ, email [email protected] and to find out if there is an upcoming hike on any weekend, Whatsapp the given leader's number or 0772 497 033 or 0772 214 062. Newcomers are very welcome to come and try out a hike.

Standard Donation to MCZ per hike: US$2 per Member, $5 per non or lapsed Member. Hiking plastic change tokens in small denominations are sold, to avoid change problems. These fees buy groceries purchased for people living at the homesteads where we leave our cars in rural areas for safety before setting off on hikes.

What to bring and wear on our hikes:
Wear sporting/hiking footwear that grips well. Bring a small rucksack with plenty of water/drink, snacks, a lightweight raincoat, sunscreen, hat/cap, and hiking pole/s if you use them. Some hikes are rather steep. Hiking difficulty ('impact') is advised in advance.

Camping trip rules: Camping weekends are for MCZ Members only and must have paid their subs for the year BEFORE the trip.

About our Hikes
Saturday Hikes: Departure times vary - and depend on the leader. The round trip and hike usually take up half a day, and usually departure is fairly early - around 7:45 am, (but not always).

Sunday Hikes: Generally all day hikes. We usually depart around 7:45 am (but not always). We return late afternoon, depending on distance travelled.

The Camping Section charges $5 to $10 fee per trip, towards re-tooling its camping equipment. Transport cost are shared among passengers and are due to the driver. 

Mountain Club Rock Climbing Info
Weekly Rock Climbing sessions are normally on Wednesdays at Cleveland Quarry, Haka Game Park, entrance on Harare drive or Mutare road, from 3.30pm till dark. In addition, climbing outings are organised (sometimes during the week, mostly weekends) to Christon Bank, Epworth, Ngomakurira, among other locations. Climbers are notified about climbing outings through the Climbers WhatsApp Group.

MCZ climbing gear (shoes, harness, chalk bag) are available for rental upon advance request for those who are new to climbing or do not yet have their own gear. Ropes provided by MCZ. Contact Eleanor Shadwell 0777 451 064 or Emily Morris 0774 343 814 for more information on rock climbing or to be added to the WhatsApp group.

Quarry Access Fee:
US$60 for Jan 1 - Dec 31st 2024.

For info: http://www.thevumbatrail.com

Reps Members Bar
A reminder to those introducing their friends as prospective members, please ensure that application forms are completed with a proposer and seconder and accompanied by the US$20 application fee.  We love to host you in our Members Bar, where we now serve a limited range of cocktails in addition to your old favourites. We are open 4pm to 10.30pm Tues to Fri and 11am to 11pm Sat and Sun.

Call for photos of bygone days at Reps
We are working on compiling our archives. If you have photographs from bygone days of your Reps experience, either in a show, in the audience, or in our Bar, please share them to our Society Secretary on [email protected] 

Call for new Front of House Volunteers 
Appealing to Reps Members to join an already existing front of house team or form new front of house teams to help out during shows! If interested contact the office forinformation!

For all Reps enquiries email: [email protected]

Call for Donations
We appeal for any donations to make our office block, and surrounding area more habitable. In particular:

• vinyl tiles for the loos
• Paint for the Adrian Stanley building
• Paint for the playground
• Someone to help us redo signage

This is just part of our long wish list! So, if you have anything at all that could help our Old Girl get back to her gorgeous self, we will receive it with gratitude!  

For more info: go to our official Facebook page and our website.

The Zimbabwe Academy of Music and Performing Arts Bulawayo
Bulawayo 2260684; 2267195
email: [email protected]

Third term ended Fri 29 Nov.

Academy DVD Screenings - all at 6.30 pm:

Thurs 12 Dec: 'The Godfather Part II'
Fri 13 Dec: 'Meet Me in St. Louis'
Thurs 19 Dec: 'Cinderella' (Disney)
Fri 20 Dec: Massenet: Cendrillon (Royal Opera)

Shop Hours: Mon 2-3.45pm; Tues, Thurs and Fri: 9am-12 noon, 1.30-3.15pm; Wed 9-noon, 2-3.45pm. First Saturday of each month: 9am-10.45am.

Kennel and Clinic Wish List
Old blankets and towels, Newspapers, Tinned + Dry Pet Food for Dogs and Cats, Fly Smear, Old Crepe Bandages, Latex Gloves, Face Masks, Paper Towels, Disinfectant Wipes, Antiseptic Wound Spray, Dressings, Toys for Cats, Cat Carriers, Dog Boxes or Cages, Fly Spray, Bolt Cutters, Brooms both Soft and Stiff, Disposable Aprons, off cuts of Foam Rubber to cover donkey harnesses; all can be dropped off at the Kennels, corner Magazine and Khami Rds.