Part 2 of 3: Grand Tour of Zimbabwe…

Posted on by Friends Of Pakati

Greetings everyone!

Well, this is an unusual departure for Friends of Pakati…. but I did think it was an interesting idea. We may do other different things in the future too!

Bradley Mell, our podcast host, suggested we discuss the TV programme Grand Tour who visited Zimbabwe in 2023. They recorded what is their final ‘special’ called ‘One for the Road’.

Apparently, the presenters – Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond & James May – had wanted to go to Zimbabwe for many years but were unable to. The negotiations to get permission to film will have been detailed, as it will have included some of the stunts they did during the recording.

As you listen to the podcast, below are some of the photos I took of the TV screen during the programme, with information about each photo.

The road through the tea-growing area of the Honde Valley, one of many scenery changes mentioned during the broadcast
Clarkson & May arrive into Harare
The amazing dancing traffic policeman in Harare
The huge marketplace known as Mbare Musika where Clarkson & May found the exact exhaust needed by Hammond
May, Hammond & Clarkson enjoy the beautiful Jacaranda trees during their drive through Harare
Fabulous view at Mana Pools National Park as the sun goes down
Hammond drifting at Mana Pools close to the Zambezi
Part of the road to Kariba town & Lake Kariba
The Grand Tour presenters stayed at the internationally famous Victoria Falls Hotel
The 3 have their cars on the rail tracks on the Victoria Falls Bridge between Zambia & Zimbabwe
Just a small part of the genuinely awesome Victoria Falls
Finally, as they head towards the Botswana border, they appear to be driving through parts of, or close to Hwange National Park

A very enjoyable programme for me, recognising many elements of the journey they made across the country as places I have been to.

Coming next: Part 3 of 3

The final blog & podcast of 2024 is all about Friends of Pakati in the coming months, trying to raise funds for the schools to be able to make the most of our IT donations in October. If you can, please donate here:

http://gofundme.com/Friends-of-pakati or http://paypal.me/

Thank you!

Author:

My name is Chris Walker, and between January 1989 and September 1991 I worked, through VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas), at Pakati Secondary School in Murehwa South district in Zimbabwe. I was a Maths teacher for 2 years, the Acting Head for the last 8 months there. I have also taught in Botswana & the UK, had 4 years working for VSO, and have been a Civil Servant in Bradford since 2005.

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