We pulled up to the Mazoe Dam a half hour north of Harare, Zim, on a gorgeous morning in March, ready to hike as part of a fun day celebrating husband Kurt's birthday. I had tried to research the area before going, having been told by locals that the area is open for hikers. Little information was available, though, and in the end we just drove beside the dam and hoped for the best.
"Happy birthday. We're going exploring! With a picnic lunch."
We arrived and asked around. Nearby residents informed us that though there was no access over the dam itself, visitors often park just down a path from the main road and walk along the water. Though a little disappointed about restricted access to the dam (little Jonas was so looking forward to walking across), we happily decided to hike around the waterway to take in the views.
Our time literally lasted a half hour, though, as we trekked next to overwhelming piles of washed up garbage and litter before pausing in the woods just a few meters up from the water. After having walked for about ten minutes in the woods, we looked up and suddenly realized that we were surrounded. Literally enclosed in a tangled, webbed colony of golden orb weaver spiders.
Some people have nightmares about these kinds of things.
We retreated as fast and carefully as possible all the way back to the car, uncertain of how we had gotten so far without having noticed a never-ending suburban sprawl of giant spiders. It was as though webs had been woven around us as we walked in; getting out took much longer than getting in! In just our last fifteen feet alone, Jonas laughingly counted twenty-three of the darlings staring at us as they swayed in the wind.
The Mazoe Dam? Okay if you stand still next to your car. Bring a science teacher with you, ignore the litter, take in the views, and be glad golden orb weavers spiders do not attack. Supposedly.
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| What kind of litter is this?? Even an egg had washed up on the shore! |
