Malindidzimu: View of the World

After being amazed by the beauty of Matopos, Zimbabwe, I thought it couldn't wow be any further.

I was wrong.  Fantastically wrong. The moment I climbed up "View of the World" and looked out here:

I knew why it was called View of the World.

When Cecil Rhodes (of the Rhodes Scholarship, of Rhodesia fame, of the diamonds in South Africa...)
climbed the hill, he instantly decided this was to be his burial place

Rhodes was buried at World's View in 1902 after dying in Cape Town.

Rhodes's grave.

His burial place is controversial as the hill, or Malindidzimu ("Place of Benevolent Spirits"), is a sacred place for the Ndebele people.
Rhodes happened upon it while responding to a Ndebele uprising.

As Rhodes's founding of Rhodesia (the predecessor to Zimbabwe) trampled on most of the rights of the Ndebele,
it is understanding why his burial and that of several other individuals who helped Rhodes at such a sacred spot is controversial.

The hill is covered in several different colors of lichen which creates such an unique and amazing kaleidoscope.

Malindidzimu just absolutely takes your breath away.  It is very easy to understand how such a spot can be sacred.

The hill also contains this monument with the remains of 33 men, led by Captain Allan Wilson, who pursued Ndebele chief Lobengula

out of his territory in 1893 but were routed in what some Ndebele consider their biggest victory.

Rhodes wished the memorial to be placed at View of the World.

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îles de la Madeleine

The entryway to the îles de la Madeleine, two small islands off the coast of Dakar, Senegal

There are several ship wrecks off the coast of Dakar..I suspect this is the remnants of one on the volcanic rocks on the islands of Madeleine

The only way to the island is via these small pirogues. The islands are uninhabited and nominated to the UNESCO world heritage list.  

Senegal already has the following places on the world heritage list:

-- Goree Island

-- Niokolo-Koba National Park -- UNESCO's description here

-- Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary -- UNESCO's description here

-- Saint-Louis

-- Stone circles of Senegambia -- UNESCO's description here

-- Saloum Delta

The bright greenery on the island is such a welcome change from Dakar's dust.

Another angle of the entry way into the island's lagoon.

The islands are four kilometers off Dakar's coast. Here's a view of the Plateau neighborhood of downtown Dakar.

Another view of Dakar from the islands.

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