African Car Trip Off Beaten Track

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30561, 2 October 1964, Page 2

African Car Trip Off Beaten Track

A 4000-mile car trip through Africa—much of it off the beaten track—gave a Christchurch woman, Mrs H. R. Black, of Naseby street, some fascinating glimpses of the continent and peoples.

“It was quite different to what I had expected. The general atmosphere is peaceful, and the Africans seem very happy,” said Mrs Black yesterday. Even an incident in Salisbury while they were there had not occasioned general tension or alarm. Mrs Black and her husband arrived home on Tuesday from a three-month holiday trip which included a visit to the United States, Canada, England, France and Italy; They spent most time in Africa, where Mr Black’s brother has a large sheep farm and timber plantation near Salisbury, in Southern Rhodesia.

The smiling faces of the Africans, and the cheerful and friendly greetings they always gave, were remarked on by Mrs Black. About 180 Africans lived and worked on the farm she stayed on. They had their own compound, school and store, she said. A sports day held while she was there was a big event, and Africans who heard it was to be held, came from miles to take part; “We could hear their drums as they came,” said Mrs Black. Missionaries had done wonderful work in Africa, Mrs Black said. The education they gave to the Africans included teaching in hygiene and nutrition. Mr and Mrs Black saw the Kariba dam, and the Victoria

Falls, visited Mozambique, and drove into Zululand. “The women work hard. They make beadwork, and weaving, and sell it by the side of the road,” she said, showing two beautifully woven grass hats she had bought on her travels. On the long drive from Salisbury to Cape Town, the country had literally been “brown Africa” until almost to Cape Town, she said.. The new spring leaves on the trees come out a bronzy brown first, before turning green.

The couple saw herds of elephant and other animals as they drove through game reserves. One frightening episode occurred when the car rounded a bend and startled a female elephant and its calf. The elephant gave chase to the car. “For a while she was gaining,” Mrs Black said.