2007 Join-In-Jamboree
Due to the prohibitively astronomical cost of Zimbabwean Scouts getting to the 2007 Jamboree, we will be hosting a large National 2007 Join-In-Jamboree Camp to give Southern African Scouts a flavour of the Jamboree. This will be organized by Norman Scott, and will probably take place at Gordon Park, requireing a large number of camp staff, considerable logistical planning and preperation. However, as each Troop attending will have to organize its own transport/food/tents, it is a good idea to start saving and fund raising for this event now.
A
Brief Look at The Setting for the National Camp
You will be camping for 10 days with
Scouts and Guides drawn from all parts of Zimbabwe and surrounding
countries.
Gordon Park is situated in the Matobo Hills. It is Matabeleland's
Scout Leader Training and Scout Camping ground situated
50 kilometres from the city of Bulawayo. Gordon Park has
been "Christened" the HEART OF SCOUTING because
of its significance to world Scouting and in Particular
to Scouting in Zimbabwe.
When
in the late 1890's our founder, Lord Baden Powell, was still
in the army he had the opportunity to practice many of his
skills of observation, bushcraft, tracking and firelighting right here
in the Matobo hills.
Indeed
among many of his sketches of this period, is one of Shumbashaba,
a huge granite kopje on the other side of the Mtsheleli
river to present day Gordon Park. Many years later, in 1936,
he again visited the Matopos, but this time in a peaceful
role, as Chief Scout of the World, and had this to say:- "In the midst of this wild country, with its baboons and leopards and its vision of past battles, fought amid these kopjies, I was suddenly faced with a signboard "Gordon Park. Training Ground of the Boy Scouts Association". Here! The wildest among many jungles I have seen in different parts of the world was a truly lovely Backwoods Camping Ground."
Baden-Powell saw Gordon Park in its thoroughly undeveloped state as it had only
recently been opened - on 16 February 1936 by Col. Granville
Walton, Imperial Headquarter Commissioner for Overseas Scouts.
The park was named after Colonel Gordon D.S.O. O.B.E. (Headquarters
Commissioner for Matabeleland) an influential figure in
Zimbabwean Scouting at that time.
We
pride ourselves for having a Scout Park within the Matobo
hills. The Matopos have an attraction that is all their
own. The origin of the name is clouded in history, but no
doubt stems from "Matombo" or "Madombo"
which simply means "the rocks". There is a legend
that the name "Matobo" was given to the hills
by uMzilikazi, who was a senior Chief of the Zulu nation
in South Africa under King Tshaka. When he broke away from
Tshaka and headed North from Zululand, he settled near the
Matopos and when he looked at the great dwalas (rocks) and
was told they were called "Madombo", he said,
"But we will call them "Matobo" meaning,
"The bald heads"
In
every part of the hills scene succeeds scene of unbelievable
beauty and wilderness. From the lichens upwards, the colours
seem rare and strangely lovely. The lights of the morning
and evening are beyond description.
The mountaineer may freely exercise his skill on the hills and rocks which are there to test his powers and offer difficulties which are pure joy to surmount. There
are precipes, kloofs and caves all worth the climber's attention
and from all peaks, panoramic views may be obtained and
which in their own perculiar way are unique and magnificent.
To
the photographic enthusiast, please bring plenty of film
with you, the Matopos has special attractions. The natural
features of the landscape are eminently picturesque. The
mountains are not too large for the ordinary camera, the
contrast of rock and foliage, of foreground and distance,
of light and shadow are striking, whilst the extremely broken
outine fringed by traceries of branches silhouetted against
the clear sky lends a special charm. The sunlight is stronger
here within the tropics and the sky, a blue you may not
have seen before. The sunrise and sunsets are magnificent,
especially when cloud formations produce the magic effects
of shadow and light of crimson, yellow and orange.
The
artist can both get and give great pleasure from the pursuit
of his talent, as too can those interested in antiquities and our
early history - from artifacts and paintings found in the numerous granite caves.
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For more information, contact:-
Zimbabwe's International and Programmes Commissioner: Bekezela Ndebele sbndebele@classicmail.co.za
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