I’m Muchinazvo Shiripinda. No need to break your tongue trying to pronounce my full name, so Muchie will do. I’m an ordinary Zimbabwean traveller who is happiest outdoors. Give me a mountain to climb, a trail to follow or somewhere to pitch a tent, and I’m in my element. Wildlife, sunsets and the occasional unexpected adventure come with the territory.
At Pork Pie View Point, taking in the Chimanimani mountains.
Nature, curiosity and good company
I grew up in the city, surrounded by houses and roads. Childhood visits to our rural areas of Chipinge in the 1990s opened up another world: forests, hills and mountains. I later attended school in Chipinge, where the natural surroundings continued to fascinate me. In 2018, my first hike took me up Domboshawa Hill. That love of the outdoors has stayed with me.
These days, getting away also gives me room to breathe beyond work, disappointments and the everyday pressure of life. Money doesn’t always allow it, but when it does, I want to go while my legs can still carry me up a mountain and my knees can bring me down again.
Muchie Unpacked is where I share those journeys, the memories, the discoveries, the people along the way and, occasionally, how badly I packed.
Zimbabwe and beyond
Zimbabwe is where this collection begins, with room for journeys across Southern Africa and farther afield. Wherever I go, my love of nature and curiosity come with me.
Unpacking the memories
Some stories are fresh from the road. Others revisit adventures going way back in time. The trip date tells you when I went; the publication date tells you when I shared the story.
Start with the Mana Pools story
More from me
Memoirs of a Free Thinker
My other corner of the internet, where I question, reflect and write about life, science, religions, international geopolitics, relationships and the curious business of being human.
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My practical, plain-English guide to using AI for work, business and everyday life, drawn from my own experience learning and building with it. AI made simpler, with no coding background or degree needed.
Questions about a trip, or a place you’d like me to explore? Get in touch about reader questions and collaborations.