Charge Around The Globe – South Africa to Zimbabwe in the all-electric Ford Explorer

After last week’s adventures in South Africa, Lexie Alford (@lexielimitless) and our Ford Explorer are continuing their travels in Africa as they head north into Zimbabwe.

The journey from Hoedspruit in South Africa to the Beitbridge border crossing saw overcast and rainy conditions but the Explorer coped perfectly, covering the 437 kilometres distance with just one precautionary top-up charge. The following day Lexie crossed the Limpopo River from Beitbridge, on the South African side, to a town of the same name on the Zimbabwe side, before heading on to Masvingo via a mix of motorway and gravel roads.

Near Masvingo is Great Zimbabwe, an ancient city built in the 9^th century and thought to have once been the capital of a great kingdom. The ruins are now a national monument, and modern Zimbabwe’s namesake, so it was the perfect place to stop for Lexie to appreciate some of the region’s deep history.

The African leg of Lexie’s attempt to circumnavigate the globe in an electric vehicle finished 327 kilometres north in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. Here Lexie had the chance to meet the inspirational Venensia Mukarati who, together with her daughter Tino operates 160 Hydro Farm. Hydroponics allows crops to grow without soil, uses up to 90 per cent less water and doesn’t suffer from weeds, pests or disease, plus plants grow more quickly than in soil; all important elements in a country that has been hit by drought before. Venensia’s company now grows its own produce to supply the local area, and also encourages others to get into hydroponics with special kits for home. Lexie was put to work in one of the greenhouses to see how it worked, and naturally couldn’t leave before tasting some of the produce for herself.

Now, after over 8,000 kilometres and 46 days on the road, Lexie and the Ford Explorer head to their third continent with a visit to Australia.

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