Chronicle Editor
Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Reporter
Hillside Dams in Bulawayo has become an instant hit with local day trippers flocking to the recreational facility to witness its spilling, a spectacular phenomenon last witnessed in 2017.
The water body started spilling on Wednesday following incessant rains that continue to pound the city among other areas in the country.
When a Chronicle news crew yesterday visited the popular leisure retreat, it was teeming with day-trippers, mostly local residents who seemed to enjoy the magnificent spilling, which created scenic little waterfalls.
Hillside Dams is a quiet spot among kopjes with a wealth of plant, bird and insect life brought about by the long stretches of water.
Located in Hillside suburb and covering a wide area, the retreat is only a few minutes’ drive from the centre of the city. It provides a family-friendly location for people of all ages to unwind.
Due to the abundant rains, the aloes and succulents planted among the rocks were full of life as evidenced by a beautiful splash of colour.
Day trippers who spoke to Chronicle could not hide their excitement as they watched in amazement water from the Upper Hillside Dam precipitously falling over a rocky ledge into a plunge pool below.
“This is quite great because I haven’t seen this dam this high in years and it’s really an amazing experience for me.
When I came here last month it was not like this and as soon as I heard that it was spilling, I could not wait any longer to come and witness this spectacle,” said Ms Megan van Rensburg of Hillside.
Mr Richard MacGyver of Malindela said: “I like this place because it is magnificent and offers tranquility. I am so excited to visit Hillside Dams, particularly at a time like this when it’s spilling.
“This is quite an experience because the last time it happened was in 2017.”
Ms Pamela Ndlovu of Burnside was all smiles as she prepared to get into a canoe in the Upper Hillside Dam.
“This is actually fantastic and I am actually enjoying every moment of it (spilling of the dam) because I can once again do canoeing, one of my favourite hobbies. They had actually suspended such water related activities because of the drop in water levels,” she said.
Mr Mandla Dlodlo of Hillside said he had stopped visiting Hillside Dams until he heard about the spilling.
“I love to see water spilling from the dam and when news spread in my neighbourhood that water was flowing everywhere at the Hillside Dams, I took my bike and came here to enjoy this magnificent view,” he said.
Mr Tymon Ndlovu, who enjoys watching birds, said he was not aware of the spilling of the dam, until he visited the recreational facility.
“Coming to witness the dam spilling was actually a coincidence because naturally I enjoy watching birds, which is why I had visited Hillside Dams. This is quite a refreshing outing and I am enjoying the little waterfalls and birds chirping in the forest and surely this place is a must visit,” he said.
Hillside Dams Conservancy, the operators of the facility said the number of people visiting the site has been on the increase following the spilling of the two dams: Upper and Lower Hillside.
“We have had a very good response since the dams started spilling and everyone is very excited, especially with the resumption of water activities, which had been suspended because of a sharp decline in water levels. There has been a sharp increase in people coming here with an average of 50 people on day trips and it’s a positive development for us,” said Hillside Dams Conservancy administrator, Ms Gaynor Price.
“The spilling of the dam was last experienced in 2017, and the last time the dams actually dried up other than last year, was about 10 years ago. We went from totally dry to spilling in one season. In fact, people have been enquiring about the spilling of the dam, which clearly is a major pull factor.”
Upper Hillside Dam is also the location of the Waterfront, another picturesque picnic spot where people can enjoy braaing, fishing, zip lining and canoeing among other outdoor activities.
“We have a lot of birdlife and small animals such as snakes, tortoises and hedge sparrows. We also conduct educational tours for students and provide activities such as zip lining and canoeing for families.
“The food that we supply at our restaurant is good enough to pacify your taste buds,” said Ms Price.
Hillside Dams is open all year round and guests are required to pay a nominal fee for entry. Adults are charged US$2 while children and pensioners pay US$1.
However, due to the lockdown regulations, Hillside Dams Conservancy has suspended mass parties such as weddings.
Hillside Dams is owned by the Bulawayo City Council with Hillside Dams Conservancy, a non-profit organisation, responsible for the upkeep of the landscape.
It was declared a National Monument in 1942.
The facility plays a big role in the conservation of the environment. In the 1880’s the area was known as Matsheumhlope, or White Stones, the site of one of King Lobengula favourite outlying villages to which he could escape from the daily routine and strains of life at Old Bulawayo, the Ndebele State’s capital.
In 1895 when the newly-formed Waterworks Company proposed building dams on a portion of Napier’s Farm, the area was dry and thornveld among the kopjes and many sceptics thought the proposed dams would never fill.
But the dams were built for commercial water supply and when the rains came, the first water was impounded as three stretches of water amongst the kopjes.
To begin with, there was enough water to last the town for 500 days. By the 1920’s the dams had been decommissioned in favour of the Khami and Ncema Dams and they remain a recreational facility. — @mashnets
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