In Heath Streak's abode

HEATH STREAK

The straight, long road through African plains held a promise of discovering the life of one of Zimbabwe's most famous cricketing sons. The drive through the savannah from Bulawayo on a rickety microbus turned more rickety still when after crossing the Bembezi river -- a water body reduced to a trickle as winter approaches -- the vehicle took a right at the 'Enthokozweni Safaris'  sign and entered a the Turk Mine road.
For 14 kilometres we bumped along the dirt road through deserted surrounds, wondering whether we would get to the promised land before sundown. We eventually reached Enthokozweni Lodge, a complex of enchanting cottages. With the sun just about to set Heath Streak emerged from one of them ready to welcome the troupe of travelling journalists from Bangladesh.
Streak probably needs no introduction -- but for the uninitiated he was Zimbabwe's star all-rounder and his career coincided with the country's peak years, from 1993 to 2005. His bowling was marked by stamina and spirit as well as a wicked outswinger making him the spearhead of Zimbabwe's attack, while his batting was known for lusty hits over the infield. But more than his considerable cricketing achievements -- 445 international wickets and 4133 international runs -- it is the place he grew up in that will invite most envy.
Born into a 40,000-acre farmland that belonged to his family since 1899, Streak grew up in the African bush, 65 kilometres from any civilisation as the Western world may call it, among leopards, giraffes, wildebeasts, zebras and sables. The land was whittled down to a still-gigantic 12,000 acres when the government seized 70 percent of the land in the early 2000s. Since 1996, he developed the Enthokozweni Lodge on the land where his ancestral home lies.
The cottages are a breathtaking sight, all fashioned out of the granite rock on which the complex was built. With thatched roofs, these lodges have been built in a way that leaves nature as undisturbed as possible. The lodges are family oriented, with two sleeping areas and bathrooms and a living room. The interior design is breath-taking -- granite walls, crude staircases carved into the stone and mattresses resting on stone beds. The area is tree-shaded and a stone path leads to a hilltop with nothing but flatlands and shrubs around as far as the eyes can see. When we reached the sun was just setting and while the entire lodge was shrouded in darkness, but Streak led us to the hilltop where we caught the last rays of the setting sun and got a rare view of the African plains bathed in yellow light.
“Definitely, a fairy place to live. I've been lucky I grew up here. My family have been on this ranch since 1899. So lots of generations and as you can see a great place to grow up,” said the former national captain, who was also Zimbabwe's bowling coach.
He runs a Safari business from his lodge -- there were gunmen dressed in camouflage in armoured jeeps when we entered the lodge, but were relieved to later learn that they were safari guides -- with his wife Nadine. His cottage, where he lives with his wife and two children -- daughter Charlotte and son Harry – is at a corner of the complex by a swimming pool deck overlooking a vast expanse of land. His eldest daughter Holly is away in Ireland. In daytime it is a place to view the wonders of the African landscape, while at night it is transformed into a galaxy to gaze upon the millions of stars decorating the clear African sky.
“It was always a nice place to relax when you came back from a cricket tour. You could have some quiet time. Traffic is not there, pollution is not there. You can really revitalise. I enjoy the bush, I enjoy the game park and I enjoy hunting and fishing. So this was a very nice place for me to be,” said Streak.
A world away from cricket, Streak learnt his game from his father Denis -- who played for Zimbabwe in pre-Test days and currently lives in the ranch -- and at boarding school. After retirement Streak has spent time as the bowling coach for Zimbabwe and also the Bulawayo Tuskers, the franchise that won the first-class competition three years in a row. Apart from the running the safaris and the lodge, he also does some beef ranching with his father -- they are currently owners of 600 cattle. He also does business consultancy with investors in India who want to invest in Zimbabwe.
Amid all the contentment, there was a bit of dissatisfaction with the lack of involvement with Zimbabwe cricket after he was let go from his bowling job. He led us out back to our ramshackle vehicle with his Labrador Louis in faithful tow, and we left with heavy hearts, having to say goodbye to the hospitality Zimbabwe Test legend and his lovely family, but mostly his enchanting home.