Building Monde: The Beginning of a Dream

About a year ago today, Sam and I decided that we wanted to invest in our own piece of land, and I could have never dreamed of what was coming our way.

We started looking with hopes of finding the place where we could build our home and grow our family in the future. My dream has always been to find a space that brings me peace and happiness, and if there’s anything this town has taught me, it’s that nature will do just that.

After months of searching and walking around, asking from fence to fence who might be interested in moving, we finally found a plot that were beyond our dreams—and it was available!

Our view of the Batonka Gorge and spray of the Victoria Falls

But getting access to a piece of land here isn’t as simple as a bank transfer. We wanted to live off-grid, and that meant fully integrating into the community. To develop on a piece of land, we had to present our plans for the future to the chief, secure signatures from all the headmen agreeing to us joining the community, and finally, receive approval from the community vote. At any of these three stages, we could have been denied if they didn’t appreciate our vision for their land. It is important to notice we are not buying the piece of land, which is why that term is never mentioned, we are getting access to a land within the community.

Luckily, our dreams of building a homestead for ourselves and our future family aligned perfectly with the community’s values, and they welcomed us with open arms.

6/4 2024, Sam attended the last piece of the puzzle, the community meeting

I still remember the emotional rollercoaster—falling in love with a piece of land, but not knowing if it would truly be ours to live on. I had just traveled back to Denmark to visit family when Sam attended the final part of the agreement: the community meeting. I remember the moment he called me, voice full of excitement—we were officially moving to monde!

Our "plot-warming"

Girls night ft. sunset drinks on the plot

Over the past few months, we have been soaking in the joy of our new property with family and friends. Every day, we dream about building our first little house, but before that, there are a few crucial steps to take. We have the land, we have the vision—now we need the necessities.

Our next big step? Drilling a borehole for water supply. And let me tell you, we actually already did it! Did you know that drilling a borehole costs at least $5,000, and there’s no guarantee you’ll hit water? That means you could end up with nothing but a very, very expensive 110-meter-deep hole.

Preparing for the drillers

Stay tuned to hear about our drilling adventure next week!