Nzira issue 15

Issue 15 2020

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4 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe We visit a new lodge in the Victoria Falls suburbs, Shongwe Lookout and fall in love with the quirky rooms and gorgeous garden. A local artist form Victoria Falls showcases some of her lovely artwork and details her painting process when she paints the many birds, plants and animals of Zimbabwe. Shelley Cox introduces us to many of the local players that are taking conservation seriously and implementing valuable programmes that are currently being undertaken. Her comprehensive analysis looks at 5 di昀昀erent programmes that are bene昀椀tting the country. We take a visit to a well-known Victoria Falls hotel that has been around for many years and promises to create lasting memories to families and travellers wanting to stay in the thick of Victoria Falls town. Dave Dalziel and Birdlife Zimbabwe introduce us to a couple of Zimbabwe’s favourite birds; the ground hornbill and the saddle bill stork. Our lovely hosts at The Hide give us a safari experience to remember. Lions, gira昀昀e, birds are all to be found and our luxury tent is straight out of a dream, Hwange is something not to be missed on anyones visit to Zimbabwe. Jessica White introduces the new Lookout Café which opened late 2019 and brings a gorgeous view to its inspired menu. You will struggle to stay away from the edge as you peer over into the depths of the lower Zambezi river in the gorge ahead of you. A fantastic guide to some of the locations that o昀琀en get ignored when people visit Zimbabwe. Shelley Cox gives us all some inspiration and reasons to just jump in a car and go explore our lovely country. We get together with the conservationist John Stevens and Zambezi Elephant Fund to take a look at the necessity of sustainable travel for Zimbabwe’s National Parks and the animals that call these spaces home. John shares some inspiration with why conservation is so important for the health of the tourism industry and for our country’s future. Ashleigh Whaley and her family take a houseboat trip on Lake Kariba and see all the sights typical to such an event. Sunsets, hippos, singing king昀椀shers and a variety of game are all likely suspects. Kariba always delivers something but the main event is the 昀椀shing experience, and Ashleigh gives us a good taste. Mike Garden heads o昀昀 to the hills and stays at a wonderful little cottage in the Eastern Highlands. The Bvumba is known for its cold misty weather and it’s stunning views of Mozambique. As you take a walk through the forests, you run into a myriad of birds and lovely sounding streams falling over waterfalls. This issue we look at a local artist that wishes to remain unnamed. Taking the Shona word for anonymous, Asingazivikanwi, the artist details how they believe art can change the world and her many valiant e昀昀orts to do so. We take a look at one of our Capital’s latest new business, an artisanal ice cream shop that has opened up and captured the 昀氀avours we all know and love whilst adding to the perfect atmosphere at Veldemeers Café in Arundel. H-Town also gives us a lovely recipe Peanut Butter and Banana Popsicles for everyone to try out. We visit the lovely folks from the Mana Pools Camp, Mwinilunga and their owner/head chef Tess give us a scrumptious dessert that typi昀椀es the warmth and welcoming Mwinilunga is all about. 8 11 13 15 19 20 24 26 30 34 41 52 54 60 64 Tranquillity in the Bustling Town Artist Spotlight: Nicole Sanderson Introduction to Conservation Welcome to your Kingdom Flying Free Hiding out in Hwange What’s New in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe’s 5 Lesser Known Gems Zimbabwe’s Precious Parks Sunsets and Hooks The Mist-ical Bvumba Mountains Local Talent H-Town’s New Vibrant Gelato Mwinilunga Chocolate Cups Greenline Africa, Wild Horizons and Africa Albida Tourism all detail their valuable contributions towards sustainable tourism and conservation within Victoria Falls and their e昀昀orts in several community projects. Encouraging Sustainable Tourism in Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls Contents Explore Zimbabwe Bvumba Mana Pools Kariba Hwange Victoria Falls Harare This issue will take you to:

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 5 8 15 20 34 Explore Zimbabwe ARTICLES KEY Sustainable Initiatives Features

6 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe “Do interesting things, and interesting things will happen to you”. A famous quote that stuck with me many years ago from the creative legend, Sir John Hegarty, someone I deeply connected to whilst working and studying marketing in Brisbane, Australia. When a position at Nzira opened up, I thought there was no better place in the world to go 昀椀nd interesting things than my home country, Zimbabwe. Nzira means pathway or road in Shona, but I have always viewed it as a kind of metaphor for the pathway that opens up to you when you decide to jump into the unknown and go exploring. O昀琀en in life, repeated exposure can turn stunning sights into forgettable ones, for me as an outsider, I 昀椀nd it easy to see the beauty we all know this country has to o昀昀er. This issue, we walked the Nzira looking for these exciting experiences across the country; from Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park to the misty hills of Bvumba. A stroll through our capital, H-Town, had us enjoying some unforgettable tastes, whilst Ashleigh Whaley’s houseboat trip on the stunning Lake Kariba had me pining to book my next trip there immediately. Publisher Mike Garden mikeg@so昀琀rite.co.zw +263 (0) 772 209 162 Editor Adam Garden [email protected] Tel: 024 2782720 Advertising Rudo Nhamoinesu sales@so昀琀rite.co.zw Tel: 024 2782720 Editorial Assistant Nomsa Nyoni [email protected] Tel: 024 2782720 Design and Layout Tamuka Nyoni [email protected] +263 (0) 775 363 706 Printer Sable Press Unit 21-22 Blu昀昀hill Industrial Park Blu昀昀hill Harare Tel: 024 331 637/8, 331654 +263 (0) 772 525 076 DISCLAIMER Whilst every e昀昀ort is made to check the content of any article, the directors will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions in such articles. We accept that all articles and photographs sent to us are the sole responsibility of the authors and we do not accept liability for any misrepresentation. Events listed, the dates thereof, and prices are printed using information supplied to us that we are satis昀椀ed are correct at the time of printing. Nzira publication is the exclusive property of Ndeipi (Pvt) Ltd Media Use the QR code to visit our website for more articles. Nzira Cover Photo InfoNzira nziramagazine Nzira In our 15th issue we have made it our e昀昀ort to focus on a theme of conservation and sustainable tourism. With more and more negativity showing up around the world, our team is always looking to 昀椀nd the positive things that are happening around our beautiful country. One area that has become a massive problem in the past couple of years is climate change and the impact to the environment mostly caused by factors that are under human control. Ever ready to ‘make-a-plan’, many Zimbabwean people and businesses have stepped up and started making huge strides towards becoming more environmentally conscious and engaging sustainable ways to deliver tourism. We have decided to ask several of those people, players and businesses in the Zimbabwean tourism scene to share their stories and their e昀昀orts towards limiting the negative by-products that are ever present when we travel. Hopefully through sustained e昀昀ort, we can create a better community that properly considers the environment, animals and people that are a昀昀ected through the tourism sector. As ever, Zimbabwe continues to deliver a wide range of experiences and Shelley Cox brilliantly details some of the lesser known destinations that should be included in any traveller’s bucket list in 2020. I personally visited the bustling town of Victoria Falls which keeps expanding to suitably entertain its large number of visitors. We pro昀椀le the rebuilt Lookout Café and visit a new lodge in the suburbs; Shongwe Lookout. Our Visit to Hwange involved a luxury tented camp called the Hide and there I spotted an extremely rare sight involving the two lions featured on our cover. One of the best things to do in a busy life is to get away from it all for a weekend, and Mike Garden takes us to Madrugada, a cottage deep in the Eastern Highlands. Zimbabwe is teeming with all kinds of exciting places, just waiting for people to jump out of their comfort zone and explore them. I implore you to throw caution to the wind and go 昀椀nd your next interesting destination, and maybe something interesting will happen to you! Adam If you want to be a part of the pathway to the next NZiRA issue, please contact us [email protected] Contact us for subscriptions 024 2782720 Neil Fairlie The Hide, Hwange National Park Explore Zimbabwe NZ RA Editor's Le琀琀er

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8 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe Experience Victoria Falls 8 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 9 Shongwe Lookout s I stepped out of my short taxi trip to Shongwe Lookout, all I could think of was how I was about to be received considering I was over 3 hours early. It was December and I was half expecting to be sent back out to town into the heat but the Shongwe team had di昀昀erent ideas. To my great surprise, the sta昀昀 went all out to keep me happy. I hadn’t even blurted out my name before I was o昀昀ered an ice cold welcome drink and a comfortable seat away from the harsh Zimbabwean sun; their sta昀昀 well aware of the conditions a visitor to Victoria Falls would encounter. Before I knew it, I was walking to my room through the vibrant garden which had an assortment of birds singing out and a relaxed aura in comparison to the bustling Victoria Falls town. My room was a gem; a comfortable king size bed was the centrepiece and I could do nothing to stop myself from throwing myself onto it which made me want to cancel my entire a昀琀ernoon just to lie there. Fully air-conditioned, any negative feeling I had about the morning’s heat was quickly taken away and replaced with all the happy memories I had experienced visiting the Falls. The room was semi-open plan with the toilet tucked away in a separate corner room and the bathroom partially concealed by an artsy divider. Like a bride on her wedding day, the veil only added intrigue to the real beauty that lay behind it. The bathroom was modern and pristine - uniquely shaped sinks added a lovely touch of style to the large elegant bathtub and shower; its tiles made the whole bathroom a piece of art and I couldn’t take my eyes o昀昀 it. This room was a slice of heaven and bonus points given to the large 2L glass bottle that had replaced the single use water bottles – what a lovely touch! Shongwe Lookout, a lodge recently built in early 2019 boasts 23 new rooms, all exquisitely furnished and conveniently placed around their small garden plot. A well-stocked bar in the centre of the complex allows guests to enjoy a refreshing drink whilst taking in some sun next to the pristine in昀椀nity pool that sat alongside it. To me, there was nothing better than to sit next to it on their lovely sun beds and 昀椀nish o昀昀 my latest book. A Article Adam Garden Images Shongwe Lookout Experience Victoria Falls Tranquillity in the bustling town

10 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe The lodge’s most breathtaking feature is their masterpiece in the centre of the plot. It is a multi-platform structure which opens out to two levels both with 360° views of the surrounds. As I slowly ascended the lookout, I stopped to admire the walls which were covered in wonderful paintings by a local artist, Nicole Sanderson (who Nzira have featured on the adjoining page). Her art was as inspiring as the view that greeted me at the top. The lovely green surrounds of the Victoria Falls suburbs were seen for miles around me. The name Shongwe comes from a language local to the region which attributed the word to the rising mist coming o昀昀 the falls and you realise the lodge is aptly named when you see the very same mist from the falls climbing over the horizon. Forgetting your drink at the bar is no problem, as I soon found out. I gave a joyous little laugh as my gin and tonic was placed in a bucket and hoisted up via a rope and pulley; an ingenious novelty addition that put a smile on my face. But how could anyone be in a bad mood, enjoying the beautiful African sunset on this perfect viewpoint? My early 昀氀ight back to Harare the next day was no problem for their well organised sta昀昀 - I was the 昀椀rst one to breakfast but they were prepared and ready to take my order. O昀琀en the di昀昀erence between a mediocre stay and an enjoyable one are attentive and well trained sta昀昀 that anticipate guest’s needs and wants before the guests even know themselves. From the time I walked in to their lovely garden to the time I checked out, the sta昀昀 at Shongwe were absolutely delightful and treated all the guests with warmth and enthusiasm which made my already comfortable stay a little bit more special. The only downside to my stay at Shongwe turned out to be that I didn’t stay for long enough. Victoria Falls has become a bustling town with hundreds of things to keep active visitors busy. River cruises, white water ra昀琀ing, bungee jumping, gorge swinging, or visiting one of the many great spots for a tea and a sundowner, there is always something to do in Victoria Falls. One of the most underrated things an accommodation facility can o昀昀er is a comfortable location where their busy guests can look forward to taking some time o昀昀 and relaxing. Places like Shongwe Lookout obviously completely agree and really make Victoria Falls a delightful place to enjoy a group holiday or somewhere to take a quick break from the city life. Experience Victoria FallsNZ RA

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 11 he painting process is fascinating. Thousands of seemingly meaningless decisions of colour, direction of line, thickness of brush stroke, space and shapes. Hundreds of thousands of hours spent documenting life through the eyes of one human. Nicole Sanderson is an established Zimbabwean born artist, well known for her paintings of birds. She paints predominantly in oil paint on large canvases. Her primary choice of subject matter is Zimbabwean 昀氀ora and fauna but has a real eye for birdlife. Nicole grew up in a farming community in Nyazura, located in the Eastern Highlands on a commercial tobacco farm where she spent her childhood engrossed in nature, wildlife and farm life. She discovered her passion for painting from a very young age and when she was not at boarding school or exploring the wild, she was tucked up in her room drawing and painting. ‘It took me a long time to connect the dots of how my past experiences have so powerfully in昀氀uenced my work today and even longer to 昀椀nd comfort with my style. With no boundaries and vast open spaces, farm life allowed me to be with nature.’ Nicole has travelled and exhibited her work extensively since completing her degree in Savannah, GA, USA in 2006. She has spent time living and working in France, USA, China and various towns and cities in Southern Africa and now resides back in Zimbabwe with her husband and 5 year old daughter. She lives and works from her modest studio in Victoria Falls, bordering one of earths most beautiful waterfalls surrounded by bush, birds, wildlife and wonderful weather. It is no wonder there is constant source of inspiration that Nicole draws from. Nicole is as equally fascinated with birds and their behaviour as she is with the process of painting. ’The physical act of moving paint from a palette onto a canvas again and again, and watching what was a thought become a thing is incredibly ful昀椀lling. It is an intense form of therapy or meditation.’ She spends a great deal of time researching her subject matter but also allows creativity to be what it is. Anatomy is important but it is the memory of sound and the movement of the 昀氀ock of birds she is trying to capture in her paintings. Nicole says she feels a sense of detachment from her work once it is complete. ‘It is almost as if my body had to be present for my soul to do the work.’ Nicole has recently opened a small gallery located at the Shongwe Lookout in Victoria Falls. The gallery is located up a unique and distinctive 4 story viewing tower o昀昀ering you a stunning 360 degree view of Victoria Falls and the mighty Zambezi River. The tower welcomes you with walls covered in original somewhat contemporary paintings of birds in and amongst ilala palms, building nests or in 昀氀ock. Her paintings spiral up the well-lit tower where the quiet space allows you to fully engage and appreciate the balance of abstract and contemporary backgrounds and amazing attention to detail. Her striking bold colours and sometimes repetitive compositions create an interesting element of painterly design provoking an overall sense of calm. Moments captured which in nature pass in a 昀氀eeting moment. T Under the Spotlight Local artist Nicole Sanderson Imagine Images Nicole Sanderson NZ RA

12 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 13 he study of ecology believes that sustainability is ultimately achieved through an e昀昀ective balance of both species and resources within their environment. To maintain the equilibrium, available resources must not be depleted faster than they are naturally generated. Whilst the word “sustainable” has become frequently used in today’s world, the question of whether human societies will ever achieve environmental sustainability remains prominent. With continued human population growth and society’s ever increasing pursuit of unlimited resource usage for economic development - environmental degradation, climate change and the disappearance of important 昀氀ora and fauna from ecosystems will ultimately cause irreversible damage to the sustainability of future generations, causing untold problems to the well-being of human-kind. The travel industry is more dependent than most industries on the health of local communities, environments and cultures. With this knowledge in mind, the tourism industry in Zimbabwe has been taking giant leaps to ensure they are paving the way towards a more sustainable future for the country. Whilst there has been an increase in development and investment into tourism ventures over the last few years, a clear focus for both new and existing operators in the country has become about the longevity and well-being of the environments and the people. Article Shelley Cox Africa Albida Tourism (AAT), one of Zimbabwe’s longest standing operators having recently celebrated their 25th anniversary, have historically ascribed to an eco-conscious culture and incorporated “Green Steps to Sustainable Tourism” as part of their commitment, ethos and objectives. In 2018, AAT became the 昀椀rst o昀昀icial sponsor of the Victoria Falls Recycling project, an initiative spear-headed by well-known environmental conservationist Charlene Hewat of Greenline Africa Trust, and supported by Victoria Falls Municipality and PetrecoZim. Today Victoria Falls Recycling works with a diversity of stakeholders including hotels, lodges, residents and retailers to ensure a clean, healthy and safe environment is maintained in the country’s tourism hub. In its 昀椀rst 9 months of operating, Victoria Falls Recycling had collected an estimated 24 tonnes of waste to be recycled. Apart from improving the environmental cleanliness of the country’s tourism hub, the project has empowered several youth and women who have now been employed to run the initiative under the guidance of Greenline Africa Trust. In addition to this, majority of operators across the country have implemented policies to remove plastic water bottle distribution from their facilities and to their visitors, and have instead opted for the use of reusable bottles, implementing water puri昀椀cation systems into the properties, where guests are able to re昀椀ll their bottles with freshly 昀椀ltered water. There has been a substantial number of operators across the country who have shi昀琀ed across to the use of solar generated power in their establishments, ensuring a reduction of water usage, and a reduction in air pollution from fossil fuels, all e昀昀orts aimed at combatting climate change. As two new operators that have entered the sector in Zimbabwe in the last two years, both Great Plains Conservation and Machaba Safaris have from the outset ensured that their camps electricity needs come primarily from solar power, and that their reliance on power from fossil fuels is purely as a back-up. They join others, such as African Bush Camps, who in 2016, opened the refurbished Somalisa Camp in Hwange National Park, and in 2019 opened the Nyamatusi Camp in Mana Pools National Park, both of which are now fully powered by solar systems large enough to run their entire camp. In addition in both Zambezi National Park and Hwange National Park, a number of previously diesel-generator pumped waterholes have been converted to solar, many of which have been donated by visitors travelling to the country, or funded by stakeholders within the tourism sector, allowing for consistent and adequate water to be pumped to the surface for wildlife. Towards the end of 2019, in an e昀昀ort to encourage an increase in “o昀昀-the-grid’ power generation, the government revised its policy and removed import duties on solar-energy-related products, which has allowed both individuals and organisations to re-look at the potential of moving across to solar energy. Recycling Solar Energy An introduction to T Sustainable Tourism ©Tammi Walker ©Great Plains ©Great Plains Conserve Zimbabwe

14 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe An e昀昀ective way to combat climate change is implementing e昀昀ective reforestation programmes. A number of operators across the country are now actively involved in tree planting programmes and are working with communities in their surrounding regions in an e昀昀ort to regenerate forests and ensure adequate forest cover across the country. Children in the Wilderness have created the Zambezi Eco-club tree planting initiative, working with schools in both Zambia and Zimbabwe, creating Eco-mentors and Eco-clubs, where the children are given lessons on the importance of trees and how to plant them. Annually they conduct tree planting ceremonies at the schools, allowing the eco-clubs to put into practice what they have been learning. In addition, in Victoria Falls, Wild Horizons have initiated a tree planting programme, which allows for guests staying at their camps to positively contribute to the regeneration of the country’s landscape by planting an indigenous tree during their stay at the lodges. Greenline Africa Trust in collaboration with Shongwe Lookout, a new tourism operator to Victoria Falls, started the “Tree Gra昀昀iti” programme in 2019, encouraging all stakeholders to get involved in tree planting to increase forest cover in the Victoria Falls and surrounding areas. Jos Danckwerts from Wild Is Life, who are working in collaboration with the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe in the regeneration of the Panda Masuwe forest outside Victoria Falls, has also started TreeEco International (Pvt) Ltd, a Zimbabwe based company working with the Forestry commission to grow, plant and monitor indigenous and fruit tree species within Zimbabwe in an e昀昀ort to regenerate forests across the country. Another important aspect of sustainable travel is using tourism to ensure “stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services in host communities” and to contribute to poverty alleviation. Across the country, tourism stakeholders are focusing on greater collaboration with communities living on the borders of National Parks in an e昀昀ort to ensure they are bene昀椀ting from and working towards the protection of the country’s important wildlife areas. Imvelo Safari Lodges who have camps and lodges in Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park have been extremely proactive in their work with the local communities and through the CAMPFIRE programme. Over the past eight years, Imvelo have ploughed over USD 2.5 million into local communities, distributing it where it is needed most – through education, health-care, providing clean water, and developing initiatives to ensure the communities are directly bene昀椀ting from tourism. Since 2011, Imvelo have run an annual mobile dentist safari, hosting Spanish and Italian volunteer dentists, who have over the course of the last seven years performed an estimated 20,000 dental procedures to community members. In 2015, they incorporated eye doctors and specialists into the safari, and having successfully treated over 5,000 community members with optical care to date. Gonarezhou, down the south of the country is probably one of Zimbabwe’s most successful examples of conservation and community collaboration achievements. Renowned as one of the world’s leading conservationists, Clive Stockil from Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge, has been actively working in the area since the early 1980’s and has been instrumental in involving the communities in the transformation of Gonarezhou National Park. His e昀昀orts have further been enhanced by the partnership between Frankfurt Zoological Society and Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority under the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust. “Gonarezhou is unique. The work we have been doing here has transformed it for everyone living here. It has turned con昀氀ict into co-operation and everyone has bene昀椀ted. The Shangaan are happy, the Park is happy, and the wildlife is happy” says Clive. Travel brings us up close and personal to some of our planet’s most stunning natural wonders, and what is evident, is that travel also has the power to change places for the positive and enrich the lives of the people who live there. It is hopeful and reassuring to know that Zimbabwe’s tourism sector are engaging travellers and the local communities at large to support goals which include protecting the environment and our natural heritage, addressing climate change issues, minimising waste and plastic consumption whilst expanding economic development for the country. In addition, it is extremely promising that Zimbabwe’s new Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Honourable Nqobizitha M. Ndhlovu, appears to be taking a leading role in pushing and promoting for further sustainable practices to be established and to become a requirement of any and all new developments in the country. Reforestation Community Development and Empowerment projects In addition to implementing e昀昀ective recycling programmes, a number of camps, lodges and hotels are now looking into on-site or collaborative food waste management programmes, implementing natural compost gardens, which are then converted to worm farms for vermiculture projects, or are used for in-house vegetable gardens or tree growing projects. The Hide in Hwange National Park have been running a successful food waste compost programme for a couple of years which has been successfully used to not only feed their in-house vegetable and herb garden, but has also been used to train members from the community, under The Hide Community Trust, to implement similar projects into the communities in Dete, along the boundary of Hwange National Park. Ivory Lodge located in the Forestry area on the outskirts of Hwange National Park has also recently implemented their own food waste management compost programme, and an in-house vegetable garden. In Victoria Falls, Tour Operator Love For Africa in collaboration with an International organisation called Matters, have implemented a vermiculture and food waste management programme at the Victoria Falls Hospital, which is then used to feed the in-house nutrition / vegetable garden which is used to feed patients at the hospital. Waste Management ©Greenline Africa ©Africa Conservation Travel Conserve Zimbabwe NZ RA

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 15 Welcome to your Kingdom Article Adam Garden Images The Kingdom Hotel www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 15 Experience Victoria Falls

16 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe ulling into The Kingdom Hotel always puts a smile on your face as you are greeted by a host of men dressed in Ndebele tribal attire, amabhetshu. The warmth in which they greet any visitor to the hotel makes one feel like a king returning to his castle and the stunning architecture, which re昀氀ects the ancient Kingdom of Munhumatapa, does everything to try and convince you. The Kingdom is built with a man-made waterfeature that winds itself around the property, just like a moat, and as you make your way to the front door, you meet the number of Koi 昀椀sh that occupy it. As you step through the wide doorway, it feels as if you enter a completely separate realm with scores of activities taking place all around the main reception. Most of the comfortable rooms overlook the relaxing lake that settles in the midst of the hotel grounds, but you will never 昀椀nd yourself in your room; the real beauty of Kingdom is found in its shared spaces. Three bars and two restaurants call The Kingdom’s spacious building their home and each one provides it’s own special touch. Jumping in their massive pool, which is surrounded on all sides by sunbeds equipped with bath towels, is one of the most relaxing things to do in the middle of a hot a昀琀ernoon, but that is if you can tear yourself away from walking through the old-fashioned corridors that 昀椀ll their tall ceilinged spaces with gas lights and rich history. Traversing through the garden, the moat shows up all over and immediately I 昀氀ash back to when I was a kid and was running around Kingdom and running over its various bridges and pathways with a glorious smile on my face and wondrous possibilities in my eyes. I could see this very same astonishment on the eyes of a young child that was deep in his own imagination, running around the place pretending to be a warrior defending the castle. As I sat down around lunchtime, enjoying my fresh orange juice at the poolside bar, I was joined by an assortment of travellers all looking for the waterhole to quench their thirst. The Belgians were looking for a relaxing champagne to celebrate their morning and the Americans were proudly telling anyone they could 昀椀nd about the suburb, city, and state that they hailed from. Luckily, I was able to slip away to my poolside seat, but did later overhear that they were a massive group of travellers from an Ivy league business school and were visiting The Kingdom for a conference and a group tour of Victoria Falls. As they piled out of the conference rooms, I wondered whether their large numbers would start becoming a problem, but The Kingdom’s large grounds easily accommodated for them with enough space for the independent travellers. I almost forgot I was in Victoria Falls as I wasted away half the a昀琀ernoon taking in some sun and 昀椀nishing half my book – my sunbathing spot next to the pool far too comfortable to consider moving. In the late a昀琀ernoon, I decided to take a walk. “Location, location, location” as the saying goes and you won’t 昀椀nd a better one than The Kingdom. Less than a 750-metre walk to the Falls themselves, The Kingdom 昀椀nds its impressive structure right between them and the centre of town. Walking out of the gate, you are perfectly situated to explore the vibrant town and the local curio shops, cafés and activity hubs that area joy to visit in and around Victoria Falls town. That evening, as I waited for my dinner guest to join me, I took a quick walk around the gardens and over the illuminated bridges that spanned over the water-feature to revive those precious memories. Later, we were greeted by our server who had a wide smile on her face. “Just in time” she told us, and I was starting to guess that our dinner was not going to be just an ordinary meal. A beautiful bu昀昀et of exquisitely presented starters and nutritious main courses had me thinking about all the lovely plates I could potentially throw together. The commotion around the entrance was starting to buzz as I found my seat and my heart skipped a beat as the drums started and the nights entertainment presented itself. Ten tribal dancers, all exquisitely prepared began a show that took the imaginations of its viewers on a wild ride of authentic Zimbabwean dancing and singing. The entertainers sung for the entire hotel and their voices beautifully echoed through the hotel; several guests that were on their way out for the night just had to stop and admire the performance. A昀琀er a few renditions of local songs and a few internationally known classics, we decided to skip dessert and see what entertainment the town had to o昀昀er. We had walked only 20 metres out of the front door before we found some; The Kingdoms very own Makasa Sun Casino. Much later that night, I returned and realised what a grave mistake skipping dessert was. Thankfully The Kingdom always tries to deliver and this time it was their 24/7 room service which came to the rescue– what a treat! The Kingdoms goal is to take its guests on a magical, mystical experience and this was done before I entered its walls and will stick with me long a昀琀er I le昀琀 them. P Experience Victoria Falls NZ RA

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 17 Experience Victoria Falls

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 19 Flying free! Article Dave Dalziel Images Dave Dell & Chris Collyer wo quintessential bird species of Zimbabwe`s diverse habitats are the Southern Ground Hornbill which can be frequently seen walking about on the ground foraging in our National Parks and the Saddlebilled Stork, a spectacular bird to see along the shores of many of our dams. The Southern Ground Hornbill is widespread in its distribution but only at a low density. They occur from Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through to South Africa. In Zimbabwe, the largest numbers occur in the major river systems and in the south-east Lowveld with Mana Pools having one of the highest densities of Southern Ground Hornbill in the world. They have an interesting breeding strategy in that; a group will have a dominant breeding pair and the rest of the group will help raise the chick. The Southern Ground Hornbill lays 1 – 3 eggs but starts sitting as soon as the 昀椀rst egg is laid. This means that the chicks hatch a few days apart. The younger chick or chicks are unable to compete for food and usually soon die. In other countries, one of the initiatives to boost Southern Ground Hornbill numbers is to take the younger chicks and raise them in captivity. These birds will be kept in a group and be released into the wild in due course. They do not breed every year and a large proportion of chicks do not reach adulthood so it takes a long time for a population to grow. Once they have become adults they can probably live for over thirty years. Southern Ground Hornbills are listed as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List and threats include habitat alteration through intensive farming or large human populations. They are susceptible to poisoning while foraging so the use of pesticides can have serious consequences for the birds in farming areas. T There is some direct persecution because they can be a problem when they break windows, probably, when they see their re昀氀ection. They are generally well regarded by Zimbabwean people but in some of their range they are sometimes killed for traditional remedies. The Saddle-billed Stork, on the other hand, is widespread in Africa, ranging from Senegal to Somalia and south to eastern South Africa. They are a monogamous species and may pair for life. They are territorial, particularly during the breeding season, with pairs staying in an area for many years. Immature birds can move long distances a昀琀er becoming independent. Saddle-billed Storks can lay up to four eggs. The eggs take four to 昀椀ve weeks to hatch and the nestling period can be up to three months. Like a lot of larger birds, they do not breed every year. BirdLife Zimbabwe (BLZ) is a locally-based registered, not-for-pro昀椀t Nature Conservation Organisation promoting the survival of birds and biodiversity in Zimbabwe for both their intrinsic value and for the enjoyment of future generations. This is achieved through programs to raise awareness of the need to protect the natural ecosystems inhabited by Zimbabwe`s birds and wildlife which we, humans are an intrinsic part of, through policy, advocacy, education, research and training. As such, we would be very interested to hear of any sightings of either of these species. The sort of information needed includes locality and numbers. Information like age, sex and activity are very useful. For more info email: [email protected] Explore Zimbabwe The construction of large dams in Zimbabwe has probably bene昀椀tted Saddle-billed Stork and they can o昀琀en be found on Lake Kariba. Unfortunately reports of birds caught in 昀椀shing net or having net wrapped around their bills is becoming more frequent. Many 昀椀shing nets are discarded when they are too torn to be useful and are le昀琀 in dams or on the shore. Larger birds like African Fish Eagles and Saddle-billed Storks are o昀琀en able to 昀氀y with quite big pieces of net attached to them. They then land in trees and the net gets tangled on the branches. Again, these larger birds are o昀琀en able to break free but the net is now perfectly placed to catch small birds, such as Barbets and Orioles and Bulbuls. NZ RA

20 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe 20 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe Safari Hwange

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 21 A stone’s throw away from Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park stands mightily in the western part of Zimbabwe. With over 14,600 Square kilometres to its name, it claims the title of the nation’s largest national park. Its area is also widely acclaimed to hold one of the largest populations of elephants in the whole of Africa. Accompanying them are huge herds of bu昀昀alo and all the plains antelope that you could imagine. Naturally, where there’s prey, there will be predators and Hwange is no di昀昀erent. Cheetah, leopard, lion, hyena, painted dog and many other species are o昀琀en found within in the park. Hwange is also recognised as a big 5 destination, which means if you are exceptionally lucky, you will 昀椀nd rhino here. Zimbabweans have o昀琀en acknowledged Hwange National Park as a must-see and this issue I was lucky enough to stay at The Hide, a luxury tented camp perfectly set up of the eastern border of the park. e had just pulled over to sign out of The Hide’s conservancy, when our stopped engine allowed us a chance to hear the sounds of the bush. We had spent our short drive from the camp identifying some of the 400 species of birds that called Hwange home. In our silence, the o昀琀en heard “work har-der” call of the Cape turtle dove was ever present but interrupted by a far-o昀昀 series of low-pitched grumbles. Very tongue-in-cheek, I asked my extremely patient and competent guide what I had already asked a dozen times that a昀琀ernoon “Now what bird was that Nkosi?”. This was no bird he had ever heard, but de昀椀nitely worth taking a look at, I was told assuredly. My game drive into the public area of Hwange National Park had therefore lasted all of the 60 seconds it took for the exquisitely well-maintained 4WD Land Cruiser to complete its’ standard 5-point turnaround. As we took the road back, about 200m from where I’d be resting my head that night, we heard the grunts again; this time far closer and more recognisable as three separate roars. As we rounded some trees, we found our noisy culprits – a young male lion exchanging greetings with a pair of lionesses on a large open clearing. It was nearing 5pm which put the sun still relatively high in the sky, and the roars curiously out of place for such a time. It had seemed that this young lion had stumbled across the two ladies and interrupted their quality a昀琀ernoon naptime. The young male had stopped 20 metres short of the lionesses that were resting under the shade of an acacia; he sat bathed in sunlight, square in middle of the clearing, probably a result of the females conversing earlier that they could see him just 昀椀ne from there. The two lionesses continued their a昀琀ernoon siesta, casually eyeing their male counterpart and completely apathetic towards our vehicle that had slowly made its way toward their resting place. “The lion does not concern itself with the opinion of the sheep” as the saying went, and I had never felt more sheepish at the sight of these grand majestic creatures. The young male lion was an intruder, Nkosi told me as we sat and watched in the last of the a昀琀ernoon sun. Nkosi was expecting another when he heard the calls; an older, stronger and much more dominant male that had been seen around these parts of Hwange. The lion we were seeing however was less than 4 years old, still relatively young, his mane was only just starting to come through. Regardless, the King of the Jungle was away and the young prince had obviously come to try and make an impression on the two females. All three of them started to pant, their heat-shedding breathing almost shook the very air around me. As the African sun raged on throughout the late a昀琀ernoon, the heat had started to get to the young male, he decided to lay his head down, naturally averting his gaze from the inert females. Without any audible word or warning, the older lioness quietly sprung to her feet and started to stalk over to the unaware lion’s le昀琀 昀氀ank. A few moments later, the second lioness joined her and approached his right. It took a few moments before the resting lion brought himself back to alertness. It was almost too late, the females were now both behind and ahead of him; “clever girls”, I thought to myself. His retaliatory roar was much more like a whimper as they descended upon him. A couple of swipes were exchanged with their powerful front legs; a test to see what the young male would do. All he could do was bare his teeth and submissively lie back down in a threatened position. The young male had failed to assert himself and the two ladies were hardly impressed. They turned their back on him and wandered over to what they thought was much more interesting; a sni昀昀 of a three-week-old elephant carcass – better luck next time young man. Hiding out in Hwange Article Adam Garden Images The Hide & Adam Garden Feature W Safari Hwange

22 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe As the sun began to set, the lionesses hit the watering hole and so did I; Nkosi handed me my refreshing sundowner. I sipped my Gin and Tonic with a wide, satis昀椀ed smile on my face; it was not every day you got to see lions at all, let alone see them challenge one another. Their size, quickness and teamwork were truly awe inspiring to me. We watched the picturesque orange and red African sun set behind the gorgeous landscape of what was now solely the lionesses’ watering hole. No other creature dared to come close. A couple of soaring gira昀昀es gazed curiously over to the life-giving water but instinct was obviously telling them that a drink was not worth tri昀氀ing with these fearsome beasts. As we arrived back in camp, I was greeted with a refreshment and a group of tourists full of envy a昀琀er I told them what I had seen. I sarcastically commiserated with them by pointing out that I was still yet to see an elephant. Their facial reaction to my joke was as French as the language they responded to me in - if I had to have a guess at a translation, it would have been a serious “you just can’t please everyone”. As I retreated to my luxury tent that resided under a dense cover of acacia trees, I re昀氀ected; Hwange really could please everyone that came here. A big 5 destination, scores of game, a bird-lovers paradise; Hwange was the perfect place to experience the bush, and The Hide would turn out to be the perfect camp to do it from. Awaiting my return, my room was beautifully laid out; a massive king size bed set up perfectly in-front of a large meshed window. The view? A delightful little open balcony that did nothing to obstruct the open vlei in front of the tent – I already knew where I was going to read my book the next day. The tent was immaculate and had everything you would need. Even in comparison to a luxury hotel room, the room was extremely comfortable. It was the middle of December, and one of those annoyingly hot days that grace us in Zimbabwe, but the room was refreshingly cool owing largely to the dense tree cover above the tent, the polished concrete 昀氀oors and the great ventilation – I didn’t even touch my fan. Ever so, my intensely interesting a昀琀ernoon had made me forget to reapply sunscreen and my usually pasty white arms were now red and screaming at me for making such an obvious mistake. As I was just about to jump into a nice cold shower that was a part of the newly installed bathroom, I gave my spacious tent a quick look around to make sure no cheeky baboons or hyenas were waiting to greet me later. Passing my balcony, I found a second door in my tent – what other secrets could this lavish tent hold? I walked through a perfectly 昀椀tted door to 昀椀nd a gorgeous outdoor bathroom. The spotless bath perfectly set up with a view of the surrounds and a cold shower best enjoyed in the last light of the day. It was evident that The Hide had come to the same conclusion I had about Hwange and decided this part of the earth was well worth investing their time and e昀昀ort into. Safari Hwange 22 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 23 As I sat waiting for the dinner drums to be called, I marvelled from my balcony at the planning that must have gone on to make each room completely and utterly private whilst still enjoying the breathtaking uninterrupted views from both the outdoor bathroom and the balcony. Suddenly, the sound of a massive tree branch snapped o昀昀 close to the le昀琀 of my tent and froze me in my place. My hosts had told me to retreat to the safety of my tent if I thought there were any wild animals around, I cheekily sat in place as I knew that what was coming was something big - I was about to 昀椀nally see one of my favourite animals that had so far eluded me. I could almost feel the ground shake as this stranger led her matriarchy 20 metres away from my balcony. The Hide operates out of a private concession within the eastern section of Hwange National Park. Hwange Main Camp is a lovely drive from Victoria Falls beset on both sides by large trees that line the road 10 metres on either side. It is roughly 250km of which you will be on the lookout for elephants and other animals likely to show their face. The Hide is roughly 45 minutes further into the park, quite easily accessible via dirt road with a 4WD vehicle but transfers are also easily arranged. The Hide also organises air transfers from Victoria Falls airport with light aircra昀琀 servicing the Hwange National Park and Umsthibi airstrips. The Hide has 10 luxury tents that comfortably cater for nearly any group in complete privacy. Exquisitely furnished, all tents are equipped with en-suite bathrooms and have a variety of outdoor bathroom setups. Two honeymoon rooms are available which include the luxurious outside bath that I wrote about. The Hide also caters for larger groups with the availability of Tom's Little Hide and The Private Hide which are two exclusive options for small groups and families that allow you a separate section of the camp to enjoy in peace. If your wonderful room is not wild enough for you, The Dove’s Nest is an opportunity to hide out in a treehouse in the conservancy which is wild as it gets whilst still providing luxury bedding. The Hide also places a large importance on the development of community and conservation programs and established The Hide Community Trust programme which aims to provide sustainable programs of education, agriculture, food, security, income generation and conservation. The lack of plastic in camp is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the amount of e昀昀ort The Hide has put into sustainability. Small farms, cattle bomas, weekly workshops, and recycling projects are meaningful projects that help the local community, but they also support education initiatives such as purchasing educational materials and paying teachers’ salaries. The Hide has been operating for over 27 years and remains an outstanding option for anyone looking for life-changing safari experiences in the luxury and comfort of an exquisite tented camp. Reservations: +263 (4) 498835/6 | +263 (77) 472 4412 | [email protected] Guided more by memory than the moonlight, Africa’s largest animal completely ignored me as she took what looked like leaping bounds to quench her thirst at The Hide’s very own watering hole. The mighty Elephant had 昀椀nally decided to show herself to my great delight. With the sound of the drums, I followed her general direction to our dinner table and enjoyed dinner watching as scores of her parade followed in behind her. Dinner could have been dirt served with seawater, I wouldn’t have cared, but it was a delightful assortment of carefully cooked meats, served with a wine pairing from The Hide’s very own wine cellar. Even the French guests were suitably impressed, I could tell by the tiny smile on their faces –probably as good as you were going to get from them. With my belly full, my compliments to the chef and my wine still in hand, I 昀椀nally decided to descend into the eponymous hide. A set of stairs brought me to a 30m long tunnel that led straight to the very same waterhole that about a hundred elephants were drinking from. As I sat there, the moonlight shone down on these grand creatures that must have been less that 5 metres away from me. Even if I had the skills to take a photograph then, it wouldn’t have been able to do justice to the feeling of being that close. This was just something that had to be seen to be understood and I sat there for close to an hour enjoying this unbelievable view. I slept almost exactly as my head hit my pillow that night; ready for the adventure that day 2 at The Hide was sure to avail. Safari Hwange NZ RA

24 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe n an age where chefs are regularly compared to artists and philosophers, food has become an exercise in high aesthetics. But the Wild Horizons Lookout Café is at the vanguard of eateries using their environment as a springboard for the menu and design. The restaurant is cloaked in a sense of awe ordinarily reserved for great mountains and lakes. While other places merely appear on the map, the Wild Horizons Lookout Café dictates the route, enticing people onto the edge where they resolutely arrive to see if it is as outstanding as the reviews promise. It is. Before a 昀椀re reduced this magni昀椀cent eatery to rubble and ruin, The Lookout Café was showered in accolades and attention, with rave reviews and liberal use of words such as ‘spectacular’ and ‘staggering’. When it reopened on the 1st of December 2019, Victoria Falls felt complete once more as people swarmed onto the rim of the gorge to marvel at the view, the décor and the menu. Quirky cocktails tease with their rapid inspired names; sometimes silently sipped while people gaze into the natural crevice they are perched above, and sometimes excitedly slurped in-between chatter as people explore the mosaic of Zimbabwean art that dresses the interior. People do not walk into the Lookout Café, they are summoned forth by a magnetising presence that tugs them from the doorway to the edge, stealing their voice and melting a dazed expression into their faces as they take in the sheer drop below. When they eventually turn around, there is a 昀氀ash of confusion as they ponder how they missed the towering black and white portraits, the greenery erupting from wooden pots and spilling down the wall, the rusty red framing around the doorway and the beaming faces of waitresses, baristas and bartenders, who have become well accustomed to the e昀昀ect their restaurant has on guests. The pictures, lights and monuments alone would evoke untold volumes of reverie, but when coupled with the jaw dropping view and exquisite food, the entire experience becomes almost ethereal. The menu is the apex of the experience. Earthy yet re昀椀ned, it honours locally sourced ingredients from around Zimbabwe and the daring scenery just a glance away from the kitchen window. The dishes are deceivingly simple, but that is the legacy Head Chef France Moyo aspires to create – the idea that great cooking is about elevating the essential taste of each individual ingredient. Classic dishes like a Caprese salad have been subtly upgraded with thoughtful additions, such as a shot of gazpacho. Simple proteins like beef mignon are elevated with a sophisticated thyme and rosemary glaze. Very little is added to the main ingredient. A knob of burnt butter, a ladle of stock or a pinch of micro herbs, each painstakingly selected and experimented with to enhance the 昀氀avours of each meal. It is impossible to pinpoint the main event, the climax, of the Wild Horizons Lookout Café experience. The new Lookout Café reopened at the end of 2019 and it has fast become a must-see again to anyone visiting Victoria Falls with a spectacular view and splendid food and drink accompanying its fantastic aura. We recently spent an a昀琀ernoon there and asked Jessica White from Wild Horizons to introduce the rebuilt café to our readers. We could not recommend it more! Editor’s Note Article Jessica White Images Lesanne Photography What 's New In Zimbabwe The Lookout Café I Taste Victoria Falls 24 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 25 It is better described as a perpetual series of interludes. The word interlude connotes both a pause in time and a main event, like a show performed during theatre intermission. A little pause that is in fact an act in itself. The 昀椀rst glimpse of the view. The catch of your breath as you watch people on the highwire adventures leaping from platforms, 昀氀ying in a space ordinarily occupied by birds alone. It is the brief eyelid 昀氀utter as you taste your 昀椀rst morsel of the meal. It is the frozen smiles that don’t disappear with the click of your camera. You might go for a threecourse meal, or to share a bottle of wine with friends, or even for a quick frothy cappuccino. The amount of time spent there does not detract from the amount of time you will spend thinking about the café. Social media is the modern age megaphone for word of mouth, and anyone who has been to the café shouts into it. While it may sound too spectacular to be true, it is also too creative to be made up. Curiosity lures guests to the restaurant and glorious incredulity keeps them there. The iconic structure would stand its ground amidst the dining supergiant’s in culinary destinations like Barcelona, Tokyo and New York, but nowhere else could recreate the experience, because nowhere else has the medley of aspects that express the eatery. The food, the view, and the hospitality come together in a harmonious choir and strike a chord that resonates in all who have been there. The Wild Horizons Lookout Cafe was not just a business venture. It was an epiphany, brought from imagination to reality by a team of people who achieved what many thought was impossible. Visit thelookoutcafe.com (083) 2844571 Taste Victoria Falls www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 25 NZ RA

26 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe Zimbabwe has become renowned across the world as one of the ultimate destinations to visit in Africa, due to the diversity of landscapes and wildlife which we are privileged to have as part of our natural heritage. For so many Zimbabweans however, the opportunity to visit our own National Parks is often overlooked or seemingly out of reach. A large portion of people visiting and living in Zimbabwe often fail to explore our vast landscape simply due to lack of knowledge of what is available to them. We at Nzira feel that everyone should get out and explore our country’s environment, rich history and immense diversity. A trip down the lesser travelled path will allow us to establish an increased pride in the great variety we have to offer those who visit our country as well as being able to understand the beauty of what we will eventually leave to our children and our grandchildren. Shelley Cox profiles 5 of Zimbabwe’s lesser known gems which should be on everyone’s bucket list in Zimbabwe: Running alongside the Mozambican border for an estimated 300km, is the Eastern Highlands. A mountainous area of spectacular beauty unlike any other in Zimbabwe the highlands provide stunning views of rolling hills, lush green forests, rugged peaks, deep gorges, cascading waterfalls, misty valleys, and glistening lakes and rivers. Here the areas of Nyanga, Chimanimani and the Vumba mountains present a paradise for those who love cooler weather and the various activities such as hiking, trail-running, birding, gol昀椀ng, and horse-riding that are common throughout the region. Accommodation in the region is varied from the large long-standing Leopard Rock Hotel, to the recently refurbished Aberfoyle Lodge, and a number of boutique guest houses, bed and breakfasts, and self-catering mountain cottages. Major attractions include a visit to the Mutarazi Falls SkyWalk and Skyline, Zimbabwe's highest peak, Mount Nyangani, Nyangwe ruins but don’t be surprised if you 昀椀nd yourself touring the tea estates, white-water ra昀琀ing and kayaking, tree canopy tours, and if you are in the Vumba a visit to Tony’s co昀昀ee shop is a must! The Eastern Highlands are a joy to hike, but make sure you’re carrying an accurate map and someone knows where you’re going The Eastern Highlands are much colder and receive signi昀椀cantly more rain than the rest of the country. During the rainy months of November through to April, some roads become inaccessible so be aware if you are self-driving. Gonarezhou National Park The Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe 1 2 The park experiences a • Short dry winter season: June and July, • Hot rainy summer season: November to April, and access to certain parts of the park are restricted and visitors should consult with the ZimPark’s o昀昀ices before undertaking game drives • The remainder of the months are generally hot and dry. During the rainy season (November to April) some roads become inaccessible so be aware if you are self-driving. Wild, rugged scenery stretching over an area of an estimated 5,000 square kilometres, Gonarezhou remains one of Zimbabwe’s least visited gems and a haven for a diversity of wildlife. Translating as the “place of many elephants”, Gonarezhou is fast becoming one of Zimbabwe’s conservation success stories and is worth a visit for those interested in exploring what our country’s parks have to o昀昀er. For those wanting to experience the park with a bit of comforts and luxury, Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge sits on the edge of the park, and has expert guides on hand to share all that the park has to o昀昀er both landscape and wildlife wise. For the more adventurous self-drive explorers, The Gonarezhou Conservation Trust has established a variety of accommodation options available; remote wilderness campsites with little to no facilities, comfortable chalets at Swimuwini (also known as Mabalauta), tented camps at Chipinda Pools, and even a starbed experience on the Malugwe Platform. With an estimated 89 mammal species (including elephant, bu昀昀alo, eland, nyala, lion, leopard, wild dog amongst others) and an estimated 400 bird species, Gonarezhou’s wildlife numbers have been on a continual steady increase with its enhanced protection through the e昀昀orts of the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust. In addition, one of the most prominent and enduring natural features of the park is the spectacular Chilojo Cli昀昀s. These magni昀椀cent red sandstone cli昀昀s which stretch for an estimated 30km, have been formed through eons of erosion and overlook the scenic Runde River Valley below. Article Shelley Cox Zimbabwe’s 5 Lesser Known Gems ©Chris Collyer ©Mike Garden Editor’s Note Explore Zimbabwe

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 27 Currently under rehabilitation through a partnership between National Park Rescue and ZimParks, Chizarira National Park is fast on the road to becoming one of Zimbabwe’s most sought a昀琀er destinations. Remote and away from the main tourist routes, Chizarira is probably the least known, and yet most diverse in terms of its di昀昀erent ecological zones within the park, ranging from lowveld valley vegetation with mopane forests and baobabs, to highveld broad-leaf miombo woodlands. It is without a doubt one of the most mysterious, dramatic and remote wilderness areas with spectacular landscapes and breathtaking views. Road grading has been underway for the past year and new road developments, including 4 x 4 routings for varying levels of experience, are in the pipeline. The airstrip has been refurbished and the Mucheni viewpoint and Mucheni Gorge campsites have had a faceli昀琀 and now have running water and toilet facilities. For self-drive adventurers this should be top of your list in 2020 of places to visit. It is fairly remote, but it is well worth it once you are there. Visiting Chizarira has never been about seeing large herds of animals, it has been about appreciating it’s pristine wilderness and biodiversity, savouring the epic landscapes and absorbing the incredible tranquillity which the park o昀昀ers. Located a mere 40 minutes from Bulawayo, lies the spiritual landscape of Matobo National Park. Matobo is translated as ‘Bald Heads’ and were formed over 2 billion years ago with granite being forced to the surface, that has eroded to produce smooth “whaleback dwalas” and broken kopjes, strewn with balancing boulders and interspersed with thickets of vegetation. Established in 1926, Matobo National Park is the oldest in Zimbabwe, and due to exhibiting “a profusion of distinctive landforms rising above the granite shield that covers much of Zimbabwe”, as well as being an area of important ecological and cultural signi昀椀cance, Matobo Hills was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. Accommodation is varied from the high and mid-end lodges such as Amalinda and Big Cave Camp, to more a昀昀ordable options such as Matobo Hills Lodge, The Farmhouse and the recently refurbished National Park chalets. The hills are vibrant with birding life, a large assortment of eagles, including the spectacular African Hawk Eagle and Martial Eagles as well as various owls that call the caves and ledges their home. The valleys within the hills are home to a number of wildlife species including, sable, zebra and other antelope species, and occasionally one may be lucky enough to encounter the rare elusive leopard. Game drives, rhino tracking, walking safaris and rock art / cave painting site visits are the most prominent activities on o昀昀er in Matobo National Park, and the park has good access year round regardless of seasons. Chizarira National Park Matobo National Park 3 4 During the rainy season months from November to April, many of the roads become challenging so it is advisable to check with National Parks before planning your visit. ©Tamuka Nyoni ©Tamuka Nyoni ©National Park Rescue ©National Park Rescue Explore Zimbabwe

28 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe Hidden in the shadow of the majestic Victoria Falls, many are unaware of the surprising wildlife experiences that Zambezi National Park has to o昀昀er. Divided into two sections by the main tar road between Victoria Falls and Botswana (Kazangula) – the park essentially o昀昀ers two di昀昀ering experiences. The Zambezi River Game Drive, has an extensive network of roads along the river accessed through the main gate of the Park, allowing for views of the Zambezi river and riverine vegetation along its course. In the southern part of the park, the 25 kilometre Chamabondo Game Drive, which begins about 5 kilometres outside of Victoria Falls town (just o昀昀 the main road to Bulawayo) allows for one to traverse an open grassland, which was once an ancient river line. The roads are in reasonable condition, but please note that they do close sections of the park a昀琀er heavy rains. A wide variety of larger mammals are found within Zambezi National Park including elephant, lion, bu昀昀alo, gira昀昀e, zebra and leopard. In addition, large antelope are o昀琀en seen such as sable, eland, kudu, waterbuck as well as many of the smaller species of game can be viewed. For those with a keen interest in walking safaris, there are some incredible guides available who will take you along the inland spring-lines for some incredible encounters and views of this relatively unappreciated landscape. Thanks to the e昀昀orts of ZimParks, Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit, Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Bhejane Trust and other tourism stakeholders, the Zambezi National Park has managed to ensure this important wildlife habitat has been preserved and as a result, the wildlife numbers have bounced back over the course of the last few years. Due to its close proximity to Victoria Falls, accommodation options are endless and include high-end luxury camps, hotels, boutique guest lodges, selfcatering and camping options. For those seeking advice or wanting to explore options which are within your budget, reach out to local tour operators on the ground who would happily help plan your safari experience and your exploration of our country’s natural wonders. Look out for local specials as the tourism industry regularly advertise specials for Zimbabweans in an e昀昀ort to assist with more cost e昀昀ective options for people to be able to appreciate their own heritage. Zambezi 5 National Park ©Rudo Nhamoinesu ©Rudo Nhamoinesu Explore Zimbabwe NZ RA

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30 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe It isn’t every day that you 昀椀nd John Stevens at home, but today we 昀椀nd him on his veranda with a cup of tea, marvelling at the birdlife in the garden and happy to be back in Zimbabwe a昀琀er a long stint away; 昀椀rst a few weeks in America for a roadshow, a fundraising event for the Zambezi Elephant Fund and then on safari in Kenya with long-time friends and clients. John Stevens is a safari guide like no other. His warmth and boyish charm belie his formidable knowledge and understanding of wildlife and the bush. And you can’t talk to John about guiding and wildlife without also talking about conservation. Concern for some time about continuing threats to Zimbabwe’s elephant population (the second largest in the world), mainly from poaching, is what initially lead him and his wife, Nicci, along with other individuals, to form the Zambezi Elephant Fund (ZEF). Starting almost 昀椀ve years ago, ZEF operates as a home-grown support for on-the-ground anti-poaching e昀昀orts and Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks). Mana Pools National Park in the Zambezi Valley (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the Middle Zambezi Biosphere Reserve) is John’s spiritual home. It’s the place he knows and loves best, having once been park warden there, but also where he most likes to work. Here, he guides safari clients, walking with them in what is one of the world’s last remaining true wilderness areas. It is here that the Zambezi Elephant Fund began working with its alliance partners, (these include Zambezi Society, The Tashinga Initiative, Kariba Animal Welfare Fund Trust, Matusadona AntiPoaching Project, Flying for Wildlife and Bushlife Support Unit), forming a unique partnership between the private sector and ZimParks and each collaborating with a common desire to protect our country’s natural heritage. The support of ZimParks remains a primary concern of ZEF, and ranger welfare a core component of its operations. Zimbabwe’s Precious Parks A look at the necessity of sustainability from a guide’s perspective Article Zambezi Elephant Fund ©Robin Pope Safaris Images Tim Marks & Robin Pope Safaris Conserve Mana Pools

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 31 ©Tim Marks Conserve Mana Pools

32 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe With ZEF’s evolution, a focus on the “bigger picture” is essential in terms of conserving and growing habitats, supporting local communities, monitoring and combating illegal wildlife crime. Overall, we want to bring global attention to what should be one of the world’s most treasured ecosystems. From the perspective of a safari guide, John understands, of course, that tourism plays a vital part in supporting sustainable conservation e昀昀orts, not just in the Zambezi Valley, but across Zimbabwe. Every foreign visit increases understanding, brings awareness and helps support the local travel sector, whilst boosting tourism-related employment and spreading the word about one of Africa’s most beautifully diverse countries. But for John, his idea of sustainable tourism and conservation starts closer to home. “So many Zimbabweans have never seen animals in the wild. For some, the national parks are out of reach, due to transport logistics and costs, and I’d love to see this change. As Zimbabweans, we can be extremely proud of our wildlife and landscapes. We need to work harder towards ensuring that every Zimbabwean has access to and can experience our wonderful wildlife and appreciate how important and special it is.” In line with this, and to extend the conservation footprint, the Zambezi Elephant Fund has helped connect a small group of young Zimbabwean professionals. Each are in 昀椀elds as varied as they are interesting, all have diverse skills and backgrounds, and altogether they are concerned about conservation, passionate about wildlife and in helping where they can. Through social media support, engaging new audiences through radio and 昀椀lm, networking with each other, exchanging views, debating hot topics and sharing thoughts and experiences, the group is also working with ZEF towards “bringing Zimbabwe to Zimbabweans” through education and awareness. “Conservation in Zimbabwe is sustainable if the value of it is understood and appreciated.” If Zimbabweans can bene昀椀t from being aware of and protecting wildlife and habitats, either through income, experience, education or wellbeing, then we can say we are on our way to sustainable conservation success.” For more information about ZEF’s work, please visit www.zambezielephantfund.org or write to [email protected]. Follow ZEF on b @zambezi_elephant_fund @zambezielephantfund v ©Tim Marks Conserve Mana Pools NZ RA

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34 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe eading o昀昀 to Lake Kariba for a houseboat trip is always a worthy cause for huge excitement, and this year it was no di昀昀erent for our household. Loads of preparation was required, as we would need to account for all our food, 昀椀shing tackle and fuel for our week long trip. Our great friends, the Hovercra昀琀’s, were joining us for the trip, which added to the excitement stemming from my husband, Douglas and my two young kids, Paula Joy and Murray John. As we loaded up our double cab the 昀椀rst morning of our trip, the 昀椀rst rains arrived on the farm which put us all in a remarkably good mood for 5am. The early start is almost mandatory on a trip to Kariba to avoid the trucks heading for Zimbabwe’s northern border and hit the lake with enough time to spare. With all the rain around, our car kept a cool temperature and made our 5 hour trip extremely comfortable. As we arrived at the harbour, the excitement in the car was palpable - we couldn’t wait to get out onto the lake and start what is always a magical holiday. A few trips in the speedboat to load the houseboat and we were quickly away, setting out across the expanse of Lake Kariba. Finally, we were able to relax and take in the stunning views of the lake. Kariba sunsets are a marvel to see and as we were anchoring up for our 昀椀rst night, we were rewarded with the beautiful orange and yellow skyline. The houseboat was being moored against the shore at Elephant Point, and immediately the 昀椀shing rods were dropped in. The kids had spent the whole a昀琀ernoon practicing setting up the 昀椀shing rods and had become quite pro昀椀cient at it. A full moon followed soon a昀琀er and we couldn’t resist sleeping under the stars on the top deck of the houseboat; one of Kariba’s indescribable moments (thankfully there was a lovely breeze to keep the mosquitoes away). Dawn arrives around 4.30 am at Kariba, which meant an early start for everyone. The children were not worried as the early morning meant it was time to start 昀椀shing again. The speed boats headed out around 6 am to try to catch some bream, but returned with a few squeakers and one small tiger 昀椀sh instead - oops, not a great start! A昀琀er a late breakfast we headed o昀昀 to the Umi River; a three hour trip. The houseboat is always a lively place, especially when 昀椀lled with children. Board games, books and handstands kept the children busy, but the excitement of the day was a quick noisy swim in the deep waters of the lake to cool o昀昀*. These are indeed special bonding times for everyone. The peace and tranquillity of the Umi River always amazes me. Such a beautiful place, away from Wi-Fi and other boats. The Gubu River is a tributary which runs into the Umi River and is always one of the 昀椀rst places we go to. The river has dried up a great deal so we had to moor closer to the main river. The 昀椀shing continued to be poor, due to the muddy waters. However, on day three, Murray John managed to catch two bream 昀椀sh for his supper; a wonderful reward for hours of hopeful 昀椀shing. Each day we moved the houseboat to another scenic spot and this time we went closer to the main lake, where the water was clearer. Fishing is a real test of patience and this year was the 昀椀rst in many to provide a real challenge. Nevertheless, our 昀椀shermen were determined to 昀椀nd some bream which had eluded us so far. H Day four proved to be just as disappointing in the 昀椀shing department as the earlier days, as we only managed to catch a few squeaker 昀椀sh. Thankfully, Kariba never lets you down, there is always a sight to be seen and today it was some magical bird life. We 昀椀nished our day watching two pairs of 昀椀sh eagles scour the lake at sundown; their magical calls almost as beautiful as the giant bird itself. Following a late breakfast the next day, the children went scorpion hunting with Tony, a professional guide. There is always an adventure to be found when surrounded by unspoiled nature! Once the hunt was over, the children dipped their rods in the river as we began to set o昀昀 for our next mooring spot and caught some lovely small bream for our pre-dinner snacks. The Shenga River is another tributary which runs into the Umi River. One of the most scenic parts of Kariba, there are always herds of elephant roaming this area. The Shenga location also provides an outstanding view across the bay and 昀氀ood plains. Moving the houseboat to the Shenga caused great excitement for the children. Lake Kariba Article and Images Ashleigh Whaley Sunsets and Hooks on Experience Kariba

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 35 Each day they prepared the 昀椀shing boat by organising the cold box, the snacks, the rods, worms and tackle. This day, we allowed them to take turns driving the speedboat ahead to look for the obstacles in front of our houseboat. Not an easy task, submerged tree stumps and pods of hippos were at every corner. The children took the challenge head on and thrived, resulting in them not being entirely sure whether they enjoyed the 昀椀shing or speedboat driving the most! Shenga bay is beautiful; such an idyllic spot full of hippos, birdlife, crocodiles and the occasional elephant. But most importantly, we had found the elusive bream! A huge rush of excitement meant both speed boats remained out until late morning. A quick bite of breakfast and the men and the children immediately headed back out to 昀椀sh through the heat of the day. We certainly got to see who the avid 昀椀shermen were! Luckily, the rainy season was upon us and there were plenty of clouds around, preventing the excessive heat Lake Kariba is known for. By lunch-time, Kariba decided to give us another one of its classic moments; a storm arose in the distance, behind the Matusadona hills. A Kariba storm is always a spectacle; the lightning crashed in the distance, and a lovely cool breeze brought the smell of the impending rain. The rain le昀琀 as quickly as it came, and we were soon itching to get back out on the river but to our dismay, one of the speed boats would not start. The boys were ‘all hands on deck’ trying to solve the problem. Experience Kariba

36 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe A昀琀er an hour they decided that it was best to tow the speed boat out to the 昀椀shing spot, as they felt that they were losing valuable 昀椀shing time. Paula Joy was especially excited when she caught a Cornish jack 昀椀sh to add to her collection of squeakers, bream and baby tigers, which she had already landed. Finally, a昀琀er days of 昀椀shing, we had 昀椀nally caught plenty of 昀椀sh and the children were so proud of their achievements. As everyone was hauling in the 昀椀sh, I decided to give it a go. Fishing is not my strongest suit, and by the time I had caught my bream and the real 昀椀sherman had taken it o昀昀 my hook, I was happy enough to return to my book. The problem with the boat was 昀椀nally resolved whilst 昀椀shing and a fun time of jesting and comparing one another’s boats erupted on the way back! We had to move closer to harbour for our last night, so we decided to move to Gordon's Bay, well known to o昀琀en have game on the foreshore. With the rains having arrived inland, the animals retreated from the lake and there were few to be found apart from a couple elephant and impala. The wind picked up during our last night, giving us all a lovely reprieve from the heat. However, in the early hours of the morning, a large crocodile decided to eat one of the houseboat fenders, resulting in a great deal of banging against the boat and a fender full or holes once dawn came. The houseboat guys were up at 昀椀rst light, untying the houseboat ropes and 昀椀ring up the boat engines, ready for the four hour trip across the lake to the harbour. The sunrise was a spectacular sight to behold and a memory which we will never forget. What a wonderful way to end an awesome houseboat trip. One can only marvel at God's perfect creation and I always feel closer to God, having spent quality time in His presence. I 昀椀nd it sad to leave the houseboat and return to normal life, however, we were now well rested and ready to take on the real world and its many challenges. Lake Kariba and all its spectacular sights will be there waiting for us to return and enjoy another adventure. I suggest you add Kariba to your bucket list! Written by Ashleigh Whaley, lifestyle and homeschooling blog author https://faith4fun.com/ Experience Kariba NZ RA

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 37 0778020699 and 0773645484 -

38 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe It was all pomp and funfair on the 20th of January 2020 as close to 200 people watched the newest addition to the Air Zimbabwe 昀氀eet, a B777-200ER, touch down at R G Mugabe International Airport to a water cannon salute and wild cheers of celebration, while the second aircra昀琀 Z-NBE is expected in a few weeks. The aircra昀琀 Reg. No. Z-RGM, the 昀椀rst of two B777s bought from Malaysia by the Government was handed over by the Acting President Rtd. Gen Dr. C.D.G.N Chiwenga as the Guest of Honour to the National Airline represented by the Administrator Reggie Saruchera of Grant Thornton. Addressing stakeholders before inspecting the aircra昀琀 Acting President Chiwenga reiterated Government’s commitment to resuscitating and capacitating Air Zim in alignment with the country’s economic blueprint, the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP). “Receipt of this Boeing 777 aircra昀琀 is clear testimony that we are taking concrete steps to capacitate our national airline, so that it plays a role in promoting economic growth, creating jobs and facilitating international trade and tourism. “This initiative is therefore, part of our e昀昀orts towards the realisation of Vision 2030, as informed by our economic blueprint, the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP). Government remains committed to ensuring that our beloved national airline is restored to full functionality. A new bird for Air Zimbabwe Explore Zimbabwe

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 39 “As we handover this asset to the airline, we call upon the administrator to use it in the most e昀昀ective manner possible. I wish to point out my full awareness that this aircra昀琀 is best deployed on the long-haul routes”, he said. Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Architect Joel Biggie Matiza who led a delegation that travelled to Malaysia to facilitate the ferry 昀氀ight to Harare emphasised the need to have a 昀氀eet of appropriately sized equipment; 昀氀eet which caters for domestic, regional and long-haul international 昀氀ights in order for the national airline to operate e昀昀iciently. “The process of reviving our airline entails a process of re-equipping and this is topmost on our priorities. “The delivery of the aircra昀琀 is one [aspect] of the support that Government will continue to give the national airline. For the aircra昀琀 to be fully operational, e昀昀icient and e昀昀ective, Government will still need to give support to Air Zimbabwe to acquire a small regional aircra昀琀. “This will help the national airline to rebuild its national and regional network which will act as a springboard to launch international routes”, said Minister Matiza. Speaking in a separate interview the Air Zim Administrator, Reggie F. Saruchera highlighted that the deployment strategy is to introduce narrow and medium bodied aircra昀琀 comprising of Embraer ERJ 145 (50 seater), B737-200 (105 seater) and B737- 700NG (105-128 seater), to service current and additional domestic and regional routes. “The plan is to develop a robust domestic and regional network which will become the feeder for the long haul international 昀氀ights to be operated by the B777s. “Critical to enhancing passenger loads is the re-joining of IATA Clearing House and activation of the Global Distribution Systems to allow for Air Zim 昀氀ights to be sold globally,” said Saruchera. Saruchera also outlined other key milestones for Air Zimbabwe which include its attainment of IOSA Certi昀椀cation in 2019 while some traction has been gained with the manufacturer of Embraer ERJ 145 as regards the Know Your Customer (KYC) approval process. “A key achievement for Air Zim in 2019 was the attainment of IOSA Certi昀椀cation and we are now seized with working towards attaining EASA Certi昀椀cation. “Engagements with Embraer are ongoing with regards to the Know Your Customer (KYC) process. Their latest update on this matter indicated that there has been signi昀椀cant progress and the majority of hurdles have been addressed. We anticipate to have completed the process within the 昀椀rst half of 2020. Upon completion of the KYC process, all other compliance submissions will be made to CAAZ for approval to allow immediate deployment of the aircra昀琀 into service,” he said. The event was attended by several Government o昀昀icials, Captains of Industry and Commerce, several key stakeholders as well as Air Zimbabwe Management and Sta昀昀. Explore Zimbabwe NZ RA

40 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 41 www.greenlineafrica.org ustainable Tourism is not a type of product nor a service that can be sold, but rather, it is an ethos that underpins all tourism activities and is integral to all aspects of tourism rather than being an addon component. The objective of sustainable tourism is to retain the economic and social advantages of tourism while reducing or mitigating any undesirable impacts on natural, historic, cultural or social environments. This can only be achieved by balancing the needs of the tourists who visit Zimbabwe with the needs of our environment. Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World is one of Zimbabwe’s largest tourist destinations and is striving to become one of Africa’s green destinations. An increasing number of travellers around the world are looking to actively research the places and activities they will be experiencing when visiting overseas and something that is becoming more and more demanded is how these places score on issues such as sustainability and responsible tourism. Tourists are signi昀椀cantly more likely to visit destinations and make purchases from travel companies based on their sustainable practices and in Victoria Falls, we have the Green Tourism Certi昀椀cation programme as a good indication of businesses that are taking the issue seriously. The Green Tourism Certi昀椀cation is an internationally recognized sustainable certi昀椀cation programme that was launched in Victoria Falls in 2016 in partnership with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) and Greenline Africa. The programme aligns itself with the ZTA’s mission which is to promote sustainable growth and development of tourism in Zimbabwe for the social and economic bene昀椀t of the nation through setting and monitoring standards of our marketing activities backed by our competent, motivated and innovative sta昀昀 and strategic partners. The signing of an MoU with Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) in early 2019 will strengthen and expand the programme with the long term goal of conserving the environment and wildlife within the Zambezi River and upli昀琀ing local communities through active participation in the tourism industry. Re-certi昀椀cation happens every 2 to 4 years and this is currently being undertaken right now. Businesses going through the certi昀椀cation process and earning the Green Tourism sustainable certi昀椀cation award are showing the world that they are taking environment and community consideration seriously and are implementing practical steps to tackle issues such as energy e昀昀iciency, water saving and mindful waste reduction. The awards represent recognized third-party veri昀椀cation and as such are a valuable hallmark of green achievement. A Green Tourism certi昀椀ed business will have corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes and it is important to note that CSR does not equate to public relations, but rather genuine and meaningful contributions toward local communities in a positive way. Article Charlene Hewat Images Greenline Africa S Encouraging Sustainable Tourism in Zimbabwe Conserve Victoria Falls

42 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe Linking Tourism to the Environment and Communities, in and around the Victoria Falls 1. The Victoria Falls Recycling project: This project was launched with Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and Greenline Africa some two years ago in partnership with the Victoria Falls Municipality. The project works with hotels and lodges as well as the wider community in the separation, collection and bailing of recyclable materials such as PET bottles, plastics, paper and card, cans and glass. The young people in the community run the project on a day to day basis and will soon expand to upcycling projects such as the making of glasses from old glass bottles. Just recently we have built a glass bottle wall at the Recycling Centre. Waste Management and Recycling projects The ‘Gogo’ (Grandmother) Programme - supporting vulnerable homesteads: Climate change and Water Community Visits Volunteer Programme The ELE-fence The Horticulture project Tree Graffiti Project Pack for a Purpose linkages 2. Waste Management Networking meetings happen on a monthly basis for the Tourism Industry and Business. The formation of the Inchelela Farmers group has been established and these farmers supply the hotels with fresh vegetables from in and around Victoria Falls. Just imagine, fresh vegetables from farm to table. There are many vulnerable homesteads where elderly women are caring for children where parents are absent for a number of reasons. Monthly support packs of basic food essentials are put together and delivered to these community identi昀椀ed homesteads. In 2017 the problem of elephant dying from consuming plastic waste at land昀椀ll sites was highlighted and a campaign to raise funds to erect an electric fence around the dumpsite was initiated. The ELE-fence was erected in December 2017. It has been successful in keeping the numbers of elephants away from the site and is monitored and maintained on a daily basis. One of the most critical challenges in rural communities is access to water. Boreholes and solar pumps are put in to help communities with water supply. Greenline Africa takes people who have a desire to visit local community projects and it is during these visits that we receive further support and funds received go back into local community development. You can become a volunteer at Greenline Africa and help support the many projects that are being implemented. Beautifying the landscapes of Victoria Falls urban areas. Greenline Africa in partnership with Shongwe Lookout lodge are working with stakeholders in planting indigenous trees in and around the Victoria Falls town. 1. School bags, books, crayons and class room resources are donated to the schools we work with. Baby newborn kits are handed out to the clinics to encourage mothers to have their babies at the clinic. 2. Building of schools, water, nutrition gardens, and bicycles are some of the support we give to schools. Together with World Bicycle Relief, over 850 Bu昀昀alo Bicycles have been distributed to schools in the Hwange rural areas to enable children who are walking anything between three to twenty kilometers a day to have more e昀昀icient means to get to school. Victoria Falls, a World of Wonders, is a unique destination to visit and experience wildlife, biodiversity, the magni昀椀cent Victoria Falls, made all the more memorable by the warmth and friendliness of Zimbabwean people. Greenline Africa is a local community trust that operates in Victoria Falls. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do and we are constantly thinking of how to innovate and improve our projects for the bene昀椀t of our people and our planet. We are aware that tourism will never be completely green or entirely socially responsible, as each one of us, to some degree, negatively a昀昀ects the environment. This is why we believe sustainable and responsible tourism programs are necessary more than ever before so as to keep our natural, cultural and social environment of people and places intact. We are encouraging all stakeholders in Victoria Falls to join in and support projects and programmes that promote sustainable tourism so that together we can achieve a Green Destination status as a town. We encourage all tourists to look at their social and environmental responsibility by booking with a hotel/lodge that is Green Tourism certi昀椀ed and by supporting a local community based project that supports wildlife conservation, environmental conservation and enhances community development. Conserve Victoria Falls NZ RA

when it comes to stopping, we push ourselves to keep you going on your journey We Specialize in Relining of Brake Shoes Machining of Brake Drums Relining of Clutch Plates Reconditioning of Pressure Plates Cnr 2 Caps Way/Harrow Road, Msasa P.O Box Ay 255, Amby Harare Telí 486518/487380 Fax: 487172 Email: [email protected]

44 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe Over 38 years ago, we fell in love with the remote and wild areas of Victoria Falls. From the Zambezi River to the National Park, we are wholeheartedly invested in Africa’s pristine and unique natural beauty. Behind every Wild Horizons venture is a purpose aimed at creating an enriching travel experience for our guests while conserving Victoria Falls’s wilderness and wildlife for local communities and future generations. From humble beginnings in 1981, we now contribute to the conservation of thousands of acres of land and have built a relationship with communities, schools and other conservation entities to drive a greener way of living and travelling. This is our untold story. Conservation Our long term sustainability objectives have set the tone for our plastic-free initiative. Two years ago we instated a company wide ban on plastic straws and one of the most signi昀椀cant accomplishments of this year has been a massive reduction in the procurement of plastic bottled water. Plastic bottles are used for minutes yet with us for centuries. Single-use plastic water bottles were once seen as a safari essential, but we are creating a new normal that eradicates these non-biodegradable items from all our operations. We started tackling the problem by gi昀琀ing every lodge guest with a reusable glass water bottle that they are encouraged to take with as they continue their travels or return home. It was an astounding success and by June 2019, no plastic bottles were used in Old Dri昀琀 Lodge, The Elephant Camp or Imbabala. We then turned our attention to Tours and Transfers and began exploring options to reduce bottled water without adversely impacting our guest experience. We have taken an essential step in reaching this key objective by phasing out plastic bottled water on our transfers. Instead, freshwater will be provided in glass bottles that can be recycled and re昀椀lled. Protecting the environment is an inherent part of living and doing business in Africa, and we need to evolve with the changing contexts. Removing plastic bottled water form our transfers was the next logical step in meeting our goal of becoming a plastic-free company. Our 昀氀agship property, The Elephant Camp, not only set a new standard for luxury game lodges in Victoria Falls but also positioned Wild Horizons as a long-term sustainable conservation brand for whom the top priority is being a caretaker of Victoria Fall’s most vulnerable fauna and 昀氀ora. Wild Horizons employs the services of a quali昀椀ed Environmental O昀昀icer, Derry Sibanda, to monitor the biology of the Wild Horizon’s Wildlife Sanctuary. Quarterly biological surveys are conducted to monitor the impact of wildlife, weather and erosion on the landscape. Alien vegetation species are eradicated, and soil erosion is carefully managed, both within the reserve and in neighbouring communal areas. Derry also manages our indigenous tree nursery which is located in the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary. To rehabilitate areas that were once denuded of trees by uncontrolled harvesting, indigenous trees are planted in the nursery and when well enough established, transferred to sites in need of rehabilitation. In 2019, over 500 trees were planted, and three new shelves were made and 昀椀tted in the nursery to create more space for seedlings in 2020. Our war on plastic Lodge eco-initiatives Vegetation Rehabilitattion, Biological Monitoring and Soil Erosion Control The Elephant Camp, Imbabala and Old Dri昀琀 Lodge are built and managed in the most ecofriendly way possible so that our presence in the wilderness enhances the quality of conservation in the area and minimises the negative impact. The lodges are primarily solar-powered and plastic-free. Our organic vegetable gardens at each lodge provide fresh seasonal ingredients and herbs free from pesticides and with zero food miles. Any organic waste from the kitchen is recycled by the worm farm to provide chemical-free compost for the vegetable garden and tree nursery. The purpose of The Elephant Camp, Imbabala and Old Dri昀琀 Lodge is to conserve and celebrate Africa’s natural wilderness and wildlife by creating opportunities for people to visit these natural areas. Wild Horizons A greener way of living and travelling Conserve Victoria Falls

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 45 Community Empowering the external Wild Horizons Community Empowering the internal Wild Horizons Community Through various initiatives, we ensure neighbouring communities bene昀椀t from ecotourism and value conservation areas, thereby encouraging their support of longterm sustainability. Our Rainforest Raincoat Project provides jobs and income at a grassroots level. We source and donate raincoats to an association of vendors who hire them out to guests visiting the Victoria Falls rainforest. This provides an ongoing income to more than 30 vendors and their families. We also give support to the Katombora scouts in the form of food and fuel to assist in the National Parks anti-poaching e昀昀orts in Kazungula and the Matetsti areas of Zimbabwe. Additionally, we sponsor three o昀昀icers employed by VFAPU to assist with anti-poaching activities in and around Victoria Falls. The women in our company shape our vision to make a di昀昀erence, and their 昀椀erce sense of strength and leadership weaves a golden thread throughout the organisation. In 2019, we started a monthly Responsible Tourism Newsletter and the 昀椀rst edition celebrated the incredible women in the Wild Horizons team. Women remain largely unrepresented in various roles in the industry, and we aim to disrupt the status quo by creating opportunities for mobility in the company that dismantles gender stereotypes. One of our Wonder Women is 22-year-old Carol Makuwire, who is navigating unchartered waters as she strives to become the 昀椀rst female boat captain working on the Zambezi River in Victoria Falls. We are immensely proud of every member of our team, who are all wonderful brand champions and Wild Horizons ambassadors. Wild Horizons is a business and while we exist to make a pro昀椀t, we strive to ignite positive change and inspire innovation. We are here to make a di昀昀erence. The tourism industry is a vessel for cultural exchange, and it is essential to Wild Horizons that we celebrate the ethnic and cultural diversity of all sta昀昀 and communities with which we work and engage. We pioneered and continue to facilitate home-hosted meals to create a space within which our team can share their heritage and pass on cultural knowledge to people visiting the region. Nineteen sta昀昀 members are involved with the initiative and host guests in their homes to prepare and share a meal. The fee of this activity provides an additional source of income to the family. It provides insight into the contemporary life and society of others, promoting an appreciation of local cultures that enriches our guests own travel experience. We believe that education is the pillar that will uphold sustainable conservation, and Wild Horizons is actively involved with the next generation of conservationists and environmental leaders. Every week, between 20 and 30 school children are transported to the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary where they learn about the natural environment and interact with the wildlife ambassadors. Between January and October of 2019, 774 children and their teachers visited the Trust. Through this grassroots conservation education program, we hope to inspire children to care for their natural heritage and to become the guardians of these areas in the future. We also pay the schools fees for numerous children in rural schools. When we started this initiative in 2014, we funded 15 children. This number has grown exponentially, and we are now paying school fees for 72 children. Conservation and Education The Wild Horizons Wonder Women Pobwe Home-Hosted Meals Conserve Victoria Falls NZ RA

46 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe imbabwean hospitality group Africa Albida Tourism has an extensive corporate social responsibility program, with a key project being the protection of wildlife through the establishment and support of the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit. Africa Albida Tourism’s (AAT) 昀氀agship property Victoria Falls Safari Lodge co-founded the Victoria Falls AntiPoaching Unit (VFAPU) in 1999, along with local safari operator and conservationist Charles Brightman. In addition to organising and hosting the annual VFAPU Golf Day since 2001, which has raised nearly US$170,000 for the unit in the past eight years alone, AAT pays the salaries of six scouts, and contributes to supplies for the unit. Since AAT’s beginnings over a quarter of a century ago, the company has strived to ensure that the impact of its operations on the local environment, culture and people is positive. The construction of Victoria Falls Safari Lodge was the 昀椀rst project in Zimbabwe to employ an environmental architect, and the lodge received the prestigious international Green Globe Distinction Award in 2000 as a result. In 2019 as part of AAT’s commitment to reduce the use of single-use plastic, and to minimise its carbon footprint, the group introduced the environmentally friendly Natura water system, where drinking water is puri昀椀ed onsite and stored in re-useable glass bottles. This move has seen the elimination of more than 80,000 plastic water bottles, which were being used annually across the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge estate’s hotel rooms, restaurants and bars. In addition, the hospitality group has committed to being free of single-use plastic by 2021. AAT chief executive Ross Kennedy said: “We shall now aim to reduce and then remove as much other plastic as possible from our operations, to a point in 2021 where there is hopefully zero, for example, plastic laundry bags, plastic shopping bags and other plastic bottles, such as juice bottles. “The impact of this initiative has many bene昀椀ts – with less plastic in circulation, less can 昀椀nd its way into the wild and therefore potentially harm wildlife, especially elephants,” Kennedy added. The elimination of plastic water bottles follows the replacement of plastic straws with more eco-friendly paper straws, in 2018, as well as the launching of Victoria Falls Recycling, a project that collects, packages and sends plastics, paper, glass and beverage cans for recycling. Leads the Way in Sustainable Tourism Africa Albida Tourism The hospitality group has committed to being free of single-use plastic by 2021. Z Guests enjoy the vulture culture experience Victoria Falls recycling co-ordinator, Charlene Hewat Conserve Victoria Falls

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 47 Proceeds raised through guests’ donations, a dollar added to all meals at the Bu昀昀alo Bar and MaKuwa-Kuwa Restaurant, and US$5 from the sale of vulture t-shirts at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge’s souvenir shop, go to vulture research and awareness programs. AAT is involved in regular Victoria Falls Clean Up campaigns to ensure that visitors to this iconic destination enjoy their stay in clean surrounds, while National Tree Planting Day is observed annually by sta昀昀 planting indigenous trees at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge estate. The company maintains close ties with local schools and clinics, and assists with donations of goods and equipment when required. As part of the global initiative Pack for a Purpose, guests are encouraged to become involved in the development of schools and clinics, with many bringing stationery, sports equipment and clothing, or medical supplies. AAT makes donations of blankets, sheets, towels and crockery to the local orphanage and old people’s home in Victoria Falls. In 2016, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge received a silver award from the international organisation Green Tourism, one of the world’s most credible and e昀昀ective global sustainability programs in tourism. In addition to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, AAT’s portfolio of properties includes The Boma – Dinner & Drum Show, Lokuthula Lodges – Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls Safari Club and Victoria Falls Safari Suites. Victoria Falls Recycling was launched by AAT, in partnership with Greenline Africa, and is supported by Victoria Falls Municipality and other stakeholders. The initiative, which is co-ordinated by well-known conservationist Charlene Hewat, is expected to have a major impact on protecting the environment around one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The project, which is reducing the amount of litter on the streets and the volume of waste going to the dumpsite, has major hotels, retail outlets, as well as individuals in Victoria Falls onboard. AAT also operates the Vulture Culture Experience daily at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. Vulture populations are dwindling due to a variety of human created issues, including electrocution by power lines. Visitors witness the spectacular sight of hundreds of vultures swooping down to feed on le昀琀over meat scraps from the onsite restaurants. The Vulture Culture Experience is fascinating, educational and appeals to all age groups. AAT works in collaboration with VulPro, a leading vulture conservation program based in South Africa, as well as the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust on this project. This supplementary feeding program to aid the survival of these remarkable, but endangered birds also enables their numbers to be monitored, and raises awareness of their plight. Victoria Falls AntiPoaching Unit scouts Victoria Falls Safari lodge Conserve Victoria Falls NZ RA

www.nzira.co.zw Issue 15 49 A catch up with Carl At the beginning of 2019, my wife and I moved into a tent in the Victoria Falls Rest Campsite which you can read about in Issue 12 of the NZiRA magazine. We started building our 昀椀rst tiny home out of a broken down Toyota Coaster. We wanted a place to live o昀昀 the grid whilst being free to pack up and travel with our home; to us, it was our honeymoon but also freedom and a chance to start exploring the world. It was also the start of Camp Feel Good. Even though we have been living in this bus we still have a number of things we need to work on before we say that this passion project is complete. The bus was given to us as a shell so that means our conversion project was turning the shell into a caravan that will be pulled along by a 4X4. The bus will be moved mostly on straight roads from one location to the next. By the way, both my wife and I do not drive so that’s something to plan for in 2020. The bus will sit on a trailer with three axles and the trailer needs to be 7m long with the axles needing to be brake axles. 10 things to complete the Bumblebee Caravan Article and Images Carl Joshua Ncube 1. 4x4 Vehicle 2. Trailer Imagine

50 Issue 15 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe Thanks to Masters Paint and Hardware, we already have 300w solar panels which require a charge controller and 3kv inverter and batteries to power our home when we are o昀昀-grid. From the last summer we have just been through this bus de昀椀nitely needs an air conditioning unit to keep it cool. The heat was bearable but we prefer to enjoy our life in a little bit of comfort on the extreme days. We haven’t powered up the gas stove or run a shower and we expect this tiny home of ours will need some extractor fans to keep the air昀氀ow in check and prevent the bus from smoking out thanks to my cooking. We are still to install the water systems and custom build a shower to 昀椀t the remaining space at the back of the bus. The shower will need a stool or sitting area as I will not be able to shower comfortably when I am standing. The other option is opening up the roof to accommodate my height. Even though we are making use of our current cushions we do want to have a more professional looking setup when it comes to our bed pillows and sofa. We are trying to locate some memory foam to be able to achieve this. Hot water is de昀椀nitely a priority in our tiny home. We are thinking of installing a gas heater for our shower and hot water in our kitchen sink. The bus will require 3X water tanks each holding 200l each. First two tanks are for clean water and the third is greywater from the shower and washing machine etc. that can be used for cleaning the bus. 3. Water Heater 4. Inverter 5. Water Tanks 6. Air Con 7. Extractor Fans 8. Shower 9. Mattress and Cushions 10. Awning So far this conversion has been a huge learning curve and it continues to be an absolute honor to share our experiences with people out there as they read our articles and posts online. Look out for the documentary in 2020 hopefully we should be able to complete these remaining 10 items. The 昀椀nal thing that will make our tiny home awesome is going to be the retractable awning that will create a spacious outdoor space for me to do what I love which is to cook outdoors and have drinks and even be able to host a friend or two. Living in a con昀椀ned space means we can’t really have visitors in the bus, but the outdoor awning will give us an outdoor chill space without worrying about unnecessarily getting a tan in the sun. Imagine NZ RA