www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 1 Travel Zimbabwe www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 | 2022 Bamba Tram US$5 Victoria Fall’s Oldest Activity Come to Life
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4 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe Contents Bamba Tram - Victoria Fall’s Oldest Activity Come to Life Akashinga - Armed, All-female, Antipoaching team in Zimbabwe 12 16 Nkosi Guest Lodge - Serenity in Victoria Falls The Plight of the Pangolin Visual Storytelling - A Binga Story The Importance of Connecting the Health of our Societies to the Natural World. Recipe Scenic Nyanga 8 20 44 30 36 40
www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 5 Wildlife Photographer Shaun Read The Travelling Chef Tsowa Safari Island Welcomes Guests Back Stanbic Bank Wine Festival 25 33 37 28
6 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe Discover Africa and all its beauty and wonder thanks to PlusRewards – our exciting loyalty programme that gives you access to exclusive benefits and offers at selected merchants across 15 African countries! EXPLORE, SHOP AND PAY FOR LESS by simply presenting and using your Stanbic Bank card on your travels! PlusRewards EXCLUSIVE OFFERS: To view the full list of merchants, special offers and benefits visit www.stanbicbank.co.zw HOW DO I JOIN? As a Stanbic Bank cardholder, you get automatic access to PlusRewards exclusive offers. Simply use your Stanbic Bank at selected merchants to qualify. Visit www.stanbicbank.co.zw for more information. Discover Africa and all its beauty and wonder, thanks to PlusRewards – our exciting loyalty programme that gives you access to exclusive benefits and offers at selected merchants across 14 African countries! EXPLORE, SHOP AND PAY FOR LESS by simply presenting and using your Stanbic Bank card on your travels! PlusRewards EXCLUSIVE OFFERS: To view the full list of merchants, special offers and benefits visit www.stanbicbank.co.zw HOW DO I JOIN? As a Stanbic Bank cardholder, you get automatic access to PlusRewards exclusive offers. Simply use your Stanbic Bank card at selected merchants to qualify. www.stanbicbank.co.zw | Head Office: +263 242 79920051 | Client Contact Centre: Econet- 08080216, NetOne – 08010045, Telecel – 073195095/3/4, TelOne – 08004339 Email: [email protected] TBWA\1759
www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 7 EDITOR’S NOTE PUBLISHER Mike Garden [email protected] +263 772 209 162 EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING Rudo Nhamoinesu [email protected] Tel: 024 2782720 DESIGN AND LAYOUT Tamuka Nyoni [email protected] +263 775 363 706 DISCLAIMER Whilst every effort 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 satisfied 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. Contact us for subscriptions 024 2782720 On the cover - The Bamba Tram in action Image: Lesanne Dunlop PRINTER InfoNzira nziramagazine Nzira From the Editor Rudo Nhamoinesu. Paragon Printing and Packaging 17035 Cedora Road, Graniteside, Harare Tel: 024-2773021/7 Email: [email protected] hort winter days are upon us once again, a time when we swap our favourite summer outfits for thicker and warmer clothing, our ice-cold drinks are quickly replaced by hot beverages- Amarula coffee maybe? A time when the sunsets are spectacular, putting on a show with radiant colours that bring warmth to our eyes and souls. In the travel world, this marks the start of the dry winter season- a period when game viewing is excellent and the birdlife prolific! International travel to Zimbabwe has picked up with more and more tourist facilities welcoming guests after a quiet COVID period. This is exciting to see, and we celebrate the return of our international visitors and the easing of travel restrictions throughout the world. We also celebrate the introduction of a new airline- Kuva Air that services routes to Bulawayo and Victoria Falls and has recently introduced routes between HarareKariba and Harare-Hwange, a very welcome development in the aviation and tourism world. In Zimbabwe, this winter season is a time when many pack up their families and travel to the Eastern Highlands where days are spent adventuring in the mountains and evenings cuddled up by the fire with a book in hand or a whisky to bring instant warmth to the body! For others, like myself, a trip to the warmer destinations is a must; Kariba, Victoria Falls, Hwange, Mana Pools, and Chirundu offer pleasant weather, making them the perfect destinations for camping, bush walks, guided game drives, and fishing while the cooler evenings make sundowners incredibly special! To warm you up this winter, allow us to take you on another adventure through our pages starting in the city of Victoria Falls, where the oldest activity, the Tram Ride, has been brought back to life and rebranded “Bamba Tram”. Holly Budge takes us along on her journey with the brave Akashinga women, while Shaun Read our wildlife photographer for this issue, talks about his journey, and shares his incredible imagery. Is the magazine ever complete without a remarkable Chef gracing our pages? The phenomenal Chef Genna Tozer shares her culinary journey and a recipe to surely get you cooking this winter! I would also like to welcome Hannah Rothwell to our team! We are excited to see what great additions she brings to the brand you have come to love! From myself and the entire team, we would like to wish you an exciting winter full of adventure! S Travel Zimbabwe
8 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe ith so much on offer in the vibrant city of Victoria Falls and the opening up of travel once again, accommodation that caters to all kinds of travellers and provides warm hospitality and exceptional care is often on top of the list for most visitors and a gem in my book! Having travelled from rainy Harare, you can imagine my delight upon arrival to clear blue skies and perfect weather in Victoria Falls and then to my accommodation of choice- Nkosi Guest lodge. This elegant and modern, family-run lodge is tucked away in a quiet suburb of Victoria Falls with exceptional landscaped gardens and a sprawl of lush vegetation that makes it a perfect choice for a tranquil getaway. Hoteliers and owners Mike and Alex Johnson, through their vast years of experience and passion in the hospitality industry, are transforming their accommodation units into affordable but luxurious highlights of any escape; they have created Nkosi Lodge with this in mind, ensuring that it is contemporary, comfortable and lavish with an exclusive personalised touch that celebrates their love for Zimbabwe while catering to a variety of travellers. Nkosi Guest Lodge is currently the superior accommodation option under the Bayete Collection which includes Bayete Guest Lodge and PheZulu Guest Lodge, Nkosi has 24 well-positioned rooms in a garden setting that affords the guests wonderful garden views. This old house turned lodge was a W Nkosi Guest Lodge Serenity in Victoria Falls Article | Rudo Nhamoinesu - NZiRA Magazine Images | Bayete Collection
www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 9 project done during the dreaded COVID years and officially opened in January 2022. Its architectural design of high ceilings allow for more natural light to enter, enriching the atmosphere while giving warmth to the different parts of the lodge. There is also beautiful stonework around the lodge that adds character and an old-fashioned opulence, my favourite being the stone wall that acts as the backdrop to the pool. This wall doubles as a water feature that creates a relaxing tropical feel. This architectural design is further complemented by the interior of the lodge which is a celebration of African elegance and ethnic chic. From the main area through to the restaurant the use of wooden furniture with dark and light brown shades adds an artisanal characteristic to the décor. In support of local artisans, the walls flank
10 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe artwork by Tami Walker and Brian Ashbee, while the various pottery has been made by the local Gwai potters in Bulawayo adding a unique touch. I found this space very relaxing during my lunch, with a gentle wind blowing, sounds of the waterfall birds chirping, floral scents, and the clear blue sky set the tone for a relaxed and positive afternoon, just what you need for your mental health! It also helps that the food was delicious, and the service exceptional! Many of the Nkosi team members have worked with the Johnson family for years, and this has given them vast years of experience in service delivery and clearly shows in how well you are received and served. Being a solo traveller, I appreciated the stories shared by the staff and their interest in my day and well-being, it truly feels as though you are part of the family. The owners aim is to ensure that each stay is memorable for every visitor, whether one is travelling for business or pleasure. With this in mind, they have gone a step further and prioritised accessibility for the wheelchair traveller, ramps are found all around the lodge and 2 of the 24 rooms are dedicated to this. The wheelchairaccessible rooms are spacious and allow for better movement and all the facilities within these rooms have been lowered to give the guest their independence. This move by Nkosi was inspired by “Suzanne Stays,” an Australian wheelchair user who is redefining travel with a disability. Being one of the very few lodges in Victoria Falls that are wheelchair compliant, it goes to show that this family-run lodge truly believes in travel for all. Entering my superior suite was like walking into a serene haven, the rooms are tastefully decorated with a contemporary clean look that is not overpowering, which includes all the comforts you may need to make your stay enjoyable. I appreciated the attention to detail throughout the room, from a personalised welcome note to a very comfortable king-size bed that provided a good night’s rest. The room also comes with a work desk and fast internet allowing you to finish up any work you may have! The bathroom in the superior room that I stayed in, was both luxurious and indulgent with a tropical feel. There is an option of a bath or walk-in shower, the Victorian Reservations T: +263 832 842 275 E: [email protected]. bath is under a pendant light and a marvelous painting by Tami Walker that creates a beautiful lush backdrop. The walk-in shower comes with a large shower head and makes for an enjoyable shower experience before you head out on an adventure. Each aspect has been created with your needs in mind and the team is always available to ensure you have the best experience. Nkosi lodge has amazing rates at the moment and I would like to encourage you to book and stay at this incredible gem where you arrive as a guest and leave as family! See you on the road. CMY CM MY CY CMYK
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12 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe Bamba Tram Victoria Fall’s Oldest Activity Come to Life Article | Jamie Henson Images | Lesanne Dunlop
www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 13 he Victoria Falls Bridge was the brainchild of Imperialist Cecil John Rhodes who dreamed of a railway from Cape to Cairo. Rhodes instructed the engineers to “build the bridge across the Zambezi where the trains, as they pass, will catch the spray of the Falls”. Though he never visited the Falls himself, his orders were followed, and the resultant bridge was described as a ‘poem in steel,’ a marvel of engineering which at the time it was built, was the highest suspension bridge in the world. Ralph Freeman one of the engineers of this bridge later went on to be the principal designer of the famous Sydney Harbour bridge. The Bridge was opened in 1905 by Sir George Darwin son of Charles Darwin. It was built in just 14 months, under time and under budget. The Tram ride activity is almost as old as the railway itself, with different variations of the activity rolling the rails off-and-on since about 1905. Open-air, with oldworld-charm bench seats, the Tram offers great visibility for spotting wildlife along the way. Buffalo, Elephants, and plains game are frequently spotted from the Tram. After a 15-minute meander through the pristine Zambezi National Park, the Tram comes out at the entrance to the might Victoria Falls rainforest. It then proceeds onto the historic Victoria Falls Bridge. Victoria Falls’ oldest tourist activity is back on track after sitting redundant on a quiet siding for two years. The tram is under the new management of Bamba Enterprises who are also the proud owners of the retro Bamba hop-on, hop-off bus. Since their takeover in April 2022, the tram is brighter and more beautiful with a shiny new teal coat, and it has had the line running hot ever since. Bradley Barrett, co-founder of Bamba Tram describes the philosophy of the new product, “Victoria Falls for a long time has been deemed an expensive destination, especially for locals. Our dream was to create a product that represents an affordable product everyone can enjoy. Our vision is to be the most sought-after activity in the falls.” Going on from this philosophy, the opening special of USD30pp and USD15 for kids was a third of the price it used to be, precovid. Tourists on the tram can read up on the history of the bridge, the tram, and many other interesting T
14 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe facts as they peruse the rail and bridge museum on the Zambian side of the bridge. They then have the opportunity to walk along the ‘knife edge’ a peninsula jutting out between the gorges offering spectacular views of the bridge and the falls in the background. Rainbows abound in the swirling spray rising from the canyon below. Light refreshments of home baking and fresh ice tea are served on the bridge while tourists can watch bungee jumping or soak up the magnitude of the falls, the gorges, and the rushing Zambezi River below. The Bridge 8.30 am run tram activity takes a total of one-and-a-half hours and finishes in time to comfortably make it to the airport before any international departures. But if one is willing and able, you can inquire about the sunrise run, which departs around 6.15 am (seasonal dependent). It is the most incredible time of the day when the first rays of the rising sun, light the mist of the falls a golden glow that is simply out of this world. Enjoy a hot tea or coffee with homemade rusks as you soak up the splendour of the heavenly hues. For those who can’t make the morning runs, Bamba Enterprises are launching an incredible new Sunset Safari Tram. Rather than going onto the bridge, this Tram takes the tracks less travelled into untouched African Wilderness, meandering along the Masuwe river into wildlife-rich Chamabondo hinterlands. Spot wildlife along the way as you soak up the beautiful scenery. But that’s not all, AJ Benzon co-founder explains, “We are also about to launch dinner with the stars where you take the Safari Sunset Tram and arrive at a lanternlit three-course meal cooked by the famous Safari Butler, Dean Dewdney.” Served in the bush, enjoy a predinner G&T while watching the sun go down. Then sit down to a sumptuous meal under the stars serenaded by all the beautiful night sounds of the African bush. Enjoy a nocturnal game viewing experience on the trip home, with an infrared spotlight. This experience is only available for ages 12 and older and comes at a very reasonable price of USD 99 per person all-inclusive. There is only one Tram so be sure to book this activity in advance. To book or for more information contact [email protected], or call +263 77 373 5533 (WhatsApp).
16 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe ’m no stranger to adventure - summiting Everest and becoming the first woman to skydive Everest - but patrolling with the Akashinga Rangers in the Lower Zambesi Valley was a whole different beast. Akashinga translates to “The Brave Ones” in the local language, a fitting name for their often-dangerous work; coming face to face with poachers and wild animals, setting up ambushes and sting operations. Trained by the International Anti-Poaching Foundation, the Akashinga Rangers are making a difference in the future survival of endangered African elephants It’s 5.45 am; it’s still dark as I stand in line with four armed Akashinga rangers, ready to go out on foot patrol. “You may not see any wildlife, Holly; this is not a safari trip,” says my go-to ranger. I pinched myself as the realisation of where I was, became very real. These women are fighting a war on poaching, and the poachers are not the only threat. The rangers loaded their AK47s; the front ranger clicked her fingers as a signal to go. I took a deep breath as we moved into the darkness… and other wildlife species. You may be wondering how I got the rare privilege of patrolling on the frontline with these women? in 2013, I studied for a Masters’s in Sustainable Design and started research on the African Elephant crisis. I was shocked by the poaching statistics, and the idea of my UK registered charity, “How Many Elephants” was born. Using my masters, I set about creating an innovative, designled awareness campaign, which was 100% non-gory and non-political. I designed and built a necklace displaying 96 elephants - the daily poaching rate in Africa - cut in vegetable I Akashinga Armed, All-female, Anti-poaching team in Zimbabwe On Patrol with Adventurer and Conservationist, Holly Budge Article | Holly Budge © Holly Budge © International Anti Poaching Foundation
www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 17 ivory, sustainable plant material from South America. I then designed a hard-hitting exhibition displaying 35,000 elephant silhouettes to represent the annual poaching rate. For people to see and connect with this data in a purely visual and factual way has proven to be highly successful in engagement and impact. I’m using design as a powerful communication tool to bridge the gap between scientific data and human connection. How Many Elephants quickly gained momentum as the exhibition travelled to international audiences, receiving global recognition, coupled with the keynote talks I’ve delivered at key travel and conservation events around the world. Having spent much time on the front line immersed in all-female and mixed anti-poaching units across Africa, including National Park Rescue in Chizarira, The Black Mambas in South Africa, and Mara Elephant Project in Kenya, I’ve been so inspired by the female rangers I’ve met; I wanted to find a way to highlight their work and raise funds for them. In response, I launched World Female Ranger Week, taking place annually on June 23th-30th, to celebrate and support female wildlife rangers in Africa and beyond, to share their stories, and share best practices. We stopped abruptly and knelt. I sensed a change in the ranger’s energy; these women meant business. My mind started racing. What have they spotted? And then what? To my delight, they had spotted an elephant cow with her calf, heavily camouflaged in the trees about 50 metres away. One ranger whispered, “a cow with her calf can be very aggressive. We must © International Anti Poaching Foundation © How Many Elephants © Chags_Photography © International Anti Poaching Foundation
18 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe HOLLY BUDGE Described as “one of the most accomplished female adventurers” of our time, Holly Budge is an internationally acclaimed keynote speaker who will inspire you to think big and dream bigger. She’s an Everest summiteer and the first woman to skydive Everest, who has fundraised > £400K. She doesn’t stop there, she’s the founder of UK registered charity, How Many Elephants, educating a global audience about the devastating impacts of the African Elephant ivory trade. Holly founded World Female Ranger Week to champion and support female rangers on the front line of wildlife conservation. www.hollybudge.com move back slowly”. I loved seeing the excitement on the rangers’ faces from the elephant sighting. Their passion for their work shone through at that moment. It’s evident why the female ranger movement is picking up such momentum. Women are proving to be highly successful at easing local tension, strengthening relationships within communities, and their patrolling skills. Day and night, female rangers patrol wilderness areas, monitor wildlife, dismantle and seize snares, work with communities, and, in some cases, arrest poachers, all to protect species from extinction. They are away from their families for long periods, sometimes facing workplace security issues and battling social stigma. Many of these inspirational women have overcome adversity, poverty, and marginalisation. Becoming a ranger has empowered them, turned them into breadwinners and property owners, and has allowed them access to higher education and much-needed healthcare. One of the armed rangers stayed at our remote make-shift camp to guard and protect it whilst we patrolled the area to identify imminent threats. We spotted a herd of elephants relatively close by and could hear hyenas. When we returned, we ate stew with Sadza and stoked out the fire so poachers could not identify our location. The plan was to sleep for a couple of hours before night patrol. As I lay on the hard ground, alone in a small tent, it dawned on me that I was completely and utterly out of my comfort zone in this environment! These rangers were my lifeline. Without them, I was a dead woman. With just 11% of the global ranger workforce being female, there is still a significant gender imbalance in environmental conservation. Through World Female Ranger Week, my team and I have identified over 4500 female rangers in 18 African countries so far. We are collating gender-specific data about female rangers to identify their specific needs, find tangible solutions and help build effective policies toward positive outcomes for female rangers and conservation. The thought of the African bush devoid of elephants is heart-breaking enough but putting emotion aside, the impacts of losing these animals will be of extreme detriment to the environment and beyond. If elephants go extinct, entire ecosystems could follow as they are keystone species and important ecosystem engineers. There are many ways you can get involved with World Female Ranger Week, from spreading awareness to fundraising to donating. More details are available at www. worldfemalerangerweek.org and www. howmanyelephants.org. © How Many Elephants © How Many Elephants © How Many Elephants
www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 19 Education Planning International Pension Planning Lump Sum Investment Structured Products Retirement Saving Property Investments Our Services deVere Zimbabwe (Pvt) Limited is part of one of the world’s leading independent financial advisory organisations, with more than $10bn under advice from over 80,000 clients in 100 countries. Independent financial advice wherever you are To understand more about what we can offer, or to book a free, no-obligation consultation, get in touch today! deVere Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd. is licensed and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe as a Securities Investment Advisory Company in terms of the Securities and Exchange Act (Chapter 24:25). Registration number: SECZ4528V • 2MS5R0 • V1/0/100322 Tel: +263 86 77 004 105 Email: [email protected] Website: www.devere-zimbabwe.co.zw
20 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe The Plight of The “Wild at Life is conserving the pangolins in the wild, rescuing and rehabilitating the victims of this notorious trade, and protecting them from the trade. Despite being some of the gentlest creatures around, pangolins just can’t catch a break. They now face extinction thanks to rampant misinformation spread by humans. We are now the only ones who can save them – and ourselves.”- Asli ild at Life e.V. is an international NGO with its Head Office in Germany, it works with partners on a global scale to reduce and, if possible, halt the illegal trade in all wild animals, including the African Pangolin. Pangolins are shy, nocturnal mammals, they are completely covered in plate-like scales, and are often referred to as ‘scaly anteaters’. They inhabit woodlands and savannas in Southern, Central, and East Africa, and Asia. They are members of the order Pholidota, and the family Manidae, which include Manis, consisting of 4 species living in Asia, and Phataginus and Smutsia, which both have 2 species each, that inhabit Africa. All eight species of pangolin are on the IUCN red list of threatened species, making them the most trafficked mammal. Their trafficking is mainly due to illegal poaching for their meat which is considered a delicacy in Asia and scales that are said to ‘cure’ illnesses in traditional Asian medicine. Pangolins are valued at anywhere between $7- and $23 billion per annum, IWT (Illegal Wildlife Trafficking) is quoted by the World Economic Forum as one of the most profitable criminal enterprises worldwide, alongside arms dealing, drugs, and human trafficking, yet it lacks prominence as a financial crime. Over the last years, pangolins have received heightened exposure in the media due to their potential links to the COVID-19 outbreak. Poaching for illegal wildlife trafficking and habitat loss continue to make pangolins one of the most threatened groups of mammals in the world. Over one million pangolins have been hunted in the past decade, and up to 200,000 pangolins are killed and trafficked every year. Humans are the pangolin’s most dangerous predator – and yet, we’re also their only hope. In Nigeria, where Wild at Life works to conserve the pangolins, customs services are from W time to time, busting illegal wildlife products including huge sacks of pangolin scales – weighing once a whopping 8,800 kg. It’s just one more way in which wildlife traffickers are driving these creatures to the brink of extinction. Nigeria is the hotspot of this trade. Many people think pangolin scales have medicinal benefits – even though they are made of keratin, just like our fingernails and hair. Pangolins are easy targets. They curl into a ball when threatened, allowing poachers to simply pick them up. Pangolins have been suspected of transmitting COVID-19 to humans because they are trafficked so widely. While the true origin of COVID-19 isn’t confirmed, the trade is a health risk. We must save these innocent creatures – and fight the threat of zoonotic diseases Donate to the NGO official Paypal: [email protected] Pangolin Article and Images | Asli Han Gedik (Wild at Life, Chief Conservation Officer)
www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 21 1. The Pangolin is the only known mammal in the world to have hard overlapping scales, that cover their entire body. 20% of a pangolin’s weight is made up of hard scales. Their scales are very different from those of a reptile and are more like a pine cone in appearance They are hard and overlap, protecting the pangolin from predators. 2. Their scales are made of keratin, the same protein that forms human nails, hair and animal claws, or bird talons. When first born they are soft, they grow hard as a Pangolin matures. 3. When threatened, the pangolin rolls itself up into an armorplated ball that protects it from predators. Similar to a hedgehog, the pangolin will roll up, protecting its soft furry bellies. Its face is also tucked under its tail. Its scales are sharp, for extra protection against predators. Sadly, this doesn’t protect them from humans, who can merely pick them up. 4. Even big cats can struggle to bite their way through a pangolin’s armour. Their curling into a tight ball defense confuses big cats, and their sharp scales cut into the mouths. Predators often give up and leave the pangolin alone. Interesting Pangolin Facts 5. Pangolins are bipedal, meaning they can walk on their hind legs with the front limbs and tail held off the ground, and used as a counter-balance. This is because they have long, curved powerful claws on their forelimbs, which are not as efficient to walk on. They often rise on their hind legs to sniff the air. 6. The pangolin is thought to be prehistoric and is estimated to have lived on earth for nearly 80 million years. They were originally thought to be a member of the Xenarthra family, which includes similar-looking anteaters, sloths, and armadillos. However, new studies suggest they are closer to the Carnivora, which consists of hyenas, bears, and wolves. 7. A pangolin’s tongue can be as long as its body. Their tongues are extremely long and thin like anteaters, and when extended can be as long as 40cm (14 in). They are also very sticky, which allows pangolins to collect ants and termites with precision when probing inside insect tunnels. 8. They have no teeth! A pangolin has no teeth, as they simply don’t need them to consume small insects, such as ants and termites. They have powerful front legs and sharp claws to help them disturb termite mounds, or burrow and climb trees. 9. The name pangolin means ‘something that rolls up. The ground pangolin got its name from the Malay word ‘pengguling’, meaning ‘rolling up’, in reference to how they can roll into a ball when threatened. 10. They can emit a noxious-smelling chemical, similar to skunks. While they are unable to spray the liquid at predators, they do release the stinky fluid from their glands when defending themselves, and use it to mark their territory.
22 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe 11. Some species have prehensile tails that allow them to hang from branches, and help them climb trees. The long-tailed pangolin in particular spends much of its time in trees. 12. Pangolins swallow small stones to improve digestion. These stones help grind up the food in their stomachs. Swallowing stones (known as ‘gastroliths’) help grind up ants and termites. This is similar to how some reptiles, such as crocodiles improve digestion. 13. They can constrict their ears and nostrils while feeding to help keep insects out. This allows them to stick their faces deep into termite mounds, without having to worry about insects crawling inside them. 14. A pangolin is estimated to consume more than 70 million insects per year. Researchers estimate that a full-grown pangolin will eat about 200,000 insects per day on average. They have been hailed with the title of ‘pest controllers’, due to their ability to regulate the insect population numbers, which is particularly beneficial for crops. 15. Pangolins have small eyes and poor vision, so they rely heavily on their sense of smell, and hearing. This allows them to sense both their prey and when predators are nearby. 16. Pangolin babies ride on their mother’s back by clinging to her scales. Burrowing species babies first venture into the outside world at around 4 weeks by clinging to their mother for a ride. 17. The Sunda Pangolin can have over 1,000 scales. The number of scales varies between species, due to their sizes, but some species are estimated to have over 1k of their hard plated scale armour. 18. Pangolins are the most illegally traded wild animal in the world. One is poached every 5 mins. The IUCN says that over a million pangolins were caught in the last decade. This illegal poaching and trade is driven largely by increasing demand from the Far East, most notably by China, and Vietnam. Their meat is considered a delicacy, and their scales are used in traditional medicine. 19. The illegal trade in pangolins is estimated to be worth about $19bn (£12.7bn) a year. The Guardian found that the average monthly wage for an Indonesian working full-time on a plantation is $47, and poaching pangolin can earn 10 times as much An average pangolin will be sold by poachers for between $168 – $217 to shady middlemen. They will then sell this for between $1,500 – $2,500. The scales will sell for between $600 – $1,000 per kilo. 20. 70% of Chinese citizens believe pangolin products have medicinal value. However, there’s no scientific evidence that pangolin scales or meat, has any medicinal properties. In traditional Chinese medicine, the pangolin’s blood and body parts have been used to treat anything from stomach disorders to cancer and asthma. The Chinese government has even permitted some hospitals to use pangolin medicines as treatment for patients. 21. In Nigerian traditional Yorubic medicine, pangolins are used to ‘enable invisibility’. A study found they are used to cure 42 conditions, from infertility to stomach ulcers, to removing bad luck, or warding off evil forces. 22. 70% of pangolins do not live for more than a year in captivity. Commercial breeding has proven to be difficult, as pangolins do not do well in captivity, due to their highly specialized diets and extreme sensitivity to capture causes induced stress. 23. Sadly, all eight species may be on the brink of extinction. Due to illegal hunting and poaching, the number of wild pangolins has dramatically declined. While their exact numbers are not known, the rarity of sightings in the wild, coupled with the massive volume of illegal trade suggests they are rapidly close to extinction.
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24 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe here was a baby elephant in my kitchen, a sounder of warthogs grazing the garden lawn, and a baby Impala being fed by my mother on our kitchen step. This was how I grew up in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Wildlife has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Born and raised in the little bush town of Victoria Falls, animals roamed freely into our garden (as we kept the gate open) and many wounded or orphaned animals were tended to by my mother, Elizabeth, a qualified nurse, as there was no official vet in the town back then. Outside of the home, animals were as much a part of my life as they were within it. At Victoria Falls Primary School, Elephants frequented the grounds to drink from the trough and school swimming pool (because there was no wall around the property) and lunches were often ransacked by baboons or monkeys if left unattended! School holidays were spent in the bush at our lodges throughout Zimbabwe and Zambia with my father, Adrian Read, ex Senior Ranger for National Parks and Warden for Matetsi Safari Area. Sparking my passion for working with wildlife and conservation, this time in the bush led me to follow in the steps of my father, and Grandfather, Paul Read, ex-National Parks Provincial Warden for Matabeleland North. After high school, I completed three years working in a range of roles in the bush including; working on lion research projects, concession and wildlife management, assistant camp management, building safari camps, assistant guiding, as well as a range of antipoaching work (snare sweeps, darting and rehabilitation operations, animal capture and more). DEPARTURE FROM HOME AND A RETURN MID-PANDEMIC After some time working in the bush, I decided to go study and obtain a University degree. In 2016 I embarked on a new adventure to the cold and rainy UK, to complete a degree in Business Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Oxford Brookes University. In early 2020, the covid-19 pandemic spiked and by March, I was required to return home (thankfully to much warmer weather), and completed the final portion of this degree, as many recent graduates did, in a 2-week quarantine back home in Victoria Falls. In the months that followed, the financial implications of the pandemic in Africa became shockingly apparent by the day, especially when contrasted with the privileged T Shaun Read Wildlife Photographer Article & Images | Shaun Read
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26 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe surroundings of the first-world country I had just spent four years in. As a result of job loss and financial instability from the pandemic, both subsistence and syndicate poaching have risen significantly, proving fatal to many animals in the Victoria Falls and Hwange Area. In October 2021, whilst working on a wildlife research project for an organization in Victoria Falls, I came across a freshly poached elephant on my first day, and a live snared giraffe on my second, which resulted in a full day of darting and treatment operation to release the giraffe from the snare. Having seen these two consecutive incidents, and stumbling across numerous snared carcasses throughout my time working in the area, I knew I had to do something. When I got home, I sat down with my father and decided to set up a Wildlife Trust to protect those who cannot protect themselves. By November 2021, The Wildlife initiative Trust Africa had been registered, standing to preserve and protect the pristine nature of Zimbabwe for the benefit of future generations. WITA K9 ANTI-POACHING UNIT: Ensuring the conservation of Africa’s wildlife & natural environment, The Wildlife Initiative Trust Africa (WITA) is a non-profit organization that will be implementing the firstever K9 anti-poaching unit in the Victoria Falls region later this year. Through training a formidable unit of anti-poaching rangers, which will integrate with the K9 unit, we will provide a rapid response unit for the tracking and apprehension of poachers in the Victoria Falls region and beyond, as well as operate various other anti-poaching activities in the area. In addition, we will work to manage human-wildlife conflict whilst educating and uplifting local communities, steering them away from poaching, and inviting them to become a part of the preservation efforts of our organization. Beyond this, we aim to take a modern approach to antipoaching, by working in close collaboration with a range of like-minded NGOs, companies, and individuals, whilst integrating the latest technology into
www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 27 Follow and join our conservation journey on Instagram and Facebook: Wildlife Initiative Trust Africa (WITA) INSTA: @wildlifeinitiativetrustafrica FB: @WeAreWITA Website: www.wildlifeinitiativetrust.org For donations email: shaun@ wildlifeinitiativetrust.org Photography INST: @shaunoread FB: shaunreadphotography our operations. Through shared resources and combining our efforts with others, we aim to achieve more by working as one, rather than as individuals to preserve our wildlife heritage of Zimbabwe. RAISING AWARENESS: MY PHOTOGRAPHY Alongside this journey towards creating WITA, when I returned home from the UK, I began reimmersing myself into the bush, (a pleasant break from the first world concrete jungle) and reconnecting with nature through the view of my camera lens. As a self-trained photographer, having worked predominantly in event and nightclub photography overseas, I began capturing moments of nature at their finest to share snippets of my life with those who follow me on social media. Since returning home to Zimbabwe, my interest in my fine art photography work has steadily been increasing, with the number of followers watching my work slowly on the rise. To start out, I was sharing these moments simply to raise awareness of the natural beauty our country has to offer. However, a few months ago I got my first inquiry to purchase one of my images as a print, and I realized my work could represent something more than just a decorative piece in someone’s home or office space. I realized it could serve as an active contribution toward conservation. From that first print I sold, and every print thereafter, I further support our conservation efforts by donating a portion of the proceeds directly to WITA, helping fund the setup and running costs of our operations. Through sharing these moments which I capture, I am working to raise awareness of the immaculate wildlife our country has to show, as well as to prompt those who see and purchase them to aid in our efforts to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Although I have shared with you a portion of my story here today, who I am is not important, but what I am aiming to achieve is.
28 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe The Stanbic Bank wine festival is an annual event held by Stanbic, this is a celebration of different wines, gin, and beers held over two days. This year’s festival was a special one, held for the first time after COVID. It saw the coming together of various budding connoisseurs elegantly dressed under the theme, “The Great Gatsby”. Wineries from the region graced the event, making each day into the to evening special. This, paired with delicious food and great conversation all around! Here are a few pictures from this year’s festival T Article & Images | Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe Stanbic Bank Wine Festival
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30 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe The Importance of Connecting the Health of our Societies to the Natural World. ll animals, including humans, need healthy habitat to survive. None of us can survive without food, water and air. Everything we use, or consume, comes from nature, which means none of us could eat, drink, run businesses, make money, or exist without it. All life depends on the plant’s ability, through photosynthesis, to convert sunlight energy into edible forms, so does every economy, every nation and every civilisation. Let’s start off by looking at human successes – you’ll notice that in the last 120 years, there has been an incredible advance in things like cars, planes, computers, phones, machinery, etc, to the production of our food, clothing, buildings, etc. Our increasing successes have been in the things we manufacture or produce – our advances are technological ones. The things we make, or produce, are not complex, which means all those things can exist independently - nothing relies on anything else to survive. The things we make will stop working if a part goes missing, or a battery goes flat, fuel runs out, or if we change how we produce it, or just stop using it. When it comes to solving problems with anything we manufacture or produce, it is relatively easy because with time and money, we will come up with better technologies to solve the problem. Now, let’s look at the mounting global failures we are experiencing. If we look within the same time frame, we will find that we have been experiencing an increase in: droughts, floods, wildfires, poverty, poaching, social breakdown, economic instability, mass emigration to cities, violence, pandemics and climate change. Those are all symptoms of our environment deteriorating, and you’ll notice that those problems can be put into just three categories - social, economic or environmental. Human societies and nature exist in one hugely complex, interdependent whole, made up of billions of people, thousands of economies, and every plant and animal species on earth from the biggest tree to the tiniest micro-organism. In this web, everything is connected. None of those things can survive in isolation: human societies, economies and nature are inseparable, selforganising and unpredictable. Unlike technology, when it comes to solving problems with these complex things it is very difficult because they are intricately connected, and have a life of their own, and because of that, whatever we do to one aspect will set off an invisible domino effect which will eventually impact the others. If we look closer at those three categories, you’ll see that none of them are things we make or produce - we do not manufacture people, economies or nature, we only manage them and they are the only things on the planet that we do manage. We use our technology and the things we make or produce as tools to help us as we manage ourselves and our environment. We manage ourselves as individuals and families, we manage our businesses, and, at scale, we manage our societies, economies and land through policies developed by governments and big organisations. If we are experiencing great technological advances and successes with everything we manufacture and produce, but rapid collapse with all we manage, we can easily trace our global problems to one thing: our management. And management is: making a decision. A Article & Images | Sarah Savory
www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 31 We now know why our decisions are failing and how to fix it. In the early 1980s, my father, Allan Savory, discovered that every person on earth makes every conscious decision using the same process. What they discovered is that we are all born with an identical, genetically inherited decision-making process. This process is not only inherent in humans, but in all tool using animals. This genetic decision-making process ensured successful decision-making in a time when stick and stone tools were our only technology and we only had to make social decisions: we just needed to consider our individual or group needs, desires, or problems, while living in harmony with our environment. But, when people discovered how to control fire, everything changed because it enabled us to make increasingly advanced tools. Gradually, as our tools and technology advanced, it resulted in a change in our social behaviour - we began to manipulate our environment, and, we ended up actually managing nature and we began to harm our environment. We also began bartering, adding a financial dimension, which resulted in today’s economies. But, because we didn’t know about a genetically inherited decision-making process, we never realised we had to adjust our decision-making process to account for the fact that we were no longer just managing or meeting our social needs, desires or problems. We had added ecological and economic components. That began to get us into trouble… We continued using the same inherited decisionmaking process, addressing our social needs, desires and problems from that perspective. Then we applied the same process and addressed financial needs, desires or problems in an economic context. And we did the same with our environmental needs, desires or problems, making them from that perspective. Because of our increasing mechanistic world view and obsession with technology, we were automatically but unwittingly separating and isolating the inseparable aspects of our decisions, reducing them down into “manageable” parts, making social, financial OR environmental decisions or policies. But people and economies are not separate things that overlap with nature somewhere in the middle, which is how we view, manage and study them. They exist as one, inseparable whole, and we have to learn how to make our decisions using a process that reflects that universal law. The need for a Holistic Management Framework has long been obscured because of the successes we have
32 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe achieved without one. In the current management paradigm, we are still able to meet short-term objectives, but at huge long-term expense. For example: agricultural chemicals and machinery are temporarily helping farmers produce much higher crop yields, but this destroys soil organisms. The result of this is the constant destruction of our life-supporting soil. We have been able to develop increasingly sophisticated forms of technology with which to exploit earth’s resources, and make life more comfortable for ourselves, but we have not been able to do that without damaging our environment at the same time. The knock-on consequences of any human action, practice or policy can be traced back to someone, somewhere, making a decision. Our global issues are the knock-on consequences of our decisions. Which can only mean that we have to change HOW our decisions are being made. Now, more than ever, we need the ability to make holistic decisions that simultaneously consider economic, social AND environmental realities, both short and long-term. We have to make sure that we are no longer making any decision from the reduced view of either a social or a financial or environmental perspective, but from the overarching perspective of all three simultaneously - we have to guarantee we always zoom right out to big picture clarity at that point and test that any action, practice or policy is leading towards a broad, new perspective. The Holistic Framework for Management enables us to successfully do this and essentially makes it impossible for anyone to make an unsound decision or policy. The guiding, filtering process connects our physical and financial stability to ecological health, which ensures that every action, practice or policy will be simultaneously socially, economically and environmentally sound and appropriate for whatever the entirely unique complex circumstances that decision is being made within. In both the short and long-term. This world-changing new knowledge was born in Zimbabwe out of a love for her people and wildlife, and Zimbabwe should be flying this flag, leading the world in addressing the root cause of global habitat destruction and climate change.
www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 33 Contrast gives perspective in life; it reminds us of where we have come from, where it all started, and how far we’ve come. In food, the contrast appears in the depth of flavour, the crunch or smoothness of texture, the delicate smells of herbs, or the aromatics of spices. The biggest contrast in my life was also the biggest challenge. As a small country girl with a background at the then-new Tin Roof in Harare, my first real move into a chef career was in the manic metropolis that is Dubai. Whereas Tin Roof was about serving laidback lunches and forming personal connections with repeat customers, Dubai was anything but. Thankfully my time at Warwick Chef School in Hermanus had prepared me well. Dubai was glitz, glamour, excitement, and energy, and the big city life was at times overwhelming. Straight in the deep end, my first job was at one of the busiest and biggest hotels in Dubai - Atlantis the Palm, working at Michellin Star Chef Giorgio Locatelli’s Italian restaurant. It was surreal. There was non-stop learning and each day brought something new. I started in the pasta section making all the endless pasta variations, ragus, and sauces for a full year before I was moved to pastry to learn tiramisu, amaretti, gelatos, and my favourite: crunchy and creamy cannoli. It was fun, busy, and the complete opposite of anything I had experienced before. But working in a big hotel, hardly seeing the light of day was tiring for this small-town girl. I was burning out and needed a change - another contrast. I found that at the Australian run The Sum Of Us café, where I was lucky enough to work with one of the biggest influences in my career, Chef Troy Payne. His passion and love for food is intoxicating (in the best sense): I was like a sponge and my philosophy of food and the way I work now in any kitchen is largely influenced by him. Respect the food and produce you are cooking, respect the culture behind it, and most importantly, respect your team! The high standards and creativity of The Sum of Us helped me connect the contrasts of casual food with fine dining - you can always elevate simple foods; cooking doesn’t have to be overly complicated to be good, and everything starts with The Travelling Chef Article & Images | Genna Tozer
34 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe produce; from the sauces, you make to the final touches of seasoning and garnishes you add, and to the final dish you plate. With Dubai being a hub city in an arid region, little or no produce is grown locally, most of the produce having been picked too early and ripened in refrigeration. This didn’t sit well with me, having grown up in Zimbabwe where most produce is seasonal and grown locally. I remember having my mind blown at seeing nectarines having come all the way from Zimbabwe, dragon fruit from Asia, and avocados from Mexico. The flip side of this was that I got a chance to cook and use produce that I had never seen or would have the opportunity to use anywhere else in the world - unless I had lived in 20 different countries. My eyes were also opened by the amazing variety of foods and cultures in Dubai’s melting-pot of smaller restaurants - Indonesian Balado, Middle Eastern Kibbeh, Filipino Adobo, and Ethiopian Injira. A lot of learning took place, and I didn’t recognise it then but my kitchen experience was expanding; by now it included casual dining, classical French cuisine, and Italian fine dining. However, five years in a big city was enough for a country girl and the excitement had worn off. I had a craving for change and inspiration, for another contrast in my life. So with a view toward self-development and personal balance, I stepped away from cooking for a while and signed up for a 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course, and went to explore India. Yoga and the holistic view on food resonated with me, from sourcing foods within your area to eating food that is mainly plant based and balancing your diet: it just made sense to me. Being in India and moving away from the large Hypermarkets of Dubai reminded me of how good locally grown food can be. Buying your bananas straight from the farmer who had travelled five hours to get to the early morning 34 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe
www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 35 amazing Kem Bơ - avocado and coconut ice cream. In, amongst all of this was my work at Fusion Maia, a much smaller boutique hotel resort than Atlantis. Locally owned, the resort aimed to offer a sophisticated and elegant take on Vietnamese cuisine. And once again I learned so much as the resort went through a rebranding to a more health centred wellness experience; it became TIA Wellness Resort with inspired new menus. It was an unforgettable experience working with a full Vietnamese kitchen, food, and beverage team. Being in South East Asia and wishing to further expand my knowledge and skills, I took the opportunity to travel to Bali to learn about Japanese and other Asian, as well as European, fermenting techniques. There I realised how much of our everyday food should be naturally fermented: cheeses, vinegar, sodas, beers, yoghurt, and how this benefits us. It’s amazing to learn how people used to prepare and preserve seasonal foods, but, sadly, it is slowly becoming a lost art in this fast-paced life we are all living. Inspired by all this, on my return to Vietnam, I started my own little passion project Natural Cravings, with healthy sustainably packaged foods like naturally fermented nut cheeses, sauerkrauts, kimchi, and water kefir, vinegar, hummus, and muhammara. The aim was to combine a holistic viewpoint with fermentation to make healthy food something you can really crave and want to eat This was all going well, perhaps too well, as then Covid hit and (like for many) brought everything crashing down. I came back to what seemed like quiet little Zim and did some soul searching for a few months. When it came to getting back on track, I was fortunate that The Palm River at Victoria Falls offered the perfect opportunity for a fresh start - a new hotel, a new menu, and new contrasts. Having recently been inspired by all the local produce and everything that Zimbabwe has to offer, I’ve tried using a combination of all I’ve learnt and experienced to incorporate locally grown food, and replace everyday consumables with real homemade versions. It’s an ongoing challenge that the team is excited and inspired to expand and perfect. The menu has been inspired by all my travels and all my experiences: all my contrasts. market, and meeting the person who makes the paneer you are buying at the local shop, awakened my perspective. You weren’t always guaranteed to get the potatoes you’d gone to the market for, but you were always going to be inspired, and there is always room for that. It seemed that I was ready for another big change. I had dreamt about going to Vietnam since I was a young girl and as I had gotten older I had been drawn to the idea: little did I know what was in store. While India was already a big contrast to Dubai, Vietnam was somehow more so. The Vietnamese culture revolves around food, with a strong love for their traditional dishes and street food. While Indian food is defined by spices, Vietnamese food made me appreciate the subtlety of the light broths, herbs, and textures; everything added to a Vietnamese dish is there for texture and flavour - think crispy shallots, chilli oil, roasted peanuts, fresh herbs, and crunchy bean sprouts, all providing such satisfaction and flavour. My early morning commutes were alongside motorbikes with smoking fire drums on the back selling Banh Bao (steamed buns filled with meats), passing endless roadside stalls selling Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguettes), rice noodles and hot broths, steamed coconut sticky rice with sugary peanuts, even fresh herbs, and vegetables. And then there were the wet markets which are a hive of activity - it was a sensory overload on so many levels. One market had us going back every day for a month to get
36 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe A perfectly light, hot and nourishing bowl of rice noodles with soy, honey and garlic mushrooms, broad beans and a ginger broth. 250g mushrooms 2 Tbsp sesame/ olive oil 1 Tbsp honey 1 Tbsp soy sauce/ tamari (for gluten free) 2 cloves garlic ½ red onion chopped fine ½ tsp ginger + 1 big knob, crushed 500g rice noodles 1 cup broad beans/ edamame beans, boiled and peeled 3 spring onions, chopped 1 tsp chilli oil 1 cup vegetable stock (homemade - *carrot peels and onion skins and celery leaves) 1 handful of roasted peanuts Ingredients • Clean and quarter the mushrooms. • Whisk together the 1 Tbsp sesame oil, honey, soy sauce, grated garlic, ½ tsp of ginger, and red onion together, and add the mushrooms. Let the mushrooms marinate for a few minutes. • Heat a pan, and add the Tbsp of sesame oil, add the mushrooms, cook for a few minutes until nice and tender. Remove the mushrooms from the pan leaving any juices or sauce in the pan, add the vegetable stock and crushed ginger knob. Bring to a boil and taste - season with a little soy sauce and honey if needed. • Boil a pot of water and cook the rice noodles. • Strain the noodles and mix in the mushrooms and broad beans. Portion into bowls then pour over the hot ginger broth, top with chopped spring onion and chilli oil. Method
www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 37 ollowing two years of closure and with covid regulations finally relaxing and flights and tourists returning to Zimbabwe, Isibindi Africa’s newest lodge, Tsowa Safari Island, near Victoria Falls in the Zambezi National Park, is not only open for business but has been expanded and given a make-over during the lockdown period. “Expansion plans for the lodge were already afoot as covid struck,” says Isibindi Africa Lodges CEO Brett Gehren, “but we are very excited with the results - an increased living area and four more luxury tents, to offer an idyllic 16-bed Zambezi island escape. The lodge is only 50 minutes from Victoria Falls, but far enough to be out of the noise and hustle around the popular tourist”. The mighty Zambezi River has always captured the hearts and minds of explorers, now modernday explorers can experience the area’s many wonders for themselves. Located next to Matetsi, the lodge has its own access road through the Park and offers guests the chance to immerse themselves in one of the world’s last great wilderness areas.” “As with all our lodges, every consideration has been taken to ensure that all our eco-sensitive structures, have a minimal environmental impact and blend into the stunning natural surroundings. I feel that If David Livingstone had to walk through Tsowa Safari Island today...he would feel right at home,” adds Gehren. Whether relaxing at one of two swimming pools watching abundant F Welcomes Guests Back Tsowa Safari Island Article | Joanne Hayes Images | Isibindi Africa Lodges www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 37
38 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe wildlife pass by, exploring the private island on foot with a guide, bird-watching, or embracing the amazing water-based activities such as fishing, canoeing, and sunset river cruises, every experience at Tsowa is an exceptional one. It’s also an ideal spot from which to explore the area’s other attractions; game drives and guided walks in the Zambezi National Park, a visit to the magnificent Victoria Falls, as well as day trips to Chobe. Almost equidistant from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Livingstone in Zambia, Kasane in Botswana, and the Namibian border, Tsowa is also easily accessible from all of South Africa’s major airports. With four lodges located in some of Southern Africa’s most pristine settings, Isibindi Africa Lodges pride themselves on partnering with the communities in which they work. Through the Isibindi Foundation, the group is involved in several community and conservation projects, ensuring that visitors who stay at any of the Lodges are making a contribution to Isibindi’s work and indeed ‘journeying with purpose’. [email protected] www.tsowasafariisland.co.za
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40 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe In the rolling hills of the Eastern Highlands lies one of Zimbabwe’s hidden gems, Nyanga National Park. Nestled in thick evergreen forests, the hills and valleys are punctuated by majestic waterfalls, streams, and rivers flowing with crystal clear water. The mystical Mt. Nyangani imposes its towering presence over the scenic view, while the lesser peaks and lush valleys complete nature’s portrait of this wonderful place. Located 271km from Harare and 108km from Mutare, Nyanga provides a convenient getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. Upon arrival, all visitors are greeted by an inexpressible serenity that can only be explained by the body’s transition into a mode of relaxation. The journey itself is captivating. When approaching Nyanga one will discover roads flanked by flat-top acacias while the granite mountains, littered with the indigenous Msasa trees, display an assortment of brown, red, and gold colours between winter and spring. While the hills are covered in dense pine and wattle forests, the cool valleys are home to species of proteas, everlastings, and sprawling orchards filled with fresh fruit. In addition to an abundance of plant life, the bird watching is prolific; with over 300 species including migratory birds that fly in between November and Scenic Nyanga Article & Images | Tami Mudzingwa Marketing & Quality Assurance Executive, ZimParks
www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 41 April. Nyanga is also home to zebra and several species of antelope, including the waterbuck, wildebeest, klipspringer, kudu, and eland. The main predators include leopards, hyenas, and the occasional lion. The perennial streams are stocked with rainbow trout, providing the finest fly fishing experience in Mare, Rhodes, Gulliver, and Purdon lake. Udu is the only lake where bream fishing takes place. The rippling landscape also presents an array of adventure activities; hiking, canoeing, biking trails, and abseiling which will get one excited. For an adrenaline rush, an encounter with the famed Skywalk and Zipline at Mtarazi Falls awaits. Troutbeck offers a verdant 18-hole golf course in addition to horse rides to suit all ages and agility. History enthusiasts can visit the granite pit structures from the Stone Age and historical sites such as rock paintings and ancient gold workings. The Rhodes museum
42 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe likewise chronicles Nyanga’s bygone years and this visit must be complemented by a trip to the scenic World’s View for a more farreaching experience. For overnight stays, an abundance of options is available. One could rough it out in the campsites provided by Zimparks, or enjoy a more comfortable stay at Montclair, Troutbeck, Blue Haze, Pine Tree Inn, and many other lodges and hotels. Moreover, Zimparks provides self-catering facilities located at three camps, namely Udu, Mare, and the recently renovated Rhodes camp; all well-suited for the budget traveler. The road to Nyanga is well paved and easily accessible with a small vehicle. However, navigating within the national park would require a high clearance vehicle (preferably with 4WD) due to the rough terrain. To get there from Harare one takes the Mutare road, till Rusape. In Rusape, the road signs indicate Nyanga/Juliasdale. From there, head on straight and experience a journey to be remembered. There’s so much more Nyanga has to offer, and all that’s been shared does not amount to a tenth of what awaits every visitor. Words will never be enough, see it for yourself and witness the marvel of nature that is Nyanga National Park. For enquiries or bookings contact the Nyanga National Park office at +263773500399.
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44 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe “It is the storyteller who makes us what we are, who creates history. The storyteller creates the memory that the survivors must have- otherwise, their survival would have no meaning.”- Chinua Achebe This quote from one of Africa’s best-known novelists and a dominant figure in African Literature best describes my upbringing. Stories were an integral part of our lives, often told by our grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Stories of past experiences, our beautiful lands and their history, and the enjoyable folktales- that had us in stitches but conveyed lessons on social and cultural values. It is this love for storytelling, combined with my passion for filmmaking that I decided to tell the Zimbabwean story through visuals. I believe there are incredible documentaries on Visual Storytelling A Binga Story Article & Images | Prosper Kunyetu
www.nzira.co.zw Issue 20 45 modern design to add an element of “Boho Chic” to a room. basket weaving has allowed these women a social space for coherence and teamwork while increasing their income. It was an absolute honour being able to learn of the weaving practices and their meaning to this community and explore Binga. Be sure to visit this beautiful landscape, cultural and arts centre, talented weavers, and stories told that will make your trip worthwhile. Let us help tell the story of Zimbabwe to the world one visual at a time. CONTACT Instagram @visualsbyprosper Twitter @prosperkunyetu Africa and Zimbabwe that are high-end and of good quality but lack authenticity because the people who are telling these stories do not have the full understanding and appreciation of what they will be portraying. I believe that African stories are better told by Africans, this in turn will help the rest of the world understand and appreciate who we are as people. Zimbabwe is a land full of beautiful stories to tell and through my visuals, I have the opportunity to share this. My most recent project was with the Basket Weavers of Binga. Located just South of Kariba, Binga is a fishing, boating, and cultural centre. The town was created for the Tonga people who originally lived along the Zambezi and currently have a thriving handicraft industry. My assignment was to document the Tonga Basket Weavers for a short documentary. This was a project through the Zubo Trust, a woman-led non-profit organisation, that aims to promote the advancement of women in the Zambezi Valley. The basket art is unique, the baskets are woven from the ilala palm leaves using skills that have been passed down from generations of the BaTonga people. The designs are inspired by nature and represent their cultural heritage. Traditionally the baskets were used for winnowing grains but are now used in
46 Issue 20 NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe astjet Zimbabwe, has announced effective from today, 08 June 2022, the introduction of a second daily flight service from Zimbabwe’s tourism capital of Victoria Falls to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa. The additional service will operate every day using the airline’s 50-seater Embraer Regional Jet ERJ145 aircraft. Flights are scheduled to depart from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls at 09:55, with the return departing from Victoria Falls at 14:35. Fastjet remains positioned to continue as a key player in the contribution of tourism development in the Southern African region. This daily service will boost the continued resumption of tourism and trade activities in the area. Fastjet Zimbabwe spokesperson, Nunurai Ndawana, said, “We continue to support the development of Victoria Falls as a regional tourism hub by providing the much-needed seamless connections between the region’s top destinations. The second daily service between Victoria Falls and Johannesburg is in addition to our recently introduced service between Victoria Falls and Mbombela (Nelspruit) Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and Maun in Botswana effective from the 30th of June 2022”. “Working closely with our industry partners we continue to record growing demand for travel to the region. These second daily flights have been designed to provide international tourists arriving or departing from Johannesburg with additional options and seamless connections into the Victoria Falls”. CIRCULAR FNPRESS RELEASE FASTJET INTRODUCES A SECOND DAILY FLIGHT BETWEEN VICTORIA FALLS AND JOHANNESBURG CIRCULAR FNCP-22003 (ORG) PRESS RELEASE Schedule between Johannesburg (JNB) and Victoria Falls (VFA) Beginning 08 June 2022 JNB-VFA Flight FN8504 VFA-JNB Flight FN8503 Daily 09:55 – 11:35 Daily 13:00- 14:35 JNB-VFA Flight FN8502 VFA-JNB Flight FN8501 Daily 11:10 – 12:50 Daily 13:20- 14:55 ABOUT FASTJET Fastjet is a multi-award-winning African airline that began flight operations in 2012. Today, fastjet connects the three major cities in Zimbabwe by flying between Harare & Victoria Falls and Harare & Bulawayo. In addition, the airline offers international flights from Harare, Bulawayo & Victoria Falls to Johannesburg in South Africa, and from Victoria Falls to Mbombela (Kruger) Nelspruit Mpumalanga in South Africa and Maun in Botswana. Its awards include World Travel Awards 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 2020 and 2021, and Skytrax World Airline Awards in 2017 and 2019, and in the top ten finalists for 2021. Since commencing operations, fastjet has flown over 3.5 million passengers and has established itself as a reliable African airline brand, with a range of value-added products and services. As part of the airline’s commitment to offering choice, flexibility and value, customers benefit from generous free baggage allowances, flexible change options, multiple payment channels, airport lounge access on select routes, and ancillary services such as car hire. FURTHER INFORMATION & LINKS Website Images All fastjet fares include baggage allowances and no cost flexible change options, with the airline recently having announced an extension to the Flexible Change policy until the end of September 2022. Inflight customers can enjoy comfortable seating, generous legroom, and inflight snacks as part F of the onboard experience. CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS FASTJET GROUP [email protected]
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