Tourism and Environment

Borders re-opening now paying off for Victoria Falls hotels

Published

4 years ago

August 6, 2021

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Hotels in Victoria Falls have started registering an uptick in bookings after the government opened the borders close to the resort city to tourists that have taken the Covid-19 vaccine.

The government recently re-opened Kazungula and Victoria Falls land borders for the first time since the beginning of the year following a Covid-19 vaccination blitz targeting the country’s prime resort city.

Although the Victoria Falls International Airport has remained open for international tourists, the closure of land borders had resulted in a huge drop in arrivals.

Anald Musonza, Hotels Association of Zimbabwe’s chairperson for the Matabeleland North chapter, said hotels had started to see an increase in reservations and inquiries.

“We have seen some improvements over the last seven days, and we are grateful as hoteliers for this decision by the government because it allows us to increase the use of our tourist products,” Musonza said.

“These inquiries that they are making give us some hope that in the end hoteliers will be able to resume and employment will be created again.

“According to our estimated figures, 50 per cent of the association workers lost their jobs, and these were our skilled and long serving people and that’s devastating.

“The other 50 percent were people, who went on unpaid leave while others are working reduced hours as low as two hours per day, instead of the normal eight.

“So our hope is that these normal shifts will be retained and even our procuring suppliers will also be able to resume so this decision is to an advantage to a chain of businesses normal.”

Musonza said the opening of land borders would give tourists the opportunity to sample tourism products at cheaper costs.

“Tourism on land makes it easier for our guests, who prefer connecting from Zambia in Livingstone to here in Victoria Falls and Botswana in Kasane and it also allows them to explore and connect the three countries in a way that’s affordable too,” he said.

There is no mandatory quarantine for tourists arriving in Zimbabwe, except for travellers arriving or transiting through India, the government said on June 29.

All other Zimbabwe land borders remain closed, except for transportation of goods and for returning residents.

Restaurants in Victoria Falls have also been re-opened for eat-in service under strict adherence to Covid-19 regulations.

Musonza said hoteliers were closely monitored by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) to ensure they adhere to World Health Organisation regulations to control the spread of Covid-19 such as maintaining social distancing, wearing a mask in public and practicing personal hygiene.

According to the ZTA, the country lost about US$ 1.6 billion worth of revenue in 2020 alone after international travel was curtailed to curb the spread of Covid-19.

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Zimparks launches elephant culling program

Published

2 weeks ago

June 3, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

In a bid to address the growing elephant population in Save Valley Conservancy, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has issued permits for a controlled elephant management exercise.

The exercise, slated to commence shortly, aims to cull an initial 50 elephants from the conservancy, which is currently home to 2,550 elephants – more than three times the ecological carrying capacity of 800 elephants.

According to ZimParks, the conservancy has been struggling to cope with the swelling elephant population, which has put a strain on the wildlife habitat and resources. Over the past five years, the conservancy has translocated 200 elephants to other areas, including Hurungwe and Sapi, in an effort to manage the population.

Zimparks says the controlled culling exercise is expected to provide relief to the conservancy’s ecosystem, while also benefiting local communities.

Elephant meat from the exercise will be distributed to local communities while the ivory will be kept by the State.

In a statement, ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo emphasized the authority’s commitment to responsible and sustainable wildlife management.

“We remain committed to ensuring that our wildlife resources are managed in a responsible and sustainable manner, for the benefit of present and future generations.”

In the community

Crocodile attacks claim 9 lives, injure 11

Published

3 months ago

March 13, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A surge in crocodile attacks has left a trail of death and destruction in Zimbabwe, with 9 fatalities and 11 injuries reported in the last two months.

According to a statement released by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), 49 human-crocodile conflict cases were recorded during the same period, resulting in the loss of 44 cattle and 60 goats.

The Mid-Zambezi region, which includes Lake Kariba, Angwa River, and Hunyani River, was the hardest hit, with 19 cases reported. The Central region recorded 14 cases, while 16 cases were reported in other areas, including Matopo, Harare, North-West Matabeleland, and South-East Low-veld.

ZimParks has urged communities to exercise extreme caution, especially around water bodies, during the current rain season. The authority has advised communities to ensure that livestock and children are not left unattended near rivers or lakes, and to take precautions when engaging in water activities such as fishing, swimming, and domestic chores.

To mitigate the situation, ZimParks is working closely with local authorities and conservation partners to raise public awareness and promote safety practices. The authority has emphasized its commitment to finding a balance between ensuring public safety and conserving wildlife.

As the situation continues to unfold, ZimParks has appealed to the public to remain vigilant and to report any crocodile sightings or attacks to the authorities.

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Lion found poached in Victoria Falls

Published

3 months ago

March 7, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A disturbing poaching incident has shaken the conservation community in Victoria Falls, with a lion found brutally killed and mutilated.

According to a statement released by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), a team from the Vic Falls Wildlife Trust was tracking a collared lion when they stumbled upon a gruesome scene.

The poached lion’s flesh had been removed, and its claws and head were missing. However, in a heartening turn of events, a second lion, an adult male, was found caught in a snare but still alive.

Thanks to the swift intervention of veterinary doctors, the second lion was successfully treated and rescued from the snare.

ZimParks has condemned the incident and vowed to work closely with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“We are worried about the increasing cases of lion poaching, and we will continue to work with the Police and other conservation partners to curb this challenge,” said Tinashe Farawo, ZimParks Spokesperson.

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of wildlife in the area, with ZimParks rangers and anti-poaching units conducting snare-sweeping patrols to protect the animals.

As the investigation continues, conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts are calling for increased efforts to combat poaching and protect Zimbabwe’s precious wildlife heritage.