Tourism and Environment

Hit by tough measures, Victoria Falls owners turn lodges into Covid quarantine centres

Published

4 years ago

December 9, 2021

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Owners of lodges in Victoria Falls are turning their properties into Covid-19 quarantine centres for travellers after the government introduced tough regulations for people entering the country, which include a 10-day mandatory quarantine.

The measures, which also include mandatory PCR tests on arrival at the traveller’s own cost, came as a severe blow for Zimbabwe’s tourism industry which was beginning to recover from nearly two years of global lockdowns that have disrupted travel.

Initially three lodges had been approved to provide quarantine facilities in Victoria Falls, but communication from the Hwange district medical officer Fungai Musinami’s office seen by VicFallsLive on Wednesday revealed that six more tourist facilities had since been added to the list.

Phezulu Lodge, Shearwater Explorers Village, Zambezi Boutique Lodge, Malachite House, Wallow Lodge, Kamtengo Guest House, Botonka Guest Lodge, ACHM and Pioneers Lodge as well as a private home identified as Malachite now offer quarantine facilities in the resort city.

Malachite, which offers self-catering services charges US$42 a night while the cheapest lodge with approved quarantine facilities in Victoria Falls, which is Shearwater Explorers Village, charges US$65 a room per night.

The Tourism Council of Zimbabwe, which represents tour operators, warned that the quarantine measures will cause significant damage to the country’s tourism industry, which is already facing collapse.

“The leadership of the council is distressed and disappointed that yet another hurdle has been placed in our collective way,” the council said in a statement reacting to the announcement of the measures.

“We will do all we can to resolve this situation so that negative effects are minimised or eliminated.

“We recognise the enormous impact of these decisions on communities, businesses and families, especially at this time of year, which traditionally is a time of family engagement.”

The council urged the government to come up with a better alternative that “minimises the economic impact on our sector while at the same time works towards a stabilisation of the threat to public health.”

“In this regard, we are engaged in discussions with the authorities with a view to having our opinions and advice heard,” it added.

Zimbabwe’s tourism sector is already reeling from travel bans imposed by Western and some African countries on southern Africa after the omicron variant of Covid-19 was first detected in South Africa and Botswana.

Zimbabwe has since recorded cases of the omicron variant, which is believed to be behind the fourth wave of the pandemic.

On Tuesday, the country recorded 4 031 new cases, the highest daily tally since the pandemic began early last year.

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Renowned conservationist Alan Elliott passes away at 86

Published

17 hours ago

August 1, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The conservation world is mourning the loss of Alan Elliott, a pioneering conservationist and tourism operator who passed away this morning around 2AM at Materdei Hospital in Bulawayo.

Elliott, affectionately known as “Mandebele,” was 86 years old.

Photo by Charlene Hewat

Elliott’s contributions to conservation and tourism in Zimbabwe are immeasurable. He was one of the first people to bring tourism to Hwange, Zimbabwe’s largest national park, and founded Touch the Wild, a tourism operation that hosted numerous celebrities, including the Queen and Prince Philip.

We then contacted Charlene Hewat, a close associate of Elliott’s Presidential Elephant Research Trust (PERT), to explain further about his conservation work. Hewat described Elliott as an extraordinary conservationist who dedicated his life to protecting elephants. “Alan’s legacy is imprinted on the wild landscapes he loved so dearly and protected so fiercely,” Hewat said in a Facebook post.

In an interview, Hewat elaborated on Elliott’s work, highlighting his efforts to protect elephants in Hwange. “He went and got a decree from President (Robert) Mugabe to protect the presidential elephants, and he received that decree, and they agreed that they would not shoot any elephants within the Dete Hwange area,” Hewat explained.

Elliott’s passing has sent shockwaves throughout the conservation community, with many paying tribute to his remarkable legacy. “He’s a legend. Everybody knows him,” Hewat said. “He was an MP in Hwange, spoke fluent Ndebele, and knew a lot of the ministers. He’s just an amazing man, a legend for Zimbabwe.”

As a testament to his enduring legacy, Elliott had asked Hewat to carry on his work with the Presidential Elephant Research Trust. “It was his vision to promote young Zimbabwean researchers, and that’s something that I share and think we can take forward for the country and for the youth,” Hewat said.

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UPDATE: ZimParks rangers injured in elephant attack receiving medical treatment

Published

23 hours ago

August 1, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo has provided an update on the condition of two rangers who were injured earlier this week by elephants in the Sengwa, Chirisa Safari area.

The rangers, who were investigating a reported case of a snared buffalo, encountered a herd of elephants with calves that charged at them.

According to the update, one of the rangers has undergone treatment for his left arm and is currently in a stable condition.

The other ranger had a successful abdominal operation and is currently receiving surgery for his broken left arm and left leg.

The incident highlights the dangers faced by wildlife rangers in Zimbabwe. In a similar incident in March 2025, a Zimparks ranger was killed by an elephant in Kariba during a routine patrol in the Gatche-gatche area.

The authority has encouraged people to minimize movements at night to reduce the risk of human-wildlife conflicts.

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ZimParks salutes brave rangers on World Ranger Day

Published

2 days ago

July 31, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

Today marks World Rangers Day, a commemoration of the critical work that rangers do in protecting the world’s wildlife and natural resources. The day is significant as it recognizes the bravery, dedication, and sacrifices made by rangers who often put their lives on the line to safeguard the environment and conservation efforts.

In commemoration of World Rangers Day, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has issued a statement. Below is the full statement:

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) joins the rest of the world in recognizing the work of the brave men and women who put their lives on the line in protection of wildlife.
It is also a day to remember those who have lost their lives in line of duty and some who are still missing to date.

This year’s theme, “Rangers,Powering
Transformative Conservation,” speaks to the important role Rangers play, not only as protectors of wildlife but also as leaders who bring change and help shape the future of conservation.

From patrolling wildlife protected areas and stopping poachers to working with local communities and educating the public, Rangers are at the heart of everything we do to look after our wildlife heritage for current and future generations.

Rangers work across vast landscapes and often spend weeks in the bush facing dangerous conditions, tough weather, and limited resources but despite these challenges, they carry on with strength and dedication, knowing that their work makes a difference.

We believe that by investing in our Rangers, we are investing in the future of conservation in Zimbabwe.
As we mark this important day, we say thank you to all our Rangers. Your courage, passion, and commitment inspire us every day, you are the backbone of conservation, and we stand with you.