Connect with us

Tourism and Environment

How Victoria Falls survived when tourism ran dry

Published

on

BY LESLEY STONES

The Ndebele dancers who greet visitors at Victoria Falls airport have a delightful exuberance in their step these days.

Advertisement

Not many travellers are trickling in, but those who come enjoy broad smiles, impeccable service and a slew of new offerings as Zimbabwe’s tourism hub reinvents itself.

The Covid pandemic threatened total collapse since tourism provides the only income here.

Hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and bars closed down.

Advertisement

Tour guides and transfer companies had nobody to collect, and the hundreds of craftsmen had no buyers.

When the schools closed, many children lost their main meal of the day.

As well as poverty came a looming medical crisis, since the ill-equipped hospital had no facilities to treat Covid patients.

Advertisement

Then the community swung into action.

The government had already started a programme to promote tourism by supporting small and medium sized businesses with backing from the International Financial Cooperation, part of the World Bank Group.

When the pandemic hit they quickly established an initiative called We Are Victoria Falls and appointed Shelley Cox, a specialist in linking tourism to conservation and community development, as its crisis communications coordinator.

Advertisement

Different committees were formed to focus on feeding schemes, healthcare, wildlife preservation and public works and maintenance. “Looking after the community, nature, wildlife and our town were key focuses.

“Everybody was working hand-in-hand to make sure nobody was left behind,” Cox says.

An HIV/Aids organisation donated its buildings as a Covid isolation centre and all the builders rallied around to install plumbing and partitions to make it fit for purpose.

Advertisement

Donors were lobbied to provide medical equipment and protective clothing, vegetable gardens were planted and mass vaccinations were rolled out quickly.

A ‘food for work’ scheme let people work for three or four hours on community projects in return for 10kg of mealie meal.

Artists like Moses Kalembela formed the Rasta Compassion group and built a kids’ playground and delivered food to the old age home. He and his fellow artists have returned to the Elephant’s Walk craft centre now after directing their skills elsewhere for 18 months.

Advertisement

“Anybody who cared about the town came forward and said what can I do?” says Christine Brookstein, creative director of Ndau Collection jewellers.

“We have become a family because it’s pulled us together even more. We used every connection we had and we’ve got a fully equipped medical centre now that’s absolutely free for anybody who walks in.”

Other lasting results include a vocational centre to teach crafts, the opening of a women’s refuge for victims of domestic abuse, and flourishing vegetable gardens.

Advertisement

One of the most active players was Blessing Munyenyiwa, founder of the Love For Africa charity.

He previously worked for Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida, and persuaded his international contacts to make some hefty donations.

His efforts saw an oxygenator installed at the hospital to pump oxygen directly to beds in the ICU, and he oversaw the planting of nutritional gardens to feed the patients and staff.

Advertisement

On the business front he’s now opening the Zimbabwe Boutique, a solar-powered hotel with a wine cellar, a spa, gym and swimming pool, and activities including star gazing and conservation talks.

His hotel is one of many newly launched or revamped ventures, since tourism will inevitably bounce back because of the magnetic allure of Victoria Falls themselves.

But if visitors fly in, admire the Falls then leave within a day or two, the revenue will be minimal.

Advertisement

The operators know they must widen the attractions to draw a more diverse mix of people and offer activities and accommodation that will appeal to post-pandemic travellers.The visitor profile was already shifting before Covid, moving away from young thrill seekers to more culturally curious people, says Wild Horizons director Shane White.

“Many international people want to spend more time getting to know the country they’re visiting rather than just staying in five star hotels eating the best food. It’s about giving back,” he says.

Since foreigners often want to bring school supplies for the kids, Wild Horizons has started community tours to a school, an old people’s home and an orphanage where they can hear exactly what is required.

Advertisement

“The guest can then go to the shops and buy it and do a little handover ceremony, so they’re buying what’s needed and spending their money in the local economy,” he says.

Wild Horizons runs lodges as well as tours, and combines the two by involving some employees in a home-hosted meals experience.

“We’re really keen for tourists to get to know the Zimbabweans who serve them and get to know their background, so you can book a lunch or a dinner and go to their home to meet their family and have a meal with them.

Advertisement

“The revenue generated goes to the host and it’s absolutely fantastic.”

Another activity that spreads the income is a visit to a village – a genuine one, not a mocked-up façade.

The small operator Signature Africa took us to meet Chris Ncube, who graciously showed us his family homestead in Monde Village.

Advertisement

He describes a lifestyle that hasn’t changed for centuries, using plants for medicine, drums instead of telephones, and battles to prevent wild animals from devouring their crops and livestock.

“We don’t go out of the fence at night because it’s not safe, so we light fires and make a lot of noise.

“The animals used to run away when they heard the noise, but now the elephants just enjoy the rhythm,” he says.

Advertisement

People can also tour Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust , which runs a rescue and rehabilitation centre, conducts wildlife forensics and research and manages conflicts between humans and animals.

One initiative has seen it issue vuvuzelas to community guardians and cattle herders to scare away predatory lions.

South Africa’s famous instrument is so effective that the ear-blasted lions don’t return for weeks, says administrator Guendolyne Bere.

Advertisement

Travellers interested in behind-the scenes activities can also join a new Conservation and Awareness Safari with Charles Brightman, who founded Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching unit.

Guests can sign up with his company Discover Safaris to log game sightings, remove snares and visit remote areas to look for signs of poaching.

The game viewing can be glorious here, since Victoria Falls is an access hub to the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA).

Advertisement

This is the world’s largest transfrontier conservation area and spans 36 national parks and game reserves in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Mobile tented safaris are now springing up in some of its territories including the Zambezi and Hwange National Parks.

Umdingi Safaris offers fully catered camps for up to six people in tents featuring bucket showers and flushable toilets.

Advertisement

As we gaze into the Zambezi River, its owners Clint and Kelly Robertson ponder how best to market this fledgling operation.

“We want it to be owner-run and go on every trip because we want to become friends with our guests.

“It will attract a certain kind of person and that’s the market we need to find,” Clint says.- VicFallsLive

Advertisement

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Slider

Victoria Falls Safari Collection wins top honours at 2025 AZTA awards

Published

on

BY NOMMY VUMA

The Victoria Falls Safari Collection, operated by the Africa Albida Tourism hospitality group, has reaffirmed its leadership position in Zimbabwe’s tourism sector after two of its properties once again claimed top honours at the 2025 Association of Zimbabwe Travel Agents (AZTA) Awards held at Hyatt Regency Harare TheMeikles on 06 September.

Advertisement

For a remarkable 27th consecutive year, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge was voted Best Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe, while Lokuthula Lodges won Best Self-Catering Facility in Zimbabwefor the 11th year, highlighting the collection’s consistent delivery of world-class hospitality.  Lokuthula Lodges was also recognised as First Runner-Up in the Best B&B / Guesthouse category, highlighting its broad appeal.  To complement these awards, Victoria Falls Safari Collection Sales Executive Wendy Bourne was honoured with the Best Voluntary Service Award for the 12th time, recognising her outstanding commitment to supporting the travel trade.

“These awards bear witness to the dedication and passion of our entire team, whose commitment to excellence ensures that our guests continue to enjoy unforgettable experiences in Victoria Falls,” said Managing Director Nigel Frost. “We are humbled by the trust and confidence our industry partners continue to place in us, and we are inspired to keep striving for even higher standards.”

The awards come at a time of growth for the Victoria Falls Safari Collection. Following the successful launch in April 2025 of Queen Nandi Place, a multi-purpose venue for upmarket meetings and events, the collection is preparing to unveil additional MICE facilities, including two breakaway rooms and a catering area designed to be used for various events.  

Advertisement

Ross Kennedy, Director and Founder, added: “For Victoria Falls Safari Lodge to be voted Best Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe for 27 consecutive years is a truly remarkable achievement, and it reflects the unwavering support of the travel trade as well as the loyalty of our guests. At the same time, Lokuthula Lodges continues to shine as Zimbabwe’s favourite self-catering facility, highlighting the diversity of our collection. As we expand our offerings with new world-class MICE facilities, we remain committed to innovation, sustainability, and enhancing the appeal of Victoria Falls as a destination for both leisure and business travellers.”

The Victoria Falls Safari Collection comprises Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls Safari Club, Victoria Falls Safari Suites, Lokuthula Lodges, Victoria Falls Safari Spa, The Boma – Dinner & Drum Show, and Queen Nandi Place, all located on the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge estate just 4km from the natural world wonder.

Hosted annually, the AZTA Awards are recognised as one of Zimbabwe’s most prestigious travel industry accolades, with winners voted for by travel agents across the country.

Advertisement

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Slider

Conservation amid crisis: How VFWT adapted to 2024 drought

Published

on

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust (VFWT) has released its 2024 Impact Report, detailing a year marked by unprecedented challenges due to severe drought conditions across Zimbabwe and much of Southern Africa. The report highlights the organization’s strategic adaptations to support local wildlife and communities during one of the most difficult drought years on record.

Advertisement

Unlike previous droughts where water scarcity was the primary concern, this year underscored a more complex reality. VFWT Chairperson Bruno De Leo emphasized that the lack of grazing for both wildlife and livestock emerged as an even greater threat. Animals had to venture farther for food, increasing the potential for human-wildlife conflict and competition for dwindling resources. De Leo noted, “The year 2024 underscored the importance of connectivity for wildlife and the need to maintain corridors that allow movement and relieve pressure on natural resources.”

In response to these challenges, VFWT implemented several proactive measures. Collaborating with the rural communities involved in its Herding 4 Hope project, VFWT facilitated early livestock sales to minimize losses and planned for dry-season grazing in more distant areas to conserve energy among livestock. The organization also focused on regenerating boreholes to ensure that villages without adequate water had access to crucial resources.

Notably, VFWT’s Wildlife Disease & Forensics Laboratory made significant strides, establishing itself as a key player in wildlife forensics. In 2024, the laboratory handled over 280 cases and engaged in crucial research on transboundary animal diseases affecting regional wildlife. The lab successfully validated targeted sequencing for species identification using new technologies, reinforcing its capabilities in addressing wildlife crime. Remarkably, the lab played an integral role in international ivory seizure investigations and developed a genetic panel for black rhinos, demonstrating a strong commitment to combatting poaching and ensuring species protection.

Advertisement

A particularly significant initiative was the launch of a tuberculosis surveillance project for lions within Hwange National Park. Following confirmed deaths from the disease, this project seeks to assess its prevalence among the lion population and understand transmission dynamics. With nine lions set to be sampled in late 2025, the data gathered will contribute to vital conservation knowledge.

The report emphasizes the importance of continued support from donors and stakeholders, enabling VFWT to maintain healthy animal populations and develop sustainable solutions for the future of biodiversity in the region. In a challenging year, the dedication and adaptability of the VFWT team stood out, reinforcing its commitment to conservation and community engagement.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Slider

ZTA gears up for tourism month with significant expo in Mutare

Published

on

BY STAFF REPORTER 

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) is poised for a vibrant September as it kicks off Tourism Month activities, highlighted by the highly anticipated Sanganai/Hlanganani Kumbanayi Tourism Expo in Mutare.

Advertisement

This year’s event set for the 10th to the 12th of this month is set to showcase the country’s diverse tourism offerings and foster investment opportunities.

At a press conference held today in Harare and shared by the ZTA on X, Barbara Rwodzi, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, expressed optimism regarding this year’s edition, asserting that it will be a “resounding success.”

The Expo features a robust lineup of activities, attracting participation from 83 international buyers from key source markets, 11 local buyers, and a total of 411 registered exhibitors.

Advertisement

Minister Rwodzi emphasized the ongoing infrastructure upgrades in Manicaland, which include improved road conditions, the refurbishment of the Grand Reef Aerodrome, daily flights operated by Air Zimbabwe, and a luxury train service connecting Harare and Mutare. These enhancements are anticipated to stimulate job creation and promote long-term economic growth.

Joined by Deputy Minister, Tongai Mnangagwa, Rwodzi acknowledged the role of the media in amplifying the visibility of the Expo and urged for continued coverage to maximize outreach.

In addition to the Expo, Tourism Month will feature a Tourism Symposium, various sports tourism activities, including a marathon, and celebrations for World Tourism Day, marking September as a pivotal moment for Zimbabwe’s tourism sector.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2022 VicFallsLive. All rights reserved, powered by Advantage