Tourism and Environment

Victoria Falls’ Africa Abida Tourism shows strong post Covid-19 recovery

Published

4 years ago

November 18, 2021

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) group in October recorded its highest occupancies since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 in a sign that Zimbabwe’s tourism sector is on a recovery trajectory.

Occupancy across AAT’s facilities namely Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls Safari Club and Victoria Falls Safari Suites with 98 rooms reached 33 percent in October.

The figure compared to average monthly occupancies across AAT’s three properties being 16 percent so far in 2021, while bookings for December are at 45 percent, which will exceed the October average.

AAT chief executive Ross Kennedy said while November has historically been a softer month, December and the festive season were showing good signs of being the busiest since the start of the pandemic with new enquiries and bookings still coming in daily.

“The forward booking pattern seems positive at this time and from the second quarter of 2022 onwards there appears to be real momentum building,” Kennedy said.

“There are, however, many factors at play across all source markets and the world, so we take nothing for granted in an ever-changing extremely competitive environment.

“We are seeing a trend of many more late bookings, with guests from local, regional and international markets, booking, paying and staying within one to three weeks.”

Guests have also been staying longer in the last six months and that trend is also reflecting in bookings, with some international visitors staying or booking for five to seven nights, Kennedy added.

The increase in occupancies came as 96 percent of Victoria Falls Safari Lodge estate staff had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, as well as 86 percent of Victoria Falls’ adult population.

In addition, access to Victoria Falls has been boosted with airlines flocking back to the destination.

Airlines now flying into Victoria Falls are Fastjet, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, British Airways (operated by Comair), Airlink, Air Zimbabwe and Mack Air, as well as charter airlines.

The Lufthansa Group’s new leisure airline Eurowings Discover will start flying into Victoria Falls from Windhoek three times a week on March 30 next year, increasing Frankfurt to Windhoek flights to a daily service, with a Windhoek-Victoria Falls-Windhoek tag flight three times a week.

Other international airlines to resume flights to Africa include Qantas with Johannesburg-Sydney flights three times a week from January 5, while Delta Airlines has also recommenced flights into Johannesburg from the US, and British Airways into Cape Town from London.

AAT operates a portfolio of properties in Victoria Falls, namely Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls Safari Club, Victoria Falls Safari Suites, Lokuthula Lodges and The Boma –Dinner & Drum Show.

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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.