Zims new safari hot spot

ZIMBABWE is experiencing an exciting tourism revival since its change in leadership in 2017 and, in support of this increased interest, Machaba Safaris, well known for its three camps in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, opened its first #Zimbabwe based safari camp in May 2018. 

Verney’s Camp has a fantastic location, tucked away in a remote 10,000 hectare private concession in the south eastern section of Zimbabwe’s iconic Hwange National Park – and if the guest feedback so far is anything to go by, it is set to become one of Zimbabwe’s favourite new hot spots for discerning safari lovers “in the know”.

Verney’s offers excellent value for money and a true wilderness experience including excellent guided game drives and walks. But staying with Machaba is not just about the guest experience. It is also about supporting a country and its people as they strive to regain their once booming tourism industry - as well as supporting ethical operations. Machaba is a family-owned company that prides itself in its community development and initiatives ensuring the wildlife, local communities and guests all benefit. Machaba co-sponsors a local school in Hwange National Park which guests can visit as a half day tour. The tour also stops at a small rural village and the Wild Dog Research Centre.
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Winner 21 years in a row!

THE Victoria Falls Safari Lodge has been voted the Best Resort Hotel for the 21st year in a row by the Association of #Zimbabwe Travel Agents (AZTA), and the hospitality group also won three other awards.

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Africa Albida Tourism’s (AAT) flagship property, took out the top award ahead of Victoria Falls Hotel, which was first runner-up, and second runner-up Elephant Hills Resort.

AAT property Victoria Falls Safari Club was named Best Boutique Hotel, with Stanley & Livingstone and Pamushana Lodge in south eastern Zimbabwe taking second and third places respectively.

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Picture Credit:  MrFederico 60397709@N06/17318864625 Vicky Falls via photopin

White knuckle ride down the Zambezi

THE World Famous Zambezi River proudly boasts the biggest, wildest, most exciting one day White Water Rafting experience on the planet! Take on the Grade 5 rapids and pounding white water of the Batoka Gorge below Victoria Falls with Wild Horizons and the finest crew on the river - Africa's Greatest Adventures. 

Our one day rafting trips kicks off from Rapid 1, right below the incredible Victoria Falls - Simply being in this spot is enough to get the blood pumping! Hours of adrenalin filled fun all the way through to rapid 19.

www.wildhorizons.co.za

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Adventure and Wildlife Africa's latest offerings

ADVENTURE and wildlife tour operator Gane and Marshall has created a selection of new itineraries to celebrate four lodge, safari camp and hotel openings in top #wildlife spotting locations in #Africa. 

Founded in 1991 as an adventure trekking company, specialising in Kilimanjaro climbs, Gane and Marshall has evolved to become one of the UK’s leading providers of tailor-made wildlife and adventure holidays around the world. They pride themselves on delivering off-the-beaten-track travel experiences in safe hands, whether that’s an Africa safari, an Arctic cruise, wild-life watching in Finland or an adventure trek in Nepal. 

The latest itineraries from the tailor-made specialist are to Botswana and Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Zambia, each offering wildlife fans the chance to experience a newly opened, luxury safari lodge, including Sable Alley bush camp in Botswana, the ultra-chic Miavana in Madagascar, the remote Gomoti Plains Camp in Botswana and the stylish King Lewanika Lodge in Zambia.

www.ganeandmarshall.com

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Victoria Falls International Airport welcomes Ethiopian Airlines

Traditional Zimbabwean dancers welcome Ethiopian Airlines's inaugural flight into Victoria Falls International Airport

THE launch of Ethiopian Airlines’ new route into Zimbabwe’s top resort town has been hailed as “a significant catalyst for tourism growth in #Zimbabwe and across the region” by industry leader Ross Kennedy. Ethiopian Airlines became the first international airline to launch flights into the new Victoria Falls International Airport.

The African heavyweight will fly to #VictoriaFalls from Addis Ababa four times a week, enabling tourists from major cities in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa to enjoy hassle-free connections via Addis Ababa.

On March 1, South African Airways boosted its capacity by 88 seats, by launching an Airbus A330-200 to service its daily route between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls; On May 1 Kenya Airways will launch direct flights from Nairobi to Victoria Falls and on to Cape Town; on July 2 SA Airlink will launch direct flights between Cape Town and Victoria Falls six days a week.

These four flights alone could bring as many as 80,000 additional tourists a year into Victoria Falls.

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Kaza Uni-Visa reinstated

The Governments of the Republics of #Zambia and #Zimbabwe are pleased to announce the re-launch of the Kavango Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (Kaza) Uni-Visa on 21st December 2016, with Citizens from 40 countries being eligible. The visa is only available for holiday/tourism purposes.

The Uni-Visa is only available at the following ports of entry:

• Harry Mwaanga Airport, Zambia
• Victoria Falls Land Border, Zambia
• Kazungula Land Border, Botswana border
• Kenneth Kaunda Airport, Lusaka 
• Victoria Falls Airport, Zimbabwe
• Harare Airport, Zimbabwe

The visa will be valid for 30 days and act as a multiple entry visa as long as you remain in Zimbabwe and Zambia but you can cross between the two as often as you wish in the 30 day period. It also covers those who visit Botswana for day trips through the Kazangula Borders, however, it will not be valid if staying in Botswana overnight. In this case, you would need to purchase a new Visa

For further details: www.kazavisa.info

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Picture Credit: MarcCooper_1950 flickr.com/photos/125843178@N06/28431392726 Sundown Over The Falls  via photopin

Dinner by moonlight . . .

WILD HORIZONS are delighted to announce the 2017 Rainbow Lunar Tour and Lookout Café Full Moon dinner dates. #VictoriaFalls is one of a very limited number of sites around the world, which are known for the occurrence of ‘moon bows’. During the Full Moon Tour of Victoria Falls, lunar rainbows also known as “moon bows” can be viewed. #Moonbows take place at night when a rainbow is seen in the light of the moon. This is a truly a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience.

The Lookout Cafe offers spectacular views of the Spray of the Falls and the iconic Victoria Falls Bridge. The The Lookout Café, usually closed in the evenings, offers a full moon dining experience due to its prime position on the edge of the Zambezi Gorge allowing for diners to view the moon-rise over a truly special scene. Visit the blog at #WildHorizons for an account of a full moon dinner at The Lookout Café.

Wild Horizons provides a complete range of Activities,Transfers, Accommodation and a Café in Victoria Falls.

www.wildhorizons.co.za

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Picture Credit:By CalvinBradshaw (http://photos.calvinbradshaw.com) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16220165

Reduction in Park Fees for Regional Residents

A tour of The Victoria Falls, #Zimbabwe is a truly awe-inspiring experience – domestic passport holders now qualify for a reduced Rain Forest park fee of US$ 14.00 per person (reduced from US$ 20.00 per person).

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Picture Credit: Phil @ Delfryn Design flickr.com/photos/43555170@N00/25891480741 Victoria Falls P1190029 via photopin.

Check-in procedure change at Vic Falls Airport

SINCE the opening of the new Victoria Falls International Airport there have been changes to check in procedure. Historically drivers and guides were able to join guests in the check-in queue and assist them all the way to the counter and with their check-in. This is now no longer allowed and the drivers and guides have to leave the guests once they join the queue. This is for security reasons and to avoid congestion in the queues. After check-in, guests will be directed to the immigration section for security screening and immigration formalities. After passport control, guests will go through to the departure Lounges.  These are security regulations applied by the Civil Aviation Authority of #Zimbabwe, according to International guidelines and will not be compromised.

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News from Wild Horizons

#ZIMBABWE continues to experience a shortage of US Dollars cash. 

There are cash withdrawal restrictions in place at ATM’s and these vary between $300 and $100 per card per day. Travellers are encouraged to bring small denomination US$ bills with them for payments where credit cards are not accepted, such as some smaller shops and restaurants, as well as the craft markets. 

Note that Euros, Pounds and ZAR are also accepted in cash but exchange rates may not be favourable so US Dollar cash is recommended.

www.wildhorizons.co.za

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Picture Credit: paulafrenchp flickr.com/photos/38397433@N04/30759962670 Elephants walking across the plains in Bumi National Park via photopin

Zambezi River sunset cruises

A cruise is a great way to relax and enjoy the spectacular Zambezi River in #Zimbabwe with opportunity to see a variety of game; including hippo, crocodile, and elephant as well as enjoy the many different bird species that can be found living along the river.

Wild Horizons started their summer sailing schedules for sunset cruises on the Zambezi River on September 1st.

The fleet consists of three pontoon style boats and the 2 hour cruise includes the knowledge of a guide, finger snacks and local beverages. Transfers are included in the rate and guests are collected from all hotels and B&B’s in Victoria Falls town.

http://www.wildhorizons.co.za/zimbabwe-activities/zambezi-sunset-cruise/

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Picture Credit: 62408939@N00/20148910580 DSC05085-HDR.jpg via photopin.com

Zimbabwe relaxes visa regulations

ZIMBABWE’S government has relaxed its visa rules for tourists from 37 countries – including China – and removed visa requirements for all visitors from the Southern African Development Community (SADC)*. The aim to boost tourism to the country. 

#Zimbabwe uses a three-tier visa model: category A nationals are exempt from visas, category B travellers can obtain #visas at the port of entry on arrival; and category C nationals must apply for visas prior to travel.

With immediate effect China – along with 36 other countries including the UK and US – have been moved from category C to B, and all SADC countries have been migrated to category A.

Immigration principal director Clemence Masango says: ‘This new position is in response to the voice of players and interest groups in the tourism and hospitality industry, who want to see more facilitation of movement of persons than control.’

He said visa regime change is part of an ongoing process, and that consultations would continue with a view to a further relaxation of controls in order to make travel easier and Zimbabwe a more favourable and accessible destination.

The changes have been welcomed by Shane White, marketing director at Wild Horizons, a safari and adventure holiday operator in Zimbabwe and Zambia. ‘We are delighted to see a relaxing of the visa regime and are confident that this will lead to an increase in tourism numbers from the affected countries

*Southern African Development Community members: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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Picture Credit: www.flickr.com/photos/22170893@N06/22176758629">Victoria Falls</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin, www.flickr.com/photos/88827093@N00/22983332791">Zebras and Kudu</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license)

Green awards for Wild Horizons

#SAFARI and adventure holiday operator Wild Horizons reports that The Elephant Camp and The Victoria Falls private game reserve have achieved awards from Green Tourism, the sustainable certification programme. 

The Elephant Camp won a silver award, while The Victoria Falls reserve gained a bronze.

A Green Tourism award means that a business … 

• Works responsibly, ethically, and sustainably 
• Contributes to its community 
• Is reducing its impact on the environment 
• Aims to be accessible and inclusive to all visitors and staff 

To achieve accreditation, The Elephant Camp was graded on-site by a qualified assessor against a rigorous set of criteria, covering aspects such as energy and water efficiency, waste management, bio-diversity, and social involvement and communication.

#GreenTourism particularly applauded the ethical practices the company – based in Zimbabwe and Zambia – employs in its elephant-back safaris, and the other animals in its care, noting: ‘These safaris and the elephants they work with are kept to a high standard of animal husbandry, and really lead the way in working sustainably with elephants.’

*Wild Horizons is introducing daily tours of the Victoria Falls guided in Spanish and French. The tours – lasting approximately two hours – depart from Victoria Falls hotels between 8am and 8.30am daily, and must be pre-booked. The company has full-time Spanish and French guides, and also can provide Italian and German guides upon request and subject to availability. 

www.wildhorizons.co.za
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