by Zambezi
26 January 2012
We've introduced two new escorted tours for 2012, both exclusive to Zambezi. And both offered at a special 'early bird' price.
This is the first time that Zambezi has designed its own bespoke, escorted tours, offering guests the peace of mind of travelling with a reputable company and one-stop-shop for their entire trip.
The best safaris don’t always come with the cheapest price tags, but book before 31st May 2012 and enjoy the best for less.
Zambezi Big Cat Diary safari, 5 nights – From a private bush home in the Lemek hills, far from the tourist trail and within the 70,000 acre Mara North Conservancy area, head out on privately guided adventures with Jackson Looseyia, famous for his appearances on the BBC’s Big Cat Diaries.
Zambezi mobile safari through Southern Africa, 10 nights - The 11-day trip traverses two spectacular areas of Zimbabwe and Botswana, home to some of the most magnificent wildlife and breath-taking scenery in Africa, harking back to the original meaning of the word ‘safari’, or ‘journey’. With a small group of four to eight guests, a private guide and vehicle and access to private concessions, the itinerary offers an exclusive glimpse into the expeditions of old.
by Zambezi
4 November 2011
Shhh, don’t tell everyone, but Zimbabwe is a hot ticket for 2012, offering excellent value for money coupled with enriched safari experiences. We recommend you take a look now before the rest of the pack.
Once the shining star of the safari industry, with a conservation record second to none and some of Africa’s top professional guides, Zimbabwe slipped off the radar post 2000 when the politicians lost the plot.
Whilst the continent’s safari industry continued to grow elsewhere, Zimbabwe’s safari volumes diminished and prices dropped. So whilst other safari markets boomed with investment in camps and lodges, Zimbabwe’s stalled. Most importantly, service levels didn’t. Owners and managers of hotels, lodges and small camps especially in Victoria Falls, Hwange, Matusadona and Mana Pools focussed on delivering excellent service to fewer clients.
In recent years, positive change has started in Zimbabwe. Savvy owners are aware of the competitive advantage they’ve gained by having kept costs trim and are conscious of bigger threats from weak markets over the next few years so prices rises are being mostly contained for the coming season.
Visitors who make the effort to get on safari in 2012 will be greeted by some big personalities, warm smiles and simply tremendous service.
Read our latest Zimbabwe update and check out our latest client feedback to see what the fuss is all about.
by Zambezi
12 October 2011
We’ve been keeping a beady eye on developments along the Lower Zambezi Valley for some time now.
In April 2009 Protea Hotels announced plans to build a 144-bed hotel on the Zambian shoreline of the Chiawa GMA on the lower Zambezi River directly opposite Mana Pools National Park. Strong objections were put forward by Zimbabwean, Zambian and international conservation and tourism bodies. A public campaign ensued and Protea Hotels withdrew their planning application in April 2010.
Then it came to light in October 2010 that Zimbabwe's Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) had asked stakeholders to ratify four new 24-bed lodge developments for Mana Pools National Park, World Heritage Site, on its own side of the river.
Here’s an overview of this latest development plan.
Q: What’s being proposed?
A: Two of the original four proposals have since been withdrawn. The two remaining proposals consist of the 24-30-bed “Nyamepi Lodge” on the exclusive Nkupe Site, 3kms downstream of the Parks HQ at Nyamepi, and a potential second lodge on an existing site known as Vine Camp, located between Vundu and Ndungu sites.
Q: Why might there be objections?
A: These developments were announced after preparation of a 10-year Management Plan for Mana Pools, as yet unsigned by Zimbabwe's Minister of Environment.
During the management planning process, stakeholders agreed that further developments along the Zambezi River frontage at Mana Pools would be likely to increase tourism pressure to a level which could damage the very fragile ecosystem of the Mana Pools. The Plan recommended that there should be no further developments in the Zambezi riverside/floodplain zone of the Park and that only small (12-bed) semi-permanent developments should be encouraged at identified sites inland.
Zimbabwe's Middle Zambezi Valley was amongst 13 new international sites given enhanced conservation status as "Biosphere Reserves" by UNESCO in June 2010.
Q: What’s the industry saying?
A: The Zambezi Society is calling for the Plan to be re-visited in the light of the potential impacts these new proposals might have on the environment of Mana Pools and on the tourism experience of visitors to the Park. The organisation suggests that the Management Planning process should be widened to include the entire Mana Pools/Sapi/Chewore complex which constitutes the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Q: What next?
A: An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is underway for the proposed Nyamepi Lodge.
A group of international tour operators have expressed their concerns in a letter to UNESCO in Harare. The letter was copied to the Director General ZPWMA and the Institute of Mining Research (responsible for the EIA's) in which a formal request for an update on developments was made.
Feedback from UNESCO is anticipated some time in October 2011.
Q: Where can I find out more?
A: Zambezi.co.uk
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by Zambezi
22 September 2011
How's this for a specimen?! Photo received from Glenn Stutchbury/Ross Kennedy of Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. A Black mamba - approx 6.5m long - spotted last week near a cemetery in Triangle - fundi's reckon a mamba this size probably hatched during the 60's and would carry enough venom to kill 400 men !! See the reaction here!
by Zambezi
16 August 2011
A laughing dove, our latest fan, dropped into the Victoria Falls office to take the term "landing page" to another level...or perhaps he was just figuring out how to "tweet". Follow the story on Facebook.
There's even more fun to be had - how Ridgebacks deal with the cold; the "lions" miss all their tackles... 
Migration updates in Tanzania, Kenya and Kasanka (Zambia)
A "Gooney Bird" over Kenya: One of the world's best known aircraft, an iconic DC3 registered as "5Y WOW" and named "Furahah" (Swahili for Happiness) is now based on Mombasa.
by Zambezi
15 August 2011
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An invitation to the BirdFair
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Hi everyone, not long before BirdFair...
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...we're looking forward to seeing old friends and new faces, Friday to Sunday 19 to 21 August
Join us in Marquee 1, stands 59 and 60
- Get updated on some African news ... from East Africa (the migration is now well and truly on the move), southern Africa (where we've just had snow in Namibia!; the 3rd year of flooding in the Okavango and both the upper and lower Zambezi) and from central Africa (where we're running new expeditions)
- We have some unbeatable packages on offer - here's a sample:
- An unbeatable package at Victoria Falls – get into the wilder birding habitats in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia and use this package at the start and/or end of a safari – 3 nights, 4* comfort
- A week-long safari in Zambia's Luangwa during the green period (November to April)
- Lower Zambezi “summer migrants” and residents: Lilian's lovebirds, Pel’s fi5hing owls, Crested guineafowl, African skimmers and more!
- Madagascar “Vanga Triangle” from the very end of August to December visit at least one site in each of Madagascar’s three chief climatic/floristic zones: eastern rainforest, southern spiny bush and western tropical deciduous forest.
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- The Mafuri Safari - a 4 night package exclusively available from Wilderness Safaris - combines Mashatu (350 species) and Pafuri region, Kruger NP (400 species) November to April
If you can't join us at Rutland then
We hope you can join us!
John, Trish, Jackie, Mark and the Zambezi gang
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 © Copyright 2011
Head Office, Africa House, Modbury, PL210QJ, Devon, UK
Tel (UK/Europe): +44 1548 830059
Tel (USA/Canada): +1 800 545 1910
Tel (Africa): +263 13 44427
Email: info@zambezi.com
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www.zambezi.com
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Tags: birding safaris, Botswana, Mana Pools, Newsletters, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Northern Mozambique, Okavango, Madagascar, Kenya
by Zambezi
20 May 2011
Well, you know what they say about 'no news' being 'good news', but in the case of Zimbabwe it's great to see tourism being put in the spotlight as part of a positive debate.
Conde Nast Traveller has now published Lisa Grainger's recent article online, check out the debate and spread the word!
by Zambezi
3 May 2011
More on Zimbabwe...
This Friday sees the premier on Animal Planet of Karina, Wild on Safari, where UK model, Karina Holmes, swaps the day job for some incredibly close animal encounters in Zimbabwe.
This series was nominated for a Wildlife Film Academy Roscar Award.
The order of episodes will run as follows:
EPISODE 1: ADRENALINE HIGH! MANA POOLS CLASSIC AFRICA
EPISODE 2: LION CHARGE! MANA POOLS CLASSIC AFRICA
EPISODE 3: RHINO ROYALTY: AMALINDA MATOBO HILLS
EPISODE 4: PEEKING TOMCAT: AMALINDA MATOBO HILLS
EPISODE 5: RUSH HOUR: THE HIDE HWANGE
EPISODE 6: PRIDE OF AFRICA: THE HIDE HWANGE
EPISODE 7: HORNS, JAWS AND CLAWS: SINGITA PAMUSHANA MALILANGWE
EPISODE 8: WALLOWING DELIGHT: SINGITA PAMUSHANA MALILANGWE
EPISODE 9: FIGHTING TIGERS: THE ROYAL ZAMBEZI
EPISODE 10: THE SMOKE THAT THUNDERS: VICTORIA FALLS
EPISODE 11: LION ALERT: ANTELOPE PARK
EPISODE 12: HEART STOPPER! BUMI HILLS
EPISODE 13: THE HILLS ARE ALIVE: INN ON RUPURARA
Check out the trailer on You Tube.
by Zambezi
19 April 2011
Great supporters of Zimbabwe, the Zambezi Safari and Travel team are delighted recipients of the Tourism Award 2011 in the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards. Thanks to everyone who voted.
Dear Zambezi Safaris
On behalf of the Panel for the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards 2011, we would like to congratulate Zambezi Safaris on being voted and selected as the Winner of the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards for Tourism Award of the Year 2011.
The Zimbabwe Achievers Awards is an initiative set up to recognise and acknowledge the achievements and excellence of Zimbabweans who are raising the flag high for Zimbabwe and have achieved outstanding success in their specific sector.
The Tourism Award is awarded to a candidate who is successfully promoting Zimbabwe as a Tourism Destination and is continually raising the profile of the country on an International Scale.
Congratulations and Thank You for the work you are doing and we wish Zambezi Safaris all the very best for the year ahead.
May your outstanding efforts and success continue.
Yours faithfully
Shelley Cox
Vice-Chairperson
Zimbabwe Business Network
by Zambezi
12 April 2011
If the soon to be newlyweds are still looking for suggestions of where to go on honeymoon...here's our top tip!
Victoria Falls and Big Five - This is one of our all time favourite honeymoon safaris. Three nights at Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, including a guided tour of the ‘smoke that thunders’ and a sunset cruise along the mighty Zambezi, followed by three nights at an intimate bush camp set in Zimbabwe’s premier wildlife destination and conservation area, Hwange National Park. Now that’s what we call the perfect match!
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