October is upon us and its warm here. Harare looks stunning with purple jacaranda trees everywhere. We’ve even had a few showers and it never ceases to amaze me how quickly the dust gives way to new green shoots. On the first day of the month I was lucky enough to be in Mana Pools National Park having just finished the annual game count, for more information see the article below.
We’ve just finished exhibiting at Harare’s Sanganai travel show. Zimbabwe Destinations shared our stand with Antelope Park (www.antelopepark.co.zw ) from Gweru, Musangano Lodge (www.musangano.com ) from Mutare and Nyangombe (www.nayangombelodge.co.zw ) from Kwekwe. Thank you to everyone who came to visit us.
Until next time
Patch (Helen Patchett)
THE FARMHOUSE, CHIMANIMANI
Accommodation in the mountains of the Eastern Highlands
We are delighted to add to our portfolio The Farmhouse, a beautifully restored colonial farmhouse conveniently situated close to Chimanimani village in the Eastern Highlands. The Farmhouse is located on a working small holding with dairy cows, sheep and horses. The lodge sleeps 9 in total and is self catering, perfect for families and small groups. Wrap around veranda’s offer stunning views of the nearby mountains.
The beautiful and wild Chimanimani National Park is just 15km away. For the more adventurous a trip to ‘The Corner’, thirty kilometres from the village and in the northern section of the park affords the visitor great views, stunning waterfalls and beautiful clean pools. There are also ample walking opportunities in the vicinity of the lodge, including hiking up to Pork Pie Mountain or a gentle stroll to the Chimanimani hotel for possibly tea on the veranda or a swim in the pool.
Other places of interest nearby include Bridal Veil Falls and Tessa’s Pool at the nearby Outward Bound Centre. The owners, Doug and Tempe van de Ruit can also take you horse riding
For more information please contact;
Cell: + 263 772 101 283
Email: dougvan@zol.co.zw
Web: www.chimanifarmhouse.com
WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT ZIMBABWE
WEZ’s annual Hwange and National Park game counts are a great success again
If it’s full moon in September then you’ll find me in Mana Pools National Park for Wildlife and Environment Zimbabwe’s annual game count. This year’s count, the 20th, attracted a record number of volunteers.
Forty four to six man teams walked the various transects across the Mana floodplain and twelve teams were on static counts located at the parks waterholes.
Each team has 4 different walks over the weekend.. The walks start on either the Zebra Vlei or Sapi inland roads and head due north, finishing on the banks of the Zambezi River. The teams walk 500 meters apart counting game 250 meters to their left and right.
This year there were the usual interesting encounters with elephants and buffalo. Teams walking near the Mucheni camp turn off found themselves having to detour away from the pride of 9 lions, whereas the pack of 28 wild dogs near BBC camp had teams temporarily deviating of there GPS bearing to get a closer look at them.
Hwange National Park also has a game count during full moon in September. This year 79 teams consisting of 250 people participated in the 24 hour static count at pre arranged water holes throughout the park. There is an aerial survey a week prior to the game count in order to determine which water holes have water and can be included in the count. Hwange is the size of Belgium (14,540 sq km) and this years volunteers flew 2626km with in the park in just under 17 hours covering 267 named springs, pans and seeps. In 2012 there were 61 pans, out of a possible 95, being pumped by a Mixture of National Parks and private camps boreholes. The highest count so far was in 2011 when 42,000 mammals were counted, of which 23,000 were elephant. Hwange has 107 different animal species and 400 species of birds of which at least 50 are raptors.
I would like to thank Patrick Cox for supplying me with the Hwange game count information and the aerial photograph.
For more information please contact;
Web: http://www.wezmat.org
SAVE VALLEY CONSERVANCY
November golf day fund raiser
The Save Valley Conservancy was founded 21 years ago on what was previously know as the Devuli cattle ranch. At this time the 7500km square ranch shifted its operations from cattle to wildlife preservation and today boasts the Big Five and a vast variety of other mammals. Ornithologists will also be able to tick of a vast number of Zimbabwe’s 670 bird species. The conservancy has become a haven for the IUCN red listed rhino and wild dog.
The conservancies research projects currently include;
The Lowveld Wild Dog Project
Sango Leopard Research Project
Black & White Rhino Project
South-east Lowveld Bird Atlassing Project
The Turgwe Hippo Trust
The golf day, which is to be held on the 16th of November at The Royal Harare golf course, is a fund raiser to help save the SVC’s rhinos. Enter a team of 4 for US$250 or sponsor a hole for US$150. Fantastic prizes, a raffle and an auction of original artworks are available..
For more information please contact;
Cell + 263 778 028592 or +263 712 613796
Email: admin@savevalleyconservancy.org
Web: www. savevalleyconservancy.org
LAM AIRLINES FLY INTO ZIMBABWE
Another airline returns to Zimbabwe with connections to major Mozambique destinations.
Every month I seem to be writing about new airlines returning to Zimbabwe and this month is no exception. It is however great news that LAM (Linhas Aereas de Mocambique) has introduced a selection of regional flights to major Mozambique destinations. Starting on the 30th of October their flights include;
Harare to Maputo via Beira– 18.25 to 21.50 on a Tuesday & Sunday, and via Beira and Vilanculo at 11.55 to 15.50 on a Thursday.
Maputo to Harare via Vilanculo and Beira – 13.00 to 16.25 on a Tuesday and Sunday, and via Beira – 08.00 to 10.55 on a Thursday.
Harare to Beira direct – 18.25 to 19.15 on Tuesday and Sunday and 11.55 to 14.15 on a Thursday.
Beira to Harare direct – 15.35 to 16.25 pm Tuesday and Sunday and 10.05 to 10.55 on Thursday
Harare to Vilanculo via Beira – 11.55 to 14.15 on a Thursday
Vilanculo to Harare via Beira – 14.35 to 16.25 on a Tuesday and Sunday.
DUNHU RAMAMBO ART EXHIBITION
Pamuzinda & Chengeta safari Lodges fund raise for the Kariba animal welfare trust.
‘Wild about Art’ is the title of Dunhu Ramambo’s fun filled day out at Pamuzinda and Chengeta safari Lodges, which are situated on the outskirts of Selous, approximately 86kms, one hour out of Harare. The lodges are displaying a wide variety of work by well known local and regional artists, in multi mediums, which will be on sale and some selected pieces will be auctioned off at an evening cocktail party. A percentage of the auctions proceeds will go to the Kariba Animal Welfare Trust Fund.
On arrival guests will receive a welcoming glass of champagne and canapés. There are a variety of activities available for guests to participate in including game drives, horse rides and elephant interaction. Included is lunch, pigs on the spit and potjies, with live music by ‘Evicted’, all of this for only 50usd!
For those staying over, as the sun starts to set and the heat of the day subsides sundowners will be served at Ayers rock, followed by the art auction, inferno fire poi display and a late theatre supper. For more information please contact;
For more information please contact;
Cell: + 263 772 518 408 or + 263 772 568 834
Email: headoffice@dunhuramambo.com
Web: www.dunhuramambo.com
“Our destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things” John Pearson, theologian
For more great Zimbabwean tourism products check out our website or contact us if you have any queries.
patch@zimbabwedestinations.com
Skype patchzim
+263 772 263711.
Fax + 263 4 302679
www.zimbabwedestinations.com
Thanks.
