Chef Brian’s Pan Seared Zimbabwean Certified Beef Tenderloin

Chef Brian Ndlovu

Pan Seared Zimbabwean Certified Beef Tenderloin topped with braised deboned oxtail on a local “Indumba” bean risotto served with a chiffonade of farm fresh vegetables and horseradish cream sauce.
Serves 4

Ingredients
• Beef fillet-600g
• Oxtail(on the bone)-200g
• Carrots-150g
• Onions-150g
• Leeks-150g
• Celery-1 bunch
• Thyme-1 bunch
• Fresh garlic -2 cloves
• Red wine-100ml
• Tomato paste -75g
• Brown stock-1lt
• Rice-200g
• Black beans-100g

For the Sauce
• Horseradish-75ml
• Fresh cream-200ml
• Jus roti-100ml

Method
• Clean, trim and portion the oxtail.
• Seal in lightly greased hot flat top
• Place in a shallow tray with root vegetables ,thyme, red wine and cover half cover with brown stock and cook in the oven for 4 to 5 hours
• Clean, trim and portion the fillet
• Secure the fillets with cling film and keep refrigerated
• Remove the oxtail from the oven and taste and see if the meat pulls off easily from the bone
• Meanwhile pan sear the fillets in a hot griddle plate and assemble the fillet and then the oxtail on the vegetables and risotto
• Reduce the cream, jus roti and horseradish by a 1/3. and serve with the dish

Now sit back & enjoy!

With compliments from Chef Brian Ndlovu of Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

SIX NIGHTS OF AFRICA ALBIDA’S EXCELLENCE

Africa Albida Tourism’s flagship establishment, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge carries the prestigious title of being Zimbabwe’s best safari lodge for the 14th year running, and is the most coveted among non-tented safari lodges in the country. The Hide Safari Camp at Hwange National Park is certified as being the top tented safari camp in Zimbabwe for the 11th consecutive year, making these two prime spots endorsements of excellence in the travel trade. Until 31 May 2010, two special packages are on offer to these leading establishments.

A six-night road deluxe safari to Victoria Falls, Hwange and Upper Zambezi includes two nights on a full board basis at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, one dinner at The Boma-Place of Eating and one dinner at the MaKuwa-Kuwa Restaurant, plus a sunset cruise, a tour of the Victoria Falls, and airport transfer between Victoria Falls Airport and Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. Set high on a plateau which forms a natural boundary to the Zambezi National Park, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge enjoys uninterrupted views of unspoilt bushveld, spectacular African sunsets and an on-site waterhole.

The following two nights are spent at The Hide Safari Camp in Hwange, on an all-inclusive basis with four activities per day, drinks, laundry and return road transfers between Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and Hwange Main Camp, and a return game drive transfer between Hwange Main Camp and The Hide. Accommodation is in large east African style luxury tents under thatch, all overlooking the main waterhole. Each tent has its own en-suite bathroom with a spacious bedroom area, tastefully furnished with solid Zimbabwe Teak furniture.

The last two nights at Imbabala Zambezi Safari Lodge are on a full board basis with three activities per day, drinks, laundry, and road transfers between Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Imbabala and Victoria Falls Airport. Imbabala Zambezi Safari Lodge is situated on a riverine fringe of the mighty Zambezi River where Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia converge. The lodge not only offers the chance to unwind, but also offers some of the most amazing game viewing and bird watching in the region in the seclusion of a private National Parks concession, bordering the Chobe Forest Reserve, renowned for its massive elephant population.

The second package is a six night fly-in deluxe safari to Victoria Falls, Hwange and Kariba, The first two nights are spent at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and are the same as described in the first package.

The following two nights are spent at The Hide Safari Camp in Hwange on an all- inclusive basis with four activities per day, drinks, laundry, a return game drive transfer between Hwange Airport and The Hide, and return air transfers in a light aircraft between Victoria Falls Airport and Hwange Airport to connect with the onward flight to Bumi Hills Safari Lodge in Kariba.

The last two nights at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge, Kariba are on an all-inclusive basis with three activities per day, drinks, laundry and return air transfers in a light aircraft between Victoria Falls Airport and Bumi Hills Airstrip. With the Zambezi escarpment as its backdrop, the well-known Bumi Hills Safari Lodge overlooks the vastness of Lake Kariba with all front-facing rooms designed with a balcony, overlooking game grazing on the lake-shoreline below. The Lodge offers a variety of activities including bird watching, casual fishing, hide sits, game viewing by boat, open safari vehicle or on foot accompanied by a professional guide, and a magical cruise providing guests with wonderful photographic opportunities of the famous Kariba sunsets.

Terms and conditions for the above packages apply and exclude drinks at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and Imbabala Zambezi Safari Lodge, entrance fees to Victoria Falls Rainforest and national parks, river usage fees for sunset cruises, and Civil Aviation Authority Airport Departure Tax at Victoria Falls and Hwange Airports.

THE HIDE ANNOUNCES REFURBISHMENT PLANS

The Hide, situated on the eastern boundary of Hwange National Park, has consistently been voted “Best Tented Safari Camp in Zimbabwe” since 1995. The Camp was opened in 1992 and has undergone two major refurbishments since opening, and has announced plans for their third refurbishment in 2010.

The camp will be closed for refurbishment from the 13th January until the 14th February 2010 and these upgrades will include significant work to the A-frame, the main meeting area of the camp and all of its facilities; the construction of a new building to host the reception office and curio shop; a new large pool with a teak deck and outside bar area; the relocation and redesign of two tents and general improvements to the other 8 tents; enlarging the outside breakfast and boma areas; improving the kitchen facilities, refuse disposal and developing the vegetable garden and tree nursery.

The Hide will have some rooms available as from the 15th February. This will include 6 tents while dining will take place in a temporary site set up in close proximity.

Gavin Rennie, General Manager confirmed that, “The camp will reopen completely on the 1st April 2010, our main goal and motto is to always offer “The Ultimate Safari and Wildlife Experience in Zimbabwe”.

SNARED LIONESS SAVED BY EFFORTS FROM BUMI HILLS

In late December, the Bumi Anti Poaching Unit discovered evidence of a snared lioness 55km southwest of Kariba town. Africa Albida Tourism (AAT), who manages Bumi Hills, arranged for National Parks Vet, Chris Foggin to be flown up in less than 24 hours for a rescuing mission. He darted the lioness, removed the snare, treated the wound and released her.

Initially they struggled to find the lioness, but finally found her on the airstrip. They worked on her for about 30min to remove the snare, gave her Vitamin B, de-wormer and some broad spectrum antibiotics. There was also evidence that she’d been snared before, proved by an old healed scar around her neck.

Jono Hudson, Manager of Bumi Hills said, “Andrew, the ranger, shot an Impala for her to feed on which we placed next to her. She thankfully took and scoffed on the carcass for about two days. At present she’s back with her pride and all seems good.”

Ross Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer of AAT said, “The team worked hard to rescue her and it’s the team’s commitment to wildlife that pulled her through.”

Poachers set out snares on game trails or in gaps in rocks and hedges to capture animals for food, or to sell on the black markets. Game running through the snare disengages the trigger bar then flung off the ground, staying trapped for days in pain until picked up by poachers or rescued by game rangers. Sometimes snares are old and rusty, probably been laid many months before, maybe even forgotten.

To date, the anti-poaching unit have collected and cleared over 1,000 snares, have been destroyed in the deepest part of the Kariba Lake. Scouts continuously patrol the Bumi protectorate, finding snares on most days.

Contact Bumi Hills Safari Lodge, Lake Kariba, managed by Africa Albida Tourism on info@africaalbidatourism.co.za

14th AZTA award for Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, 11th for The Hide

Africa Albida Tourism (AAT)’s celebrated flagship, the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge retained the prestigious title of Zimbabwe’s ‘Best Safari Lodge’ – for the 14th year running.

The award, presented by the Association of Zimbabwe Travel Agents (AZTA) at a well attended themed ball in Harare last week, is the most coveted among non-tented safari lodges in the country and an endorsement of excellence from the local retail travel trade.

An “ecstatic, excited, and extremely proud” Glenn Stutchbury, AAT managing director, said he was also “very humbled and appreciative” of the support from the travel trade whose loyalty ensured the property’s 14-year unbroken run as Zimbabwe’s leading safari lodge.

Another AAT operation, The Hide Safari Camp at Hwange National Park, was named the top tented safari camp in Zimbabwe, holding on the title for the 11th consecutive year.

“We are thrilled to have received this prestigious Award for the 11th time, said Gavin Rennie, General Manager of The Hide. “This truly is an honour given the excellent tented safari camps we compete with in Zimbabwe. We do our utmost to provide the very best service and hospitality delivery, from the inception of the booking enquiry right the way through to fulfilling every guest’s wildest dreams at The Hide.”

“We would like to thank all our agents and operators for this recognition and we look forward to further strengthening our relationships.” he said.

AZTA annually presents awards in various categories, as judged by its members on aspects including quality of service provision to the trade and as well as service delivery to its customers.

WORLD-WIDE VULTURE AWARENESS DAY

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge took part in the International Vulture Awareness Day on 5th September 2009. International Vulture Awareness Day publicises the conservation of vultures to a wider audience and highlights the important work being carried out by the world’s vulture conservationists. The aim for each participating organisation is to carry out their own activities that highlight vulture conservation and awareness.

A daily feeding programme is conducted at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge during lunch on the terrace of Makuwa-Kuwa Restaurant, where guests have front row seats to a fascinating raptor drama as these birds of prey hover in circles waiting to descend on the specially prepared meal courtesy of the leftovers and off cuts from The Boma – Place of Eating.

Two rangers at the lodge had been given the task of counting the vultures and during the feeding frenzy a total of ninety seven (97) White Backed Vultures and sixty six (66) Hooded Vultures were counted, also joining in the mêlée on the ground was a delegation of twenty two (22) Marabou Storks. In the sky above an aerial battle was taking place between the taking off Vultures and five (5) Yellow Billed Kites eager to snatch a tasty morsel from the talons of the vultures. A single Tawny Eagle swooped around the feeding site occasionally challenging a vulture for its share of the meal. Within twenty minutes the feeding site was cleared accept for a few engorged White Backs that were struggling to take off after such a hearty feast.