Renowned for its excellent game activities and outstanding guiding and hospitality, The Hide is dedicated to delivering among the finest safari experiences in Africa.

A true wildlife destination in the heart of Big 5 country, excursions with the camp’s guides prove abundantly rewarding, as they share their extensive knowledge of the animal and plant kingdoms and their deeply ingrained respect for the environment.

The Hide was opened in 1992 and has undergone two major refurbishments since then, and has just completed its third refurbishment.  Upgrades include significant work to the A-frame, the main meeting area of the lodge, 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, water purification, refuse disposal and growing a vegetable garden and tree nursery.

View of Lake Kariba from Bumi Hills Safari Lodge

May 16, 1960, the Kariba Dam was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, with the switching on of the first electricity generators, bringing to life one of Africa’s most ambitious projects. The Kariba Dam was constructed between 1956 and 1960, creating, at that time, the largest manmade lake in the world – Lake Kariba.

At the time of its construction, the Kariba Dam was known as “one of the engineering wonders of the world,” a double-curvature, concrete-arch, dam wall standing at a height of 128 meters above the river bed and spanning 617 meters across the Kariba gorge blocking the path of Africa’s second largest river – the mighty Zambezi. The building of the dam wall created an “inland sea,” stretching 280 kilometers in length, covering an area of over 5,500 square kilometers and holding back more than 180 billion tons of water. The dam wall is host to two of Southern Africa’s most important electricity-generating stations, Kariba North Bank Power Station on the Zambian side and Kariba South Bank Power Station on the Zimbabwe side, between them generating a total of 1,320 mega watts of electricity. The Kariba Dam has undoubtedly contributed to the economic and social development of Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the Southern African Region.

Lake Kariba today is not only the home of one of Southern Africa’s most important sources of energy, the formation of the lake also gave birth to the town of Siavonga and created a vibrant commercial fishing industry and a continuously developing tourism industry offering some of Africa’s most breathtaking scenery with a diversity of fauna and flora, hotel accommodation, sports fishing, water sports, house boating, and a variety of other tourist activities. The 50th anniversary of the opening of the Kariba Dam should not go unmarked.

In Zambia, the town of Siavonga is the focal point of activities emanating from the creation of this magnificent structure – electricity generation, the hotel and tourism industry, the kapenta fishing industry, natural stone mining and cutting, and a variety of other support and service industries and commercial businesses. It has been decided to declare the month of May 2010 the “Anniversary Month” and a number of activities are being planned in Siavonga. All members of the community are invited to contribute to the anniversary celebrations and help to make this event a resounding success. The hotel industry has proposed an itinerary for the “Anniversary Month” by planning a number of events for each weekend of May.

By Gill Staden, eTN

To read the reviews on TripAdvisor or write your own about your stay at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, go to:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293761-d305391-Reviews-Victoria_Falls_Safari_Lodge-Victoria_Falls.html

You must ask any offi cial for a gate pass which
has to be stamped by each relative authority
– the toll for the bridge across the Limpopo
river (R70); immigration (the visa costs $30
for most European nationals, $55 for British
passport holders); third party insurance for
the car (R200); a combined fee of so-called
road tax and carbon tax (R220 – depending
on the size of the car engine); and a stamp
for customs. Once the gate pass is fi lled in
with stamps you can proceed. African Sun’s
Holiday Inn Express Beitbridge can provide
a border support service for clients staying
that their hotel, and I would strongly advise
any tour operator to make use of this service.
The Holiday Inn Express at Beitbridge was
very welcome after the time spent at the border
(about two and a half hours). As with all
the hotels I experienced in Zimbabwe, the
staff are friendly and well-trained, and the
food delicious. Zimbabwe is fortunate to be
isolated from globalised farming methods,
meaning that the hotels source locally and
organically grown products. The vegetables
were consistently brimming with fl avour; and
Zimbabwean beef has long been regarded as
the best in the world, and I would not challenge
that statement.
The next day I drove on towards Masvingo,
about 300km to the north. The fi rst 150km
consisted of low-lying sparsely-populated
bush interspersed with other-worldly baobab
trees. Gradually the road rises with views of
dramatic escarpment and vast boulders scattered
on the veld, and with that the ubiquitous
beehive hut settlements pop up as the
climate becomes more hospitable. Masvingo,
formerly known as Fort Victoria, was my
fi rst impression of a Zimbabwean town. It is
bustling; the shops are full; petrol stations
abound, as they do throughout the country.
There was nothing to suggest I was in a pariah
state, no sinister police or army presence, no
undue attention from locals, no obvious sign
of poverty. I could have been in any Southern
African colonial town.
Masvingo lies 25 km from the original ‘House
of Stone’ after which the country is named.
Second the Egyptian pyramids the Great
Zimbabwe Ruins are the largest stone structure
on the African continent. They are the
remains of a city, which was the centre of
a mysterious civilisation that ruled Southern
Africa from approximately 1100-1500. The ruins
are utterly intriguing and entrancing. The
city was built with fi red stones laid on top of
each other with no mortar. Because no roof
was ever intended, there was no need to build
in straight lines, thus creating an edifi ce entirely
in harmony with nature. The ruins must
have been inhabited by an enlightened people:
no weapons were discovered except those
used for hunting. A society without the need
for violence to keep order suggests some sort
of matriarchal state. Indeed the most striking
ruin is the Great Enclosure, home to the Alpha
Queen, whose centre piece is a ten-metre
high solid conical tower, probably some sort
of celebration of female fertility. The greatest
clue to the society’s religion are the soapstone
birds – now in the museum – which were
originally discovered facing east in the ritual
chamber on the hill where the king dwelled.
These eerie, melancholy birds, which now
grace Zimbabwe’s coat of arms, are said to
be intermediaries between the heavens and
earth.
To visit the ruins takes at least half a day as
there is just so much to see and take in. I cannot
state enough how much of a thrill it is to
take in a site of such signifi cance and beauty
without the crowds, hamburger stalls, tacky
souvenirs which we are accustomed to when
we visit other extraordinary historical sites of
the world.
There are three luxury hotels in the vicinity of
the ruins. African Sun’s Great Zimbabwe Hotel
is the only place to stay within walking distance
(about 400m) from the ruins. The hotel
is architecturally inspired by the ruins themselves
and boasts pictures of its most famous
guests, including Her Royal Highness Queen
Elizabeth II with Prince Philip, and Nelson
Mandela.
The ruins, situated right in the centre of the
country, are a must-see for any itinerary to
Zimbabwe. But there are other attractions
in the area to make a 2-3 night stay here feasible. Lake Kyle, the second largest dam in
Zimbabwe after Kariba, is a few minutes’ drive
away: in high season scenic boat cruises,
and fi shing trips can be arranged (I sampled
the local bream in the hotel restaurant). The
Great Zimbabwe Hotel arranged a drive to
Lake Kyle Game Park, where we saw black and
white rhino, hippo and a healthy selection of
plain’s game. Another little known fact about
Zimbabwe is that as well as the more famous
game reserves such as Hwange and the Mana
Pools, there are many smaller game reserves
scattered across the country.
From Masvingo it was another 300km to the
capital on roads where I mainly drove at
120km/hour +. The roads began to deteriorate
within a 30km radius of Harare due to heavy
use, but there were signs of road works in process.
The police stopped me from time to time
at roadblocks, but each time with a smile and
a few friendly words I was sent on my way.
Harare – the One who Does not Sleep – is an
African city like any other with rich suburbs,
a frenetic downtown area, and poor townships.
I stayed at African Sun’s Crowne Plaza
Monomotapa – a stylish African hotel in the
centre of the city constructed in the shape
of an ox-bow lake. For most tourists Harare
is likely to be a one night stop to acclimatise
and refresh themselves after a long-haul
fl ight. But I would recommend to anyone that
they sample Harare’s nightlife. Where there
are oppressive regimes, there is a lively music
scene. Artists are the vanguard of the movement
for change.
I returned to South Africa via Matabeleland
– Bulawayo, the second city, and the Matopos.
The Matopos are a series of granite hills
interspersed with vast clusters of boulders
precariously positioned on top of each other.
This was for Cecil John Rhodesthe most special
spot in the world and he arranged to be
buried here. The Matopos are roughly half way
between Great Zimbabwe and Hwange Game
Reserve on the way to Victoria Falls, and
a natural stop off point for any tour. I stayed
at Camp Amalinda, an exquisitely appointed
upmarket lodge, the rooms being fashioned
out of the natural boulders.
So is Zimbabwe ready for tourists? Of course it
is. It is ready for tour series; it is ready for selfdrive
tourists. It is what the trendy travel professionals
call an ‘experiential’ destination
with edge, charm and colour. It is an exclusive
destination because there are so few tourists.
It is an exceptionally safe destination.
It has some of the best game experiences in
Africa in Hwange and Mana Pools, it has one
of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World in
the Victoria Falls, it has a fresh water sea in
Lake Kariba; it has mountains and fantastical
rock formations, it has in the Great Zimbabwe
Ruins one of the secrets of a lost civilisation.
It is Zimbabwe’s time again.

Article written by Paddington Tucker

National Parks and the Bumi Anti Poaching Unit (dressed in Green) from left to right: Danny Mukonka, Anusa Majomba, National Parks Representative, Osman Mabhechu, National Parks Representative and Edmore Kapandura

Poaching in Zimbabwe, like anywhere in the world, is an ongoing social and economic problem. As a result the safety and welfare of the wildlife in Zimbabwe’s Parks has been severely threatened.

The added support of the National Parks’ scouts during the Unit’s patrols over the last four months, has led to the retrieval and disposal of over 1000 snares. The initial threats of beatings and death issued to the Unit by some local poachers have also subsided.

In an effort to curb the brutal business of poaching, Bumi Hills Safari Lodge has dedicated time, money and every other available resource to saving the wildlife in the area. One of the Bumi Hills Anti Poaching Unit’s senior scouts, Edmore Kapandura, proudly states that since the Unit’s inception in 2009, they have already seen noticeable signs of a reduction in poaching activities, and an increase in the animal population in the area. “In the past we used to find more snares and fewer animals, but now we can spend a week or more without finding snares or signs of people moving through our area. This makes us happy because we are directly contributing to the protection of our wildlife”, he says. Although mindful of the fact that poaching may never be totally eradiated, the Bumi Hills team is optimistic about the future of the wildlife in their area, and it’s through their hard work and increasing levels of tourism that there will be a dramatic decline in the poaching levels.

He said that traffic to Zimbabwe for the last quarter amounted to 13 per cent of Bench’s sales and consisted of both group and independent traffic.

Mr Kirkland added, ”What is more significant is that many of the itineraries included areas of Zimbabwe other than Victoria Falls. There has been a significant return of interest in places like Hwange National Park and Lake Kariba, where the legendary Bumi Hills property has been re-built.

“Though some visitors to the Victoria Falls Reserve have in recent times stayed on the Zambian side of the Zambezi many have continued to stay in properties on the Zimbabwean side like Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and the renowned Victoria Falls Hotel.

“Because of its remoteness – nearly 900km from the capital Harare – Victoria Falls has been largely isolated from political problems and has always been a popular stepping off point for Botswana’s Chobe National Park, home to Africa’s largest elephant population, and whitewater rafting activities on the Zambezi”.

He said that he believed the involvement of retail travel agents in Bench familiarisation tours that included Victoria Falls has been a major contributor to the change in public attitudes.

The increased interest has prompted Bench launch a new de luxe fly-in safari which takes in Victoria Falls, Lake Kariba and Hwange National Park.

- David Baker & Associates Public Relations Consultants

Chef Brian Ndlovu

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

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 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”.

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