Zimbabwean plunges to death to save tourist at Victoria Falls
A Zimbabwean tour guide in Victoria Falls is feared dead after he plunged into the gorges in an attempt to rescue a tourist.
The man whose identity has not yet been revealed lost his footing at the slippery rainforest’s Devils Pool.
Police at the resort town say the man was employed by a South African safari company known as Sunway Safaris.
He had taken a party of tourists to the Devil’s Pool, close to the main falls. According to the police the guide lost his balance and fell as he tried rescuing one of the tourists who had slipped.
“He came here (Livingstone) with tourists from South Africa and took them to the Devils Pool, a death trap which is very close to the edge of the main falls which is 90 meters deep” said Chief Inspector Chisori.
On getting out of the pool, one of the tourists slipped and was about to fall into the gorge. “But the tour guide quickly grabbed the tourist’s hand and successfully pulled him back into the pool but in the process lost his balance and fell 90 meters down,” said Chief Inspector Chisori.
Though an emergency alarm was raised on time, the search party had by Sunday evening not yet found the body and chances of survival are slim.
At least one person dies each year at the Devil’s Pool.
Victoria Falls, considered among the Seven Wonders of the World, is one of the prime resort areas in the world and wildlife adds the excitement associated with the tourist experience.
Vic Falls Hotel to extend property
Victoria Falls Hotel, which has been approved by MATCH, a company appointed by Fifa for the 2010 World Cup, is set to add another wing to its facilities ahead of the world soccer showcase.Africa Sun Limited, formerly Zimbabwe Sun Limited, jointly own Victoria Falls Hotel with the Emerged Railway Properties, a company co-owned by the National Railways of Zimbabwe and Zambian Railways.
The hotel, located near one of the Seven Wonders of the World, will have a new wing which will see the capacity doubling to 370 rooms with the addition of 160 standard rooms and 60 suites.
Established in 1904 and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, The Victoria Falls Hotel is a majestic Edwardian-style hotel set in The Victoria Falls National Park, a World heritage Site. Each room would look over either the falls or the Zambezi River.
An official at the group confirmed the developments saying: “a number of initiatives have been put in place; some deals are still at the stage of negotiations, for now we cannot say much”.
The official said Fifa was willing to accommodate between 1 000 and 2 000 guests at Victoria Falls during the soccer showcase, adding that outside South Africa, 2010 was just a “tourism event”.
Meanwhile, Kingdom Meikles Africa Limited says they are involved in negotiations to raise between US$50 million and US$90 million to build a new wing at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge.
Of late hotel occupancy at Victoria Falls has doubled to 44 percent while foreign arrivals have grown by 17,6 percent.
The number of visitors to the Zimbabwean side of the Falls has historically been higher than the Zambian side due to greater development of the visitor facilities (the Zimbabwean side has about 2 500 rooms compared to Zambia’s 700 rooms) and the fact that 95 percent of the best viewpoints are in Zimbabwe.
However, the number of tourists visiting Zimbabwe began to decline in the early 2000s as a result of negative publicity.
Due to the appreciation of regional currencies to the U.S. dollar, it is now cheaper to come to the Falls than to other regional tourist destinations.
Africa Sun Limited intends to grow its hotel rooms in the region to 4 000 rooms by 2010.
The group has been contracted to manage 700 rooms in 2008, an additional 2 000 in 2009, and 1 500 in 2010.
In addition to the regional thrust, the hotel group was targeting to have additional 832 rooms in Zimbabwe by 2010 with sites in Beitbridge, Nyanga, Mutare, Harare, Victoria Falls and Kariba under consideration.
In addition, The Grace (South Africa), at which Africa Sun Limited had a management contract, has already been contracted to a European group for 30 days at a “wonderful premium” for the 2010 World Cup.
African Sun has grown over time into a holding company that has six strategic businesses under its banner – Zimsun Leisure Limited, the largest business under the Zimbabwe Sun Limited group of companies. It manages 12 hotels and resorts across the country; The African Sun Limited, a 100 percent-owned subsidiary registered in Mauritius and is currently operating The Grace in Rosebank, South Africa.
Recently Africa Sun secured a deal that will see four major German operators booking 3 188 of its hotel rooms following its attendance at the International Travel Exchange held in Berlin, Germany, recently.
Source: www.sundaynews.co.zw
Federal Air flies into Zimbabwean shores
Federal Air are pleased to announce that they have extended their route network and now offer flights within ZIMBABWE. From Thursday, 1st October 2009, clients seeking business or pleasure will be able to charter flights directly from Federal Air’s new office opening in the Domestic Terminal of Harare International Airport.
In addition, Federal Air will be launching a Shuttle Service from Harare to Kariba. Lake Kariba is a popular destination offering visitors everything from top-notch conference facilities to game viewing and excellent fishing – catering superbly for the business traveller and pleasure seeker alike. In addition, a Lodge Hopping Service will also be offered for passengers travelling to lodges located within the general Kariba area. For flights required outside of the schedule, additional flights will also be available on a charter basis and for group bookings.
Germany committed to supporting Zim
Germany Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr. Albrecht Conze has stressed his country’s commitment to offer technical and financial support to Zimbabwe to ensure the success of the inclusive government.
Germany Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr. Albrecht Conze has stressed his country’s commitment to offer technical and financial support to Zimbabwe to ensure the success of the inclusive government.
In an interview granted soon after emerging from a courtesy meeting with Acting President Cde Joyce Mujuru, Ambassador Conze hailed the current socio-economic recovery initiatives by the inclusive government and said it is his country’s wish to assist Zimbabwe reclaim its position as a globally competitive economy in the ear future.
Mr. Conze said, among other issues, the two politicians discussed possible strategies to deal with the current global economic crisis which has affected most economies in Europe including Germany.
Germany’s relations with Zimbabwe have greatly improved with the European country recently availing over US$30 million as financial aid to Zimbabwe.
A couple of months ago, the Germany government revoked travel warnings which discouraged its nationals from visiting Zimbabwe – a move which is expected to see an increase in the number of Germany tourists visiting Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe gets new airline
As Zimbabwe’s economy begins to recover after a decade of crisis, a group of local investors announced Thursday it was setting up a low-cost airline to rival the nation’s state-owned carrier, the country’s only airline until now.
The airline, Fly Kumba, is scheduled to begin operations in September, and will ply both domestic and regional routes, officials said.
Airline chief executive Lloyd Muchaka said Fly Kumba had been modeled along the lines of low-cost carriers in Europe and elsewhere, and was confident of securing viable business in this market segment.
“We intend to become Zimbabwe’s preferred low-cost airline, delivering the cheapest air fares with the highest consumer value and offering world-class service to price sensitive consumers,” he said.
He said aircraft had been secured, but did not say where Fly Kumba had got the planes nor reveal how much had been invested in the project.
Muchaka said the main route for the airline would be Harare-Johannesburg, tapping into the more than three million Zimbabweans estimated to be living and working in South Africa.
A visa-free regime between the two countries, introduced two months ago, has also increased travel between them.
Until now, state-owned Air Zimbabwe was the only local airline in the country, plying domestic, regional and international routes.
Zimbabwe’s economy has started to pick up again after a coalition government that includes the opposition was formed in February.
Baby black rhino adopted by rescuers after mother killed
A baby black rhino called Tatenda which weighs around 500kg has been adopted by its rescuers after its mother was shot by poachers. The rhino noses up to the dinner table for food, and enjoys being patted and playing with his other unusual animal friends.
Rangers found Tatenda near death and alone with his mother and another two rhino dead nearby in 2007 at Imire Safari Ranch, in Zimbabwe. They had been shot and slaughtered for their horns.
Vets did not expect the baby to survive but it is now going from strength to strength at its new home with ranch owners John and Judy Travers and its new best friend warthog Pogwash.
Keepers are now hopeful Tatenda will go to sire a new generation of black rhino.
Johnny Rodrigues, from the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, said: “We knew Tatenda’s mother before she was killed and she was part of a breeding programme on the ranch.
“He was only a couple of weeks old and would never have survived without the mother.
“He grew up on the ranch just like a child with Pogwash, and they were inseparable and they still are.
“They slept together in the same bed and they were orphaned at the same time, so they grew up like brother and sister.
“It’s a hell of a thing when you get a rhino coming into your bedroom and trying to push you off the bed because it’s tired.
“There was even a baby Hyena called Tsotsi, who is actually still friends with Tatenda and Pogwash.
“When he was little he got through more than 60kg of milk powder and 24kg of glucose a day, so it wasn’t cheap costing more than .
“Rhinos drink milk up to two years and we are gradually weening him off that now.
“He and Pogwash grew up together, running around the house and even sleeping on the bed together
“He’s coming up to two years now, he’s quite big now and probably weighs 500kg.
“Tatenda is coming up to the age now when he will be able to breed and it is a good thing that he may now hold the key to his species future despite the poachers.”
Zimbabwe Travel 