And we think the cost of gasoline is high?!

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/02/wo...0&emc=eta1

Jan

Jan,

Yes, this article was mentioned last week in another thread.

The Zimbabwean people and wildlife need our support, now more than ever before. Otherwise, what will happen, and may have already recently happened, is that the companies that operate concessions that currently engage in photosafaris will start being outbid by companies operating trophy hunting safaris.

Such an occurrence may have already occurred with Chikwenya. I have spoken to a couple of my Zim contacts on the ground and to this day, already in early May just on the brink of high season in Lower Zambezi, nobody seems to know who has taken over Chikwenya (after outbidding possibly the most powerful photosafari operator in the world in Wilderness Safaris). However, there are suspicions by my contacts that the reason they have not yet heard anything is because it is likely a trophyhunting operator who has now taken possession of Chikwenya.

Imagine if that happened to your favorite concession outside of the Mara? It would be devastating.

Worst of all, the thought of an area being taken over by a trophy hunting operator is not even the worst imaginable scenario. The worst imaginable scenario, instead, would be if the area was abandoned completely, left carte blanche to poachers.

Zimbabwe still has a lot of great things to offer and I am fairly certain that on an upcoming visit next May that I am going to devote my entire safari to Zimbabwe to highlight this fact. Not that I am a megalomaniac, but I would like to think that the sudden surge in Zambia's popularity on this board may be due to my tireless promotion of it and the ensuing glowing reviews from people who have visited as a result.

Our tourist dollars, euros or pounds are the only way to help the people and wildlife of Zimbabwe. To allow the people and wildlife to perish because they are subject to the rule of a mad dictator does not help the situation get better. At least with foreign currency, these people are still able to get what they need on the black market.

Now I have been meaning to write the following for the last week, ever since that other thread on Zimbabwe. Definitely as a result of this thread, I believe I have been called to task, so I will not delay any further.

Just a few examples of why Fodorites should still consider Zimbabwe for their next safari:

1. Pamushana, a luxury lodge that appears to compete with the best that Africa has to offer. Besides being on its own private 48,000 hectare reserve (105,000 acres to be exact), it also offers the following activities:

Tennis, outdoor pool, sauna, fitness center, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, game drives, walking safaris and bushman paintings.

http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/sea...ant/pamushana/

2. The Victoria Falls Hotel. I don't know of a more beautiful and more historic property in Southern Africa. This hotel is located very close to the falls and enjoys beautiful grounds.

http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/ca...sp?map_id=2557

3. Camp Amalinda, located in Matobo Hills, a World Heritage site, and one of the last owner operated lodges in Zimbabwe. The owners are also responsible for building the prestigious Star Of Africa properties in Zambia (Puku Ridge, Chichele Presidential Lodge, Sussi Lodge, etc.
Black rhino tracking by foot or vehicle, exploring the Matobo Hills granite kopjes for what is thought by some to be the richest living example of San art, cultural tours to the villages of the Matabele people, or simply enjoying the beautiful swimming pool that overlooks a waterhole, and not far away from the Spa where Massages, Manicures and Pedicures may all be enjoyed.

unhttp://www.campamalinda.com/

4. The Hide, in Hwange, is a much celebrated lodge, racking up a number of "Best Lodge in Zimbabwe" type awards over the years. It offers an incredible FOUR game activities per day and it has a number of animal hides that allow its guests to get a closeup look at wildlife. This is one of the few areas in Africa where the Super Seven may be seen, made up of the Big Five, plus wild dogs and cheetahs.

Despite all the gloomy stories we may have read about Hwange last year, in a three month period (January - March, 2006), more than FORTY inches of rain have fallen and Hwange is thriving.

Here is their most recent newsletter:

http://www.thehide.com/newsletter.htm

http://www.thehide.com/


5. Somalisa Camp, a new intimate tented camp in Hwange. With only six elegantly furnished tents, a flush toilet in each room and an "al fresco bush shower" in each room, Somalisa Camp offers possibly the most exclusive experience in Hwange.

http://www.africanbushcamps.com/camps/somalisa.htm


6. Vundu Camp, Mana Pools. Mana Pools National park is a World Heritage site for its beauty. It’s hills and flood plains have an incredible river ecological diversity. Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Wild dog, Eland, Kudu, Waterbuck to name a few and home to over 350 species of birds.

Vundu Camp is located in the middle of the park and features comfortable tents with flush toilets and bucket showers.

The highlighted activities here are walking safaris, fishing, canoeing and game drives.

http://www.africanbushcamps.com/camps/vundu.htm


7. Ruckomechi Camp, Lower Zambezi. This is a Wilderness Safaris camp and enjoys the same activities as I described for Vundu Camp, although in a larger camp.

http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/ca...sp?map_id=2562


8. Makalolo Plains, Hwange.

9. Little Makalolo, Hwange.

10. Linkwasha, Hwnage.

Makalolo Plains, Little Makalolo and Linkwasha are all Wilderness Safaris camps operating in Hwange.

Here is the latest newsletter, dated May 2006:

http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/ne...item_id=285806

Sightings have included, to name a few, Aardwolf, bushbuck, caracal, cheetah, gemsbok, dwarf mongoose, white-tailed mongoose, yellow mongoose, roan, lesser bushbaby, selous mongoose, red hartebeest, white rhino, vervet monkey, African wildcat, scrub hare, leopard, lion, bat-eared fox, duiker, spotted hyaena, eland, small spotted genet, side-striped jackal, sable, banded mongoose, tree squirrel, cape buffalo, black-backed jackal, kudu, elephant, hippo, baboon, giraffe, impala, springhare, warthog, waterbuck, wildebeest, and zebra.

Makalolo Plains, Hwange.

http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/ca...sp?map_id=2560

Little Makalolo, Hwange.
http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/ca...sp?map_id=2559

Linkwasha Camp, Hwange
http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/ca...sp?map_id=2557

11. Zambezi Walking & Canoeing Safaris

A few different companies offer this activity, including Wilderness Safaris, African Bushcamps and others. Here is just one example.

http://www.africanbushcamps.com/camps/walking.htm

12. Victoria Falls, one of the seven wonders of the natural world, and the only one of them that occurs in Africa.

http://www.kaibab.org/misc/gc_7wond.htm

I am sure there are dozens of more reasons to visit Zimbabwe such as The Great Zimbabwe and the Khami Ruins, two more World Heritage Sites, in addition to the three I have already named in Victoria Falls, Mana Pools and Matobo Hills. However, at least this above information hopefully gives a fair balance and hope that others will visit Zimbabwe. I am booking my clients into Zimbabwe and will continue to do so. With its wildlife, world class guides, largely accepted as the best trained in Africa, and numerous world heritage sites, Zimbabwe should still be considered a premier destination to visit in Africa.

(I will be posting this information on its own thread, as it would be a disservice if it was missed by people would otherwise consider Zimbabwe as a possible destination without this information)

Rocco:

Zimbabwe needs you on their tourist board! Your passion for the country is admirable.

Though I know nothing about Zimbabwe, I suspect your suspicions about hunting are correct from an article listed below as well as several others you may not have seen:

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/wo...e6&k=89585

http://www.zimbabwechronicle.com/ins...3790&cat=8

http://www.andnetwork.com/index?serv...&sp=l33139

At 1,300.00 per night I know I would never be able to afford that kind of safari, but your enthusiasm makes one want to go.

Jan,

Actually I have never seen any of those three articles, and two of them do not even allow access.

It is just simply a matter of supply and demand when it comes to trophy hunting vs. photosafaris. It is tragic when the biggest safari operator out there, Wilderness Safaris, is not in a position to outbid what may prove to be a trophy hunting operation for Chikwena, but this is not a condemnation of Wilderness by any means as they have proved they are committed to a presence in Zimbabwe by operating four other camps within Zimbabwe, possibly more than any other photosafari operation.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, where the photosafari visitors do provide solid support, the shoe is on the other foot and it is the photosafari operator who is able to buy out and close down the trophy hunting operation as was the case last year when CCAfrica bought out the Zuka concession from a hunting operator and immediately made it a part of the Phinda concession, tearing down the fences and joining the two reserves.

The auctions that were shown in the one article I was able to access are definitely not limited to Zimbabwe. They take place in every country that allows hunting, which is just about every country besides Kenya. Unfortunately for Kenya, however, is in the areas where the animals traverse between Tanzania and Kenya, the animals are fair game for Tanzania hunting operations.

Also, Kenya is currently reconsidering its ban on trophy hunting, so these auctions may also be coming to Kenya in the near future, as well. Obviously, that would not be a reason to ban Kenya when every other country allows trophy, as well.

http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/...757161,00.html

This is not a defense of hunting, but often trophy hunting concessions often evolve into photosafari concessions, as was the case with the Sabi Sand and many other areas.

As far as my perceived passion for Zimbabwe, I just think its photosafari lodges have been unduly discriminated against and that this will do nothing but further damage to the country. Hopefully in 12.5 months time, I will be writing a trip report with photos showing that Zimbabwe is still a wonderful safari destination, and better yet I hope to really talk and learn from the Zimbabweans employed by the lodges/camps in order to personalize it more and put a face to the people that would be hurt the most if people continued to stay away from Zimbabwe's photosafari lodges/camps.

I hope to do a 2 week privately guided safari with a my favorite guide to date, Nic Polenakis, who is white, married with a young child and has continued to insist on living in his birthplace, Zimbabwe.

http://www.africanbushcamps.com/nic.htm

Jan, I guess I just get a bit defensive when I see anything negative being written on Zimbabwe, as I believe it may persuade some who would otherwise consider Zimbabwe to abandon it, and in doing so abandon the Zim wildlife and people. Trust me, I expect to sell 20 safaris to South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and other places for each safari I sell to Zimbabwe, but I still want to give Zimbabwe a fair chance as long as there are top camps and lodges there and top notch gameviewing, as I believe there currently are in numerous parts of Zimbabwe.

I think I may have posted this previously, but I was informed (first hand source) that it was a close relative of Mr. Mugabe who outbid WS for the Chikwenya land in Mana Pools. Doesn't give me a nice feeling.

James

James,

Any news on whether this will be run as a photosafari operation or a trophy hunting operation?

Really this is a tragedy for the wildlife that has likely become somewhat habituated to vehicles and people, and now those people may be carrying powerful rifles with their crosshairs pointed right at them.

I don't think the director's at WS who were involved know anything in that regard or they would have mentioned this to me.

I had a long chat about the whole thing with one of them and he said nothing. I'll be talking to him after Indaba and will see if he knows anything further.