Where do the zebra go?

Transcription

EE
FR
Traveller’s Friend Botswana Mozambique Namibia Zambia Zimbabwe I
www.zambezitraveller.com
MAR APR MAY 2013
HISTORY
CONSERVATION
Where do the zebra go?
03 Tete’s historic forts
Here today and gone tomorrow? Guides and travellers have long observed large mammal species come and go from their regular
haunts with the seasons. But where do they go? The answers are going to surprise many.
www.elephantswithoutborders.org
lephants
Without
Borders has released
preliminary research
findings which show
zebra migrating over staggering distances in Botswana, including what may well be the
longest transboundary mammal migration in southern
Africa.
EWB recently expanded
its work to include large herbivores. The major emphasis of
this new research is to provide
meaningful data to conservationists in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier region,
specifically on the ecology
of wildlife species for which
there is currently limited or no
information.
One segment of this initiative includes studying the
zebra populations on the western floodplains of Botswana’s
Chobe River, whose numbers
appear to be increasing. EWB’s
dry season aerial surveys along
the Chobe floodplains estimate the population to number approximately 3000 zebra.
The seasonal movements of
these zebra were unknown,
so EWB deployed three satellite collars on zebra in August
2012 to map their seasonal
dispersal.
During the dry season, the
zebra aggregated along the
Chobe floodplains. In October, they crossed the Chobe
River, moving 15 kms north
into Namibia’s Caprivi Strip.
When the rains started in early December, the zebra moved
south to the interior of Chobe
National Park.
Guides and scientists speculated this zebra population
migrated west to the Linyanti
or perhaps to the Savuti Marsh
during the rains. Surprisingly,
the three collared zebra moved
to neither Linyanti or Savuti.
Two zebra moved southeast
towards the Seloko Plains region, while the third trekked
a remarkable 240 kms in a
straight line south to Nxai Pan
National Park.
This new cross-border migration route has never before
been mapped. It is a major
conservation finding at a time
when long distance movements are being lost around
the world. Farming and human disturbance may compromise the route, and an effort
to conserve the zebras’ small
A NIM A L SCIENCE
21 A confusion of stripes
When it comes to the zebra’s stripes,
it’s not all black and white…
CH A RIT Y
43 Hell and High Water
Dangerous fundraising tasks
in the name of Comic Relief
REGULARS
This photo was taken by tourist Duncan Armour, who was in Chobe on a photographic safari from the UK.
He wrote to EWB asking about this zebra. A follower of EWB on Facebook, when reading about these new
discoveries was really excited that this zebra was one of the ones that moved to Nxai Pan
dry season refuge along the
Chobe River is urgent.
This type of finding will
inspire conservationists to
continue with their commit-
EXPERIENCE THE WONDER.
www.suninternational.com
Fascinating historic monuments
to be seen in Tete city
PHOTO: DUNCAN ARMOUR
KELLY LANDEN
Issue 12
ment to protect such increasingly rare events as part of
Botswana’s rich and unique
biological heritage. Funding
for this project was provided
by the Paul G Allen Family
Foundation with the support
of the Botswana Department
of Wildlife and National
Parks.
03 Cahora Bassa & Tete,
Mozambique
09 Chobe, Botswana
13 Okavango, Botswana
14 Harare Zimbabwe
15 Kariba & Middle Zambezi,
Zambia and Zimbabwe
22 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
23 Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
33 Hwange, Zimbabwe
36 Kafue, Zambia
37 Livingstone, Zambia
46 Luwangwa, Zambia
INSIDE
02
MAR APR MAY 2013
Zambezi Traveller Traveller’s friend
WELCOME
TRANSFRONTIER PARKS
New wings over Western Zambia
ALAN SPARROW
he Zambian Minister
of Tourism and Arts,
Sylvia T Masebo MP,
officially opened the
Ngonye Falls Partnership
Park in August 2012. On
26 February this year the
minister flew in to Ngonye
Falls accompanied by senior
government officials and
the CEO of the Peace Parks
Foundation, W Myburgh.
Their mission was to formally receive the donation
of a Bat Hawk microlight
aircraft to be based at
Ngonye Falls. The donation
also provided for an aircraft
hangar. The donors are Mr
Neville and Mrs Pamela
Isdell. Mr and Mrs Isdell
were present at the ceremony to hand over the aircraft.
The Minister thanked Mr
and Mrs Isdell for their
generous donation and the
Peace Parks Foundation for
facilitating it.
PHOTOS: TOM VARLEY
www.peaceparks.org
Mr Errol Pietersen will fly the Bat Hawk. Pietersen is based at the Ngonye
falls and provides technical support to the senior staff of the Zambia
Wildlife Authority in charge of the Sioma Ngwezi National Park
FACT file
The Bat Hawk will be a
major boost to the management of the Sioma Ngwezi
National Park, assisting authorities to monitor human
wildlife conflict in the community areas surrounding
the park, where crop raiding
by elephant is a major threat
to the food security of rural
farmers. The microlight
will be flown by Mr Errol
Pietersen who is funded by
the Peace Parks Foundation
to provide technical support
to the Zambia Wildlife Authority field officers at Sioma
Ngwezi .
The Peace Parks Foundation has worked closely with
Mrs Pamela Isdell, Mr Neville
Isdell, The Honourable Minister
Of Tourism and Arts Mrs Sylvia
T Masebo Mp, and Mr Werner
Myburgh, CEO Of The Peace
Parks Foundation
the Zambian government
to develop the Zambian
component of the Kavango
Zambezi Transfrontier
Conservation Area (Kaza
TFCA). The Simalaha
Community Wildlife Conservancy is now establishing
a wildlife sanctuary on the
Simalaha floodplains and
will translocate wildlife into
the protected sanctuary in
the winter of 2013, with initial animals being donated
by the Zambia Wildlife
Authority. The Simalaha
Community Wildlife
Conservancy is an exciting
new model of communitydriven conservation that will
Transboundary
zebra movements
Elephants Without
Borders (EWB) has
released preliminary
research findings which
show zebra migrating
over staggering
distances in Botswana,
including what may
well be the longest
transboundary mammal
migration in southern
Africa. The importance
of transfrontier parks is
further emphasized by
these exciting findings.
Dr Mike Chase,
director for Elephants
Without Borders,
illustrates the routes
these Zebra are taking
with this map.
Recent Peace Park Foundation project
successes
• The South African College for
Tourism which in 2012 won the
Mail and Guardian’s ‘Investing in
the Future of Education Award.’
The Peace Parks Foundation
also sponsors the South African
Wildlife College which trains field
rangers and park managers from
all over southern Africa. The
MAVA Foundation for Nature is
supporting the costs of training
over the next three years. The
college also trains professional
guides for TFCAs in the region.
• The Greater Mapungubwe
TFCA (Botswana/ South
Africa/ Zimbabwe) has been
established by the three
governments with each phase
being facilitated by the Peace
Parks Foundation. In September
2012 an aerial survey of
elephant populations in the
develop the wildlife conservancy along similar lines
to the community wildlife
conservancies that have been
a success story in Namibia
and Botswana.
The Peace Parks Foundation enjoys the support of
international public funders,
financial institutions and
Central Limpopo River Valley
was carried out.
• In Mozambique the
Maputo Special Reserve
(Mozambique) and Tembe
Elephant Park (South Africa)
have been rehabilitated. In
September 2012 an aerial survey
showed movement of elephant
between the two parks, across
borders.
• Malawi/ Zambia TFCAs: In 2012
the two governments agreed on
the management of the Nyika
TFCA which links the Nyika
Plateau across borders and
has facilitated cross-border
movement of elephant.
• The Tracker Academy in South
Africa is supported by the Peace
Parks Foundation. Field rangers
from transfrontier parks are
trained in tracking skills.
individuals that support the
concept of linking conservation areas across international borders to incorporate
entire biomes of sufficient
size to restore the former
ranges of key species such as
elephant, and to reconnect
the shared cultures of local
communities.
2013 MAR APR MAY
03
Mozambique
CAHORA BASSA & TETE
Conservation – Community – Wildlife – World Heritage – History – Tourism
HISTORY
Tete’s historic forts
www.mozambiquemosaic.com
he arrival of the
Portuguese in Africa at the close of
the 15th century
brought about a series of defensive fortifications along
the Mozambique coast and
up the Zambezi valley. Examples of this may be found
on Mozambique Island, on
Ibo Island, at Sena and in
Tete.
The constructions were
designed to shock and awe
local inhabitants – symbols
of power – for conquest and
domination. But whilst the
architectural designs were
Portuguese, these edifices
were built with the sweat
riod 1575-1576 at a time when
the Portuguese were consolidating their presence in the
Zambezi Valley.
This fortification was built
at the initiative of Capitãogeneral Caetano de Melo e
Castro (1682-1686). In 19111912, the then governor of
Tete sought to demolish the
fort but it was instead converted into a warehouse and
garage. The walls of the building were re-built in 1942 and
it is still used for business purposes today. It is located close
to the banks of the Zambezi
adjacent to the bridge.
The plaque, now at the
Maputo fort museum, commemorates the opening of
warehouses at Tete in the 18th
century.
and toil of African labour.
Most of these buildings
– some over 400 years old
– are remarkable for their
homogeneity. Through the
centuries the builders used
the same basic methods and
locally available materials –
with contemporary Portuguese masonry techniques.
Fort of São Tiago Maior
do Tete - Fortaleza do
Tete
Tete was the site of a vibrant
seasonal market place, or
feira, where coastal traders
traded goods with the inland state of Monomotapa.
Although first occupied by
the Portuguese in 1530, it
only achieved the status of a
town in 1763. The fortification that has become known
as São Tiago Maior do Tete
was constructed in the pe-
Forte de D. Luis
This fort was built between
Park Inn Hotel
Rio Tinto
Sign
Tete Rd
Standard Bank
Part of the Port of Sao Tiago Maior do Tete wall facing the Zambezi River, and the plaque commemorating the opening of the
warehouse now at the Maputo Fort Museum
Housing
Dirt road leading to Park Inn Hotel and Rio Tinto Project Office
Zambia Rd
Tete
1835-1836 on the highest point of Tete and offers
a commanding view of the
surrounding area. It was
constructed in classical colonial military architecture
with ramparts for canon
placement and semi-circular
bastions at each corner. The
fort is neglected and sections
of walling have collapsed.
PHOTO: HENRIK ELLERT
HENRIK ELLERT
PHOTO: GIGI GUIMBEAU
Henrik Ellert is an ethnographic and historical researcher and writer. Interest
in art and ethnography has proven invaluable in Ellert’s professional career
in private sector development work in Africa. The following excerpts will be
published in Mocambique Mosaic due later in 2013.
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04
MAR APR MAY 2013
CAHORA BASSA & TETE
COMMUNITY
Tete: a melting pot of colour
Given the city’s location at the crossroads between Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and featuring one of Mozambique’s few bridges spanning the Zambezi
River, travellers and traders are nothing new in Tete. But with the region’s recent coal mining boom the number of expatriates has exploded, and they are
building homes and establishing businesses. On the last count, there were at least 56 different nationalities represented in the city. While there are challenges
associated with such dynamic demographic shifts, it is impossible to overlook the richness of world cultures and languages filling the once small and dusty
town. Following is a sample of the city’s increasingly diverse population.
GIGI GUIMBEAU
a town to a city since my
arrival, and it is amazing to
see the immense changes.
While the temperatures
here are sometimes difficult, and malaria is always
a threat, the kindness of the
citizens more than makes
up for the challenges. Tete
is a stunning town with
old world charm, and has
plenty to explore on a day
off.’
Dan Tanachito
‘Originally hailing from
Bangkok, I left Thailand
at age 16 and set off on a
colourful life abroad. After
spending over a decade in
Saudi Arabia, I went on to
work for Mitsubishi in Kyoto, Japan and the Phillbeach
Hotel in London, England.
I made my first foray into
the mining industry in 1995,
moving back to Bangkok
after nearly twenty years
away.
Following a brief stint
in Dubai and my subsequent
return to Thailand, I moved
to Africa in 2006 after receiving a job offer from ESCOM’s mining division in
South Africa. I relocated to
Tete in 2011, and presently
work in Eqstra’s drilling and
blasting department at the
Rio Tinto Benga coal mine.
Aside from an annual
trip to Bangkok to visit my
family, I spend the whole
year in Mozambique. Tete
has quickly grown from
Luciana Faria
‘As a Brazilian woman living with my family in Belo
Horizonte, Brazil, I never
imagined moving to Mozambique. However, when
my husband, who worked
for Vale, was invited to relocate to Tete in July 2011, we
decided to move with our
daughter, Giovana, and seek
new experiences abroad.
Our family wasn’t sure
what to expect in Tete, but
we see great opportunities due to the city’s rapid
growth. We’ve witnessed
many changes; new construction, people planting
gardens, newly painted
stores, and less unused space
along the improved highway. Many have commented
on the good timing of our
arrival, following the opening of the VIP Supermarket
and several restaurants.
I work at a Mozambican company, and I’m very
happy with the position.
Giovana loves studying at
the Zambezi Junior School,
and while we worried about
her education before moving, her English and mathematics skills have improved
quickly.
We hope to spend the
next eight to ten years
abroad, continuing to grow
in our perspectives and
world views. Our family tries to travel regularly,
discovering new countries
rather than returning to
Brazil, and this has been
rewarding. We look forward
to continued growth and life
in the city!’
Nick & Marlene Boyd
‘My wife and I are missionaries in Tete. Before
moving here my wife was
an immigration paralegal in
San Francisco, California,
studying to be a fashion
designer with a dream of
having her own clothing line
and living in Paris or Italy. I
was a project superintendent
for a multi-million dollar
construction company in
Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Marlene moved to Tete
in 2010 and began working
with orphaned children who
live on the streets. I came
to Tete for the first time
in August of 2011 to do a
missions outreach. Prior to
arriving in Tete I had never
met Marlene. We fell in love
with each other as well as
these precious boys that live
on the streets. We married
in America and moved to
Tete to make it our home in
February of 2012.
Tim Albone
‘With its reputation as one
of the fastest growing cities
in Africa it is not surprising
that Tete draws people from
all over the world. Any trip
to the VIP Supermarket
in the city will throw up a
number of different languages and accents, all of
which will have their own
stories of how they ended
up here.
My own story started
in England, where I was
Tete appears to have doubled in size during
the 23 months since my arrival, and the
city’s potential as a mining supplier and
logistics centre has firmly established its
place on the map during that time
We are currently building an orphanage called
Shekinah Healing Home
in the village Mpadue. We
have a dream to teach these
boys different trades and
show them that they have a
future, hope and a purpose
in this world so they can
become respectable, honourable men in this growing
society.’
born. I left the UK shortly
after and have been on the
road ever since. I spent my
childhood, until I was 15, in
Hong Kong and have spent
time working in Afghanistan, Iraq and Sierra Leone.
Travel was natural and when
the job offer in Tete came up
I jumped at it.
I do sometimes struggle
with the heat but it’s noth-
ing a cold 2M or a boat trip
down the Zambezi can’t
solve. What I enjoy most
about Tete is the vibrancy
and the energy. I’m here setting up Mulitani, a secure
housing complex on the
Zambezi River, and being
a part of the development
of the city is very exciting.
Working and living in Tete
you get a real sense that this
is a city on the move’
Pedro Goncalves
‘Born in Livingstone,
Zambia, I left Africa in
1986 at age 28, and spent
the next twenty years with
my family in England.
Inspired by my reading
of east Africa and curious
about the region, I finally
returned to the continent in
2008, accepting a position
as a financial controller
with a Canadian drilling company in Mwanza,
Tanzania.
The same company
offered me a position in
Mozambique in 2011, and
my Portuguese parentage,
along with years spent in
the coffee belt of Angola,
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CAHORA BASSA & TETE
2013 MAR APR MAY
05
BUSINESS
equipped me with enough
knowledge of the language
to help establish their new
Tete branch.
Tete appears to have
doubled in size during the
23 months since my arrival,
and the city’s potential as a
mining supplier and logistics
centre has firmly established
its place on the map during
that time. The region’s rich
history has seen periods of
both decline and growth,
and significant mining
successes have been instrumental in Mozambique’s
fast pace of development in
recent years.
Tete, like many other
towns whose fortunes and
conditions have tested the
population, is a magnet for
interesting characters, and
I have been fortunate to
live here and meet many of
them.’
Pedro Pinto
‘I grew up in Porto, Portugal, known to many as
the birthplace of port wine,
and I initially found local
employment after finishing
my studies. After receiving
an offer to work in Angola,
which had been a Portuguese colony, I spent about
two-and-a-half years in the
southern African nation.
I first heard about the
mining boom in Tete near
the end of 2010, and after
learning more about the
growing opportunities, I
relocated to Mozambique on
the second day of the New
Year. After initially accepting a position with a Portuguese-owned, Mozambican
company, a South African
mining company invited me
to work with them, and I
made the change to my current position.
building warehouses for
rent, I would have laughed.
Nonetheless here I am in
the 50°C heat of Tete, doing just that.
For a European, it is
quite a change to come
from the orderly old continent to this new Africa.
I guess being Italian eased
the culture shock just a
It is not only that Mozambique’s economy
is booming, but there are also fewer
constrictions to enterprise. The old
continent seems suffocated in red tape,
age-old privileges and pessimism
Despite its reputation,
Tete isn’t a bad place to
live, and I see improvements almost daily. At the
time of my arrival, there
were very few restaurants
or supermarkets, but now
everything is available on
both sides of town. I like
being able to visit nice
establishments on the
Moatize side of the river,
without having to cross
the bridge into the city.
While Tete still has a way
to go, I think it will one
day be a very nice place to
live.’
Giovanni Sforza
‘If someone had told me
a couple years ago that
I would end up in Tete
bit. Many people take
traffic rules more like
guidelines than rules here,
just like home. There are
also many similarities
between Mozambique’s
and Italy’s bureaucracies.
In fact, having spoken to
some other Italians who
do business both at home
and in Mozambique, I
am surprised to hear that
everything is easier to do
here. It is not only that
Mozambique’s economy
is booming, but there are
also fewer constrictions
to enterprise. The old
continent seems suffocated
in red tape, age-old privileges and pessimism.
Here, despite the
many challenges, there is
a young, optimistic vibe;
one can really feel that 7%
GDP growth in everyday
life. Every time I leave
Tete for more than a few
days and return, I seem to
notice new buildings popping out from nowhere,
and it is great to be part
of it.’
and character
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www.cpi.co.mz
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cpi@cpi.co.mz
An important factor to
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new business in Mozambique, or after it is already
established, is how to secure
your investment. If one or
more shareholders (individuals or corporate bodies) are
not Mozambique nationals,
it is possible to register the
company with the Mozambique
Foreign Investment Centre or
CPI (Centro de Promocao de
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The basic requirements are:
• Have one or more foreign
nationality investors.
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06
MAR APR MAY 2013
CAHORA BASSA & TETE
NATIONAL PARK
Rare orioles and shy elephants
Regular contributor Chris Scott sent this report from Gorongosa, a famous park now in recovery in Mozambique.
elephants starting to settle
down in their new haven
and treat humans with less
www.scottyphotography.net
fear and aggression.
Gorongosa has both
a colourful and distressing history. The park was
he herd of elephants
a favoured hunting ground
halted suddenly as
for the colonial elite in the
they emerged from
the thick raffia palm 1920s. The first step towards
preserving the area was
grove, their trunks iminitiated by the Mozammediately up in the air for
bique Company, which was
a taste of what had alerted
chartered by the then colothem. We sat motionless in
nial government to manage
the vehicle on the road 50m
away, thrilled with the scene central Mozambique. One
in front of us. Our stalemate thousand square kilometres
only lasted a few more uneasy were set aside as a hunting reserve by the company
moments before the herd
and formed the basis of
bunched up and crossed in
front of us, trumpeting their what is now Chitengo and
Gorongosa National Park.
disdain into the distance.
Visiting dignitaries
Back at Gorongosa’s main
made the reserve a popucamp Chitengo, the guides
told us we were privileged to lar destination and a new
have had such an interaction administration block was
built, the derelict remains of
with Gorongosa elephants,
which are fondly referred to
which have a deep mistrust
as the ‘lion house’ due to the
of anything human, borne
of a long spell of persecution resident pride’s predilection
at the hands of poachers and towards literally hanging
out in and on the building.
militia. Only now are the
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PHOTOS:CHRISTOPHER SCOTT
CHRISTOPHER SCOTT
After the Mozambique
Company’s charter came to
an end in the early 1940s, the
reserve’s management was
handed over to the colonial
government. The first warden
of the park, Alfredo Rodriques, set about banning
hunting and built the restaurant and administration at
the main camp of Chitengo.
The colonial government
expanded the park by another 2,100km2 and declared it
a National Park in 1960. This
had a staggering effect on
the ecology of the area and
the earliest census held in the
late 1960s revealed that the
park hosted 200 lion, 2,200
elephant, 14,000 buffalo,
5,500 wildebeest, 3,000
zebra, 3,500 waterbuck,
2,000 impala, 3,500 hippo,
and herds of eland, sable and
hartebeest numbering more
than five hundred.
Conservation and tourism came to and end with
the onset of the Mozambique civil war. The park
was abandoned from 1983
and for nine long years the
Decades of persecution during
Mozambique’s civil war have left
Gorongosa’s elephant population
ravaged and nervous of humans.
Encounters may not be prolific
and if you do happen upon them
it’s best to keep some distance
between you and them
sary resources to start the
rebuilding of the park. In
2004 the Carr Foundation,
led by millionaire philanthropist Gregory Carr, gave
the park the vital boost it
needed. US$10 million was
invested by the Foundation over three years and
the Government and the
Foundation signed a 20 year
co-management plan.
The comical looking Oribi are a
Gorongosa is a vessel
common sight on the plains of
of biological diversity with
Gorongosa
some species of plants and
animals endemic to the
area. Mount Gorongosa
park, its animals and the
surrounding local population is a huge brooding massif
suffered the brutal atrocities that juts 1862m from the
of war. By 1992, most of the savanna floor, influences the
animal populations had been weather patterns of the area
reduced to within ten percent and hosts pristine brachystegia and temperate forests.
of their original numbers.
Mount Gorongosa is
Various development
one of the main focal points
forums provided the neces-
of the restoration project.
Areas of the mountain that
were previously considered
sacred by the locals have
been overrun and more
than 2,000 people live on
the slopes of the mountain,
contributing to the slow
degradation of the unique
natural environment.
Castro Kaskata, our
National Parks guide, explains how the community
is slowly being educated
about the importance of
the mountain and how
participants from the community have set up 35 tree
nurseries around the slopes
of the mountain.
As we slowly made
our way up the side of the
mountain, with the dark
shimmer of indigenous
forests beckoning us from a
distance, we had to negotiate our way through maize
and banana plantations,
testament to the triumph of
small scale agriculture over
biological diversity.
The sheer beauty and
coolness of the forest was
overwhelming at first, and
then the faint burbling of
our quarry echoed tantalizingly. Castro expertly
cupped his hand and with
practised vocal dexterity
returned the liquid notes.
Even in the dull forest light
the bright green head and
luminous yellow body of
a green headed oriole was
easily recognizable.
This oriole can only be
found on the slopes of Mt
Gorongosa. The area’s diverse geography plays host
to a staggering 400 species
of birds, some rare and shy
like the Narina tarogon and
some under threat like the
scores of crowned cranes
that flock to the Park’s
seasonal wetlands, making Gorongosa one of the
must-visit areas of southern
Africa for any keen birder.
CAHORA BASSA & TETE
PRODUCE
2013 MAR APR MAY
07
BUSINESS
Best buy local beef
Twenty years of peace have resulted in excellent investment into
Mozambique, with agriculture and mining strongly benefitting. The
beef industry was not something which could make an instant
recovery, but now good quality Mozambican beef is once again
ready for the discerning palate.
Tete city is a bustling centre for new business
ZT CORRESPONDENT
Renting property essentials
tetebuchery.mozbife@gmail.com
www.agriterra-ltd.com
Zambezi Traveller met with Euan Kay
from Mozbife.
Is all your beef sourced locally? EK: It’s all
local beef from Manica and Tete.
What is the capacity of your new butchery?
EK: Infinite! The abattoir can slaughter up to
100 head per day. We have a new state-of-theart, EU standard facility, completed in November 2012, at a cost of $3.5 million.
It’s the largest facility of its kind in Mozambique, and is capable of helping to reduce
Mozambique’s dependence on meat imports,
which creates an opportunity for Mozbife to
capitalise on a strong domestic market. The ab-
PHOTO: MOZ BIFE
ozbife is Agriterra’s vertically integrated beef division, which includes cattle ranching, feedlot,
abattoir and retail units.
Mozbife has established five ranches covering over 20,000 ha and have herds of 6,000
head. Pedigree Beefmaster and cross-bred
animals are sourced from the Mavonde and
Dombe ranches, and augmented with native
animals from the local community, helping to
ensure a strong supply.
Animals will typically weigh between 500
kgs and 700 kgs following their time in the
feedlot, usually three months. The result is premium beef that can meet the high standards of
vibrant cosmopolitan Mozambican cities like
Tete, Chimoio, Beria and Maputo.
ACIS
Healthy Mozambican cattle that provide good
quality beef
attoir is also Halal certified, meaning Agriterra
is able to export beef to markets in the Middle
East.
Do you have outlets in other parts of the
country? EK: Chimoio, Beira and shortly
Maputo and Matola.
How are your blockmen trained at the moment? EK: We have nine men training with
seven highly experienced blockmen who have
worked in Zimbabwe, Portugal and South
Africa.
Mozambique is said to be one of the fastest
growing economies in the world; how do you see
the beef industry in ten year’s time? EK: As the
population becomes more financially empowered and with employment and foreign investment on the increase, the market will develop
at a phenomenal rate.
Where do you think the best ranching country is in Mozambique? EK: Manica, Sofala,
Tete and Inhambane provinces.
www.acismoz.com
The tax regime for property rental in Mozambique is somewhat complex. Calculation of
the tax to be charged or paid depends on:
• If the rental is for commercial or residential
purposes;
• If the property is located in an urban or a rural
area;
• If the lessor and lessee are both corporate
entities, both individuals or a corporate entity
and an individual.
Rural areas are those outside of legally
designated cities, towns or villages. Urban areas are therefore those within cities, towns or
villages. While legislation does not specifically
define commercial and residential, residential
is understood to be for family housing purposes
and commercial for business purposes.
As a general rule both urban and rural residential property rentals are VAT exempt while
urban commercial property rentals include a
VAT requirement regardless of
whether the lessor and lessee
are individuals or corporate entities.
All property rentals, whether urban or rural, are subject
to withholding tax, with rates
varying from 14% (where the
lessor is an individual and the
lessee is a corporate entity) to
20% (where both lessor and
lessee are corporate entities).
The exception to this is where the lessor corporate entity is a duly constituted property management company, in which case withholding
tax is not payable.
If a corporate entity enters into a residential
property rental arrangement on behalf of one of
its employees, providing housing as part of an
employment arrangement for example, this is
considered a ‘fringe benefit’ for the employee
and is taxable as part of the overall salary received by said employee.
Any lease agreement entered into in Mozambique or relating to property in Mozambique is subject to registration with the Ministry
of Finance and the payment of Stamp Duty at
a rate of 2% of the highest rental value agreed
between the parties, which is usually based on
one month’s rent i.e. 2% of one month’s rent.
The legal provisions relating to tax on rental
of property are complex and there are a number of exceptions to the general rules outlined
above. If in doubt seek qualified legal advice,
available from reputable practitioners.
We strive for excellence in the delivery of innovative international health care
solutions to the members of our different plans, programmes and schemes. Our
medical aid funds and health insurance solutions are managed and administered in
conjunction with selected regional partners including International SOS, MSO,
Netcare Hospitals, Mediclinic and ER24.
Alliance Health Options is a set of innovative regional
health care plans designed to provide up to $1,500,000
of health care benefits to residents of Southern and East
African countries. Members have full benefit use
throughout the specified region as well as $100,000 for
emergency medical treatment required whilst travelling in
other countries of the world.
The Northern Alliance suite of plans are designed to
provide high level medical aid benefits and the use of
the widest range of private health care services in
Zimbabwe, South Africa and the sub-region. Costs of
treatment are paid up to ‘reasonable and customary’,
minimising shortfalls or copayments.
Multimed private medical cover is designed to provide
members with cost effective access to high levels of
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Alliance Health, 7 Fleetwood Road, Alexandra Park, Harare
Telephone: 744 124/ 745 889/ 745 890/ 783 067 / 783 068/ 0772 126 119
08
MAR APR MAY 2013
CAHORA BASSA & TETE
ART
PHOTO: CRAIG VANDELEUR
POEM
A unique 120m long, seven metre high contemporary artwork by Elias Abdula Naguib
Senduana serpent of Songo
Monumento à
Liberdade.
Songo, Província
de Tete, Centro de
Moçambique
CRAIG VANDELEUR
http://desafio.co.mz
The Senduana serpent
is one of the oldest and most
widespread
mythological
symbols in the traditions of
the Tinyanga of Cahora Bassa, and shares characteristics
and history with Nyaminyami, who is widely revered
by the Batonga upstream on
the Zambezi in the Kariba
gorge.
It is said that the animal
was trapped during the development of Cahora Bassa
dam, suffering a similar fate
to Nyaminyami during the
construction of Kariba.
In the village of Songo,
Tete province, artist Elias
Abdula Naguib has created
a unique 120m long, seven
metre high contemporary
piece of art, inspired by Mozambique’s shamanic traditions and crossing myth, history and the formation of the
dam.
Historians of the Eduardo Mondlane University
assisted in the conception of
pictorials on the monument.
These represent human his-
Tetra Limitada
tory of the Zambezi from
early days of Swahili gold
and slave trading, life and
Nhungue culture under the
Prazo, Portuguese colonial
rule, the creation of Cahora
Bassa hydroelectric station
and the eventual independence of State of Mozambique. Naguib took 121 days
on the work, with the support of 21 artists, eight of
whom were graduates from
the Higher Institute of Arts
and Culture in Maputo.
Elias Abdula Naguib
Naguib was born in Tete in
1955 and schooled at the College of St Joseph in Tete. He
studied construction in Maputo, then attended the Fine
Arts School in Lisbon. He
also trained in serigraphy at
the University of Cape Town,
and in the conservation and
restoration of works of art at
Kunst Museum in Cologne,
Germany. He served an internship in the Department of
Visual Arts at the University
of Northumbria in England
and in 2006 he was Visiting
Professor at the University of
São Paulo, Brazil.
He is a founding member
of the Foundation for Community Development, of the
Movement of Artists Against
Poverty, a Mozambican foundation, and 1 Artist 1 Gesture). He has created several
murals in the city of Maputo,
including ‘Ode a Samora
Machel,’ and ‘The pathways
of water.’
Our Town
RHONA DE FREITAS
We live in a town that’s dusty & dry
extremely hot and full of flies,
cars whizz around at a crazy rate
it almost seem like everyone’s late!
Streets teem with life’s assortments…
Little kids selling nuts and eggs,
others choose to stand around & beg.
Goats and chickens, cows and sheep
veggie stalls and places to eat.
Music blares night and day
people dance and drink while children play.
Trucks, cars and motorbikes
a wheelchair that looks like a trike!
Bicycles laden with charcoal and wood
donkey carts that make you toot.
Chicken and chips cooked on strips of tin sheet
fruit sellers and night walkers of the streets,
Dried stinking fish piled in rows
a barber, furniture maker and a seller of shoes
and amidst all of this the mighty
Zambezi River flows,
proudly meandering its way towards the sea,
bringing to us much needed tranquility.
This place makes us laugh and it makes us frown
this frustrating, energetic, vibrant Tete town!!
Join in the fun of a new
Tete Bazaar
on Sunday 7 April from 11.00hrs to 17.00hrs
Stalls will be selling food, clothing, books, plants,
jewellery, drinks, woodwork, arts and crafts, live
entertainment and kiddies’ entertainment.
100 Mets Entry, proceeds
to go to Mother Theresa
orphanage.
Suppliers and stockists of all your painting requirements.
Quality painting accessories by Hamiltons Cemcrete
products for decorative finishes to floors , walls, low cost
painting swimming pools and ponds.
All interested persons who
would want a stall please
contact Mila on 842674165.
Lets get ‘community
minded’, have creative
fun and make friends at
the same time.
Richard +258 823 975 915 email: franz.rich@gmail.com
Zairan +258 842 524 096 moztetra@gmail.com
Antonio +258 824 286 364
BAMBA CENTRE on the Malawi Road
The venue will be confirmed
soonest!!
See you there!
PHOTOS: GIGI GUIMBEA
Bring your camping chairs,
picnic baskets, friends and
family and enjoy a fun filled
day. Meat will be for sale and
fires provided.
Cooking chips and kapenta harvested from Cahora Bassa sold
on the streets of Tete
BA
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ΖI\RXDUHORRNLQJIRUDQH[FLWLQJȴVKLQJH[SHULHQFHRUSXUHO\IRUDELWRI55ZHKDYHWKHLGHDOGHVWLQDWLRQIRU\RX
Well presented Self Catering Chalets & Rondavels | Camping Area | Fishing | Bird watcher paradise | Boat Hire
Information & Bookings: Ph: +258 844085785/+258 848978465 Email: bookings@moringabaylodge.com
www.moringabaylodge.com
2013 MAR APR MAY
09
Botswana
CHOBE
Download all issues to your
tablet or computer from
MIGRATIONS
Findings reveal critical wildlife corridors
where the zebra go when the
rains begin. In August 2012
EWB initiated a research
Programme Manager,
project, which had support
Elephants Without Borders
from the Botswana Department of Wildlife and National
www.elephantswithoutborders.org Parks, with funding provided
by the Paul G Allen Family
Foundation and San Diego
ome animal popula- Zoological Society’s Institute
tions make a year- for Conservation Research.
round home of the Researchers fitted satellite colChobe, other species lars on zebra along the Chobe
come and go. Finding out just floodplains in order to be able
how and when these migrat- to follow their seasonal moveing species move in and out ments.
During the hot, dry seaof the Chobe is an important
aspect of conserving this im- son, water-dependent zebra
gather
along the Chobe floodportant river ecosystem.
Elephants Without Bor- plains to drink and graze. At
ders began studying the move- the peak of the season in Ocments of elephants more than tober, many of the zebra cross
a decade ago, and has greatly the river, extending their grazimproved knowledge of el- ing range 15 kilometres north
ephant ranges in this region into Namibia’s Caprivi Strip.
of southern Africa. Working
throughout the span of the
five-country Kavango-ZamSuddenly the
bezi Transfrontier Conservazebra began to
tion Area, EWB has recently
move quickly,
expanded its projects to include other large herbivores.
as if with
On the western floodan intended
plains of the Chobe, this
destination in
means zebra. Driving along
mind.
the riverfront in August or
September, one nearly always
crosses paths with large herds
The monitored zebra
of zebra. EWB’s aerial survey counts have shown that showed that when the rains
zebra - numbering approxi- finally did arrive, usually in
mately 3,000 - gather along November, the zebra began
the Chobe River during the to move south through the
interior of Chobe National
dry season.
However, it has remained Park, in search of fresh
a long-standing mystery grass. Suddenly the zebra
PHOTO: KELLY LANDEN
KELLY LANDEN
boundary mammal migration
in southern Africa. And the
dispersal to Seloko Plains is
critical and timely to note,
as there is a growing concern
over possible land-use and
management changes that are
happening in the surrounding
area.
EWB’s director Mike
Chase and Robin Naidoo have
agreed to jointly publish their
findings. This collaboration
will also provide a positive example of how researchers and
organisations from different
countries, within the KAZA
TFCA, can work together, in
the spirit of a trans-boundary
conservation initiative.
Dr Mike Chase collaring a zebra for research
began to move quickly, as if
with an intended destination
in mind.
EWB documented two
dispersal routes: one southeast towards the Seloko Plains
region, amongst the Chobe
Forest reserves, and the second, a remarkable 260km
straight line south to Nxai
Pan, part of Makgadikgadi/
Nxai Pans National Park.
As EWB researchers uncovered these zebra tracks,
they learned of another researcher, Robin Naidoo,
supported by the Namibian
Ministry of Environment
and Tourism, with assistance
from WWF Namibia, who
had collared zebra during the
same dry season, across the
Chobe River in Namibia’s
Caprivi Strip. The zebra Nai-
doo monitored verified the
exact same route, at the same
time and speed, south to Nxai
Pan.
EWB recently completed
a wet season aerial survey of
Nxai Pan to count the actual
numbers of zebra that utilise
this wet season range and verified over 1,500 zebra on the
pan in one day. They also plan
to survey Seloko Plains soon,
which will provide a better
understanding of zebra ranging distribution.
Migratory corridors are
becoming more and more
crucial to safeguarding large
populations of wildlife. Further research - and more time
- might reveal that the dispersal between the Chobe River
floodplains to Nxai Pan may
possibly be the longest trans-
Situated in the Heart of Kasane we offer the following;
» Chobe Full Day Trips – Options available
» Victoria Falls Day Trips – Options available
» Game Cruises | Game Drives | Fishing Trips
Transfers to and from Vic Falls, Zambia and Namibia
We can tailor make your safari to suit your specific needs be it a Game drive or Boat
cruise. Our reservations team operates 24 hours a day to conveniently book your
safari or just that simple enquiry you may have. All our guides are professional at
what they do and they will leave a lasting impression of your visit to Botswana.
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10
MAR APR MAY 2013
CHOBE
COMMUNITY
DR RACHEL DEMOTTS
Dr Rachel DeMotts is
Associate Professor, University
of Puget Sound, Tacoma, USA,
and Affiliated Researcher,
Elephants Without Borders,
Kasane, Botswana
outhern Africa is a tourist destination because
of the relative ease of
seeing wildlife roaming
freely in a unique landscape,
but making conservation
work on the ground for the
local communities that live
with wildlife every day is a
major challenge.
Community-based conservation is a popular strategy that seeks to help mitigate some of the negative
effects of living closely with
wildlife – such as conflict be-
tween people and elephants
over water, food, and space
– while working towards
more equitable sharing of
benefits from the wealth
that tourism can bring.
But managing wildlife
is often seen as the domain
of men, and sometimes this
means women are left out
of the conservation picture
at the village level. At the
same time, women harvest
forest resources and play a
crucial part in conserving
the landscape itself, not just
the wildlife.
One very important
local resource for women
is palm, which is used to
weave the stunning baskets
for which Botswana in particular is famous but which
are made throughout southern Africa. With evocative
names such as ‘The Tears of
the Giraffe’ or ‘The Urine
HISTORY
Trail of the Bull,’ baskets
are a crucial form of cultural
expression for local women
and also give them access to
cash income, often a rarity
in rural areas.
Community conservation projects such as those
facilitated by Integrated
Rural Development and
Nature Conservation in
Namibia’s Caprivi Strip
help women monitor the
resources they use so that
they can share and trade
them sustainably. Equally
important, women manage
their own markets, such
as Mashi Crafts, located
at Kongola in the Caprivi,
or Quality Baskets, a shop
run by Thitaku Kushonya,
a master weaver in Maun.
Mma Kushonya, as she is
called, teaches other women to weave and is currently
building a small Hambuku-
PHOTOS : DR RACHEL DE MOTTS
T he hidden value
of basket craft
Flight of the Swallow by Thitaku Kushonya
Woman from Choi Namibia demonstrate the
use of grass of weaving when there is not
enough palm
shu cultural village to share
with tourists.
“My art is not only for
me but it is also for other
people, to help them to remember their culture but
also to make income from
tourism,” she says. “I depend
on my work, because tourism is very important here in
an area where there is often
no other work for people. In
this way, we can teach tourists something about our
culture and this place, too.”
Employment in conservation projects, opportunities to learn new skills, and
the ability to make decisions
about their own income and
craft markets have a transformational effect on individual
women. Many women who
make crafts for the market at
Mashi, for example, use the
funds they earn to pay school
fees for their daughters who
might not otherwise be able
to attend school.
Baskets can provide more
than just a lovely memory of
a safari. They carry not just
cultural knowledge, but the
opportunity to enrich local
women’s lives through participating in tourism.
On the Old Hunters’ Road
PETER ROBERTS
PHOTO: TOM VARLEY
www.birdlifebotswana.org.
bw/nata_sanctury_trust.html
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Linyanti at sunaset
At the turn of the last
century Victoria Falls had
only just appeared on the
tourist map. Only known to the
wider world since 1855, when
David Livingstone made their
existence popular knowledge,
to reach the Victoria Falls
required an expedition of
many weeks, if not months,
travelling overland by ox-cart
along rough tracks through
thick bush inhabited by wild
and dangerous animals.
Explorers, hunters and
traders all made tracks
towards the Falls, and
before long a wagon road
ran from the south. The
Old Hunters’ Road, as
it became known, now
forms the border between
Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Years earlier, when
David Livingstone first
began his missionary
explorations and trekked
north to the banks of the
Zambezi it was through
modern-day Botswana. He
was the first to document
Lake Ngami, and arrived at
the Zambezi near Linyanti,
upstream of Kazungula,
before eventually travelling
downstream to the Victoria
Falls.
Today the journey to The
Falls is most often by air,
with the majority of tourists
flying to Victoria Falls via
Johannesburg in a matter of
hours. For those searching
for a bit more adventure, an
overland trip up to Victoria
Falls can be rewarding and
offers the chance to follow in
Livingstone’s footsteps.
For the modern traveller
the route through Botswana
also presents an opportunity
to visit the Makgadikgadi
Pans, vast seasonally
flooded salt pans covering
some 12,000km2, among
the largest salt pans in the
world. Livingstone crossed
this area several times, twice
with his wife Mary, pregnant
and with two young children
in tow. They were lucky
to survive the journeys.
During the dry season the
landscape is a flat, parched
desert, without water or
vegetation.
During the wet season
the pans undergo a
miraculous transformation –
the shallow flooded waters
are a magnet for migratory
waterbirds and home to
thousands of breeding
flamingos and pelicans creating one of Africa’s most
colourful wildlife scenes.
Nata Bird Sanctuary,
located off the main north
road, is one of the best
places to access this remote
wilderness.
CHOBE
2013 MAR APR MAY
11
HISTORY
History of Chobe National Park: Part XI
judyhepburn53@gmail.com
he official establishment of Chobe
Game Reserve
(now Chobe National Park) in 1960 brought
worldwide recognition to
this amazing area with its
diversity of flora and fauna.
Wildlife experts and enthusiasts are still eager to document this diversity and the
effects of the surrounding
developments. Even those
with serious concern for the
future of the park could not
have imagined the elephant
population reaching the vast
numbers of today.
Dr Graham Child was
one of the pioneers of the
conservation programmes in
Botswana and his presence
was due in part to a conference held in Arusha in 1961,
the main topic of which was
the Conservation of Nature
and Natural Resources in
Modern African States.
Child’s job as the first
wildlife biologist in Botswana was to assess the
ecological and economic
opportunities of the Chobe
region. In 1965, he and his
wife Diana moved to the
tiny settlement of Kasane.
He built a concrete rondavel
in the ebony grove on the
bend of the Chobe River
opposite Sedudu Island. Pat
Hepburn, the park warden,
had his headquarters and
family home next door.
Child was employed
by the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the
United Nations. His son
Brian writes that his father
was always one to look at
ecosystems holistically and
even in those early days of
the park he voiced concerns
that elephants were damaging the ecology of the
Chobe riverine vegetation.
Child repeated one 1965
vegetation and wildlife
transect along the riverfront
in 2007 with one of Brian’s
Masters students, Andrea
Wolf. As the plant and
animal tables illustrate,
dramatic changes had taken
place.
In 1970 Child moved
his family to Gaborone for
his children’s education. He
continued his work with
wildlife and, together with
Dr Alec Campbell, Laurens
Tenant and Pat Bromfield,
helped to shape the game
Flora
Croton
5
270
4
Lonchocarpus capassa
40
2
Acacia erioloba
17
1
Burchemia discolour
27
8
Lannea kirkii
14
0
Trichilia emetic
14
11
Markhamia obstufolia
11
0
Strychnos stuhlmanii
7
3
Capparis tomentosa
0
3
Garcinia livingstonei
3
2
21 individual of
5 species
4 individual of
2 species
Defecations
counted in 1965
Defecations
counted in 2007
0
400
Impala
Kudu bulls have more than
doubled in Chobe
featured on the Department
of Wildlife and National
Parks logo; prior to this an
elephant had featured on
the badge.
2007
152
Fauna
department in Botswana.
In his travels around the
country Child rescued a
bat-eared fox in the Kalahari which became part of
the family and was named
Nipper. A bat-eared fox
has, since those early days,
1965
Acacia nigrescens
Other species
PHOTO: TOM VARLEY
JUDY HEPBURN
Elephant
100
370
Buffalo
260
200
Kudu
70
180
Giraffe
0
60
Warthog
170
25
Sable
22
18
Bushbuck
155
0
Puku
22
0
Wildebeest
22
0
Child continued
to contribute to the
development of the wildlife
authority in Botswana and
spent many weeks surveying
the land, with two drums of
petrol and a drum of water
in the back of his Ford
250 truck.
I would like to thank
Dr Brian Child for the
material for this editorial
and we will look at more of
his and Dr Graham Child’s
observations on the Chobe
elephant in future issues.
12
MAR APR MAY 2013
CHOBE
CONSERVATION
TRUE LIFE
A Puppy for Xmas
persuaded the intruder to
relax its vice-like hold, then
wrenched Asanti’s limp form
from its grasp. Once the
predator had taken refuge in
We all remember our first
a corner, he phoned Dr Mark
‘Puppy for Christmas’ - that
Vandewalle of the Kasane
adorable bundle of fur which
Biodiversity Centre for asyour parents constantly
sistance.
reminded you was ‘Yours for
Three particular memories
Life’ as you cleaned up after it.
remain after the event:
Sixteen year old Skye
Firstly, a gleeful shriek
Comley loves all animals, so
Skye and Asanti Sana
from Skye: “Asanti’s alive!”
she’s never nagged to look
Cradling her pet’s body,
after her pets, and it was this
she’d sensed movement, and
deep-seated passion that gave dreadful on the floor. “Python!
saw the pup shake her head
her the strength to fight for the Asanti!” she shouted desperately, landing another blow
suddenly, open her eyes and
life of her own Christmas pup,
begin tottering about, quite
a fluffy golden retriever named on the thick reptilian coils
wrapped around her puppy –
unharmed despite some nasty
Asanti, when a python paid a
hind
legs
and
tail
visible
and
scratches on her muzzle.
visit in early January 2013.
ominously
still.
Secondly, Mark’s unerrAround 2am that morning I
I took in the ghastly sight
ing accuracy when, at an
awoke to the frenzied barkand needed to tell Skye the
unearthly hour and in an emoing of the family dogs outside
Skye’s cottage, and my sleepy truth. “Asanti is dead!” I blurted, tionally charged atmosphere,
as I urged to guide her father to he grabbed the angry snake
mind cleared rapidly when I
heard the blood-chilling sound the scene, having heard him on behind its head before he and
Peter wrestled its three metre
of a girl yelling for help. Yelling his way, calling to us.
Frustrated, I thumped at
length into a box for the short
– yes, screaming – “no!” Skye
the snake’s unyielding mass.
trip to the Biodiversity Centre
was demanding assistance,
A loud hiss followed and I leapt and much needed recuperanot howling in panic, and as I
backwards as a serpentine
tion.
ran towards the commotion I
head reared up and struck
Thirdly, the calmness of
could hear a blunt instrument
at my stick, Skye’s earlier
the brave girl who did not
clobbering some inanimate
counter-attack having caused
flee screaming in terror when
object.
it to unclasp its fangs from the
confronted with the savagery
Stick in hand, I burst into
little dog’s head. Fortunately,
of Africa, but fought for the
the bedroom and found a
Peter Comley arrived wieldpuppy that would now be hers
distraught teenager wielding
ing
a
knobkerrie
and
further
for life.
a cricket bat on something
PHOTOS : BY DR RACHEL DE MOTTS
Drama and bravery in this domestic tale with a dif ference
SOURCE: SKYE COMLEY
ROY ASHBY
It’s hard work rescuing an elephant
An elephant-size problem
Getting out of a hole is no small problem when you are this size!
KELLY LANDEN
www.mewt.gov.bw/DWNP
Kazungula is a small
residential border town
nestled between the Chobe
River and Kasane Forest
Reserve. The people of the
community are no strangers
to elephants passing their
homes, as herds regularly
make their way down from the
forest ridge, across the main
tar road, heading for the river
to drink in the evenings.
Routine early morning
sounds were disrupted by the
distress call of an elephant
one day during February.
Residents shuffled out
to discover a full-grown
elephant cow had fallen into
a manmade ditch, which was
part of an abandoned home
plot under construction,
right in the middle of their
community.
A crowd gathered around
her in awe, while Kasane’s
Department of Wildlife and
National Parks’ (DWNP)
Problem Animal Control
division was called. After
an assessment that she
seemed to be unharmed,
discussion turned to how to
get her out. It was decided to
dig a much longer trench in
the hope that she could walk
out unassisted.
A JCB excavator tractor
was brought in to accomplish the task. After many
stressful hours, as the crowd
chobe
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Shop 14/15, Hunters Africa (New Arcade - Spar Complex)
Fax/Tel: + 267 625 2483 Cell: + 267 721 16479
Shop 5 Kazungula Junction (Near Engen)
Tel: +267 625 2485
cape2cairo@botsnet.bw
www.cape2cairobureau.com
Senyati Safari Camp. Nine SC
thatched campsites with power and own
ablutions. Three SC chalets, each sleep
up to 4. Bar overlooking waterhole.
Located 8km from Kazungula on Nata
Road.
Phone +267 718 81306 or
+267 718 26709.
www.senyatisafaricamp.co.bw
Email: senyatisafaricamp@gmail.com
BUREAU DE CHANGE
Cape 2 Cairo Bureau De Change
Shop 14/15, Hunters Africa Mall (Spar
Complex)
Tel: +267 6252483
Shop 5, Kazungula Junction
Tel: +267 6252485
Cell: 72138618 or 72116479
Website: www.cape2cairobureau.com
COFFEE SHOP
Come and enjoy our african/german
kitchen. NEW!! Free Wireless for all
customers having a meal!! Weekly
specials,cold roast beef with potato
salad, lentil curry with sweet potato &
basmati rice, homemade dumplings with
seswaa, traditional nama & pap, fish &
chips, eisbein with mashed potatoes
& caramelised onions. New on the
Menu: coffee-pecan nut cake, chocolate
brownies, amazing burger, baked
aubergine, nachos, chicken schnitzel,
coffee milk shake, homemade lemonade
and much more. Opening hours are
from 7.30 am to 14.00 pm from Monday
grew in anticipation and curiosity, the trench was finally
complete. The elephant was
tired, hesitant and confused,
but eventually, with a slight
nudge, she walked up the
path that had been built for
her.
She took a few moments to gather her wits and
strength before moving on.
The DWNP paralleled her
course, warning residents
to remain in their homes
until the stressed elephant
could flee back into the forest, where her family herd
awaited her return.
A potentially dangerous
situation for all involved was
resolved with no harm to
the elephant or the people
of Kazungula. Well done
Botswana’s DWNP!
ztchobe@gmail.com +267 (0) 716 176 02
to Saturday. You can find us at Kalahari
Holiday Tours, Kasane Main Road plot
721. If you wish to book a table, a packed
lunch, cakes or for a group, send us an
email: bettina.coffeebuzz@gmail.com
Phone: 71318956
HEALTH & WEALTH
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High tech weight loss nutrition & personal
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PURIFIED WATER
BOTTLING PLANT
Aquarite Botswana: Manufacturers of
purified bottled water and purified soda
water. Refill your containers with purified
water at a fraction of the cost. Based in
Kasane (next to Tyremax in Kazungula)
and Maun.
Contact head office:
+267 686 0283 or
Lorraine +267 72989574
SA Airlink from 22 March 2013 introduces
new intra-African routes, with service
launch to Kasane in Botswana
X4
Flights Weekly
Johannesburg – Kasane
SA8303 JNB1145 – 1325BBK ER3 x246
SA8304 BBK1400 – 1550JNB ER3 x246
Service increases to daily from 31JUL13
Botswana
13
OKAVANGO
Subscribe to our quarterly
e-newsletter online at
On your way to the Zambezi
CONSERVATION
SOURCE WWW.BCPTRUST.ORG
www.bcptrust.org
www.grantatkinson.com
In issue 11, Dr J W McNutt
wrote a fascinating story ‘Building boundaries with scent’
about the Botswana Predator
Conservation Trust (BPCT). Detailed here are a few pertinent
facts about this very valuable
organisation.
Founded as the Botswana
Wild Dog Research Project in
1989, the BPCT has expanded
to cover all the large carnivore
species in Botswana.
It is one of the longest running large predator research
projects in Africa and one of
only a handful of its calibre
worldwide.
The Government of Botswana has entrusted BPCT
with the task of leading northern Botswana’s conservation
and research initiatives on all
large carnivores and their associated habitats.
The Okavango Delta,
where most of BPCT’s
research takes place, is a
freshwater wetland of global
importance. It is the largest
Ramsar (International Conven-
tion on Wetlands) site on earth
and was granted IUCN world
heritage status by the World
Conservation Union (IUCN).
BPCT uses rigorous
scientific enquiry to acquire
essential knowledge regarding all behavioural ecology
and communications systems
of large predators to promote
solutions for the preservation
of Africa’s large predators and
their habitats.
Updates and provides accurate information to Government of Botswana on all large
predators.
Has developed a strong
rapport with communities to
PHOTO: GRANT ATKINSON
The Botswana Predator Conservation Trust
grow the local and national
conservation ethos by encouraging their involvement using
sound conservation strategies.
Conservation and
Education Programmes
Coaching for Conservation
Programmme (C4C): This programme is aimed at primary
school children with the core
message: Respect Yourself,
Respect Each Other, and Respect Your Environment.
Domestic Dog Disease
Control Programme: Through
collaboration with the Maun
Animal Welfare Association
(MAWS), this project aims to
Wild dog at Chitabe in the Okavango Delta
control the spread of disease
from domestic dogs to free
ranging large carnivore species.
Shorobe Livestock Insurance Initiative: BPCT is piloting an innovative programme
that will address conflicts
between large carnivores and
livestock as well as tackle
issues surrounding humanwildlife conflicts.
Core message statement
from BCPT
Research and science is a
prerequisite to doing effective conservation. Without
information from focused
research, we cannot address
nor even identify the important questions necessary for
sustainable management.
Without conservation, we
cannot change.
minimise predator livestock
loss is an important tool to
reduce conflict. These dogs
live permanently with the
livestock and are placed with
their herd as puppies, growing
up as a member of the herd
and aggressively defending
the livestock against predators. Many predators, like the
cheetah, can be chased away
by an effective guard dog.
CCB runs a Livestock
Guarding Dog Network where
members receive training on
the proper use of the technique and free veterinary care
including vaccinations, sterilisation and general veterinary
assistance. CCB has been
partnering with MAWS since
2009 to provide veterinary
support for these livestock
guarding dogs, a successful
collaboration during which
we’ve treated approximately
300 dogs. During the visits we
vaccinate and sterilise other
community dogs to ensure
a reduction in local canine
diseases, the spread of which
threatens the health of livestock guarding dogs, as well
as local predator populations.
CONSERVATION
ZT CORRESPONDENT
www.maunanimalwelfare.com
Improving the lives of
domestic animals across
Botswana
Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS) is a non-profit
organisation which aims to
improve the lives and health
of domestic animals by providing free veterinary services
to low-income individuals in
northern Botswana.
We welcome vets and vet
nurses year-round who travel
to Maun to volunteer with
us. From our purpose-built
veterinary clinic we utilise
locally-raised funds to undertake routine sterilisations
and administer vaccinations.
We also provide life-saving
emergency treatment or humane euthanasia to animals
beyond help. Furthermore,
we reunite, rehome and
PHOTO: TOM VARLEY
BIRDLIFE
rehabilitate lost, found and
stray animals and provide
an emergency first-response
service to injured livestock.
Our international funding
allows us to conduct outreach
clinics throughout Botswana,
specifically targeting rural
areas where villagers live
side-by-side with wildlife. This
work brings vital veterinary
care to remote locations and
helps to prevent the transmission of distemper and rabies:
diseases which can decimate
wildlife including endangered
species such as African wild
dogs and cheetahs, plus other
predators including lions and
leopards.
Protecting Botswana’s
wildlife through domestic
animal care
Our outreach work is endorsed by several internationally-recognised wildlife
charities including Cheetah
Conservation Botswana
(CCB), an organisation which
shares MAWS’s goal of
SOURCE: MAWS
Maun Animal Welfare Society
MAWS members
controlling domestic animals
so they do not encroach on or
infect wildlife populations.
We undertake frequent
outreach clinics on behalf of
CCB, centred around their
Ghanzi camp on the rural
farming outskirts of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
CCB is working to encourage
farmers to use non-lethal
methods of predator control.
At present, predator species are often killed as they
are considered a threat to
livestock, so the proper use
of livestock guarding dogs to
Pygmy goose
Patience for the perfect shot
ZT CORRESPONDENT
www.vicfallsproductions.com
Although the pygmy goose,
Nettapus uritus, has a very
large range and is found
widely in subtropical Africa,
sightings of them are not over
common. They are found in
wetlands with emergent and
floating vegetation such as
floodplains, pans, pools, quieter river backwaters as well
as estuaries, easily hidden by
overhanging foliage and large
clumps of vegetation. They
are sought after by wildlife
photographers for their striking, colourful, distinct markings. Well-known wildlife
photographer, Tom Varley
has this species on his wishlist of water bird to photograph when in the Okavango
Delta and comments, ‘There
is no shortage of them, they
are just shy birds. When you
approach them they fly away
before you can get close
enough to get a good shot.
You will however find them in
exactly the same place every
day so with a little patience
and luck they will stay still
long enough for that perfect
shot.’
ACTIVITIES
Game Drives
ACTIVITIES
Game Drives
Walks
Mokoro activities
Boat Cruises
Kavango/Caprivi, Namibia
an experience you will
seldom encounter on the
African continent.
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Zimbabwe
14
HARARE
ISSUE 10 FOR IPAD APP ONLY
CONSERVATION
Tracking and saving pangolin
SOURCE: TIKKI HYWOOD TRUST
The Tikki Hywood Trust is a non-profit organisation
focused on the preservation of smaller, lesser known
and endangered species. It has been involved in
pangolin conservation since 1994, from breeding
to research to lobbying for harsher penalties for
poaching. The species has a high price on its head,
both for its cultural significance in Zimbabwe, and
now, more ominously, from the Asian market’s
insatiable appetite for its body parts.
released into protected areas.
The Trust has also succeeded
in increasing the severity
of the penalty for poaching
pangolins through lobbying
to improve legislation for this
specially protected species.
Pangolins are listed in
CITES Appendix II, which
means limited controlled
trade is allowed. By working
with Zimbabwe Parks and
MANA MEADOWS
www.tikkihywoodtrust.org
www.pangolinsg.org
he year has started
well for the Tikki
Hywood Trust’s
pangolin work in
Zimbabwe; all rescued pangolins have been successfully
Champ, an orphaned ground pangolin which arrived at Tikki Hywood Trust when he should still have been drinking his mother’s milk. He is just
over a year old and was the second ground pangolin in recent history to be hand-reared on artificial formula
Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA), other
regional Parks authorities,
scientists and interested
groups, the Trust hopes
to eventually elevate the
CITES listing of this species to Appendix I and stop
all trade.
The immediate aim of
the Trust’s pangolin work is
to bring poaching to a halt
in Zimbabwe and ensure
that the stiff penalties that
have recently been legislated
are imposed in all cases.
The Trust is an active
Shop No. 53 Borrowdale Village
Tel: 263 4 885660 | Fax: 263 4 883214 | Email: masterangler@zol.co.zw
member of both The African
Pangolin Working Group
and the IUCN Species
Survival Commission for
Pangolin. It determines the
current status and distribution of pangolin in Zimbabwe by gathering data from
around the country with the
authority of ZPWMA.
The Trust liaises with
the Parks Authority and
legal groups responsible
for dealing with poached
pangolin, so that where possible, when live animals are
confiscated, they are taken
to the Trust for assessment
and monitoring. Once they
are healthy enough they are
released back into protected
environments and tracked.
The Trust is currently
compiling a husbandry
manual for the management of rescued pangolin in
captivity. ‘This is strictly for
emergency situations, as we
don’t advocate that pangolins remain in captivity,’ says
Lisa Hywood, founder and
managing trustee.
‘Currently our work is
based on ground pangolin,
however we are now helping
a group who are rehabilitating white bellied tree pangolins in Sierra Leone and
we continue to forge similar
relationships with groups
throughout Africa.’
In Zimbabwe, the Trust
tracks pangolins with transmitters in safe release sites
to determine their range,
territory, diet and other aspects of their behaviour and
ecology – essential work, as
very little is known about
these shy, nocturnal and rare
animals.
ANIMAL RESCUE
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“Woman’s Wellness Centre”
JANE HERRIOT
I never cease to be astounded
by the rate at which most wild
animals’ wounds heal. As vets
we do what we can when we
have the animals immobilised,
but with wildlife patients
we usually only get the one
precious chance at treatment.
We were called out to
examine a young buffalo bull
that had been reported limping.
The caller had also noticed
a wound on the buffalo’s one
hind leg, and it was suspected
that he had forced his way
through a fence. We located
the herd and after a quick assessment it was decided that
the buffalo definitely needed to
be darted.
We loaded the dart and
did a drive-by darting. The
herd moved in to examine
the red-ended dart and to
investigate the darted buffalo’s peculiar behaviour. We
moved the vehicle in between
the inquisitive bovines and the
patient and they clomped off
reluctantly once he stopped
tottering around and rested on
his sternum.
PHOTO: JANE HERRIOT
Helping
nature heal
wounds
Helping hands make a happy ending
We could smell the wound
while we were still approaching
him. Once the blindfold was
securely in place we rolled him
on his side to give us a good
view of the wound. It was a
very long and deeply infected
wound right down to the bones
on the inside of his right hind
leg. Maggots infested the
wound but they had done a
splendid job of clearing away
most of the dead tissue.
It was vigorously cleaned
and the maggots rudely
removed from their comfortable home. There were so
many of the larvae that it took
some time, but with persistence eventually just clean,
pink flesh confronted us. The
lesion was packed with lime
and the animal given good antibiotic and anti-inflammatory
cover before being woken up.
In just over a minute he
was up and looking at us
before ambling off to find his
herd. The following day he
was walking much easier and
he has almost made a full
recovery. With wild patients,
a happy ending is enough
thanks for any job.
Zambezi Traveller Travellers friend
2013 MAR APR MAY
15
Zambia & Zimbabwe
KARIBA & MIDDLE ZAMBEZI
ANGLING
MANA MEADOWS
www.kitft.co.zw
AC Famous Grouse
claimed the title of
Test Of The Best
(TOTB) 2013 tournament champions – beating
last year’s TOTB (and Kariba
Invitation Tiger Fish Tournament) victors Remington
Gold by just 0.3kgs! Test Of
The Best is a two-day catch
and release tiger fishing tournament held on Lake Kariba
in February or March every
year. The elite tournament,
this year held over the first
weekend of March in Charara, is contested by the top
ten teams from the previous
year’s Kariba Invitation Tiger
Fish Tournament (KITFT).
Remington Gold led the
pack on the first day by nearly 10 points – scoring 67.05
points compared to LAC Famous Grouse’s 57.74 points.
“We knew that to catch up
on the second day we had to
get our limit, which we did.
The limit was the key factor
to winning the competition,”
said LAC Famous Grouse
captain Clive Lendrum. “It
was excellent, a great achievement... It’s always a good
feeling to win the top ten and
although we won it by a narrow margin, a win is a win.”
Peter Lawson of Reming-
ton Gold landed the heaviest
total catch with his total points
coming to 42.48. He was followed by Francois Viviers
(40.2 points) and Prakash
Goven (32.93 points).
As usual, the tournament
was scored in the traditional
way with a marshal on board
the boat weighing and recording each fish before its release.
This year marshals also measured the length of the fish
and photographed it. “We did
this because the more statistics we have on weight and
length the more accurate we
become”, said David Whitehead, KITFT Public Relations Manager.
The information, for now
gathered purely for interest’s
sake, will hopefully help with
developing the recently introduced catch and release aspect
of the larger KITFT where a
sub-tournament has been introduced where a “measuring
mat” records the length of the
fish. This is later converted to
an average weight for scoring
purposes.
Whitehead, speaking just
after the tournament and as
the Zambezi Traveller went to
press said that the committee
hadn’t yet managed to see how
results compared but would be
going through the statistics
later. “I expect the results will
be the same – that is that the
team that won on the weight
aggregate also won on the
PHOTOS:DAVID WHITEHEAD
Test Of T he Best 2013
LAC Famous Grouse won Test Of The Best 2013 are left to
right: Liam MacDonald, Mark Futter, Clive Lendrum, Doug
Campbell and Bruce Cooke
Arthur Browell of ULTC Team Dulux caught the heaviest fish
(10.32 kgs) during Test of the Best 2013. He was followed by
David Beattie (6.92 and Dean Dewdney 6.64 kgs)
Position
length to weight system.”
The sponsors were the
same this year, with gold
sponsors Bols Brandy, Mega
Toasted, Nissan Zimbabwe
and Zambezi joined by silver
sponsors Ram Petroleum,
THI Insurance and Telecel
Zimbabwe.
statistics
Average weight of fish caught: 2.59kgs
Total weight of fish caught: 615.57 kgs
Total no. of fish caught: 237
No. of anglers catching fish: 39
Total anglers: 40
Team
Points
1
Lac Famous Grouse
100.8
2
Remington Gold
100.49
3
Charter X Africom & Charter
‘B’ Famous Grouse
83.15
4
Swift
79.41
5
Stryke Telecel
69.28
6
F Neill & Sons Bullsharks
54.74
7
Team Sakunda
38.75
8
Cowboys & Indian
36.28
9
Ultc Team Dulux
27.6
10
Lac Bushcats
25.07
BIG DADDY
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Email: bigdaddykariba@gmail.com
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Fully fitted kitchen, Large covered verandah area, with bar area and seating, Splash pool and sun bathing area.
16
MAR APR MAY 2013
ENERGY
Kariba f loodgates to open
CHRISTOPHER SCOTT
700 million cubic meters of water leave the dam per second
opened regularly due to consistent good rains, but post 1982
drier seasons prevented any opening of the floodgates for another 19 years until 2000.
All six floodgates have only been opened once in the history of the dam, in 1966 for 48 hours, with the resulting mass
of water gouging a hole at the base of the wall which had to
be later repaired. Since 2000, floodgates have been opened in
2005, 2008, 2010, 2011 and now 2013.
With one floodgate open 700 million cubic meters of water per second will be released into the Zambezi river valley,
raising the level of the river on average two to three metres.
PHOTOS: CHRISTOPHER SCOTT
he Zambezi Water Authority has said it will be
opening one Kariba spillway gate to regulate the
high levels of water expected after a good wet season
in the Zambezi catchment area. This early opening
will also allow authorities at Cahora Bassa to manage the
subsequent rising water levels downstream.
Kariba Dam was officially opened by The Queen Mother
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth on 6 May 1960. Some 10,000
men spent four years building the 128 meter high, 24 meter thick and 560 meter long wall with over 1 million cubic
meters of concrete and 20,000 tonnes of steel reinforcing, at
a total cost (in 1960s money) of 480 million dollars. Eightysix men lost their lives during the construction period and
some remain entombed in the wall.
The imposing curved wall is robust enough to dam
the estimated flow of 10 million liters of water that passed
through the spillway each second when the wall was being
constructed, and holds back on average 185 cubic kilometers
of water. This immense mass (180,000,000,000,000 kilograms of water!) caused locally induced seismic activity as
the water weighed on the underlying geology.
In seasons with exceptionally high rains the Zambezi
River Authority will consider opening the gates to regulate
the rising level of the lake, as well as to preserve the structural integrity of the wall. Pre 1982 the floodgates where
The incredible power of water as the gates open
ANGLING
This is a family
fishing tournament
with the main
trophies and prizes
are for family team
combinations,
although other
categories are also
allowed.
PHOTOS: FRANCOIS BENADE
Family
fishing fun
FRANCOIS BENADE
benade@zol.co.zw
The NAUZ (National Angling
Union of Zimbabwe) Charara
CAST tournament, hosted by
Caravan Campers Angling
Society (CCAS), aims to
encourage junior angling by
getting dad to give up his bass
boat for one weekend a year
and take the whole family
out for a fishing and camping
holiday at Charara, Kariba.
CAST started some 24
years ago over an Easter
weekend when a few families
from CCAS decided to spend
their annual camping trip at
Charara. Naturally, every kid
on the block claimed to have
done something better than
the next: ‘I caught the first
one!’ ‘I caught the largest one!’
‘I caught the smallest one!’
That sparked the first one-day
competition that resulted in
everyone getting something
at the end of the day for their
efforts.
It was just so much fun
that it had to be done again
and again on an annual basis,
and it did not take long before
mom and dad got involved and
turned it into a family vs family
concept. Then they invited
friends who eventually invited
friends, and so on.
Children are definitely part of the
fun, and a pair of beauties
Of course it all had to
have some guidelines, mainly
to create the competition
categories so that every little
one still stood a chance. This
evolved over the last 24 years
into the most popular CAST
(better known as the Easter
Family Fishing Competition).
In this truly family event
we have structured the competition over the years into so
many categories that almost
every young angler stands a
chance of winning a prize (up
to 10th place if we need to),
even if it is our Special Effort
Trophy, for someone who
tried hard but did not actually
manage to land a prize winning
fish.
Winners are presented with
one of 43 floating trophies.
Under 18s entered in a family
team are automatically individually entered in one of four
junior categories: ‘Small Fry,’
girls and boys aged 3-6 years
old, ‘Juniors Girls’ or ‘Juniors
Boys’ aged 7-12 and ‘Senior
Girls and Boys’ 13-18.
Family teams, bank angling
teams, open teams, the whole
lot - come and enjoy a long
weekend camping at Kariba.
ECOLOGY
Crayfish invasion worries experts
Alien crayfish have colonised Lake Kariba. Is this an ecological disaster
in the making?
2
WIN
2013 MAR APR MAY
17
nights
FOR TWO AT MUSANGO SAFARI CAMP
Fresh water crayfish introduced from Australia are breeding out of control in the northern
Lake Kariba, devouring the food sources of other fish and putting the nation’s entire aquatic
ecosystem at risk. The red claw crayfish has no natural predators in the wild — crocodiles
don’t like them — and cannot be poisoned without killing other natural species.
As a conservation drive, Musango Safari Camp is launching
Kariba Crayfish
CREATE YOUR CRAYFISH RECIPE COMPETITION
Submit your recipes with a catchy name & photo to:
PHOTO: STEVE EDWARDS
mururutheartofhospitalty@gmail.com
Entries to be submitted by 1 December 2013
Winning entry to be included in the Musango Safari Camp cookbook
See recipes
n addition to a growing
population of Australian Red Claw Crayfish
in the eastern basin of
Lake Kariba (ZT Issue
11 page 35, www.zambezitraveller.com download PDF
or go to Kariba section) it is
unclear whether another species, Cherax destructor is also
breeding in the lake. Cherax
destructor, a burrowing relative of the Red Claw, could
potentially cause damage to
the Lake’s hydroelectric infrastructure as it buries itself
in the lake bed and banks.
We don’t have the
resources on the
ground to license
or police exploitation on the right
scale at Kariba...
The important
thing right now
is we don’t want
people to introduce it elsewhere
Chief Ecologist from the
University of Zimbabwe’s
Lake Kariba Research Institute, Crispin Phiri, has confirmed the rapid population
growth of the Australian
Red Claw crayfish, especially around areas near human
habitation and near slipways
and harbours. A lack of funding within the Institute has
hampered thorough research
into the infestation and the
only feasible way of dealing
with the issue seems to be
commercial trapping.
Despite the crayfish
reaching prices around $9.00
per kg in shops, it is not yet a
popular source of protein for
local fishermen in the Lake
Kariba area. Permits will be
required to trap and sell the
crayfish but it is unclear what
the costs and regulations will
be.
There is potential danger
that the crayfish will be illegally captured and relocated
into freshwater areas nearer
Harare and larger urban areas
to facilitate supplying these
markets. This could prove
disastrous from an ecological standpoint as the crayfish
has no predators in the wild,
breeds quickly and voraciously
devours live or decaying plant
or animal matter to the detriment of local species.
“We don’t have the resources on the ground to license or police exploitation
on the right scale at Kariba,”
says Phiri. “The important
thing right now is we don’t
want people to introduce it
elsewhere.”
An Island Paradise
on Lake Kariba
Creative problem-solving:
preparing tasty meals using the
invading crayfish. Pictured here is
the Musango ‘Lake and Steak’
Zambezi Traveller invites
comments and contributions
on this issue:
• Make it easy to catch
and sell the product with
minimum restrictions to
quickly utilise and reduce
populations?
• Regulate the industry so
that breeding is tightly controlled?
Email your thoughts to the
Editor, Frances Jackson
frances@zambezitraveller.com
MORE ONLINE
Musango ‘lake and steak’ recipe
on Musango facebook page and at
MUSANGO
News Flash
Steve Edwards from Musango is
one of the Top 10 safari guides
featured in The Daily Telegraph
(UK), Ultratravel magazine.
Fishing
Canoeing
Game Drives
Game Cruises
Rhino Tracking
Walking Safaris
Dinosaur Fossils
Tonga Cultural Village
Sailing (morning, afternoon,
and overnight available)
Access by Air, Boat and Road.
Reservations: +(263-13) 43358 Cell: +(263) 772 307 875 Email: musango@microlink.zm www. musangosafaricamp.com
Zimbabwe’s iconic
destination on Lake Kariba
reservations@bumihills.com
www.bumihills.com
+263 (0) 772 135 664
PHOTO: STEVE EDWARDS
CHRISTOPHER SCOTT
Musango and www.zambezitraveller.com – try them and comment
Note from the Editor: Burning the midnight oil, preparing the
last few pages of this beautiful Zambezi Traveller issue, Steve
Edwards from Musango brightened my mood by sending me a
beautiful photo from the shores of Lake Kariba, Friday 8th March
2012. I had to make room for this one of a baby elephant born earlier in the afternoon. Steve Edwards has just been featured in the
Daily Telegraph, Ultratravel Magazine, Top 10 Safari Guides
18
MAR APR MAY 2013
NEWS
Opening of spillway gates at the Kariba Dam
ZAMBEZI RIVER AUTHORITY
Water! Today, Tomorrow
As a follow up to our February
2013 notice about the opening
of the spillway gates, please be
advised that two spillway gates
will be opened at 50% each to
CLASSIFIEDS
FOOD SUPPLIERS
BOATING
McLine Canvas: For all your manufacture
& repairs of all boating, safari & outdoor
living accessories.
Contact: McLine - +263 772 709 470 or
+ 263 61 2627, Stand 740 Chawara,Kariba
Blue Waters at Andora Harbour:
We offer beers & soft drinks on a sale
or return basis, plus ice & fishing bait.
Contact: bluewaters@iwayafrica.com
Hersov Tours
discharge a total of about
1,500m3 per second.
Date: Sunday, 17th March
2013
Time: 12.00hrs
Gates: Two, open halfway
This is aimed at lowering the
Kariba
HARBOURS
Contact:
Tendai / Seke
Phone/Fax: +263 6 3625
Cell - + 263 773 923500 or
Cell - +263 61 3625
E-mail - kangomatendai@gmail.com
hersovtours@gmail.com
Dam are advised to take this
notice seriously to avoid loss
of life and property.
Meanwhile, the authority will continue to monitor
the weather and hydrological
situation over the Zambezi
catchment area upstream of
the kariba dam.
HARDWARE
Endura Rubba Paints: For all your
requirements of Dulux paints, lubricants,
thinners, resin, fibreglass, filters, Eezipool
products, V belts & accessories, tandem
lawnmowers, Eureka DIY and more.
Contact: Nikki – 0774 060 717,
Tiri – 0775 965 547, Landline: 061 2325
Multi-fire Protection Systems P/L:
Sales & services of fire extinguishers,
fire alarms, plumbing for domestic,
commercial and industrial. A member
of Fire Prevention Inspection Bureau.
Contact: +263 775 789 009; +263
775 067 937; +263 776 095 907. Email:
multifireprotectionsystems@gmail.com
For more information contact:
Zambezi River Authority
Public Relations &
Communications Unit:
Tel: +260 211 230551
+260 211 227970/3,
Mobile: +260 977318735 or
+260977861818
Email: karonga@zaraho.org.zm
Advertise in Kariba & Lower Zambezi Classifieds
sonya@zol.co.zw +263 (0) 772 874 352
RESTAURANTS
Chawara Harbour: Suppliers of all fuel,
oils, drinks, ice, bait, biltong, dry wors
& chilli bites. Contact: Colin or Debbie
- Cell: +263 774 143 064, Phone: +263
61 3278
Email: debsmac70@gmail.com
HOUSEBOATS
TRANSFERS
Harare - Kariba (Zimbabwe)
Livingstone - Lusaka (Zambia)
lake waters to within safe
operating levels. The gates
will remain open until the
safe operating level has been
achieved.
All the stakeholders, the
general public and communities along the Zambezi river
downstream of the Kariba
TOURS AND SAFARIS
Avoca Marine Transfers: For all your
lake transfers to various camps & lodges
on Kariba’s lakeshore. Contact: John Biss
email avoca@iwayafrica.com,
Tel: + 263 61 2501, Cell: + 263 772 233 468
Harbour View Café: We offer delicious
breakfasts, lunches and teatime treats.
We also specialise in houseboat catering,
birthdays & special occasions.
Open: 8.00hrs – 2.00hrs, Monday –
Friday. 8.00hrs – 1.00hrs on Saturdays.
Andora Harbour, Kariba. Contact: Lynn
or Cally Phone: +263 61 2923
Cell: +263 774 578 622
Email: karibahouseboatcruises@gmail.
com
THATCHING GRASS
Thatching Grass Suppliers: Contact
Derek Wilkinson, located in Banket, the
grass heartland. Cell: +263 777 560
856; landline: +263 66 2595. Email:
derekdianawilk@mango.zw. Website:
http..//thatchinggrasssuppliers.webs.com
Kariba Houseboats: August & December
school holiday trips are being booked now.
Don’t miss out by leaving your booking too
late. Contact: Lonie at Zambezi Sunsets
zambezi.sunsets@gmail.com
TOURS AND SAFARIS
Tiger Tournament: Book your
houseboat requirements early to avoid
disappointment.
Contact: Lonie at Zambezi Sunsets
zambezi.sunsets@gmail.com
Sheer Magic Houseboat: Kariba,
Zimbabwe. For a fantastic pontoon
houseboat experience! Contact: Sonya
McMaster +263 772 874 352
Email: sonya@zol.co.zw
TRAINING
Fishing, canoeing, game drives, game
cruises, rhino tracking, walking safaris,
dinosaur fossils, Tonga cultural village,
sailing (morning, afternoon and overnight
available), access by air, boat and road.
Reservations: +263-13) 43358,
Cell: +(263) 772 307 875
Email: musango@microlink.zm
www.musangosafaricamp.com
With over 30 years of experience in the
industry, Mururu offers unparalleled training
in the arts of hospitality. Front of house
– waiters, barmen, hosts. Back of house
– chefs, porters. Housekeeping. Contact
Chooks Langerman. +263 778 8598914 / +
263 4 498325, mururutheartofhospitality@
gmail.com
gokariba.com
Houseboats, Catering,
Accommodation & Transfers
Experience a
houseboat holiday
with
DRIFTER
and
MAKULU
HOUSEBOAT CHARTERS
Kariba, Zimbabwe
Sonya McMaster
email: sonya@zol.co.zw
Tel: +263 772 874 352
Vans Harbour ,Kariba
Email: gokariba@iwayafrica.com
For This Is It & Nyati Houseboats,
and many more!
Contact: Kiara Hammond
0779 675 935 or office 0772 546 126
Phone: + 263 (0) 772 348 091 E-mail: kbeng@zol.co.zw
www.marineland.co.zw
Your gateway to Kariba - Zimbabwe’s water and wildlife wonderland
Houseboat charters, lake passenger & road transfers, speedboat hire, boat mooring,
catering gas & fuel sales, ice & drinks supplies
Contact Details
Tel : 061 2845 / 2237 / 3115 Telefax : 3134 Bookings: bookings@marineand.co.zw Cell: 0712 209 631 or 0773923 500 | bookings2@marineland.co.zw Cell: 0773 923 516
Drinks Orders: orders@marinelnd.co.zw Cell: 0712 630 994 | Harbourmaster: harbourmaster@marineland.co.zw Cell: 0712 200 710
Accounts: accounts@marienland.co.zw Cell: 0772 333 520 or 0712 632 834 | General Manager: gm@marineland.co.zw
We run an efficient Road Transfer
from Lusaka Airport to Marineland
Harbour on comfortable Air
Conditioned Buses
2013 MAR APR MAY
19
Welcome back,
lions!
LYNNE BRANNINGAN
www.mvuulodge.com
The Lower Zambezi is a
wildlife paradise. The area
hosts an abundance of elephants, monkeys, baboons,
hippos and crocodiles all year
round, but recently staff and
guests at Mvuu Lodge have
been privileged with rare and
wonderful sightings of a pride
of lions lazing around in
the sun.
Mvuu is situated in a Game
Management Area and as
we are not far from the Lower
Zambezi Park we guessed that
the lions might have moved
from the park. Last year our
staff spotted tracks which suggested two young lions walking
through the camp site in the
evening, strolling down to the
water, and back again.
Guests Nic and Lauren
Chalmers were fortunate to
spot the pride drinking from
the river while they were fish-
ing one morning; the accompanying picture is one of their
photos taken from their boat.
Since these first special
sightings we have often heard
the lions at night and many
more sightings have been
reported along the road to the
park or back to Chirundu.
These truly are magnificent, regal creatures and we
feel so honoured to have them
on our doorstep. We hope and
pray that the ‘King of Beasts’
will be nurtured for future generations to appreciate.
An exciting safari, with a rare lion sighting
PHOTO: LAUREN CHALMERS
WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION
Painted Dogs: Fast and efficient predators
TAMLYN SMITH
Mana Pools was designated
as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site in 1984. At the time of inscription, two of the criteria listed
as justifying its designation were:
1. The annual congregation
of animals in riparian parkland
alongside the Zambezi constitutes one of Africa’s outstanding
wildlife spectacles.
2. The area is one of the
most important refuges for a
number of species considered to
be threatened.
As one of the threatened
species inhabiting Mana Pools
National Park, the painted dog
PHOTO: TAMLYN SMITH
www.africanbushcamps.com
Team work makes for an efficient kill
Their success
lies in their
ability to
communicate
with each
other through
vocalizations,
and to kill and
devour quickly
to avoid
scavenging
competitors
(African wild dog) population
is thriving in this relatively
untouched environment, and
the area retains an important
population stronghold for the
species.
The resident pack habituating Kanga Camp - named the
Kanga pack by Dr Greg Rasmussen while he was conducting research in the area - has
particularly excelled in predatory skills.
Painted dogs are highly
successful hunters. As one of
the fastest and most efficient of
Africa’s predators, they generally maintain a relatively low
profile to draw as little attention as possible from stronger
predator species.
Their success lies in their
ability to communicate with
each other through vocalizations, and to kill and devour
quickly to avoid scavenging
competitors. For their prey, this
efficient method of killing actually shortens the suffering of the
individual.
20
MAR APR MAY 2013
PHOTOS: CHRISTOPHER SCOTT
WETLANDS
Waterbuck and wetlands
at Mana Pools National
Park, Zimbabwe
RAMSAR includes
Zimbabwean wetlands
CHRISTOPHER SCOTT
www.ramsar.org
n 3 May 2013 seven Zimbabwean
wetland areas will be listed as Wetlands of International Importance
within the Ramsar Convention on
Wetlands. The sites to be designated are:
Mana Pools, Monavale Vlei (in Harare),
Victoria Falls National Park, Lake Chivero
and Manyame Dam, Driefontein Grasslands
(near Chivu), Chinoyi Caves and Cleveland
Dam (Harare).
The inclusion of the seven sites into the
Ramsar convention follows a visit by a team
from Ramsar in October last year where several of the proposed sites where visited. In
February 2013 a delegation led by Ramsar
Secretary General Anada Tiega visited Monavale Vlei in Harare to commemorate the
landmark and celebrate 2013 World Wetlands Day.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Environment
and Natural Resources Management, Francis Nhema, as reported in local press, highlighted the importance of wetland conservation and the wider role they play. ‘Wetlands
deliver essential environmental, social and
economic goods and services such as local
level climate control, flood mitigation, food
and act as regulators and providers of water.
The link between water resources management and the wise use of wetlands cannot
be separated.’
Lesley Maasdorp from The Zambezi
Society has identified several biodiversity
projects within Mana Pools that could be
implemented through the new Ramsar incorporation, which will look at identifying
and studying the biodiversity of the river
frontage and inland springs such as Chitake, research into the biodiverse dry forest
area that runs through the middle of the
Zambezi Valley as well as a study on Lilian’s
Lovebirds in the Zambezi Valley.
Zimbabwe is the 164th country to join
the Ramsar Convention protecting 2,098
wetland areas covering an area of over 205
million hectares. Neighbouring countries
Botswana and Zambia are both existing
members of the Convention. Zambia has
listed eight sites of international importance,
including the Zambezi (Barotse) Floodplains, Bangweulu Swamps, Kafue Flats
and Luangwa Flood Plains. Botswana has
listed just one site - the Okavango Delta.
Join Award winning photographer
on a photographic safari workshop in some of
southern Africa’s best wildlife destinations
and hone you’re photographic skills!
.BOB1PPMTt-BLF,BSJCBt)XBOHF/BUJPOBM1BSLt4PVUI-VBOHXB/BUJPOBM1BSL
4FSFOHFUJ1SFEBUPS4BGBSJ5BO[BOJB
t.BTBJ.BSB.JHSBUJPO4BGBSJ,FOZB
chris@scottyphotography.net
www.funphotographywild.com
FACT file
Wetlands and RAMSAR
SOURCE ENVIRONMENT AFRICA’S
GREENLINE MAGAZINE
What are wetlands?
Wetlands vary according to origin,
geography, water regime, chemistry,
vegetation and soil characteristics. The term
wetland has only come into use since the
1960s, and has generally come to mean
any area of land of which the soil is
permanently or temporally flooded with
water - but definitions of wetlands vary.
The Ramsar Convention takes a
broad approach in determining wetlands
as: “areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water,
whether natural or artificial, permanent
or temporary, with water that is static or
flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including
areas of marine water the depth of which at
low tide does not exceed six metres.”
Why are wetlands important?
The natural benefits and value of
wetlands can include sediment and erosion
control; flood control; maintenance of
surface and underground water supply and
quality; abatement of pollution and even
contributions to climatic stability.
Wetlands are among the most
productive life-support systems in the
world and are of immense socio-economic
and ecological importance to mankind.
They are critical for the maintenance of
biodiversity and perform a great role in the
biosphere.
Wetlands are also hot spots of
biological diversity, providing the water
and primary productivity upon which
countless species of plants and animals
depend for survival. They support high
concentrations of birds, mammals, reptiles,
amphibians, fish and invertebrate species.
Wetlands are also important
storehouses of plant genetic material.
Rice, for example, which is a common
wetland plant, is the staple diet of more
than half of humanity.
Wetlands provide tremendous wider
economic benefits: water supply (quantity
and quality); fisheries; agriculture; timber
production; energy resources, such as
peat and plant matter; wildlife resources;
transport; and recreation and tourism
opportunities.
What is the Ramsar Convention?
The ‘Convention on Wetlands of
International Importance, especially
as Wildfowl Habitat’, is an international
treaty adopted at the International
Conference on Conservation of Wetlands
and Waterfowl held at Ramsar, Iran, in
1971. The Convention came into force in
1975 and whilst it is still officially referred to
as ‘The Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar,
Iran, 1971)’, it soon became widely known
as the ‘Ramsar Convention’.
The mission of the Ramsar
Convention, as adopted by the Parties
in 1999 and refined in 2002, is “the
conservation and wise use of all
wetlands through local, regional and
national actions and international
cooperation, as a contribution towards
achieving sustainable development
throughout the world.” By recognising
the importance of wetland resources, the
Convention has been instrumental in worldwide action at the governmental level for
conservation and wise use of wetlands.
2013 MAR APR MAY
21
CONSERVATION
ANIMAL SCIENCE
PHOTO: CONSERVATION LOWER ZAMBEZI
A confusion of stripes
When it comes to the zebra’s stripes, it’s not all black and white…
PETER ROBERTS
he stripes of the
zebra’s coat are one
of the most distinctive and recognisable
of all African animals. For
many years scientists have
hypothesised as to their purpose – temperature regulation, camouflage, or even to
confuse predators - stripes of
bunched, racing zebra were
thought to confuse large
carnivores. However, whilst
recent research has provided
evidence that the stripes
deter biting insects, confusion over the zebra’s stripes
is not just limited to their
function, but also form.
The genus Equus, to
which the zebra belongs,
consists of six species, four
of which are found in Africa.
There are three recognised
species of zebra; the plains
zebra formerly known as
Equus burchelli; the mountain zebra E. zebra found
only in South Africa and
possibly into Nambia; and
Grevy’s zebra E. Grevyi
confined to a limited area of
northern Kenya. The fourth
member of the family is E.
africanus, the African wild
ass, the source stock of all
domestically bred donkeys
and asses.
PHOTO: TOM VARLEY
www.ecoelements.co.uk
populations in some cases
merit classification as different races or subspecies, and
many subspecies have been
proposed, accepted or rejected over the years, leading to revisions to common
and scientific names and
resulting in some degree of
confusion all round.
The southernmost races,
Equus burchelli antiquorum and E. b. burchelli are
identified by their shadow
stripes and unstriped lower
legs. The extinct quagga, E.
quagga, is now also thought
to be a subspecies related to
this group. The quagga was
...the key to which is the identification
of differing physical characteristics,
sometimes more subtle than the
arrangement of the zebra’s stripes.
This has led researchers to studying
even the teeth of zebra in order to
distinguish them
The three zebra species
can be separated by differences in their coats. The
plains zebra shows wide regional variation in its stripes
over its extensive African
range. The northern populations are the most completely and boldly striped,
whilst southern populations
exhibit faded brown ‘shadow
stripes,’ and all sorts of
variation in between. The
mountain zebra has no
shadow stripes, with the
main body stripes set close
together and fully striped
legs. Grevy’s zebra has a
larger head and ears compared to the body, and close
narrow body stripes without
shadow stripes, with a stripe
along the spine.
Variations in stripe
patterns, and other characteristics, within plains zebra
the first extinct species to
have its DNA analysed, the
results of which suggested it
was a subspecies and should
thus be named Equus
burchelli quagga. However,
according to the rules of
biological nomenclature, as
the quagga was described
about thirty years earlier
Zebra at Mana Pools National
Park, Middle Zambezi
than Burchell’s zebra, it
takes precedence as the species name, so the plains zebra’s name was revised from
Equus burchelli to Equus
quagga, and the quagga thus
became E. quagga quagga.
To complicate the situation further, the Burchell’s
subspecies, now known as
E. quagga burchelli, which
was thought be extinct, was
rediscovered by scientists
in small populations in
Zululand and Natal, South
Africa. The previously
named Damara zebra, E.
q. antiquorum, known from
Etosha in Nambia, was
found to also match this
type, and the two have thus
been merged under one
subspecies. Again the earlier
name takes precedence over
the later, so the two became
united as E. q. burchelli.
Several other subspecies
of Equus quagga are recognised; Chapman’s zebra,
E. q. chapmani, occurs from
northeastern South Africa
north into Zimbabwe, and
west into Botswana, the
Namibian Caprivi Strip and
southern Angola. Grant’s
zebra, E. q. boehmi, is distributed west of the Luangwa River in Zambia, west to
Kariba and northwards into
the Democratic Republic
of Congo, Tanzania, Kenya
and Ethiopia.
In 1992 it was proposed that another subspecies be recognised, E. q.
zambeziensis, the Upper
Zambezi zebra. However
further research concluded that this proposed
subspecies did not merit
full subspecies status and
they remain within the
Grant’s subspecies group.
Another subspecies is also
sometimes recognised by
researchers - Selous’ zebra,
E. q. selousi, occurring in
Eastern Zimbabwe and
western Mozambique.
Crawshay’s zebra, E.
q. crawshayi, (see page 46),
occurs east of the Luangwa
River in Zambia, Malawi,
southeastern Tanzania and
northern Mozambique.
Finally the northernmost
subspecies, the maneless
zebra, E. q. borensis, ranges
from Uganda north to
Kenya into the Sudan.
As can be appreciated,
separating zebra subspecies is the subject of much
debate, the key to which is
the identification of differing physical characteristics,
sometimes more subtle
than the arrangement of
the zebra’s stripes. This has
led researchers to studying
even the teeth of zebra in
order to distinguish them.
Crawshay’s zebra
is separated from other
subspecies by the lack of an
infundibulum – a depressed
cavity also known as the
dental cup in the top of the
tooth. Which is all very
well, if you are a veterinary
dentist, but of limited use
in the field!
Peter feeding hungry little Douglas
Orphan hippo rescued
SARAH DAVIES
www.virginmoneygiving.com/clz
A baby hippo estimated to
be about two weeks old is
Conservation Lower Zambezi’s
(CLZ) newest team member.
Christened Douglas (although
hippos are notoriously difficult
to sex), the calf was observed
by CLZ for several hours by
boat, completely alone and in
distress on the Zambezi River.
When a female hippo
nears the time to give birth,
she leaves the pod for one to
two weeks to give birth and
bond with the calf. Without
his mother for protection from
predators, Douglas would
almost certainly not have survived the night.
Hippo have been identified as a vulnerable species on
the IUCN Red List drawn up by
the World Conservation Union,
with an estimated global population of between 125,000 and
150,000, a decline of between
7% and 20% since the IUCN’s
1996 study.
Zambia (40,000) and
Tanzania (20,000–30,000)
possess the largest hippo
populations. Although hippos
seem common in the Lower
Zambezi, it’s important not
to forget that we have the
privilege of being home to
one of the world’s densest
populations. These hippo face
the challenge of habitat loss
and poaching, which is on the
increase. These animals are
in need of protection as hippo
meat rises in popularity.
Settled in his new temporary home complete with
plunge pool, which is cleaned
and refilled each day, Douglas
is now feeding from a bottle
with a formula put together
with the advice of various
experts. Every three hours
Douglas is fed 1.25 litres of
milk with two egg yolks and
supplements. His skin is
hydrated with aqueous cream,
kept away from direct sunlight
and all equipment is sterilised
thoroughly. CLZ has employed four carers to ensure
that Douglas has 24-hour
supervision as well as maintaining his pen as a safe and
comfortable space for him.
After the elephant and
white rhino, the hippo is the
heaviest land mammal and
soon Douglas will grow too
large for his current enclosure
and will be very expensive to
feed and look after. Hippos
can grow over 4m in length
and 1.6m tall. They can live
for up to 45 years, with males
reaching maturity at about
9-11 years old and females at
7-9 years old.
Hippo babies can be
nursed for up to 18 months,
when they then start to feed
on grass. Like any animal
CLZ assists, we hope that
Douglas can be released
back into the wild when
he reaches maturity. The
Zambia Wildlife Authority will
ultimately decide Douglas’s
future; meantime, CLZ will
appreciate any assistance to
continue looking after him.
Zimbabwe
22
BULAWAYO
RESEARCH & CONSERVATION
Eagle study holds world record
CECILIA HUBBARD
www.birdlifezimbabwe.co.zw
ur story begins
with a game
ranger, W R
Thomson, who
was stationed in the Rhodes
Matopos National Park
in 1959-60. Thomson was
impressed by the number
of black eagle pairs he
observed whilst monitoring
the area for which he was
responsible. The scientific
name for this bird is Aquila
verreauxii; recently renamed
as the Verreaux’s eagle.
When he left the
Matobo Hills, Thomson
provided his records for
the use of the Department
of National Parks. He had
compiled a list of 37 nest
sites, or eyries, of which 35
were within the Park. In
1961, Carl Vernon, a student
teacher in Bulawayo, obtained Thomson’s list and set
out to locate the eyries listed
by Thomson, also recording
the eyries of additional pairs
he observed whilst checking
the known pairs.
Vernon, like Thomson
before him, numbered each
nest, and also recorded a
map reference, as well as
adding references for Thomson’s nests. By the end of
1964, Vernon and Matabeleland Branch members
of the (then) Rhodesian
Ornithological Society, had
recorded a total of 68 nest
sites. In 1963 and 1964, Valerie Gargett accompanied
Vernon on some of his trips
into the Matopos, adding
and another skilled naturalist to the tale.
At end of 1964, Vernon
left Bulawayo, and in 1965,
under the leadership of
Gargett, the Matabeleland
Branch of the Ornithological Society took responsibility for the survey. The
society is now known as
BirdLife Zimbabwe.
Today, the survey is still
being conducted following
the format and guidelines
introduced by Gargett. The
survey is conducted with
the permission of the Parks
and Wildlife Management
Authority, and a research
permit is obtained every
year.
The survey runs from
March to November annually, with volunteer teams
having to submit reports by
specific dates. The results of
the survey are compiled and
published in The Honeyguide,
the journal of BirdLife
Zimbabwe.
The results over the years
have shown breeding success
of the eagles to be variable,
with unconfirmed reasons
for these variations. As is
the law of nature, every year
when we think we may have
found a reason, something
else happens that sends us
back to the drawing board.
It has been established
that the hyrax (commonly
known as the dassie) is the
main prey of the black eagle.
To try and anticipate the
survival and continued success of the species, BirdLife Matabeleland Branch
conducts an annual hyrax
population census in May of
each year. The same teams
which monitor the eagles
carry out this census.
This survey began as,
PHOTO : THE LATE HARRY ERWEE
2013 is the 50th anniversary of the annual Black Eagle Survey in the Matobo
Hills outside Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, making this the longest running survey
of its kind in the world.
Magnificent black eagle in flight
and still is, a population and
breeding study. It is still
being carried out entirely
by volunteer members of
BirdLife Zimbabwe –
Matabeleland Branch, and
remains the longest standing continuous survey of its
kind in the world.
I close with the words
with which Gargett ended
her book: The Black Eagle
– A study (1990): “It is
intended to continue the
Breeding Survey for as
long as circumstances and
the availability of helpers
permit.”
FACT file
The Black Eagle Breeding Survey
• Matobo Hills has the highest
concentration of black
eagles per square kilometre in
the world.
• All eagle species are protected
in Zimbabwe.
• The high number of black eagle
pairs in Matobo allows a
realistic ‘replacement rate’
per pair to be determined for
this species.
• March each year: Volunteer
teams briefed. Each team is
allocated black eagle nest and
hyrax population census sites.
• 2013: 12 teams will monitor 104
known nest sites within 78
territories in approx 620 kms²
survey area, and 20 hyrax
colony sites.
• April/May: 1st reporting
period. Teams check all
nest sites for occupancy and
breeding attempts ie: mating,
nest rebuilding and lining with
greenery, incubating.
• May: Hyrax population census
conducted to determine if
the eagles’ main prey base is
stable.
• June/July: 2nd reporting
period. Teams return to
occupied sites and check if a
chick present.
• August/October: 3rd reporting
period. Teams check if the
chick has successfully fledged.
• December: Prepare results
for publication in BirdLife
Zimbabwe journal Honeyguide,
send submission to Department
of National Parks and Wildlife
Management Authority.
• ‘Replacement rate’: determined
by the number of pairs which
have attempted to breed and
the success rate of these
attempts.
• Three visits and submission of
reports are mandatory.
HISTORY
History written in stone
PAUL HUBBARD
Archaeologist and guide
Paul Hubbard’s new book,
co-authored with Mark Igoe,
Zimbabwe: A Simple History,
is available from Amazon.com
exclusively as an ebook.
hubcapzw@gmail.com
Our services
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Stone bird baths. It seems
that almost any house in the
suburbs of Bulawayo has at
least one, usually and strategically placed under the garden
tap or artfully arranged in the
flower bed. Many people know
that these stones had something to do with food preparation, but few ever consider the
fascinating history hidden in
their unprepossessing appearance.
Known as lower grinding
stones, these were instrumental in converting unappetising
grains into a powdery meal
that could be used to make
porridge, griddle cakes, pan-
cakes – the list goes on.
There are two types of
lower grinding stones that
are simple for anyone to tell
apart. Soft sorghum and
millet grains were prepared
with an upper stone held in
one hand, that pressed the
grains against the sides of a
long narrow groove. Maize
kernels are too hard for this
treatment, so people (usually the women) would use a
heavier upper stone held with
two hands to grind against a
wide, flat surface, dished to
catch the pips.
So that ‘birdbath’ lying under the tap has a bit of history
behind it after all. Often such
items are all that mark the
locations of long-lost villages
and I would like to ask that
people do not collect them as
mementoes or garden features. This is against the law,
but as importantly, valuable
information about a piece of
the puzzle that is our past
is lost forever. Rather report
your find, with appropriate in-
PHOTO : PAUL HUBBARD
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Grinding stone used for millet
formation about location and
site conditions, to the nearest
museum.
MORE ONLINE
Continue reading the history of
these grinding stones and the food
that was ground on them.
24
MAR APR MAY 2013
VICTORIA FALLS
JEWELLERY
Bright lights and Hollywood hills
theschereport.wordpress.com
www.ndaujewelry.com
s the plane touched
down at Victoria Falls
airport, I looked out
at the beautiful lush
bushveld and felt a
bizarre sense of dislocation. It
was a whirlwind two and half
a weeks away and it was good
to be home.
The Ndau Collection was
invited to attend MAGIC
in Las Vegas as Emerging
Accessories Designers, so I
packed my bags and headed
off to the bright lights, to represent the only African brand
at the entire show of over
5,000 brands. MAGIC is
the biggest tradeshow in the
United States and over the
three days I learnt so much:
- Walking distance in Vegas is
longer than African walking distance when you’re
carrying 20 kgs of stock!
- 100,000 people visiting
the show in three days is a
number almost impossible
to comprehend.
- The guy who owns the
Sausage Fest lunch truck
knows what wors rolls are
and was a little touch of
home in the middle of all
the neon madness.
- Cirque du Soleil are the
most incredible acrobats in
the world and if it’s the last
thing you do, you have to
see ‘O’ at the Bellagio.
Fierce Traveller, Scott Goetz. His beautiful Africaninspired home was a haven
to me in the middle of Oscar
week and I fell in love with
Lord Byron and Mr Ripley,
his beautiful dogs. I also
learnt:
- It’s a lot of fun to cruise down
Rodeo Drive in a Porsche
Boxter, then pop into Bvlgari to view Elizabeth
Taylor’s jewellery collection
from Richard Burton.
Statement necklace from the
conservation collection
found out that we have every
right to be proud of the products we make in our small
studio. To have top fashionistas ask how we achieve our
amazing finish on our silver
and to be able to reply ‘It’s
because we do it the African
way,’ made my trip. African
luxury is making its mark on
the international market and
we’re more than able to take
our place.
I packed my bags and headed off to the bright
lights, to represent the only African brand at
the entire show of over 5,000 brands.
- You never know who you
might meet – I literally
bumped into my all-time favourite blogger and stylista
Margaret Sche of The Sche
Report and an amazing
friendship has arisen from
my clumsiness!
From Las Vegas, I hopped
over to Los Angeles to stay
with our good friend, The
- French bulldogs wear tuxedos on Oscar night in LA.
- The kindness of chance-met
friends is overwhelming
and never more apparent
than when you’re far from
home.
- Mashti Malones make the
most delicious lavender ice
cream you have ever eaten.
Most importantly, I
A small but dedicated team of
leather craftsmen who provide a
timeless leather product designed
to last the ages. We strive to create
unique hand-crafted, durable and
elegant, genuine leather products.
crocodile, elephant and hippo leather
Elephants Walk Shopping Village,
or the African Renaissance shop
in the Victoria Falls Hotel
crocoafrique@yoafrica.com
Christie Brookstein in the home
of her host in LA Scott Goetz
PHOTO : NDAU COLLECTION, INSERT : COURTESY OF THE THE SCHE REPORT
CHRISTIE BROOKSTEIN
VICTORIA FALLS
2013 MAR APR MAY
25
INVESTMENT
As part of the
agreement, the property will
now become known as ‘The
www.stanleyandlivingstone.com Stanley and Livingstone
Private Game Reserve’,
www.raniresorts.com
comprising The Stanley
www.mantiscollection.com
and Livingstone Safari
Lodge and Ursula’s Camp
which have both undergone
significant enhancements.
ani Resorts,
Plans are in place to
owner of highend resorts across increase the size of the
Mozambique and reserve to avail of a wider
game viewing area, alongside
Zimbabwe, has
the building of a dayentered into an agreement
centre for visitors staying
with Mantis Management,
in Victoria Falls, while a
the management division of
refurbished on-site research
five-star hotel operator The
centre will accommodate
Mantis Collection, to manconservation and educational
age its Zimbabwe property,
programmes.
The Stanley and LivingNew guest packages have
stone, situated 10 minutes
been developed comprising
from Victoria Falls.
ZT CORRESPONDENT
in-house game drives,
dinner, bed and breakfast as
well as a choice of activities
both on the private game
reserve and in the Victoria
Falls area.
The Victorian-style
Stanley and Livingstone
Safari Lodge, judged the
leading lodge in Zimbabwe
for three consecutive
years by the World Travel
Awards, has been rebranded
from ‘The Stanley and
Livingstone at Victoria
Falls’ to the Stanley and
Livingstone Private Game
Reserve.
The private game reserve
is also home to Ursula’s
Camp, which offers a more
intimate bush camp experience to the adventurous
DEVELOPMENT
Batoka Gorge, to be or not to be?
PETER ROBERTS
managing director, Cyprian
Chitun, said fresh technical
and environmental studies
will be conducted before the
actual construction begins.
‘An expression of interest
was tendered in the press to
look for consultants to review
the study that was conducted
in 1992. We need to ensure
that the feasibility study is
brought up to speed,’ local
sources reported. ZRA public
relations and communications manager, Elizabeth
Karonga, confirmed the
authority was waiting for a
new updated Environmental
Impact Assessment report
before commencing construction of the dam.
In January 2013, ministers from Zambia and Zimbabwe met in Victoria Falls
to discuss the development
of the project. Already road
infrastructure works to the
dam site on the Zimbabwe
side are well on their way to
completion.
MORE ONLINE
Read more about the history
of the Batoka Gorge Dam project
SOURCE: WILD HORIZONS
At the end of 2012 the
invited expressions of interest
from companies interested in
tendering for the development
of the Batoka Gorge Hydro
Electric Scheme, a joint
initiative by the governments
of Zambia and Zimbabwe
and supported with funding
from the World Bank.
Sources expect the project to
commence this year and reach
completion by 2019.
Details of the proposed
dam design were summarised
in the invitation document as
being a 181m high gravity arch
dam with two underground
power stations carrying four
200 MW turbines and giving a
total capacity of 1,600 MW.
The reservoir formed by
the dam will be contained
within the Batoka Gorge and is
predicted to have a relatively
small surface area of 26km2
and a water level of 762m
above sea level. The location
for the dam on the Zambezi
River 54km downstream of
the Victoria Falls is given as
18º 1’ S 26º 34’ E.
chief executive officer, Engineer Munyaradzi Munodawafa, was reported by media
sources as saying that the
Batoka project was expected
to have a positive socioeconomic impact on people
from the two countries. ‘We
are looking at the economic
benefit locals are going to
derive from the project,’ he
was quoted as saying.
A few months prior to the
announcement of the tender
process an American hydrologist criticised the proposed
plans for the Batoka Gorge
Dam and Mphanda Nkuwa
Dam (also on the Zambezi,
in Mozambique) for being
based on archived hydrological data which had not been
re-evaluated for potential
climate change risks, including regional drought, reduced
flows and increased risk of
extreme flooding events.
The original technical, legal
and environmental feasibility
studies were carried out in the
early 1990s.
Zambia’s power utility
The reservoir formed by the dam will be contained within the Batoka Gorge
explorer. The game reserve
is unique for remaining the
only Big Five reserve in the
Victoria Falls area.
The Stanley and Livingstone Safari Lodge had
a soft upgrade as well as
structural refurbishments.
Ursula’s Camp has had a
complete facelift with all
the rooms being structurally
rebuilt and refurnished.
The Student and
Research Centre is a
completely refurbished
building accommodating 22
students, management and
coordinators.
Mantis’s growing
portfolio in this part of
Africa includes the Zambezi Queen, which sails the
waters of the Chobe River.
SOURCE: MANTIS COLLECTION
Mantis to manage Rani property
Lodge exterior and pool
26
MAR APR MAY 2013
HISTORY
ZT CORRESPONDENT
Bringing
history to life
Events are taking place around the world this year to
commemorate the birth of David Livingstone two
hundred years ago on 19 March. In Victoria Falls,
Russell Gammon the master storyteller, is bringing this
famous explorer back to life.
VICTORIA FALLS
www.russellgammon.com
www.victoria-falls-safari-lodge.com
Russell Gammon
Russell Gammon has been
a professional guide for
25 years, leading safaris
throughout south and east
Africa. He has always been
a keen historian and has
shared his enthusiasm with
his guests. Their response
led him to include the
history of Africa into his
guided packages.
Gammon was inspired
by the late David Rattray
who shared the story of the
Anglo-Zulu war with visitors in South Africa. Rattray
pioneered a new style of epic
storytelling to bring the past
to life in a way that educated
and entertained audiences
like never before.
The extraordinary life of
David Livingstone has dramatic potential and is closely
associated with Victoria
Falls. Gammon researched
Livingstone’s life and his
expertise quickly became
sought after for groups visiting Victoria Falls.
This bi-centenary year
Gammon is partnering with
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
to make this experience
available to a wider audience.
Visitors can book to hear
Livingstone’s compelling
story between 08.30 and
09.30 daily at Victoria Falls
Safari Lodge, with the price
including a return transfer
from anywhere in town.
Bookings can be made at
your local hotel desk or from
your preferred tour operator.
EXHIBITION
RETOSA
Women in Art Exhibition at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
Events for all tastes
Date: 4 May 2013
Time: 16.00hrs to 18.00hrs
Entrance fee: USD2.00
Money raised will go towards Rock of a Community (ROAC),
a prorgramme designed to educate and train vulnerable
woman and their children, run by Sharon Parry.
ZT CORRESPONDENT
Alison Baker
Long time resident of Victoria Falls, and wildlife conservation
champion, Baker, gives the world a glimpse of her
phenomenal art.
Kerry Bradford
Bradford grew up in Nepal in the city of Kathmandu and
travelled much of the world as a young child,allowing her to
compile the extensive visual mental library that inspires her art.
She studied Fine Art in Bristol (UK) before moving to
Zimbabwe in 1991, and has lived in Victoria Falls ever since
with her husband and three children. Her work combines all the
languages of art – line, texture, colour, sculpture, form, tone
and composition, all woven together to create her unique art.
Sharon Parry
Parry has made herself a name in the art
exhibition sponsored by the European
Union and supported by the African Arts
Trust in 2012. The art competition produced
high-end artworks which saw the awarding
of prizes in all media categories proving a
tough nut to crack for the adjudicators of
the tightly contested platform.For the ever
popular multimedia three-dimensional
works, Sharon Parry scooped the first with
“Sheilah”. Sharon will show her amazing
sculptures in Victoria Falls on 4 May 2012.
Bettina Kelly
Kelly was born in Germany, but fell in love with Africa the
first time she visited in 1999. In 2001 she moved to Kasane,
Botswana, where she has lived since with her husband and two
daughters, three horses, one cat, one African grey parrot and
her four dogs. Apart from her Passion for mosaics, Bettina’s
other passion is animals. Please find some of her Mosaic Art
Work on www.facebook.com/MosaicBits
Note: At the time of going to press the full profile of participating artists was unavailable. Above is a selection of exhibitors.
January and February saw
thousands from across the
globe make their way to the
region to take part in events
hosted by Regional Tourism
Organisation of Southern
Africa member states.
Seychelles hosted the
annual ‘Carnaval International
de Victoria’ under the theme
‘A Melting Pot of Cultures,’
with La Reunion, Madagascar
and Zimbabwe joining in as
co-hosts of the event. Carnival
delegations and tourists from
around the globe descend on
Seychelles annually to fly their
country flags and enjoy the
magnificent beauty that the
islands have to offer.
RETOSA, Boundless
Southern Africa, Botswana,
Lesotho, Mozambique,
Namibia, Seychelles and Swaziland co-exhibited at the 2013
Meetings Africa event, while
Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe had independent stands.
Nokwanda Dlamini of
Swaziland Tourism Authority
was particularly pleased with
the success. “Given the prescheduled appointments and
good quality buyers that we
saw, Meetings Africa provided
a dynamic platform for Swaziland,” she said. “We definitely
achieved our objectives for
coming to this fair.”
This March, Malawi
celebrates Martyrs Day,
commemorating its historic
uprising against British colonial rule, while neighbours
Tanzania host their Kilimanjaro
Marathon on the same day.
For those with a flair for extreme sport, Botswana hosts
its annual Sky Diving Event
in Gaborone and Kasane
respectively.
Athletes may also head to
Lesotho for the annual Tour de
Lesotho Mountain Biking Race
and the Durham Link Canoe
Race, or the Mozambiquan
Go Fish Jet Ski Festival in
Ponta do Ouro – dates to be
confirmed.
Other events include the
Fête de la Francophonie and
the Journée International
de la Francophonie both in
Seychelles. On 31 March visitors can make their way to the
Maseru Bazaar, where tourism
related SMME’s, crafters and
artists produce and sell their
art.
Continuing with the theme
of arts and culture, Zambia will
host its Kuomboka Ceremony,
a traditional ceremony of the
Lozi people, and the International Cultural Festival which
draws participation from over
15 countries as part of the Dr
David Livingstone Bicentenary
Celebrations.
One stop ground handling and activity provider
Where three countries meet on the banks of the Zambezi
Victoria Falls | Livingstone | Chobe
Tours, transfers and activities
White water rafting | Canoeing | Hirewire |
Elephant back safaris | Lion encounters | Helicopter flips.
Accommodation
Elephant Camp - Luxury accommodation overlooking the gorge.
Imbabala Safari Lodge - Comfortable accommodation, good fishing,
great game viewing on the banks of the Zambezi.
Tel: +263 (0) 13 44571, 42013, 44426 or 44282
Cell: +263 (0) 712 213 721 or + 263 (0) 772 209 118
Email: info@wilhorizons.co.zw or threeten@wildhorizons.co.za
www.wildhorizons.co.za
28
MAR APR MAY 2013
VICTORIA FALLS
RECYCLING
‘Let’s make
this work’
MANA MEADOWS
arm@microlink.zm
he mammoth fourphase
recycling
project is still in
its infancy, but
3,000,000 cans have already
been collected in Victoria
Falls through a combination
of mining the town dump
and mobilising communities
to deposit their cans. Plastics,
paper and glass are also being
collected by Africa Recycling
Management, partnered with
Delta Beverages.
“Under the Environmental Management Act, Delta
is under certain obligations
to clear up our environment
because they are importing cans. They pass on that
responsibility to us as their
partners to clean the environment,” says managing
director of ARM, Phil Palermo.
The Victoria Falls Town
Council
has
allocated
6,000m2 of land for the
ARM plant where collection, separation, crushing
and shredding will take
place. Further down the line
ARM hopes to set up factories where plastics and other
waste could be recycled on
site. For now, cans need to
be recycled in South Africa
while paper, glass and plastics
will be transported elsewhere
in Zimbabwe for recycling.
The first phase – collection – began in November
2012 and will gather momentum once enough colourcoded bins and waste cages
have been spread around
the town and the education
of communities can begin
After 109 years still the finest dining in Victoria Falls
The Livingstone Room
Enjoy a special evening of dinner and dancing with Edwardian elegance
in the prestigious Livingstone Room. Savour a classic
seven course tasting menu complimented by a
se
co
comprehensive selection of imported wines and liquers.
Jungle Junction
Continental and full english breakfast is served in the morning and in the
evening lavish buffets infused with the flavours of Africa and traditional
African cultural entertainment will delight you. Perfect
for groups or individuals alike and value for money.
®
Telephone: +263-13-44751-61
Mobile: +263 772 132 174 or +263 772 132 175
Email: reservations@victoriafallshotel.com www.victoriafallshotel.com
in earnest.
Victoria Falls is the pilot scheme because of the
United Nations World Tourism Organisation meeting in
August. “We need to ensure
that our tourists see the right
side of Zimbabwe,” says Palermo. “But there are other
factors too, such as concerns
for people’s health and the
environment, and ARM will
be developing the project nationwide.”
In Victoria Falls the business centres and other highdensity areas will be provided
with bins or cages where peo-
PHOTOS: MANA MEADOWS
Recently formed Africa Recycling
Management Company, in partnership
with Delta Beverages, is using
Victoria Falls as a pilot project to roll
out a national programme to mobilise
Zimbabweans to start separating their
waste for recycling.
‘I want this to be sustainable and I want this to be a long-term solution to
Zimbabwe’s environmental problems.’ – Phil Palermo, managing director
of Africa Recycling Management
ple can dump their waste according to material. Hotels,
lodges and safari camps will
use a mixture of refuse bags
and various types of bins and
cages.
“Council will continue
doing their job of collecting – but where it’s difficult
or impossible we will collect
from these points. I’ve been
around to many of the hotels
already and basically we have
a working plan. The Town
Council, local people, hotels,
NGOs, residents’ associations – everyone is very eager
to make this work.”
VICTORIA FALLS
2013 MAR APR MAY
29
ENVIRONMENT
Rolling out the green carpet
The oldest hotel in Victoria Falls recently embarked on an initiative to reduce its carbon footprint by managing its general waste prior to disposal and recycling.
Will this be the start of something big in Victoria Falls?
www.victoriafallshotel.com
he Victoria Falls Hotel started recycling
the kitchen wet waste
through the hotel’s worm farm
units early in 2012. Now all
dry waste in the form of cans,
glass, paper and plastic is being separated and prepared for
collection by the newly formed
company, African Recycling
Management (ARM).
Trainee students at the
hotel drive the initiative, organizing the separation of waste
into colour-coded bins according to material. ARM then
collect the waste to deliver to
their depot for further sorting.
“It’s really taken off in the
last few months,” says Farai Chimba, deputy general
manager. “We’ve been getting
more team members involved
in greening issues. The main
thing has been to show people
that it’s much more than just
recycling – it’s also looking
at sustainable ways of using
our resources. People assume
that ‘going green’ is up to the
Environment Africas and the
NGOs in the community. So
we want to train our own
staff to become ambassadors
in the community, educating
them so there’s more involvement in the day-to-day management of waste.”
“It’s sad to see that everything just gets thrown into
a landfill, just tonnes and
tonnes of stuff,” says Giulio
Togni, general manager of
the Hotel. “I want to be part
of the team that educates the
community – and it’s a very
small community – that we
can be doing so much more.
We all have to start contributing, even though it can be
Tafadzwa Katunga is a hotel
management trainee and is also part
of the ‘The Planet Captains’ team
time consuming and may
initially involve some small
extra costs.”
”For other hotels to follow
suit, the process must be simple,” Togni continues, “with
colour-coded bins readily
accessible to encourage usage and people appointed to
manage and enforce the system.”
Once more hotels get involved there will be need for
more combined effort from
these hotels, Victoria Falls
Town Council and ARM
to manage collection of
waste. Togni points out that
with approximately 1,100
bedrooms in Victoria Falls,
excluding the small lodges,
hotels are one of the major
contributors to waste generation in town.
The Victoria Falls Hotel
alone generates a huge volume of waste and even though
management has started tak-
PHOTO: MANA MEADOWS
MANA MEADOWS
ing steps to use energy and
cost efficient systems, there
is a lot still to be done. “It’s
about constantly looking for
little ways to improve. You
can’t suddenly have one big
utopia – bam – and it’s done,”
says Togni.
One small move that
has created huge positive
change is the introduction
of a Vivreau machine – an
advanced water purification
system that allows the hotel
to safely bottle its own still
and sparkling water into recyclable glass bottles.
“The number of bottles we
used to use just in the rooms
in a month on low occupancies was about 5,000 bottles
– so imagine that amount not
going onto the dumpsite,”
says Chimba.
ENVIRONMENT
Victoria Falls hosts the annual
Africa Environment Day
up to the main event on 1
March. Tree planting was done
at Mkhosana and Victoria Falls
emamate@ema.co.zw
low density suburbs. On 1
March before the main event,
the Minister of Environment
Victoria Falls Zimbabwe,
and VIP delegates were given
was honoured to host the
a tour of the Victoria Falls Hotel
Africa Environment Day
eco composting project. The
National commemoration over main event was held at Busi
a two day period, 28 February Business Centre, Chinotimba
and 1 March 2013. Africa
and the commemoration was
Environment Day was set aside officially launched by the
by African Heads of State and Guest of Honour, Minister
Government leaders in 2002 to of Environment and Natural
create awareness on the need resources Management
to protect the environment.
Hon F D C Nhema.
Scheduled clean ups in and
The event was organized
around Victoria Falls were
by the Environmental
organised as part of the build
Management Agency.
PHOTOS: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AGENCY
ZT CORRESPONDENT
Hon FDC Nhema conducting a choir competition during Africa Environment day commemoration at Busi Business Centre,
Chinotimba Vic Falls, and addressing the crowd
30
MAR APR MAY 2013
VICTORIA FALLS
CONSERVATION
CONSERVATION
Excellent game viewing in Zambezi National Park, Victoria Falls
Full steam ahead for conservation
FRANCES JACKSON
www.vfapu.org
he inaugural Victoria
Falls Anti Poaching
Unit (VFAPU) Steam
Train Fundraiser in 2012 was
such a success with the community that it is set to become
an annual event, and this year
it promises to be even better than last and is attracting
participants from around the
region. Bookings are already
coming in and the organizers are hoping that tourists in
Victoria Falls will also participate.
VFAPU play a critical
role in the guardianship of
the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site and the surrounding Zambezi National park.
Zambezi Traveller chats
briefly with Charles Brightman who heads the unit.
The Victoria Falls ‘bush
telegraph’ is very positive – we
are hearing that overall game
sightings in Zambezi Nation-
al Park have really improved;
does this mean that National
Parks and Wildlife together
with VFAPU have got on top
of the poaching problem?
Charles: Yes we are definitely proving to be a good deterrent, and judging from all
reports in the park, sightings
and numbers of the various
wildlife species occurring in
the park have increased.
Are you feeling positive
about the general poaching
problem?
Charles: I am generally pleased
with our progress, and is wonderful proof what a difference
can be made when everyone
pulls together, Parks and
Wildlife Management Authority, Zimbabwe Republic
Police, businesses in Victoria
Falls and of course our wonderful Falls community.
What are your goals?
Charles: Well, of course the
goal is to eradicate poaching, but I think that’s a ‘pipe
dream’. But let’s keep this
positive. We want poachers to realize that our natural
heritage is more valuable resource as a tourism income
provider rather than a commercial poaching enterprise.
VFAPU are a vital link
in taking care of our natural
heritage, we look forward to
hearing more positive news.
Charles: We are part of a big
picture and we could not do
it without or local and international support, long may it
continue. We thank all our
supporters throughout!
FACT file
VFAPU
• VFAPU founded in January
1999.
• Has 17 Game Scouts
working with the unit.
• Works in close co-operation
with Parks and Wildlife Authority
and Zimbabwe Republic Police.
• Has removed over 21 000
wire snares.
• Apprehended over 600
poachers.
• Has saved 158 mammals
injured through poaching.
• Works with other relevant
organisations committed to
wildlife conservation and education of local communities.
Despite heroic efforts by many conservationists
the plight of the rhino is still in the balance. Two
brothers, Glenn and Grant Simleit, have decided to
run the London Marathon dressed in Rhino lookalike attire to raise funds for the Save The Rhino
charity and to raise awareness of the real threat of
rhino extinction. Zambezi Traveller caught up
with them in London.
FRANCES JACKSON
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/glennsimleit
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/grantsimleit
Glenn; have you ever run a marathon
before?
Glenn: I have never run a marathon before,
no, but to run the London Marathon is on
everyone’s ‘to-do’ list, though possibly not in
a rhino suit! I’ve done the Tough Mudder with
my brother last year which is about 12 miles of
mud and I’m doing it again this year.
When did you decide that you wanted to
help conserve rhino?
Glenn: I worked in conservation when I left
school, at Sango Ranch in the Save Conservancy in the lowveld area of Zimbabwe. I used
to help protect and look after rhinos in our
area as well as other animals. I am part of the
crusade to help save rhino from extinction.
Grant: For the last two years our sister Hayley
in Mutare has been raising awareness and
money for rhino conservation and this has
driven my passion to participate and contribute.
Have you got a goal in mind with regard
to your fundraising?
Glenn: I have been for a few walks around
London in the rhino suit - this caused much
amusement on the tube; it’s not every day you
get on the Piccadilly Line and find a rhino in
the carriage. I managed to get some sponsor-
Victoria Falls Anti Poaching
Steam Train Fund Raiser
23 March 2013
Tom Varley in the wild documenting meercats
Victoria Falls Productions
Private Photography / Videography services
Tom Varley will take high quality Pictures / Video of your
Experience in Africa
We offer a personal service by professional photographers.
We can join your day trip in Chobe, trip to Victoria Falls, or anything
else you’d like to keep a memory of.
Tom Varley, a camera man and a photographer, was raised in the
Zimbabwean bush. His love for the wildlife and the area is reflecting in his
work and led him to publish a coffee table book about Victoria Falls.
Cell: +263 712 616 874 Tel: + 263 13 406 79
Email: tomvarley@me.com www.vicfallsproductions.com
Cost USD 45.00 all inclusive Departs 16h30 until late
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Train departs Vic Falls station at 16h30
Sundowners and snacks on the Victoria
Falls Bridge
Great prizes to be won.
Dancing to DJ Francis on the train
Meet the VFAPU team at Jafuta
Jafuta - well known group ‘Evicted’ will
be entertaining the crowd
Delicious food available for those under
the stars around the fires
Bus transfers back to Victoria Falls
available
Victoria Falls
Anti Poaching
Unit would like
to thank the
businesses and
Falls community
for their generous support for
this annual fundraising event.
Tickets on sale at Liquorama & the Steam Train offices
PHOTO: SCORCE SIMLEIT
PHOTO : CHARLES BRIGHTMAN, VFAPU, DISCOVER SAFARIS
Running for our rhino
The amazing rhino outfit
ship from the South African shop Savvanna,
great biltong by the way!
Grant: We would like to raise enough money
to provide a few rangers with new equipment
for them to do a more efficient job, in a country
where the minimum wage doesn’t go very far.
Where does Save The Rhino concentrate most of its efforts?
Grant: Save The Rhino currently supports field
programmes in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa, as well as
the work of the IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group. In Asia they support programmes
in India and Indonesia with possible funding
towards community activities in Nepal.
How do you think we can stop this
slaughter of Africa’s rhino populations?
Glenn: I think through determination and hard
work we will win the battle against poaching. It
would be better if governments would assist.
Education is key as it would be a lot cheaper
for the poacher if he collected his finger nail
cuttings. That’s what rhino horn is basically.
Grant: Bigger awareness campaigns internationally. If people really knew what was happening to these majestic animals there would
have been drastic action taken and stronger
penalties for the people who are caught
slaughtering rhinos.
Good luck to both of you – Zambezi Traveller
supports your dedication to a campaign
which we must not lose.
VICTORIA FALLS
2013 MAR APR MAY
31
WILDLIFE
Portrait of a pangolin
www.tikkihywoodtrust.org
www.pangolinsg.org
For me, the pangolin
is certainly the most
sensitive and secretive animal I have ever
worked with – but also
the most intelligent – and I
have worked with the charismatic animals like elephant
and rhinos,” says Lisa Hywood, founder and managing
trustee of the Tikki Hywood
Trust. The Harare-based
Trust has been involved with
pangolins since its inception
in 1994.
“Maybe it’s a bit more
difficult to see through the
scales and realise that this is
like any other mammal and
that it too has a sensitive side,
a serious side and an aggressive side – because pangolins
can be very aggressive when
they don’t get their own way,”
Hywood says.
In addition to their scaly
exterior it’s easy to see why
there is so much mystery surrounding pangolins – which
are sometimes mistaken for
reptiles. They are nocturnal,
shy and increasingly endangered, so the chances of seeing one are extremely slim.
Due to their specialist diet
of mostly ants and termites,
their shy nature and susceptibility to stress, pangolins can
rarely be kept in captivity.
There are eight species
of pangolin in the world –
four in Asia and four in Af-
Mr and Mrs “Mpisi” Ndhlovu hosted a training course at their
home near Monde in the Hwange Communal Area near Victoria
Falls. The aim of the course was to train local rural women to
produce items such as women’s handbags and items of art made
from local plants and the seeds of indigenous trees. The beautiful products will be displayed at the August 2013 UNWTO conference at Victoria Falls. Ms. Sithole is the local coordinator for the
Zimbabwe Home Industries and Markets Association (ZHIMA)
rica. Zimbabwe is home to
the Cape (or Temmnick or
ground) pangolin, which is
a Specially Protected Species
in Zimbabwe. This means
that it is one of nine species of
animal that the Government
feels is severely endangered to
the point that it requires extra
protection. It is illegal to keep
one in captivity, kill or catch
one.
No one is certain how
many pangolins Zimbabwe
has. Up until ten to fifteen
years ago, the main threat
pangolins faced was that
their body parts were prized
for their medicinal properties, and there was a strong
cultural significance attached
to the offering of a pangolin
as a gift to a chief – or even
the President. These days the
high demand in the Far East
for nearly all pangolin body
parts is their severest danger.
FACT file
Pangolin
• A pangolin’s tongue is
attached near its pelvis
and last pair of ribs.
Extended it is at least
as long as the animal’s
body, from base of
the tail to head. When
resting, the tongue
retracts into a sheath in
the chest cavity.
• The pangolin’s prized
scales are made from
keratin – the same
protein that makes up
the rhino’s horn, and our
own fingernails.
PHOTO: TIKKI HYWOOD TRUST.
MANA MEADOWS
The ground pangolin is the larger and more terrestrial of Africa’s four
pangolin species. Adults can reach full body lengths of between 65–111cm
and can weigh up to 20kg
Victoria Falls
Marathon
14 JULY 2013
42.2km full marathon
21.1km half marathon
5km fun run
An AIMS registered event. The route is fast and relatively flat
and well supported by regular water points and cooling down
sections managed by the sponsors.
www.vicfallsmarathon.com
PHOTO: ALAN SPARROW
Choose one of the standard travel packages, or tailor-make
your own to enjoy the activities the region has to offer.
Daily flights from Johannesburg to the falls, which makes
linking from international flights to the region easy.
Left to right: Mrs M Ndhlovu, Ms Anette Sithole and Mr “Mpisi” Ndhlovu
with kneeling community member
T h e P a n g o l i n P e n d a n t i n S t e r l i n g S i l v e r,
for Adventurers
1 0 % O F A L L PAT R I C K M AV R O S PA N G O L I N S A L E S G O T O T H E
T I K K I H Y W O O D T R U S T D E D I C AT E D T O S AV I N G O U R L E S S E R
KNOWN ENDANGERED MAMMALS
HASLEMERE LANE, UMWINSIDALE, HARARE
TEL: 0772 165 555/6 MOB: 0772 414 414
WWW.PATRICKMAVROS.COM HARARE@PATRICKMAVROS.COM
MAR APR MAY 2013
CLASSIFIEDS
ACTIVITIES
ARTISTS AND ART
GALLERIES
Sealant Safaris: Specialises in
accommodation, tours, Chobe trips,
Kariba Ferries, Mana Pools. Office
No 16, Sopers Arcade. Tel : 013 40237,
0772 279083.
Email : cynthia63us@yahoo.com.
The Zambezi Helicopter Company:
View the vastness of the Victoria Falls
and its surrounds the best way! Take a
helicopter flip and enjoy the magnificent
splendor of the Zambezi River and its
Falls. Contact The Zambezi Helicopter
Company, Box 125, Zimbabwe. Tel
+263 (0) 13 43569, cell: +263 (0) 773
080 909, +263 (0) 712 324 422. Tel/
fax: +263 13 40059. Email: zhc.
reservations@highestec.co.zw. Skype:
zambezihelicopters Web site: www.
zambezihelicopters.com logo here
The Larry Norton Gallery: Original
and reproduced fine art wildlife and
landscape images available from this
renowned artist. Visit this superb gallery
in the historical Victoria Falls Hotel. You
will find us in the Stables Lounge. Phone:
+263 (0) 772 606 233 and +263 (0) 13
40076. Email: info@larrynorton.co.za
and website: www.larrynorton.co.za
B&B
Lorries B&B, Victoria Falls: Full
English breakfast. Ensuite rooms. Home
cooked dinners. Your home away from
home. Phone +263 (0) 13 42139 or +263
(0) 712 406 584. Email: lorrie@mweb.
co.zw. 10% discount on production of this
advertisement. Find us on Facebook.
BEAUTY
Wild Horizons is a “one-stop’ activity
provider offering a range of tours and
activities including rafting, canoeing,
elephant back safaris and high wire
activities.
Email: info@wildhorizons.co.zw
ANGLING/FISHING
Tyress Health & Beauty Salon:
Manicures, pedicures, artificial nails,
facials, make-up, massages, waxing,
tweezing, body scrub, braiding. For
all your relaxation & body treatments.
Tel : 013 45039, Cell: +263 772 607
940, email: leomarowa@gmail.com.
No 5 Pumula Centre, Victoria Falls and
Adventure Zone Victoria Falls.
CATERING SERVICES
Delicious Indian Cuisine. Seventh
Heaven Foods (Pvt) Ltd: 523 Reynard
Rd, Victoria Falls. Take-aways, catering
for functions. Specialises in snacks
and Indian dinners. Call Anju and Barry
Nathoo on +263 (0) 13 40527/42348.
Cell: +263 (0) 712 212 255/+263 (0) 775
121 406. Email: khemhim@yoafrica.com
Victoria falls
Advertise in Victoria Falls Classifieds
hudsons@yoafrica.com +263 (0) 775 297 519
CHARITY
HARDWARE STORES
REPAIRS & WORKSHOPS
SERVICES
Once a month a number of Victoria Falls
residents put together ‘goodie parcels’
with a few luxuries, mostly necessities for
elderly people in the community that are
struggling to make ends meet. Anyone
wishing to contribute to this can email
Cathrina Gover: gover@yoafrica.com and
Mel Hudson: hudsons@yoafrica.com
Builders’ Hardware: For all your
building material visit Builders’ Hardware,
Old PG/Johnson & Fletcher building,
Orders done to your specification.
Contact Thandi 0772 347687/ Itai 0712
597465
Amherst Engineering T/A Zambezi
Motors: for vehicle repairs and
maintenance, contact Roy: +263 712 747
306, Shayle: +263 772 284 689.
Management co.
Rotary Club of Victoria Falls
meets every Thursday at Ilala Lodge
between 1:00pm and 2:00pm. For
further information please contact
our club President Joshua Ncube
+263712207368/+263773166660 or our
Immediate Past President Anne Taggart
on +263 (0)772 254552 or our club
secretary Barbara on
+263 (0)773 228084.
Rotary Club of Hwange, District 9210,
meets every Thursday at the Hwange
Colliery Company Little Theatre between
1730 and 1900pm. Please call Mugove
Hamadziripi, Club President for further
details on 0712 263 931 or 0772 428 806.
Email: mhamadziripi@gmail.com.
Victoria Falls Tourism Police Unit: A
donar funded initiative between private
and public sector in conjunction with the
Zimbabwe Republic Police to ensure
a safe environment for visitors and
local residents within the Victoria Falls
tourism area. Anyone wishing to assist in
sponsoring one or more of the dedicated
Tourism Police Officers please contact
Kevin Fry +263 (0) 772 872646
Cell - 00 27 719794115
Email : fry84@yahoo.co.uk.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
RESTAURANTS
Hardware Zone, Victoria Falls for all your
electrical, plumbing, painting and building
requirements. Phone +263 (0) 13 42202,
cell +263 (0)773 255 788, Email - sue.
chouhan92@yahoo.com. 426 Pioneer
Road, Industrial Area.
Imbabala Zambezi Safari Lodge:
Located in the Matetsi Safari Area with
14km of Zambezi river frontage Imbabala
is renowned for its game viewing and bird
watching Tel: +263 (0) 13 44571,44426.
Email: info@wildhorizons.co.zw.
www.wildhorizons.co.za
The Victoria Falls Hotel:
òòòòò Situated on a world heritage
site, the legendary Victoria Falls Hotel
overlooks the magnificent falls. This
gracious 1904 hotel is set in lush tropical
gardens that recall the romance of days
gone by. Contact Sales and Marketing
Manager.
Email: marketing@tvfh.africansun.co.zw.
Telephone: +263 (0) 13 44751/9.
In-da-Belly Bar and Café: Located
within the Victoria Falls Rest Camp on
Parkway Drive. Open for breakfast, lunch
and dinner. Good food, great value,
superb atmosphere.
Tel : +263 13 40501/11.
Email: indabelly@restcamp.co.zw
The Victoria Falls Hotel: Stanley’s
Terrace, cosmopolitan lunch
The Victoria Falls Hotel: Livingstone
Room, fine dining with a 7 course menu.
The Victoria Falls Hotel: Jungle
Junction, international buffet and African
Spectacular show. For bookings, contact
+263 (0) 44751/9,
Email : marketing@tvfh.africansun.co.zw
REST CAMPS
FRESH PRODUCE
LOCKSMITHS
Victoria Falls Locksmiths: Providers of
24hr key cutting and lock-out services.
Tel : Levi on 013 44526
Cell 0778 132 220 or 0712 764 486
Email : locksmithsvf@gmail.com
Discover Safaris: Charles Brightman
P O Box CT 544 Victoria Falls Zimbabwe,
Tel/Fax + 263 13 45821, Cell + 263 712
209144 or + 263 917 747 426, Skype :
charlesbrightman, Specialising in walking
safaris, game drives, bird watching trips
and tailor made safaris. Finalist in the
Safari Awards Category. Best Personal
Contribution to Wildlife Conservation,
www.safariawards.com/winners11.
THATCHING GRASS
Thatching grass suppliers: Contact
Derek Wilkinson, located in Banket, the
grass heartland. Cell: +263 (0) 777 560
856 or landline +263 (0) 66 2595. Email:
derekdianawilk@mango.zw or contact
local agent, John Dewdney +263 (0) 13
44645 or +263 (0)775901534 website:
http..//thatchinggrasssuppliers.webs.com
UPHOLSTERY
VICTORIA
FALLS
LAUNDRY SERVICE
Spotless Laundry Services at Victoria
Falls Restcamp, Lodge 17. Open daily.
Contact +262 (0) 40509-11 or +263
(0)772 347687.
Co-ordinators of design and
construction projects for homes,
lodges and hotels. External and
interior designs conceptualized.
Renovations undertaken. Kitchen
& Cabinetry design and fitting.
Sara Norton +263772606233
or +2631344743
Email: snorton@yoafrica.com
SPECIALIST GUIDE
HOTELS & LODGES
Elephant Camp: The Elephant Camp is
a luxury and intimate lodge under canvas
only 10 minutes from Victoria Falls and all
its attractions and activities, yet secluded
in its own private game reserve so as to
allow close up encounters with wildlife.
Email: info@wildhorizons.co.zw
The Project
Victoria Falls Restcamp. Situated in
the town centre offers affordable, safe
accommodation. Includes self catering
lodges, chalets, dormitories, semi-luxury
tents and camping. Along with a tours &
internet desk & In-da-Belly Restaurant.
Tel: + 263 13 40509 - 11. Email:
reservations@restcamp.co.zw
SCREENPRINTING
Screenworks: For all your screen
printing requirements, T/shirts, banners,
posters etc. Call Zenzo + 263 775
728342 / + 263 712 614244. Email
screenworksvicfalls@yahoo.com.
16 Sopers Arcade, Victoria Falls.
EN C
ID
Y
Repairs to broken fishing rods, missing
eyes and ferules. I sell top quality tiger
streamers, nembwe streamers, trout flies,
wet, dry and nymphs. Salmon flies, and offshore streamers. Contact Tim Braybrooke
on 0712208370. Or pop in and see me at
168 Courtney Selous. Victoria Falls.
VICTORIA FALLS
W
32
VICTORIA
FALLS
Widency: For all your canvas and
tarpaulin products, game drive vehicle
seats and canopies, boats, blinds. Office
and household furniture contact Hudson
on 0773 000888/9. Located 299 Rumsey
Road, Victoria Falls.
Zimbabwe
33
HWANGE
TRAVEL
Why travel when it rains?
Pilot guide Mike Myers
has been with Wilderness
Safaris for 18 years; he is
now involved with collecting
both still and video content
for their publications. He is
based in Victoria Falls, a
convenient hub from where
he can travel to the locations
where Wilderness operates.
MIKE MYERS
www.wilderness-safaris.com
A very exciting and unusual sighting in Hwange of 7
gemsbok. Normally only seen singly or in pairs. The
last sighting in the Wilderness concession was late
in the dry season
and rainy but it seldom rains all the time.
My wife and I went down to Ngamo
from Victoria Falls where we live to
document Hwange in late January and
it was spectacular. The change from the
dryness of late September to the green
lushness of summer was amazing. Plains
game covered the area – we saw wildebeest,
giraffe, zebra, eland and impala in large
numbers. The real bonus viewing was a rare
and beautiful sighting of gemsbok.
Elephant came down in the late
afternoon and we saw lions regularly in the
early morning. I could not stop thinking
of the remarkable contrast from dry to wet
season – a barren dry sandy plain which
becomes a wetland covered in animals
PHOTOS : MIKE MYERS
erhaps one of the most frequently
asked questions I encounter is:
‘When is the best time to come
to southern Africa?’ It is not an
easy question to answer and I normally
say, ‘When you are here!’ The drier time
of the year from July through to October
is the busiest and certainly an excellent
time to be in southern Africa, but it is not
my favorite time; that is reserved for the
summer.
After the long dry season, towards
the end of October, we get our first rains.
This clears the air of the dust and smoke
haze, which create the famous red African
sunsets, and coincides with dynamic
summer skies full of beautiful cloud
formations.
Many young animals are born at this
time of the year and the Ngamo Flats
area of our concession in Hwange changes
from being a dry wasteland to summer
wetland paradise. The normal weather
pattern is for clear mornings building up
to a thundershower in the afternoon which
then clears by sunset. It can be overcast
Elephant relish rainy season bounty. Insert: the golden-backed bee-eater
and waterfowl.
Storks, cranes, ducks, geese and waders
of every description are abundant. There
is something to see all the time and the
beauty will take your breath away. My images show the contrast; certainly summer
in Hwange is one of the best-kept southern
African wildlife secrets.
Pumping Legs For Water 2013
Hwange Adventure Cycle
Hwange National Park
25 – 27 July 2013
Contact Dave Dell at
david.dell@strachans.co.zw
34
MAR APR MAY 2013
HWANGE
BIRDS
Zambezi Traveller Travellers friend
RESEARCH
The secrets of Hwange’s zebra
Black kite
Dressed in green and
sparkling with jewels
THE HWANGE BIRDER
http://hwangebirder.blogspot.com
wange has had almost unprecedented
rains since November last year. I have
had varied reports about the
exact figure but we have certainly had more rain than the
entire annual average, and we
still have a couple of months
left in the season.
The rain has turned
Hwange into something of
a birding oasis similar to the
Okavango Delta in places,
and boy have I been in my
element! In November I saw
and photographed a Hwange
first, the chestnut-banded
plover at Nyamandhlovu
Pan.
December was characterized by eagles and falcons taking termite alates
in their billions and white
storks taking frogs in their
trillions. In January I spent
time in an area called Ngamo in the southeastern corner of the park and I will put
my name on the line and say
‘there is no better birding in
Hwange’ than there. Pygmy
geese, stilts, coots, moorhens, ducks, teal (Cape,
Hottentot and red-billed),
storks in their thousands,
sandpipers, plovers, lapwings and eagles, falcons,
vultures and terns. Even the
clouds were bird shaped!
We saw the critically
endangered wattled crane
there a few years ago in another wet season and we are
scanning the flats for their
Denham’s bustard
return. There have been a
number of sightings of Denham’s bustard in the open
areas, a European honeybuzzard near Main Camp
and the northern grey-headed
sparrow is nesting at the Waterbuck’s Head restaurant.
Bee-eaters have helped
me master ‘birds in flight’
photography and snooping
out Allen’s gallinules in the
grasses has made boring days
bearable. Hwange is looking her best, dressed in a
green sash and sparkling with
colourful jewels. Come and
see her soon.
PETER ROBERTS
www.za-hwange.org
Elephants dominate the
ecology of Hwange, accounting for over ninety percent
of the Park’s large herbivore
biomass. Medium sized
herbivores, such as zebra, occur in much lower population
densities than those recorded
in most other African systems.
The Hwange zebra population
density is one fiftieth of the
density recorded in Serengeti.
The HERD programme
set out to discover if mediumsized herbivores are limited
by competition with elephant;
however there is no strong
evidence for this on the basis
of analysis of the long-term
waterhole counts undertaken
by Wildlife & Environment
Zimbabwe.
In other ecosystems like
the Serengeti, food limita-
Khulu Ivory opens in Hwange
Only 30 m from the elevated deck of your luxury tent or rustic
tree-house you will enjoy wonderful close-up viewing of our regular
ZLOGYLVLWRUV¬0LRPER6DIDUL&DPSLVDQDEVROXWHJHPRQWKHHGJHRI
Hwange National Park, delivering a home from home experience
ZLWKHDV\DFFHVVFDULQJSURIHVVLRQDOVWDIISHDFHIXODPELDQFH
and exceptional game viewing opportunities.
CONTACT US FOR RATES AND AVAILABILITY
Reservations office: +26 3 13 45532/45986,
0RELOHRU
(PDLO¬PLRPER#PZHEFR]D¬¬¬¬¬
ZZZPLRPERVDIDULFDPSFRP
Miombo Is Situated
On The Boundary
Of The Park 15
Minutes Drive
From Main Camp
tion and predation have been
shown to be key limiting
factors. In order to effectively
manage the Park for wildlife
conservation, it is essential
for the Zimbabwe Parks and
Wildlife Management Authority
to understand the processes
which influence populations,
and to assist the Authority the
HERD team initiated long-term
monitoring research on impala
in 2000 and on zebra in 2004.
Monitoring changes in
populations involves identifying and following the life histories of individuals, and with
zebra the researchers have a
key to identifying each animal
– its stripes. The exact pattern
of the stripes on each zebra is
unique, much like the human
fingerprint or a bar-code.
Working from photographs,
researchers are able to identify and monitor individuals
within the population, allowing
the project to follow the life
histories of some 250 zebra
over nine years. Through this
work the team has been able
to build up information on
survival rates, reproductive
patterns and harem dynamics.
The project has identified
high mortality rates for foals
and two to three year olds and
is currently working with the
Hwange Lion Research project
looking at predation and other
causes of mortality.
The researchers have also
identified interesting social
dynamics within the Hwange
zebra population. Zebra stallions maintain harems, and
Hwange’s social structure
has been found to be more
unstable than elsewhere. In
Hwange it is unusual for a
female to stay with the same
male for more than three
years, and as stallions are
known to kill foals sired from
previous mates, the team is
now investigating infanticide
rates within the population to
see if this increased social
fluidity has an unexpected cost
in foal mortality.
PHOTO: ALISON DUNCAN
PHOTOS: BRENT STAPELKAMP
The Hwange Environmental Research Development programme of France’s
National Centre for Scientific Research, run by Dr Hervé Fritz of the Lyons
University, has been researching the dynamics of the Hwange ecosystem, covering
the National Park and the community and Forestry lands nearby, since 1999.
Newborn foal Hwange National Park
ZT CORRESPONDENT
www.amalindacollection.com
Khulu Ivory, ‘Grandfather of
Ivory,’ is a new safari camp on
a private concession of 6,000
acres next to Hwange National
Park. One of the many charms
of this camp is that it offers
guests luxurious and private
accommodation accompanied
by old world hospitality.
Khulu Ivory is accessible
from the Bulawayo / Victoria
Falls main road and guests
can self drive into neighbouring Ivory Lodge and from
there be transferred directly
into camp. The distance from
Bulawayo is 258 kms and
from Victoria Falls 180 kms.
Hwange airport is only eight
kilometres away.
Khulu Ivory comprises
three thatched, safari style
suites built on slightly elevated
platforms. Each well-appointed room is designed in
a modern and contemporary
style but with minimal impact
on the surroundings and environment.
The units have an indoor
and outdoor shower and balcony for game viewing, as well
as an individual tea and coffee
service. The beds are twins
but can be converted to kingsize for double occupancy.
The camp currently has a total
capacity of only six people.
All rooms overlook an ancient riverbed, in today’s terms
called a ‘vlei,’ with a waterhole
known to attract a variety of
the great wildlife and birdlife of
Hwange.
Khulu’s main guest area
provides a full bar which also
commands a view of the
waterhole and is stocked with
a wide variety of local and
imported beverages.
A plunge pool is located
on the deck area, as well as
a fire pit for stargazing and
nightcaps. The camp has
borehole water throughout and
an onsite laundry service.
Khulu Ivory offers guests
a private guided experience
on the private concession or in
the National Park. Activities on
offer are; half day or full day
game drives, night drives, visits to the Painted Dog Conservation Centre, walking safaris,
pan/hide sits and game counts
on request.
HWANGE
2013 MAR APR MAY
35
CONSERVATION
DR ANDREW LOVERIDGE
wwwl.wildcrew.org
he lion is an iconic
symbol of Africa, yet
co-existing with lions poses hardships
for many African communities. Lion depredation on domestic livestock has negative
impacts on the livelihoods of
livestock owners. Carnivores
are impacted when retaliatory
action is taken against them.
Globally, human populations are expanding and this
has resulted in increasing human-carnivore conflict and
declines in many carnivore
populations across the world.
In the case of the African
lion, populations across Africa are shrinking and lions
are now absent from 85% of
their historical range.
Great ingenuity, dedication and the will and support of local communities are
needed to solve the problem of
human wildlife conflict. The
‘Living with Lions’ project in
south western Kenya has hit
upon a unique solution. Maasai warriors were recruited to
work alongside conservationists to protect both their community’s livestock and the
predators in their areas.
This ‘Lion Guardian’
programme has enjoyed significant success in reducing
human-lion conflicts. Following the notable achievements of the Kenyan programme, a number of similar
projects have been initiated
in community areas across
Africa, including Ruaha and
Ngorongoro in Tanzania and
around Hwange National
Park, Zimbabwe.
The Hwange programme
has been named the ‘Long
Shields’ and is run by the
Hwange Lion Research Project with sponsorship from
Panthera, Great Wall Motors and SATIB Trust. The
programme name has local
resonance; in the late 19th
Century the Matabele were
known as ‘the people of the
long shields,’ so named because the fearsome warriors
of the tribe carried tall raw-
PHOTO: BRENT STAPELKAMP
The Long Shields lion guardians
hide shields for protection in
battle.
Our modern usage of the
name communicates the protective role that the contemporary Long Shield officers
play in their communities,
protecting both village livestock and their community’s
natural resources, including the predators that are so
valuable to Zimbabwe’s tourism industry.
In late 2012, after fruitful
discussions with the Tsholot-
sho and Hwange Rural District Councils, CAMPFIRE
officers and local traditional
leaders, the programme was
launched around Hwange
National Park. The programme is led by the Hwange
Lion Research Project’s Brent
Stapelkamp and Lovemore
Sibanda and has, over the last
few months, recruited seven
men and one lady from candidates put forward by the
local chiefs.
Each Long Shield is
Hwange lion guardians
equipped with a rugged
mountain bike (donated by
Des Stephens of SATIB
insurance), a cell phone to
communicate with project
co-ordinators and GPS to
record information about
conflict incidents in their
area. As fearless as the warriors of old, the Long Shields
actively mobilise villagers to
deter would-be stock raiding
lions with loud noises and
bright lights and by lighting
watch fires.
They also warn their
neighbours to move their
cattle away from areas where
lions are present. This strategy appears to work well and
we have monitored the movements of these lions as they
move back into the National
Park to avoid this unwelcome disturbance. The Long
Shields also monitor local
wildlife, assist and advise local people with livestock protection.
The Long Shields lion
guardian programme is part
of ongoing long term research being undertaken by
the Hwange Lion Research
Project in close collaborative
partnership with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife
Management Authority.
Since 2007 the project
has focused on understanding the causes and extent of
human conflict with lions in
the Hwange area. This programme has been extended
to the Victoria Falls region in
partnership with Roger and
Jess Parry of Victoria Falls
Wildlife Trust.
INVESTMENT
ZT CORRESPONDENT
www.moivaro.com
info@moivarosouth.com
Hwange National Park,
Zimbabwe is back on the tourist map. A park of stunning
richness and variety, in both
landscape and wildlife, it is
the largest park in the country
and since its formalisation in
1928 has provided countless
breathtaking wildlife experiences to those fortunate to
visit.
Along the northeast
boundary lies the Sikumi Forestry Reserve , famous for the
25km long Dete Vlei, a long
dry river bed, that runs alongside the Park. It is here that a
long forgotten lodge has been
given a new lease of life. The
newly restyled and renamed
Sable Sands (formerly Sable
Valley) Lodge has an impressive pedigree, having hosted
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
II and Prince Philip in 1991.
Sable Sands is a new
partnership between the
Forestry Commission of
Zimbabwe, Moivaro Lodges &
Tented Camps and co-owner
Managers Brian and Marleen
Sabeta Post. No strangers
to the tourism industry or
Hwange, the couple were
responsible for the revival
of neighbouring Sikumi Tree
Lodge, before turning their
ambitions on redeveloping
Sable Sands.
Sable Sands has a total of
11 thatched rondavels, or chalets, which can be arranged
as twin, double or family
rooms, with en suite bathroom
and shower. Shaded by trees,
the main lodge building has
been completely redesigned
with a stunning thatched roof,
and overlooks the vlei and
waterhole where large herds
of buffalo, elephant, zebra
and numerous antelope species are often seen, together
with lion, cheetah and other
predators.
Only two hours from Victoria Falls, located near Hwange
National Park Main Camp, the
Lodge offers tours within its
own private concession or in
the wider Park.
PHOTO: MARLEEN POST
Still fit for a Queen: Sable Sands re-opens
Elephant visit the camp
Zambia
36
KAFUE
WILDLIFE
Zambia’s endemic lechwe
Zambezi Traveller introduced ‘Livingstone’s Lechwe’ in the last issue – the southern or red lechwe, Kobus leche, which Dr David Livingstone was one of the first
to describe to science when he discovered Lake Ngami in modern day Botswana. When he eventually crossed the Zambezi and travelled north into what was then
Barotseland (now western Zambia) Livingstone encountered another subspecies of lechwe, the Kafue lechwe (K. l. kafuensis).
www.iucnredlist.org/
details/11033/0
he Kafue lechwe is
one of two subspecies of lechwe
endemic to western
Zambia. The other, the black
lechwe (K. l. smithemani),
occurs in the Bangweulu
Swamps of the Congo basin.
The Kafue lechwe is
largely restricted to protected
areas within the Kafue Flats,
occurring in the Lochinvar
(410km 2) and Blue Lagoon
(420km 2) National Parks and
the Kafue Flats Game Management Area (5,175km 2).
The National Parks are also
listed jointly as a Ramsar
Wetland of International Importance, and are managed
exclusively for conservation,
while the Kafue Flats Game
Management Area is also
managed for sport hunting.
The Kafue or brown
lechwe, which can be distinguished from the southern or
red lechwe by the increased
amount of black on the front
wetland habitats for which
they are adapted, and have
been eliminated from much
of their former ranges as
wetlands have been drained,
regulated or otherwise influenced by man’s activities.
Water flow on the Kafue
floodplain has been regulat-
The regulation of water flow has altered
flow regimes, causing a loss of temporary
flooded wetlands and reducing overall
habitat availability
legs, has been identified
as vulnerable to extinction
by conservationists. From
an estimated population of
350,000 in the early 1900s,
by the early 1970s the population had been reduced to
around 100,000.
Lechwe are highly
dependent on the specialised
ed almost entirely for human
needs since the construction
of the Kafue Gorge and
Itezhi-tezhi hydroelectric
dams in the 1970s.
The regulation of
water flow has altered flow
regimes, causing a loss of
temporary flooded wetlands
and reducing overall habitat
PHOTO: FICO VIDALE
PETER ROBERTS
Kafue Lechwe
availability. Other factors
affecting Kafue’s lechwe
population include traditional hunting, poaching and
cattle grazing pressure.
www.mawimbi-adventure.com
NEW
Discover The Kafue River By Canoe
One to 4 days canoeing, day trips
Tel: +263 4 861286
e-mail: info@mawimbi-adventure.com
By the early 1980s,
following completion of
the two dam projects, the
population had declined to
a minimum of perhaps only
40,000, but has since slowly
recovered in response to
conservation and community
efforts and is currently estimated to be around 75,000.
The long-term survival of
all lechwe subspecies in the
wild depends on the effective protection and management of their wetland
habitats, inside and outside
of protected areas. Rainfall
permitting, management
of the Kafue hydro-electric
stations is controlled to
partially simulate the annual floods, although within
restricted parameters.
Revenue generation
through controlled offtake
by sport hunting, and the
development of sustainable
harvesting to provide meat
for local markets, have also
been identified as methods
of giving the species an
economic value and thus
creating an incentive for
community-based conservation initiatives outside of
protected areas.
the best of Zambia
www.zamagsafaris.com
+260 977 618 194
info@zamagsafaris.com
we take you places
we know and trust
THRILLS AT EVERY TURN.
www.suninternational.com
38
MAR APR MAY 2013
LIVINGSTONE
INTEREST
ART
www.livingstone2013.com
Chuma was freed
by Livingstone
from child slavery.
Both went on to
travel with him
extensively...and
were with him
when he died in
Zambia
PHOTO: BELINDA HODGE
he Limefield Falls
are an impressive miniature
re-creation of
the Victoria Falls, built as
a tribute to David Livingstone by his good friend and
sponsor, James ‘Paraffin’
Young, on Young’s estate
in Scotland. Local legend
has it that Sussi and Chuma
helped Young to build these
replica falls when they were
his guests in Scotland.
Abdulla Sussi and James
Chuma were loyal and
trusted attendants; Sussi had
helped Livingstone build
and dismantle boats on the
Zambezi expedition and
Chuma was freed by Livingstone from child slavery.
Both went on to travel with
him extensively on his expeditions and were with him
when he died in Zambia.
Sussi and Chuma buried
Livingstone's heart and entrails under a tree at Chitambo village, then preserved
his body and carried it over
a thousand miles across
difficult terrain and through
unknown villages all the
way from Chitambo to the
coast at Bagamayo, so that
it could be taken home to
Britain for burial. They felt
that such an amazing man
must be buried at home.
A replica of the Victoria falls built in Scotland by James Chuma
The acting British
Consul in Zanzibar, Lt
Prideaux, paid off the men
in Bagamayo, without even
a bonus, and failed to send
Sussi and Chuma on to
Britain with the Royal Navy
to attend the funeral in
Westminster Abbey. He little
realised that they had been
the leaders of this saddest
and most extraordinary of
marches, which took nine
months to complete.
Young got wind of
this and paid for Sussi and
Chuma to make the trip
to Britain. Although they
did not arrive in time for
the funeral, they did help
the Rev Horace Waller edit
Livingstone's last journals
and complete the story of
his last days and death. They
were hailed at a meeting
of the Royal Geographical
Society and special medals
were struck for all those who
helped carry the body to the
coast.
These two loyal and
caring Africans also went
north to Scotland to stay
with Young. Seeing there
was long harvest grass on
the fields of Young’s estate,
they offered to build a
replica of the wood and grass
hut Livingstone had died
in, along with a replica of
Chitambo's village.
In memory of this
extraordinary cultural
exchange, Ewan McVicar is
now creating links between
the James Young school
and other Scottish schools
with schools in Livingstone
through the new British
Council digital hub, and with
the help of the Livingstone
2013 bicentenary initiative.
Decorated calabash and wooden sculpture on display in the Livingstone Museum
Encouraging creativity
CLARE MATEKE
www.zambiatourism.com
cmateke@gmail.com
International Museum
Day falls on 18 May every
year. On this day museums
around the world organise
special activities for their
visitors. The theme for this
year is ‘Museum (Memory +
Creativity) = Social Change,’
chosen by the International
Council of Museums.
Livingstone Museum offers free entry to all to mark
the day. This year we are
focusing on children who are
about to leave school.
Livingstone is the tourist
capital of Zambia, yet many
children here leave school
and struggle to find employment. Many are creative and
could develop this skill if encouraged. To help them hone
these skills, the Museum is
offering training in art and
crafts, using skilled local
artists and craftspeople. This
training will be done in the
month of April, for a selected
group of children.
The skills learnt by the
children can then be used,
among other things, to
create traditional crafts and
artworks that can be sold
to visiting tourists, helping
them to generate an income
after school.
Many of the traditional
skills such as basketry, matmaking, pottery and carving
are dying out, and yet it is
the crafts made with these
skills that make up much of
the Ethnography collection
in the Museum, and which
attract many international
visitors to Zambia and to the
Museum.
On 18 May, the Museum
will have a fun day where
children will be allowed
to come and spend the day
painting and creating artistic
things, guided by local artists.
The best art works from
the art and craft training
month will be exhibited and
the children will be available to proudly show off their
endeavours. We hope that we
can show the community in
Livingstone that art can help
a child to earn an income
and to get joy and should be
encouraged at all ages.
BIRDING
A tiny and
secretive
gem of a bird
YAKOV SABAG
Located in the centre of Livingstone town
Free airport pickups and daily transfers to the Falls
Email: livingstonebackpackersoffice@gmail.com
Cell: +260 977 471 735
Tel: +260 213 324189 | Cell: +260 976 587 511
Email: reservations@marambariverlodge.com
PHOTO: YAKOV SABAG
BELINDA HODGE
PHOTOS: CLARE MATEKE
Mini replica Vic
Falls in Scotland
The red-throated twinspot,
Hypargos niveogottatus, is a
beautiful little bird, supposedly
common in central Africa and
along the east coast of our
continent. However, it is quiet
and not easily seen, liking the
tangle of dense bush.
It has been recorded in the
Livingstone and Victoria Falls
area several times, but not as
often as one would expect for
a ‘common’ bird. As a keen
birder, my eyes and ears are
always peeled and ready for
the slightest sound or movement, but I had never had the
privilege to come across this
little gem until August last year,
when to my surprise I saw it in
my garden drinking from one
of the bird baths!
In the following few weeks
I received more reports from
several other people who were
not sure if they had correctly
identified what they had seen.
Suddenly they were everywhere for the next few weeks,
and then as the rains started,
The red-throated twinspot
they were gone. I kept looking
myself and asking the same
people if they were still seeing
the twinspot, but to no avail.
I thought maybe it had
moved on to its breeding
ground, but to my delight I saw
it again in Tongabezi at the end
of January. I heard this faint but
yet familiar trill and there he
was, this little handsome boy;
and since then I have seen it a
few more times.
I hope to see it on a more
regular basis from now onwards. This bird is found in
moist evergreen forest; it
builds its nest close to the
ground, and I hope to come
across a nesting site. What’s
more, this species is known to
be parasitised by the Zambezi
indigo bird, which is not supposed to occur around here! I
have learnt that everything is
possible in nature, so I keep
looking with the hope of finding them sooner or later.
LIVINGSTONE
2013 MAR APR MAY
39
HISTORY
T he dream to open up Africa
RUSSELL GAMMON
he British Government agreed to back
Livingstone’s dream
to return to Africa
and use the Zambezi River to
open up the interior to trade.
He arrived at the mouth of
the Zambezi in 1858, at the
head of the most ambitious
undertaking in the annals
of African exploration - The
Zambezi Expedition.
This endeavour would
run for five years but in spite
of having spent over 100,000
pounds of the British tax
payers’ money, the expedition
never got further than 300
miles up the river. Its progress
was blocked by Cahora Bassa
gorge, a section Livingstone
had bypassed on his earlier
journey. Had he known what
lay in store for them there, he
would never have undertaken
this adventure.
Entering the gorge for the
first time on foot, the men
found an awe-inspiring place,
hemmed in by towering rock
walls that constricted the
river into a seemingly endless series of wild cataracts,
some of them over 30 feet
high. The men were equipped
with a paddle steamer that on
a good day, with a following
wind, had a top speed of 8
knots - there was simply no
way this vessel was going to
Had he known
what lay in store
for them there,
he would never
have undertaken
this adventure
Slavery–
The scourge
of Africa
SOURCE: MARY EVANS PICTURE LIBRARY
RUSSELL GAMMON
A slave gang in Zanzibar
Be here.
Be inspired.
Be inspired.
Be challenged.
Be romanced.
www.livingstonetourism.com
Gateway to Africa's Wonder
go up that river!
Livingstone’s companions figured this out in about
five minutes, which begs the
question, why did it take him
five years to arrive at the same
conclusion? The answer is
that he was so determined to
succeed that he had decided
if the Zambezi would not suit
his purpose, they would simply have to search for a body
of water that did!
So the expedition explored the Shiri, Rovuma
and Rufiji Rivers and eventually ended up on Lake Nyasa
itself, desperately searching
for a navigable waterway that
would serve as a highway to
the interior - but there was
none. Eventually the British
Government also figured this
out and recalled the expedition, but not before the press
back home had turned on
Livingstone, heaping blame
To understand why
Livingstone was so disturbed
to discover commercial slavery
in East Africa in 1860 you
need an appreciation of the
time line of the slave trade on
the continent. The British had
passed the Wilberforce Act
in 1807 which outlawed the
international trade in slaves
and sent the Royal Navy to
blockade the west coast of
Africa to enforce this edict.
What Livingstone had
stumbled upon is that for reasons of political expedience,
the British had never enforced
this ban on Africa’s east coast
since the trade there was run
by the Sultan of Oman, who
was a key ally in the Middle
East. In fairness to the British,
in 1807 the market in Zanzibar
was small, supplying domestic slaves to the Middle East,
but by the 1860s sugar cane
plantations had sprung up all
SOURCE: MARY EVANS PICTURE LIBRARY
Part 4 of a 6 part series marking the bicentennial of
the birth of David Livingstone
on him for the failure and accusing him of intentionally
misleading the public.
By the time he arrived
back in England in 1864,
his reputation was severely
compromised and his future
looked bleak, but the truth is
the expedition had not been a
complete failure. The expedition had failed in its primary
objective, but it had done
much useful geographical
work and also discovered that
the slave trade in East Africa
was not dying out as it was in
most parts of the continent,
but was in fact virulent and
growing like a cancer.
Livingstone was mortified by what he uncovered and
returned to Britain on a one-
Lady Nyasa, Livingstone’s Steamer
over the Indian Ocean islands
and these plantations were
sourcing their labour out of
East Africa at a rate of 45,000
souls a year.
Livingstone was horrified at this discovery but was
even more incensed by the
fact that it was taking place
under the nose of the British
Government, which had simply turned a blind eye to what
was going on. He believed
that once the public learned
what was happening, they
would force the government
to tackle this issue - but he
had underestimated the damage done to his reputation
by the failure of the Zambezi
Expedition.
No one in Britain was the
slightest bit interested in what
Livingstone had to say on this
topic or any other! He spent
two fruitless years travelling
the length and breadth of the
British Isles trying to raise
awareness, before finally resolving on a desperate course
of action. At the age of 55 he
approached the Royal Geographic Society to volunteer
his services to lead an expedition to East Africa, believing
that from Africa he would be
able to focus more attention
on the slave trade. By 1868
he was back in Africa.
Russell Gammon Safaris
Bespoke Guiding and Keynote Speaking
service for visiting conference and incentive,
special interest, VIP and series tour groups.
Victoria Falls Livingstone Chobe
email: info@russellgammon.com
man crusade to put an end to
the genocide that was unfolding in Africa. The stage was
set for a titanic clash between
the missionary explorer and
the Arab slavers for the soul
of Africa!
40
MAR APR MAY 2013
LIVINGSTONE
PLANT ENCOUNTERS
EVELYN ROE
Evelyn Roe is a Botanist with
North-West Naturalists’
Society of Zambia
roe.evelyn@gmail.com
rab a bunch of
chubby, scarlet
sausages from
a dwaba-berry
tree and savour the tangy
fruitiness of their flesh; they
provide a refreshing snack
when you are out and about
in the bush. [Photo 1]
Known in south-western
Zambia as muchingachinga, this small tree is
found on Kalahari sands
from Angola to Mozambique [Photo 2]. Its scientific
name is a typical example
of the (mostly discontinued)
practice of honouring famous European botanists by
naming genera after them.
Friesodielsia obovata gives
two for the price of one;
the Swedish botanist and
mushroom taxonomy expert,
Elias Fries, and the German
botanist Friedrich Diels.
‘Obovata’ refers to the shape
of the leaves.
This plant belongs to the
custard-apple family, the
Annonaceae, which includes
our purple hook-berry,
Artabotrys brachypetalus, and
our suffrutex species Annona
stenophylla, both of which
also have edible fruits.
[Photos 3 - 5]
Over the last few months,
each one of the clusters of
cylindrical dwaba-berries
has been emerging from the
centre of a solitary flower.
In its early stages, the fruit
looks like a fuzzy green spider [Photos 6 – 7] dangling
underneath broad, flat leaves,
so it’s quite astonishing to
watch its transformation into
a bunch of fat, red fingers.
For me, this is one of the
wonders of the botanical
world: observing how a plant
expresses its nature through
all its different life stages.
Before throwing away the
seeds from the muchinga-
chinga fruit you’ve sucked,
hold one in your hand, and
imagine how it germinates
to become a seedling, which
grows up into a tree, in time
forming pendulous, paleyellow flowers.
Beetles will come in the
night, attracted by odours
and warmer temperatures
inside the flowers, to feast
on pollen on the cluster of
stamens [Photo 8], and on
tasty tissues in the floral
chamber, which is the area
held safe by the enclosing petals [Photo 9]. The
2. Friesodielsia obovata
6. F. obovata young fruit
3 Purple hook-berry
7 F. obovata young fruit
4 Annona stenophylla flower
8 F. obovata cluster of stamens
5 Annona stenophylla fruits
9 F.obovata enclosing petals
PHOTOS : EVELYN ROE
Berry banquet
1 Muchinga-chinga
ripe fruits
beetles’ activity will pollinate the flowers, bringing
about fertilisation which, in
turn, will bring forth fruits
from the flowers. What a
wondrous cycle of processes!
Friesodielsia obovata
has medicinal properties:
tests show that extracts
from the bark of stem and
root are anti-spasmodic,
which means that they
reduce muscular tension
and can suppress spasms
in the intestines. Although
the trunk and branches are
slender and often arching,
the termite-resistant wood
may be used for building
huts and fences.
It is important to be
aware that plants provide for
other living beings besides
ourselves. For example, the
leaves of dwaba-berry trees
give food for the larvae
of swordtail butterflies
(Graphium species), and
many birds and monkeys
can be seen feasting on the
abundant fruits as summer
ends and the dry winter
months approach.
Enjoy the sense of partaking in the wild banquet
of the woodland...but leave
some for the other creatures
who are members of our
larger community.
LIVINGSTONE
2013 MAR APR MAY
41
TRUE LIFE
LYNETTE CLEMENTS
Lynette Clements is writing her
memoirs ‘ for my siblings and
my grandchildren’, and sent a
sample to Zambezi Traveller.
Following is an extract
featuring the family home and
some of the more memorable
visitors.
y first memories
are of a brick
house with a
thatch
roof,
overlooking a great, wide river with blue sparkling water,
a flood plain that stretched to
the horizon, and open grassy
areas dotted with woodland
along the river’s edge.
This was Senanga in
Barotseland, where I had the
privilege of living my early
years. Barotseland is now
known as the Western Province of Zambia; to the Lozi
people it has always been
‘Bulozi.’ My father, Tim
Brent, was the Livestock
Officer in Senanga from the
early fifties until 1957, where
his work involved control of
foot and mouth disease, particularly along the Angolan
border.
The veterinary house
and office stood on a slope
overlooking the great Zambezi River. The grassy area
beyond the garden, through
which ran the riverfront road,
led to a wooded area bordering the river. A short walk
through the bush behind
the house brought you to the
veterinary workers’ homes.
Here the house servants, the
veterinary messengers and
the labourers lived in a compound alive with children,
PHOTOS: TIM BRENT ( LIVESTOCK OFFICER, SENANGA)
Wonders of an African childhood
meals cooking in black pots
on fires in front of the huts,
dogs running around and
chickens scratching in the
soil. Lozi ladies would be
pounding maize into meal,
talking and laughing, and
Lozi grandmothers would be
sitting on reed mats watching over the scene.
Visitors to Senanga were
few, mainly officials. The
vet from Mongu paid a visit
when he, my father and the
livestock officer from Kalabo
joined forces to hunt a pride
of lions that were terrorizing
villagers somewhere.
There, in the bright
moonlight, sitting
a few yards away
from us was a fully
grown leopard.
He sat, regal and
still, his tail curled
around his front
paws, contentedly surveying his
kingdom
Dad with friend on the Zambezi
Off to boarding school
Well, visitors were few,
but we had nocturnal visitors
of a different kind! Prides of
lions occasionally passed
through, attracted to the
veterinary compound - there
was a departmental herd of
cattle, and a horse named
Bronc, securely stabled at
the back of my father’s office. It is well known that
lions love horsemeat, and
poor Bronc was regularly
terrified by their presence.
One night the lions were on
the roof of the stable, trying
to find a way in, and Bronc
could be heard whinnying
and pounding the stable door
with his hooves.
On these occasions, my
father would get into his
truck which was always
parked at the front door, and
drive around to see what was
causing all the commotion,
as by now the dogs would
be excited, running in and
out through a little exit built
for them in the back door of
the house. Eventually the lions would give up and go on
their way.
One night, a pride took
over the front garden and
lay around for a couple of
hours, my parents watching
from the verandah which
ran the length of the house.
Before dawn, the lions were
Improvisation in Barotseland 1950s
gone. They seemed to melt
into the bush as though they
had never been there.
Leopards were frequently about at night. They were
seldom seen, but my father
was aware that they prowled
around the chicken run,
We had no neighbours, no TV, no
telephones and no electricity. We read
books, were mostly home-schooled, and
played in the great outdoors
On tour in Barotseland 1950s
which was securely wired
against them and the birds of
prey. There were several large
tall trees near the house and
in the yard, which provided
good cover for leopards.
One night, my father
woke us up, telling us that
we must be very
quiet, as he had
something to
show us. He
took us to the
window of my
parents’ bedroom, and lifted us up onto
the sill. There,
in the bright moonlight, sitting a few yards away from
us was a fully grown leopard.
He sat, regal and still, his tail
curled around his front paws,
contentedly surveying his
kingdom. Not a turn of his
head, not a flick of his tail.
Was he aware we were there,
sharing this moment of absolute silence? It is a scene
that I will never forget.
There were only five white
families in Senanga in those
days, that is, apart from the
Harrington household, and
the French missionaries. We
had no neighbours, no TV,
no telephones and no electricity. We read books, were
mostly home-schooled, and
played in the great outdoors.
It was a unique and wonderful place. There is a lot more
to tell about life in Barotseland; the prolific bird and
wildlife, the times we could
accompany my father on his
trips into the bush. This is
merely a little glimpse into
that world we knew.
42
MAR APR MAY 2013
LIVINGSTONE
REFORESTATION
EDUCATION
Planning to re-green a country
zambia@greenpop.org
SOURCE: GREENPOP
With a target of 5,000 trees
to be planted in three weeks
in July, Trees for Zambia is
perhaps the most dynamic
community-based reforestation project ever to take root in
the country.
in a country with one of the
highest deforestation rates
in the world. Greenpop aims
to create a more sustainable
future through urban greening,
education, social bridging and
increasing biodiversity.
In July last year the initial
project in Zambia planted
more than 4,000 trees in and
around Livingstone. Since
then a full time staff member
has monitored the trees and
continued with education.
This year the action is
taking place from 7-28 July
with the aim to plant trees as
well as organise workshops
and sustainability education for
the surrounding communities
and volunteers who take part
in the project.
Events like this are not
possible without meaningful
partnerships with a variety
of people and companies.
Individuals and companies can
sponsor trees - one tree, 100
trees, 1,000 trees - every tree
counts - as well as volunteer
during the event.
PHOTO: TAMMY RAYMOND
www.greenpop.org
Greenpop is a social
enterprise based in South
Africa and Zambia with
the objective of making
sustainability popular, fun
and accessible to all. It does
this through tree-planting
projects at schools and
community centres, and
larger scale reforestation.
Trees for Zambia is
an ongoing reforestation
and eco-awareness project
Our Adult Literacy students with volunteers Sarah Kelly from the UK (left) Kate Albers from USA
(African Impact Project Manager) and Lied Nauta from the Netherlands (right)
Following a dream
of literacy
KATE ALBERS
www.africanimpact.com
very Tuesday and
Thursday, Barbara
Mwiya and Claire
Mulikelela walk
from the outskirts of Dambwa Compound to attend
an adult literacy class. With
families to feed and businesses to run, these women
desire more than the basic
ability to read and write –
they seek a tool to further
their careers.
“I often go to Francistown to sell paint,” explains
Claire. “I need English so
buyers can trust me.”
Barbara, motioning to
the classroom, declares, “I
have seen this older woman
is a teacher. With literacy I
myself can become a teacher.”
In support of these goals,
the voluntourism company
African Impact has begun an
adult literacy programme for
beginner and intermediate
Zambian women participating in
reforestation project
levels at Local Cowboy Preschool, in partnership with
the Ministry of Education.
Barbara and Claire join 12
other dedicated classmates
for two hours of intermediate English and arithmetic
instruction under African
Impact teaching volunteers.
In the neighbouring classroom, retired primary school
teacher Clarina Muyunda
instructs an additional 25
adults in a basic-level class.
Notebooks in hand and
babies in tow, this group
of mostly women travel far
from their rural homes for
the opportunity to begin
or complete their literacy
education. Muyunda and
African Impact representatives are joined by volunteers
from Victoria Falls University, who assist teachers with
translations and provide
one-on-one help to the students.
Sarah Kelly, teaching
volunteer, has high hopes for
this project. “If these parents can do it, they can help
their children as well. It’s
not just their generation that
are benefitting, but multiple
generations. It’s a very fulfilling initiative.”
This group of dedicated
adults forms one of what
Billy Milimo of the Ministry of Education hopes will
be forerunners of many adult
literacy courses to be held
throughout Livingstone. He
intends to provide functional
literacy, targeting women in
particular.
“In our community, we
see that most of our women
are not educated or have
stopped their learning at
grade four or five,” said Milimo. “When someone is illiterate, they cannot calculate
a profit or realize they are
making a loss. Adult literacy
will answer these problems
as well as increase understanding among all Zambian
citizens.”
The course at Local
Cowboy Pre-school lasts ten
weeks, after which another
batch of students will be registered for the next beginner
and intermediate courses.
2013 events Livingstone
10 - 14 April
Tuesdays & Thursdays
Yoga
8.30hrs to 9.30 hrs
Livingstone Golf Club
Phone Bev: + 260 979959981
Wednesdays
SOURCE: TOURDAFRIQUE
KATE PALLETT
Touch Rugby
17.30hrs
Livingstone Golf Club
Contact J.T: + 260 974269646
Tour d'Afrique
Waterfront - Charmaine
Phone + 260 213 320 606/
+ 260 (0) 977 693 147
http://tourdafrique.com/
Fridays - during term
Cake Sale
Acacia School
11.00hrs to 13.00hrs
Sonja Clay: + 260 977126526
Fridays
Weekly art classes for
children
Agnus Buya
+ 260 977325799
Rotary Club
13.00hrs - 14.00hrs
Venue to be advised
Phone Sue + 260 965888810
Golf Tournaments &
Competitions
Livingstone Golf &
Country Club
Mrs Yataba
+ 260 0966 640 675
LIVINGSTONE
2013 MAR APR MAY
43
CHARITY
Hell and High Water
PETER ROBERTS
www.charitychallenge.com/comic-relief-challenge-yourself.html
ix celebrities from
the UK took on the
Zambezi Challenge
in January to raise
money for the British charity
Comic Relief. Former Spice
Girl Melanie Chisholm,
actress Chelsee Healey, DJ
Greg James, Olympian Phillips Idowu and comedians
Dara O'Briain and Jack Dee
battled the rapids and dodged
the rocks, crocs and hippos as
they canoed and rafted over
111km down the Zambezi
River over five days.
The team followed David Livingstone’s original
journey downstream to the
Victoria Falls and finished
off the challenge rafting the
famous white-water rapids
below the Victoria Falls. At
the end of the challenge the
official Red Nose Day website said the team were ‘exhausted, exhilarated and very
soggy.’
The Hell and High Water
challenge proved to be one of
the more dangerous fundraising tasks attempted in the
name of Comic Relief. Concerns were raised on day two
after Idowu and O’Briain,
travelling at the back of the
group, made an unintended
break-away expedition and
disappeared down a side
channel. O’Briain was left
clinging to a tree for over
half an hour after losing his
paddle and being thrown
from his raft by the rapids.
He was safely rescued by the
support crew.
The Hell and High Water challenge hopes to raise
£1million to help school
children in Zambia. On day
three the team visited Siandunda Village and followed
school children on their daily
two hour walk just to get to
their local school.
The Hell and High
Water challenge
proved to be one
of the more dangerous fundraising
tasks attempted
in the name of
Comic Relief
The completion of the
challenge marks 25 years
since the first Comic Relief
Red Nose Day event, and,
thanks to the generosity of
the British public, over £600
million has been donated
during 13 Red Nose Days
PHOTOS: TOM DYMOND/COMIC RELIEF LTD/REX FEATURES
www.rednoseday.com/donate/zambezi
The Comic Relief team visited Siandunda Village then Mandia School
since. The money raised is
used to transform the lives
of countless people, both in
the UK and Africa.
The BT Red Nose
Challenge: Hell and High
Water documentary, which
shows what went on down
the Zambezi, and what the
team went through will
be aired in the UK during
Red Nose Day 2013, on 15
March.
Do you want to follow
in the footsteps of the Hell
and High Water team? The
organisers plan to rerun this
challenge and open up several
challenge dates following
the broadcast of the BT Red
Nose Challenge: Hell and
High Water documentary.
Jack Dee walking with the school hildren
THE GREENS INN & CHINESE CUISINE
Chinese Restaurant & Guest House
Plot 75 along Lusaka Road (opposite big water tank)
Real and fresh Chinese food in Livingstone
+260 213 323 103
E-mail: thegreensinn@live.com
www.thegreensinnzambia.com
+260(0)3 327271 / 323141
info@africanview.it
www.africanview.it
44
MAR APR MAY 2013
LIVINGSTONE
CONFERENCE
Experts to
gather in
Livingstone
ZT CORRESPONDENT
www.www.livingstone2013.net
Celebrating the diversity of Livingstone
As part of the global set
of events to mark the bicentenary of the birth of David
Livingstone,
Livingstone
Zambia is to host an international academic conference
on Dr David Livingstone in
June. Over three days, experts from around the world
will meet to exchange different ideas and views about the
life and legacy of Livingstone
and his followers, as well as
related topics in the field of
humanitarian intervention,
slavery, colonial rule, imperialism and education.
This event will bring together a diverse group of
people - historians, curators,
literary scholars, geographers,
anthropologists, explorers,
journalists, NGO workers,
installation artists, teachers
and novelists.
Keynote addresses will
be given by author Tim Jeal,
Professor John Mackenzie
ACCOMMODATION
March
19 David Livingstone Memorial Service
19 Champagne RECEPTION & Fireworks
APRIL
13 Inter-business 7-ASIDE Football TOURNAMENT
19–21 INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC CONFERENCE
TBA Friendly international football match
MAY
4 THE DAVID LIVINGSTONE GOLF TOURNAMENT
June
TBA International Cultural carnival
18 The PUT FOOT RALLY *
29 Fishing Competition starts
AUGUST
3–4 The BAREFEET THEATRE
TBA MOTORCROSS FUN ENDURO RALLY
24–29 UNWTO GENERAL ASSEMBLY with Zimbabwe *
SEPTEMBER
TBA INTERNATIONAL ROWING REGATTA *
OCTOBER
28 The Zambezi River festival starts *
23 ST MARY’S SCHOOL CALNE, UK, to HELP BUILD
SCHOOL FOR VUNERABLE children NEAR CHAMA
NOVEMBER
15-16 2-DAY K1 invitation Canoe Challenge
16 GRANDE FINALE, LIVINGSTONE ISLAND
TONE BI
GS
NT
V I D L I VI
DA
CE
N
E N A RY

19 MarCH–16 November 2013
ACCOMMODATION
181
3–2 013
Chanters Lodge: Stay at Chanters
Lodge in Livingstone, great food,
wonderful garden with pool, comfortable
reasonably priced rooms in Lukulu
Crescent, off Obote Avenue.
Phone: + 260 213 323412
Email: richardchanter@gmail.com
http://www.chanters-livingstone.com
twitter/@livilodge
Zigzag Bed & Breakfast: Clean,
comfortable, affordable accommodation
in Livingstone town, only 7kms from
Victoria Falls. All rooms have en-suite
facilities, air-conditioning, secure parking,
beautiful gardens, swimming pool,
children’s play area, DSTV,free WiFi for
guests, delicious food served all day,
licenced bar.
Phone: + 260 213 322814
Mobile: + 260 (0) 977681741
E-mail: info@zigzagzambia.com
www.zigzagzambia.com
ACTIVITIES
July
1–2 FISHING COMPETITION
www.livingstone2013.com
frances@zambezitraveller.com +263 (0) 712 208 370
BEER, WINE & SPIRITS
GIFT SHOP
Reflections: Camping equipment. Good
selection of assorted cards and gifts for
all occasions. Located: Falls Park Mall
Mobile : + 260 (0) 977788575
DAVID Livingstone
BICENTENARY CELEBRATiONS
* non-bicentenary events
conference will be opened by
Chief Mukuni.
The conference is being
jointly run by the Livingstone
Museum and the Department
of International History at
the London School of Economics (LSE), in association
with the Livingstone 2013
events committee. It has been
generously supported by the
LSE Annual Fund as part of
the School’s commitment to
its Africa Initiative.
livingstone
CLASSIFIEDS
Advertise in Livingstone Classifieds
and Keith Hart, while speakers include Gary Clendennen, Brian Stanley, Friday
Mufuzi, Kaluso Walimu,
Sekibakiba Peter Lekgothi,
Sarah Worden, Justin Livingstone, Joel Quirk, Joanna
Lewis, Jonas Gjersø, Ben de
Ponti, Sybren Renema, Stacey
Sommerdyk, Leila Koivunen,
Lawrence Dritsas, Brian
Murray and Julie Davidson.
There will also be workshops
for graduate students. The

VICTORIA FALLS, ZAMBIA
LIVINGSTONE 2013
Fawlty Towers Lodge: Private air –
conditioned en-suite rooms & dormitory
accommodation, set in a large garden
with swimming pool, braai area. Sauna
& beauty salon. Free airport pick-ups
and daily shuttles to the Falls. Situated
opposite Shoprite, Mosi-oa-Tunya
Square.
Phone: + 260 213 323432
Mobile: + 260 (0) 972250154
Email: ahorizon@zamnet.zm
Ngolide Lodge
Ngolide Lodge: Well equipped airconditioned newly re-furbished rooms.
Our “ Golden Leaf Restaurant “ serves
Indian/Continental cuisine.
Located : Mosi-oa –Tunya Road
Lodge : + 260 213 321091/2
Restaurant : + 260 213 321266
E-mail : info@ngolidelodge.com
E- mail : ngolidelodge@gmail.com
www.ngolidelodge.com
Walk With The Rhino on a 3 hour
‘walking safari’ in the Mosi-oa-Tunya
National Park. Incltusive pick-up and
drop-off, park fees, professional guide,
game scout , light breakfast, halfway
snacks, cold water/soft drinks.
‘ TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE’
LIVINGSTONE SAFARIS
Tel : + 260 213 322267
Cell : + 260 (0) 977450716
E-mail :gecko@zamnet.zm
AUTO REPAIR
Bennett Engineering: Professional
engine assembling, vehicle maintenance
and servicing. Skimming of cyclinder
heads. Reborring/ skimming engine
blocks. Press fit conrods. Test/set/fit
injector nozzles. Fitting of cam bushes.
Vehicle diagnostic. Import spares from
South Africa. Mosi-os-Tunya Road,
opposite Falls Park Mall
Contact : + 260 213 321611
Mobile : +260 (0) 978308936
Kazuma Enterprises Ltd: Is Zambia’s
largest liquour importer supplying
the Zambian market with premium
international brands of beer, liquor and
spirits. The company is dedicated and
passionate about supplying only the
best and believes in ‘ Quality Without
Compromise’.
Call: + 260 (0) 969 778 406
Warehouse 215, 217 Area next to Zambia
Sugar, 215 Mosi-oa – Tunya Road
E-mail : sales@kazuma.co.zm
BOOKS & STATIONERY
Bookworld Livingstone: Selling
a good selection of children’s,
professional, reference and educational
books at affordable prices. Stationery
items available. Mosi-oa-Tunya Square.
Contact us + 260 213 321414
BUTCHERY
Fallsmeat Ltd:Top quality meat, biltong
and boerwors and many other products.
Mosi-oa-Tunya Road, Livingstone Town
Centre. Phone + 260 (0) 979497181
FOR SALE
Kafue Sprite: Good second-hand boat
with out-board 115 HP EVENRUD engine.
Contact Roy at Chhana’s.
Mobile : 00 260 (0) 955443557
HARDWARE
Vadoma Ltd: Suppliers of building,
electricial materials, paints, carpentry and
glue products. Agents for tap supplies,
glass cutting, cement etc.Mosi-oa-Tunya
Road opposite Mukuni Park.
Contact tel/fax : + 260 213 322521
Mobile: + 260 (0) 977141874
E-mail: vadomalimited@gmail.com
PAINT SHOP
Diotech Ltd: We specialise in household/
industrial paints and Cemcrete products.
We also mix household and automotive
paints to your specifications. Falls Park
Mall, Livingstone.
Phone:+260 213 320082
Mobile: + 260 (0) 977882399
RESTAURANTS
Laughing Dragon Chinese Restaurant:
Superb Sichuan Cuisine, take-aways
& restaurant. Self-contained local
accommodation. John Hunt Way behind
Post Office. Phone : + 260 213 322555
Mulako’s Restaurant :
We prepare delicious Zambian tradional
meals. Come in and try our a la carte
menu with East African, vegetarian and
Norwegian dishes.
Open 08.00 – 22.00hrs daily
Located at Queens Park Shopping
Centre behind Fairmount Hotel.
Phone : 00 260 (0) 977 611
iPad app that through its images
Quarterly
distribution
and interesting stories brings to
30,000
life the Zambezi Region and all its
wonder. iPad users can expect a
worldwide
new app every quarter. September
Tabloid Newspaper l Website l Quarlerly E-newsletter l Social Media l iPad
and December 2012 editions are
available on the App Store.
LIVINGSTONE
AVIATION
2013 MAR APR MAY
45
ENTOMOLOGY
Flying ace trains pilots
ZT CORRESPONDENT
Leading aviation expert Tim Allen
with a model of the Jetsream 41
aircraft he helped to develop
Proflight’s on-going commitment to safety and follows
the award in November of
an Air Operators Certificate
from the Department of Civil
Aviation. The certificate is issued with the oversight of the
International Civil Aviation
Organisation,
confirming
that the airline meets rigorous safety, security and operational standards. The licence
marks a new chapter in Zambia’s aviation industry and
paves the way for Proflight to
start flying on international
routes in the region.
Allen started his career
in 1962 at the age of 17 when
he was awarded a Royal Air
Force flying scholarship and
gained his private pilot’s licence. After university he
spent 20 years with the RAF,
working as an instructor and
test pilot on a range of aircraft
from supersonic fighter jets to
bombers.
He then joined leading
aerospace company BAE
Systems, where he was a test
pilot for ten years, helping to
certify the Jetstream 32 aircraft in 1987 and becoming
project test pilot for the development of the company’s
Jetstream 41.
PHOTOS: TODD JOHNSON
ne of the world’s most
experienced
aviation experts visited
Zambia in February
to provide Proflight Zambia
aircrew with state-of-the-art
ground school training for its
Jetstream 32 aircraft.
The pilots received instruction from ace pilot Tim
Allen – a man who has flown
some 71 different aircraft
types and clocked more than
10,000 flying hours in a career spanning 50 years.
The 67-year-old former
test pilot, who was instrumental in developing the 29seater Jetstream 41 aircraft
also used by Proflight, has
been advising the airline on
fine-tuning its operations.
“I know the Jetstream
inside out, so I was working with the pilots to help
them get the best out of the
aircraft,” said Allen, who
trained 15 of Proflight’s pilots flying Jetstream planes.
Asked what makes a good
pilot, he said: “You have to
have a feel for the aircraft
and see what’s going on, and
be very, very interested. The
learning never stops.”
“We are honoured to be
benefiting from Tim Allen’s
experience and wisdom,”
Proflight’s Director of Government and Industry Affairs, Capt Philip Lemba
said. “We are always striving for ways to maintain our
strength and improve our
operations so that we can
better serve our customers.”
The training is part of
SOURCE: PROFLIGHT
www.flyzambia.com
Aptly named ‘praying mantis’
Are they praying or preying?
Introducing a distinctive group of insects commonly found near the Zambezi – the mantids or mantises,
which are harmless and help to control other insect numbers.
has the greatest diversity of
about 880 species.
The name ‘praying mantis’
Todd Johnson is the Curator
is often interchanged with
of Entomology, Department of ‘preying mantis’ because
Natural History, Livingstone
mantids are predatory inMuseum
sects. The word mantis was
borrowed from the Greek
language where it means
tjforgood@gmail.com
prophet. These insects are actually called praying mantises
There are many fascinating for their typical prayer-like
insects to be seen along the
stance. Use of the term ‘preyZambezi River. One such
ing,’ though wrongly misgroup is the praying mantids. spelled by most people except
Mantids or mantises are car- for entomologists, remains
nivorous insects belonging to widely acceptable.
the insect group Mantodea.
Mantises have exception‘Praying’ mantises or manally good hunting skills. They
tids is the common name for are able to ambush prey by
insects in this group. There
disguising themselves and reare approximately 1,800 spe- maining motionless for long
cies of mantids in the world
periods. Their natural blend
with the highest number of
of body colour or camouflage
species in the tropics. Africa is also used to avoid predaTODD JOHNSON
tion. They normally eat what
they have killed themselves.
Their diet is mainly made up
of insects but non insects are
also eaten. Unlike assassin
bugs which suck fluids from
the bodies of their prey,
praying mantises actually
chew their victims.
For most of us, praying
mantises are pests, while
others consider them harmful. It is true that they can
bite but the bite is harmless.
When cornered, the praying mantis will strike with
its spiked forelegs before
attempting to bite if the
attacker persists. If you encounter praying mantises in
the bush or in your gardens,
my advice is to leave them
alone. They are very important in controlling other
insects which are harmful to
our garden plants and food
crops in our fields.
FACT file
Mantids
• During mating, the female
bites off the male’s head
and eats it.
• In Southern Africa, legend
has it that the praying mantis
was referred to as a god
among the Khoisan people.
• In China, some mantis
species have increased
their chances of survival by
supplementing their meat
diet with pollen.
• The European mantis,
Mantis religiosa, is the state
insect of Connecticut in the
USA, even though it is not
indigenous to North America.
CHARITY
PHOTO: SUN INTERNATIONAL
Caring cyclists raise funds for children
ZT CORRESPONDENT
www.charitycycletour.co.za
The Sun City Cycle Club
The 2013 Charity Cycle Tour route and team on the steps of the Zambezi Sun Hotel, Livingstone, Victoria Falls
officially known as The Charity
Cycling Club, is a fully accredited non-profit organization in
existence for the last eleven
years. The Club’s focus is to
practise and broaden the sport
of cycling whilst raising funds
for various charities that benefit
impoverished children.
The Club encourages
interested and committed
individuals from all walks of
life and various International
countries to join them in their
fundraising efforts. They use
cycling to achieve their objectives through a challenging
Cycle Tour which incorporates
fun, enthusiasm, dedication,
commitment and participation
from the cyclists, at the same
time raising funds for the
chosen charities.
Annually in March The
Charity Cycling Club embarks
on a fundraising initiative with
the aim of raising funds for the
benefit of destitute children.
The 2013 Cycle Tour set
off from the Zambezi Sun
Hotel in Livingstone on Friday
22 February and finished with
the teams arrival at the Table
Bay Hotel in Cape Town,
4 countries, 13 days and
3,000km later.
Zambia
46
LUANGWA
GID’S COLUMN
CHRISTINA ‘GID’ CARR
Introducing the first in a series of
four columns by experienced safari
hand Gid Carr
www.normancarrsafaris.com
n that great era of discovery
when you could still name
an animal after yourself, the
hunter and collector Captain
Richard Crawshay identified a new
sub-species of plains Zebra. We
love our Crawshay’s zebra which
trot proudly around the Luangwa
and Lower Zambezi valleys, defiant
and dazzling with their clean, neat
stripes and ever rotund bellies.
In the Luangwa Valley, the
Kunda and Bisa people call zebra
‘chimbwete’ or ‘boli,’ and the Goma
people of the Lower Zambezi call
them ‘mbidzi.’ Luangwa legend has
it that traditional hunters were reluctant to kill and eat zebra - apparently their genitalia resemble that of
humans too closely!
Herds usually consist of a stallion and his harem of fillies – he will
establish this harem by abducting
young females in their first oestrus
from other herds. The females don’t
seem to mind, in fact they advertise
their availability by straddling their
legs, lowering their heads and raising their tails. Once part of the harem and bonded to their herd master, they keep subsequent periods
of oestrus between themselves and
their stallion.
A new harem member is initially
given a tough time by the incumbent
Thoughts from two great African valleys – the
Luangwa and the Middle Zambezi
females but creeps up the hierarchy
as she becomes established. She will
give birth well away from the herd;
mother and foal spend two or three
days bonding before rejoining the
family. Then, as they mature sexually, the males drift off to join other
bachelors and the fillies stay around
until some stallion Valentino sweeps
them off their hooves.
There have been many ‘how did
the zebra get its stripes’ theories.
One of the latest hypothesises that
the stripes discourage tsetse flies and
other bloodsucking insects. Zebra
stripes apparently disrupt polarised
light, making the animals unattractive to the insects. So far we haven’t
seen any safari guests arriving in zebra stripes. However, judging by the
number of zebra we see with huge
scars on their rumps where a lion has
PHOTO : WILL BURRARD-LUCAS, NORMAN CARR SAFARIS
Valley to Valley
almost brought them down, zebra
stripes might not be the best choice
of attire for walking safaris!
I’m told that Crawshay’s is easily distinguishable from other more
common or garden plains Zebra by
the fact that its lower incisors lack an
infundibulum. Of course – so obvious! But whatever it is that distinguishes them, we are fiercely proud
of ‘our’ zebras. Thank you, Captain
Crawshay, for noticing that lack of
an infundibulum.
Crawshay zebra
A zebra by any other name… Researching this piece has thrown up an
interesting conundrum. There has been some question whether the Lower
Zambezi zebra is in fact Crawshay’s. The received knowledge appears to be
that they are Crawshay’s and even the rigorous LZ guides exams perpetuate
this. Evidently however, no-one can say with 100% certainty that they are
indeed Crawshay’s. Comments, insights and information most welcome!
Editor’s Note: More about zebra on page 21
DRAMA
PHOTOS: MARIA-JOSE CARBALLO
Die
another
day!
ROBIN POPE SAFARIS
www.robinpopesafaris.net
info@robinpopesafaris.net
Hyena waits for a potential meal; keeping its head above water, survival instincts for this puku are strong
It’s a new year in the Luangwa
Valley, and this means new growth,
with everything lush and green
from all the rain. Along with the new
growth comes new life.
Baby impalas, zebras and warthogs are running all over the place,
as well as the cutest lion cubs you’ve
ever seen. It’s a truly special time to
visit, and River Journeys explore the
Luangwa River at its most dramatic.
Apart from boating, walking safaris and game drives complete the
River Journeys experience. Recently
guests were treated to a nail biting
game drive.
The guests noticed several hyenas purposefully heading towards
a shallow lagoon. They followed and
found a puku in the middle of the
lagoon. Assuming it was stuck in the
mud, they thought the hyenas would
quickly close in, but the hyenas were
hesitant. What was going on?
A sudden splash gave the answer; a young crocodile was trying
to make a meal out of the puku. A
struggled ensued with the crocodile grabbing the puku by its neck,
its muzzle and even its ear at one
stage.
Despite the crocodile’s efforts,
the puku always managed stay
above the water. Once it even made
it out of the lagoon, but the presence
of the hyenas made it jump back
into the water. Eventually both the
hyenas and the crocodile lost interest and the poor puku lived to die
another day!
THE BACK PAGE
Letters
i
2013 MAR APR MAY
The Zambezi Traveller welcomes letters to
the Editor to frances@zambezitraveller.com
47
Quarterly
distribution
30,000
worldwide
Editor’s Note: Please note the previous
issue to this was in fact Issue 11.
It was labelled incorrectly as Issue 10.
Dear Frances,
your
an d went onto
ck from lea ve
– it
I am just ba
ue
iss
g
do
ld
e wi
ve a look at th
website to ha
pecially.
es
ge
pa
nt
e fro
thank you! Th
y.
is gorgeous,
time” as we sa
ow e you “big
gs
do
ld
wi
d
Cheetahs an
Correction: Please note that the angling story
“Catch and release – the trial” on page 32 for
Kariba and Middle Zambezi was incorrectly
credited. The writer of the story is Mana Meadows.
Dear Frances,
I do hope all is well with
you? Can I receive more
copies of Issue 11, and other
issues. I did receive Issue
11one copy posted to me,
thank you. I would like to
distribute copies to customers
and business friends from
Mocambique, Malawi, RSA
and locally. If 50 copies
could be arranged I would
collect them. Many thanks
and I am very proud of the
Zambezi Traveller – the
only truthful news media,
other than the Bible of
course!
Issue 11 is a great job done
by you all – well done!
On behalf of Hwange
Lion Research I just want
to thank you for your
continued support on project
news – all this helps us!
As a wild dog issue – I
am bringing up a film crew
from Brazil in April to
Mana to do a documentary/
travel feature – so this also
helps the cause – thanks
again.
Kind Regards,
Brian Courtenay, SATIB
Sincerely,
John Slade,
Payns Boats P/L
Zambezi Traveller –
A Wake-Up Pill To Africa!
Email teddy@yoafrica.com
for subscription enquiries.
Dear Teddy,
Thank you for the fabulous
latest issue of Zambezi
Traveller, Issue 11, it’s
great! Really super actually.
Compliments of the season
to you and your team, I
hope 2013 will be a very
good year for you.
Best regards,
Martin Wells
Summit Publishing cc
Cape Town, South Africa
Ta ke ca re,
Hi Teddy,
Dear Teddy,
I would like to say thank
you for the paper’s Issue 11
which l have just received
and which my daughter has
really fallen for as they have
some lovely things in them.
She really liked the write
ups on the cheetahs and also
the bits on the rhinos. She
gets very disturbed when she
sees stories on rhino poaching. This news paper carries
a lot of info on every thing
for all ages.
Thank you once again
and look forward to the next
issue.
Kind regards,
Mark Denton
Bulawayo Zimbabwe
The traveller’s friend, a definitive
guide for destinations along the
Zambezi. Distributed world wide
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tty) Purchase
cheetah
Dr Giane tta (Ne
programme for
tor,Range wide
Lead Coordina
CS
m
L/W
cat@yoafrica.co
conser vation ZS
zsl.org or spotted
Email: cheetah@ tahandwilddog.org
hee
Website: ww w.c
Teddy Brightman
Dear Frances,
Victoria Falls, Chobe, Caprivi and
Windhoek
Tel: +263 (0) 712 217 178
Email: teddy@yoafrica.com
Editorial & Advertising
Dear Teddy,
Dear Frances,
I’d like to thank you for the
latest edition of Zambezi
Traveller. It arrived this
week. I also received all
the back copies you sent,
though cannot remember
if I let you know. I like the
several articles you have on
the painted dog.
May this be a fruitful year
for you and your paper.
I have been reading Issue 11
online. Zambezi Traveller
is fantastic
Frances. I haven’t sat down
& read it for a long time. I
have now subscribed
to the newsletter & our son
who is a FAGASA field
guide has done so as well.
He does many trips to the
Zambezi Basin.
We are moving at the end
of March, I do not want to
miss the ZT copies.
Would you kindly send
some copies to our new
address. Much appreciated.
Yours,
Jane Boswell
Hi Teddy,
Thanks for the great article
A Milestone for Chobe
Marina and A New Lodge
Rises in the hills in Issue
11 of Zambezi Traveller
It has generated a lot of
interest.
Regards
Heath Dhana
(CHA, MIH)
Chief Operating Officer,
Chobe Marina
Kind Regards,
Lynette
Cape Town, South Africa
Note from the Editor:
Thank you for sharing your
memories with us Lynette
in “ Wonders of an African
Childhood”. I am glad that
you are recording these
for your family. Read on
page 41.
I am holding another beautiful edition of your paper
and am always thrilled by
your publication - congratulations! I would humbly
like to offer a poem I wrote
some years ago which you
are free to publish if you
find it suitable.
Show me Africa
I want to live.
I want to walk with the king of
the beasts, swim where the
elephants swim, ride through
the tawny expanse.
I want to come fully alive.
Tingle without the boundaries
of humanity. I want to live! I
want to taste the earth - red
and homeless, touch the wild,
fearless and free. I want to
stand beside a waterfall and
laugh at the dew on my face.
I want to dance in the
savannah where the buffalo
roam and painted dog pause.
Let me live!
I want to run and not grow
faint, give me Africa!
I want to wake to the whisper
of sunrise, warm by the touch
of her glow.
Show me Africa!
I want to rise up, peer from
the escarpment of hope and
soar where the fish eagle rests
upon the thermals of dawn.
I want to live.
Show me Africa.
Frances Jackson
Victoria Falls, Kariba, Middle Zambezi
(Zambia and Zimbabwe), Livingstone,
Lusaka and Mozambique.
Tel: +263 (0) 712 208 370
Email: frances@zambezitraveller.com
Advertising
Pam Lindsay
Harare, Kariba and Lower Zambezi
Tel: +263 (0) 772 230 971
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Email: pamlindsay.hdt@gmail.com
Advertising
Kabili Branding
Zambia
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Email: helpdesk@justkabili.com
Advert Design & Make Up
Stefania Origgi
Tel: +27 (0) 828804005
Email: ztdesign@gmail.com
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Email: peter@zambezitraveller.com
Editorial Submissions
Zambezi Traveller welcomes editorial
submissions but reserves the right
to publish. Email in Word format to
frances@zambezitraveller.com.
Publisher
The Zambezi Traveller
P.O. Box 183, Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe
Design & Layout
Stefania Origgi
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Printing
Strand Multiprint
FOLLOW US
OBITUARY
Keith Joubert – a personal tribute
PETER COMLEY
www.keith-joubert.com
Africa has lost a great talent.
Keith Joubert was unquestionably one of the most gifted
artists this continent has produced. He was born in humble
surroundings in Germiston
in 1948, grew up in the tough
Johannesburg suburb of Mayfair, and passed away in the
affluent north of Johannesburg
at the end of January 2013,
aged 64.
That bare outline of his
life belies his compulsion to
travel to remote places and
commune with the wild, there
to gather the mental images
he captured on canvas like
no other before him. He had
many imitators, but before
they could catch up he would
simply raise his game. He
changed forever the way
Africa would be painted.
Joubert’s works hang in
many major corporate and
private collections around the
world and his clients include
royalty from Europe and the
Middle East. He has held
major exhibitions in many of
the art capitals of the world
including London, New York
and Johannesburg.
But to talk of Joubert
solely as an artist would be
an injustice to my close friend
and godfather to my daughter.
Over the twenty odd years
that we were friends I came to
know a man who embraced
life more fully than anyone
else I have met. Whether
he was working, partying or
travelling he did it uncompromisingly, at full throttle.
Half measures and mediocrity he despised as much
as he did arrogance. He was
at his most combative when
it came to seeking solutions
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to conservation issues; his
unique mind would search
for answers outside the box.
Where most followed convention, Joubert blazed new
trails.
Success in this world
attracts material gain, but Joubert disdained the accumulation of objects and his sprawling farm home was Spartanly
furnished, while his studios in
the Botswana bush were tents
or simple cabins. He was
able to treat everyone in the
same jovial manner, whether
a client from the British Royal
Family or a petrol attendant
at a dusty station. He caused
many people to smile.
Keith Joubert’s death
leaves a hole in the lives of
Val, the woman he loved so
transparently and deeply,
and his talented brother,
Dereck, and Bev, as well as
his beloved goddaughter - not
to mention princesses, friends
and ordinary people around
Africa.
SUBSCRIBE
Teddy Brightman
teddy@yoafrica.com
DISCLAIMER: All information and points of view
are those of the people who submitted them, and
do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Editors
or publishers. Whilst every effort has been made to
ascertain the validity of the information submitted,
Zambezi Traveller cannot be held responsible
for any inaccuracies. Zambezi Traveller does not
accept any liability for any advertising copy/content
not received correctly. Zambezi Traveller reserves
the right to refuse advertising material that does not
meet its specifications or advertising standards.
48
MAR APR MAY 2013
THE BACK PAGE
VICTORIA FALLS INVESTMENT
Luxury cruise boat due in May
ZT CORRESPONDENT
www.zambeziexplorer.com
info@zambeziexplorer.com
An artists impression of the cruise boat and its three decks
The boat has three decks
linked by wide stairways; the
first deck, accommodating 50
people, and the second deck
taking 60, are both equipped
to supply first class service.
The top signature deck sits a
limited 30 people with exclusive service, complete with
deep couches, telescopes, a
selection of books and bar
with premium brands and
cigars can be enjoyed. Each
deck has seating arranged to
provide guests with an out-
ward view onto the river.
The Zambezi Explorer
will offer sunrise, lunch,
sunset and dinner cruises.
Top quality chefs, with the
use of a fully functional state
of the art onboard kitchen,
will provide guests with the
finest cuisine. This includes a
selection of teas and freshly
brewed coffee to see in the
sunrise, delicious snacks for
the afternoon and evening
and high tea on special request.
the quintessential zambezi river,
victoria falls experience
Weddings
A N D S PEC I A L O C CA S I O N F U N C T I O N S
Personalized
service
PHOTO: TOM VARLEY
I N T ER N AT I O N A L
conferencing
INCENTIVE GROUPS
·
D I N N ER A N D LU N C H C R U I S ES
M E N U S D E V E LO PED BY R E N O W N ED LO CA L C H EF, PR OV I D I N G G O U R M E T C U I S I N E
F O O D CA N B E B E TA I LO R - M A D E TO G R O U P R EQ U I R E M E N T S
LU X U R I O U S S U N D O W N ER A N D N E W S U N R I S E C R U I S ES
E XC E L L E N T F O R B OA R D M EE T I N G S A N D B U S I N ES S F U N C T I O N S
Reservations – reservations@zambeziexplorer.com
General enquiries – info@zambeziexplorer.com
Telephone – 00263 13 42475/ 44453/ 44618
WWW.ZAMBEZIEXPLORER.COM
Facebook- www.facebook.com/zambeziexplorer · Twitter- ExplorerZambezi · Skype- zambezi explorer
PHOTO: TOM VARLEY
or centuries, the
Zambezi River has
seen vessels of all
shapes and sizes
navigating its waters, for
survival, pleasure or exploration. In April this year, the
Zambezi Explorer, a magnificent custom designed cruise
boat, will make its way from
the construction yard in Harare to the Zambezi River
above Victoria Falls for its
maiden voyage in May.
This vessel is inspired
by veteran industry entrepreneurs. It is 27 meters in
length and eight metres in
height, and designed with
luxury in mind, aiming to offer the passenger the highest
standard of service whilst onboard. In order to reduce the
environmental impacts, electrical energy used for most
of the functions on the boat
will be harnessed through a
network of photovoltaic cells
which line the top most surface of the vessel.
Guests will enjoy river elephant sightings
• 3 decks with 5 star service
• Accommodates max 140 pax
• The top deck is the ‘signature
deck’ and is limited to 30 pax
with exclusive service. The top
deck has a library, telescopes,
fully stocked bar with premium
brands and cigars
• 70 tonnes
• + 8metres off the waterline at
highest point
• 27m in length
• Solar powered on board
lighting and electrical system
• Coffee making machine:
cappuccino, lattes, machiato,
and espresso etc on top deck
• Cigar bar
• 3 bars
• WI-FI access
• Conference AV facilities
• Wheelchair access
• Sunrise, lunch, high tea
• Sunset and dinner cruise
options
• On-board cuisine
• WC janitor on-board
02
MAR APR MAY 2013
WELCOME
TRANSFRONTIER PARKS
New wings over Western Zambia
ALAN SPARROW
he Zambian Minister
of Tourism and Arts,
Sylvia T Masebo MP,
officially opened the
Ngonye Falls Partnership
Park in August 2012. On
26 February this year the
minister flew in to Ngonye
Falls accompanied by senior
government officials and
the CEO of the Peace Parks
Foundation, W Myburgh.
Their mission was to formally receive the donation
of a Bat Hawk microlight
aircraft to be based at
Ngonye Falls. The donation
also provided for an aircraft
hangar. The donors are Mr
Neville and Mrs Pamela
Isdell. Mr and Mrs Isdell
were present at the ceremony to hand over the aircraft.
The Minister thanked Mr
and Mrs Isdell for their
generous donation and the
Peace Parks Foundation for
facilitating it.
PHOTOS: TOM VARLEY
www.peaceparks.org
Mr Errol Pietersen will fly the Bat Hawk. Pietersen is based at the Ngonye
falls and provides technical support to the senior staff of the Zambia
Wildlife Authority in charge of the Sioma Ngwezi National Park
FACT file
The Bat Hawk will be a
major boost to the management of the Sioma Ngwezi
National Park, assisting authorities to monitor human
wildlife conflict in the community areas surrounding
the park, where crop raiding
by elephant is a major threat
to the food security of rural
farmers. The microlight
will be flown by Mr Errol
Pietersen who is funded by
the Peace Parks Foundation
to provide technical support
to the Zambia Wildlife Authority field officers at Sioma
Ngwezi .
The Peace Parks Foundation has worked closely with
Mrs Pamela Isdell, Mr Neville
Isdell, The Honourable Minister
Of Tourism and Arts Mrs Sylvia
T Masebo Mp, and Mr Werner
Myburgh, CEO Of The Peace
Parks Foundation
the Zambian government
to develop the Zambian
component of the Kavango
Zambezi Transfrontier
Conservation Area (Kaza
TFCA). The Simalaha
Community Wildlife Conservancy is now establishing
a wildlife sanctuary on the
Simalaha floodplains and
will translocate wildlife into
the protected sanctuary in
the winter of 2013, with initial animals being donated
by the Zambia Wildlife
Authority. The Simalaha
Community Wildlife
Conservancy is an exciting
new model of communitydriven conservation that will
Transboundary
zebra movements
Elephants Without
Borders (EWB) has
released preliminary
research findings which
show zebra migrating
over staggering
distances in Botswana,
including what may
well be the longest
transboundary mammal
migration in southern
Africa. The importance
of transfrontier parks is
further emphasized by
these exciting findings.
Dr Mike Chase,
director for Elephants
Without Borders,
illustrates the routes
these Zebra are taking
with this map.
Recent Peace Park Foundation project
successes
• The South African College for
Tourism which in 2012 won the
Mail and Guardian’s ‘Investing in
the Future of Education Award.’
The Peace Parks Foundation
also sponsors the South African
Wildlife College which trains field
rangers and park managers from
all over southern Africa. The
MAVA Foundation for Nature is
supporting the costs of training
over the next three years. The
college also trains professional
guides for TFCAs in the region.
• The Greater Mapungubwe
TFCA (Botswana/ South
Africa/ Zimbabwe) has been
established by the three
governments with each phase
being facilitated by the Peace
Parks Foundation. In September
2012 an aerial survey of
elephant populations in the
develop the wildlife conservancy along similar lines
to the community wildlife
conservancies that have been
a success story in Namibia
and Botswana.
The Peace Parks Foundation enjoys the support of
international public funders,
financial institutions and
Central Limpopo River Valley
was carried out.
• In Mozambique the
Maputo Special Reserve
(Mozambique) and Tembe
Elephant Park (South Africa)
have been rehabilitated. In
September 2012 an aerial survey
showed movement of elephant
between the two parks, across
borders.
• Malawi/ Zambia TFCAs: In 2012
the two governments agreed on
the management of the Nyika
TFCA which links the Nyika
Plateau across borders and
has facilitated cross-border
movement of elephant.
• The Tracker Academy in South
Africa is supported by the Peace
Parks Foundation. Field rangers
from transfrontier parks are
trained in tracking skills.
individuals that support the
concept of linking conservation areas across international borders to incorporate
entire biomes of sufficient
size to restore the former
ranges of key species such as
elephant, and to reconnect
the shared cultures of local
communities.