Hotel Development – Mana Pools


The Zambezi Society is calling all its members, and concerned members of the public, to help act towards the protection of the Zambezi wilderness. The Zambezi Society is a non-profit, non-governmental, membership organisation working to promote the conservation and environmentally sound management of the Zambezi River and its basin for the benefit of wilderness, wildlife and people.

PROTEA HOTELS DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL – ZAMBIA

Zambezi Society members need to know about a 144-bed hotel development proposed by the Protea Hotel Group, Zambia to be situated on the banks of the Zambezi River, in communal land in the Chiawa Game Management Area some 500m opposite Vundu Point in the Mana Pools National Park and World Heritage Site.

An advertisement has appeared in the Zambian newspapers asking for public comments and/or objections to on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) document for this development that has been submitted to the Environment Council of Zambia (ECZ) for approval. Submissions should reach the ECZ (see contact details below) NO LATER THAN 14th APRIL 2010

The Zambezi Society was first alerted to this through concerned Zambian tour operators and conservationists (not through the developers nor the consultant who completed the EIS).

THE ZAMBEZI SOCIETY WILL MAKE A SUBMISSION BASED ON THIS MEMBERS CONSULTATION

We wish to make an informed submission on behalf of our membership by the due date and are therefore asking ALL concerned Zambezi Society members to write to us URGENTLY with your comments on this proposal by the end of March 2010.

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A Day To Remember

(Another contribution from guest blogger Ruth Binney)

If you’ve ever wanted to see a herd of elephants walk down to the water to drink, cool down and play, watch crocodiles and monitor lizards basking or see more than 25 different species of birds all in the space of a few hours then the place to be is in Chobe National Park in Botswana.

The one day safari from Chanters Lodge begins with a drive to the border on the Zambezi, the only place in the world where four countries meet (Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe), There you quickly realize that the speed boat organized to take you across the river is luxury indeed, On both sides there are lines of trucks a mile or so long waiting to be carried, one at a time, by the three ferries that ply the water, At worst, we learned, it can take more than a week in the queue.

Our party – myself, Richard on a rare day off and his wife Ireen and Henry aged 7 – were transported the short distance to Chobe Safari Lodge for the first and most spectacular part of the day, a 2 1/2 hour boat trip along the river Chobe. What an experience! Botswana’s bird spectacularly on display, best of all being the malachite kingfisher (pictured, lilac breated roller (Botswana’s national bird, fish eagles, maribou storks and lappet faced vultures. Plus the elephants with mothers protecting their young between their legs and many hippos in family groups. A game drive through the park followed lunch, when Henry excelled himself spotting a tortoise and mongoose – neighbours to the many elephants, wart hogs and giraffes.

Altogether an excellently organized day thanks to Bushtracks and their informative guides and our driver Chris who sped us through the form filling needed to cross the borders back and forth. Another outing not to be missed from Chanters and a thrilling day for Henry too!

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Hills Of Africa Travel


I found Hills of Africa first on Twitter where they are very active, informative, interesting and fun too! This is what they offer:

“For many people, bringing the whole family on vacation can sometimes mean fewer destination choices and conflicting desires on where to travel. Since there are so many family-oriented accommodations to choose from, it almost seems less stressful to choose a popular family vacation destination than to have to research unique places to take your family that are both safe and exciting.

Perhaps you stress about the safety and convenience factors of traveling internationally. Maybe you only feel safe going to trusted places you have heard about from friends or family. All of these reasons that lead to your stress are justifiable concerns. But what if there were a place you could bring the entire family that would introduce them to . . .

• An exotic world of adventure.
• Inspirational cultures.
• Unspoiled wildernesses.
• A safe traveling experience.
• Exceptional cuisine.
• Highly-acclaimed accommodations with superior service, and comfortable ambiances.
• A place less frequented by tourists, allowing you to get a real taste for the culture of the particular destination without having an overly westernized experience.

If all the above reasons provide solutions and ease to your concerns, then an African family safari is the perfect trip for you and your family. As one of the very few places in the world where you can experience unspoiled wilderness as it was from the beginning, Africa is an eye-opening continent that educates, inspires, and leaves a lasting impression on you and your family for the rest of your life.

An African safari vacation isn’t just for couples or retirees who are looking to travel the world. A trip to Africa can be a very unique and rewarding family experience. As a native of Zimbabwe, I have traveled throughout Africa as well as a wide spectrum of destinations around the world, and nothing compares to Africa’s unique and friendly spirit. Visiting and researching dozens upon dozens of accommodations across the southern countries of Africa, my team and I provide clients with only the best accommodations in Africa.

Now a resident of the United States, I frequently travel to Africa with my family and believe that the next best thing to living in Africa is sharing it with your family. Experience the magic of Africa with your family. Let Hills of Africa Travel create a detailed itinerary, tailored around your every individual preference. Contact us today at 1.800.940.9344. We’re looking forward to making your dreams come true . . .”

There you are then, and don’t forget to stay at Chanters Lodge in Livingstone while you’re about it!

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BUS SERVICE – VIC FALLS (ZIM) TO JO’BURG


NEW BUS SERVICE TO JOHANNESBURG FROM VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE

DEPARTS DAILY

OFFICE OPEN DAILY TO 6.00PM FOR BOOKINGS.

ZAR600 PER PERSON AND INCLUDES:-

VEHICLE PICK UP FROM BOOKING OFFICE AND TRANSFER TO VICTORIA FALLS BACKPACKERS LODGE FOR THE NIGHT – DORM BED

VEHICLE WILL PICK UP CLIENTS FROM VICTORIA FALLS BACKPACKERS AT 3.00AM FOR BUS DEPARTURE AT 3.30AM

BUS ARRIVES IN BULAWAYO 10.00AM AT WELL EQUIPPED DEPOT – COFFEE SHOP, BATHROOMS, ETC

BUS DEPARTS BULAWAYO 1.00PM AND ARRIVES IN JOHANNESBURG 3.00AM NEXT DAY. CONDUCTOR WILL ORGANISE TAXI TO ACCOMMODATION (THIS SERVICE NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE)

GETAWAY SAFARIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH SENATAR EXPRESS

TEL: +263 13 41480

E-MAIL: vicfalls@senatar.co.zw

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