ZimParks is participating at the Masvingo Tourism Indaba which is part of the countrywide engagement drive with the tourism sector.
ZimParks is participating at the Masvingo Tourism Indaba which is part of the countrywide engagement drive with the tourism sector.
Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority is exhibiting at the Namibia Tourism Expo 2019 event. Participation at this Expo will help the Authority to continue to penetrate the regional tourism market.
ZimParks’ participation at the Namibia Tourism Expo has been necessitated by the need to meet other international buyers who are selling Parks products and services and discuss possible synergies in maximising value.
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ZimParks is exhibiting at the two day Environment Summit being held at the Harare International Conference Centre. The summit is being run under the banner “Dialogue for Environmental Sustainability.
Visit our stand!!!
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Why Matobo National Park…….
The park of international acclaim occupies a total area of 44 500 hectares. The park was awarded the World Heritage status in June 2003. Matobo is an Intensive Protection Zone for endangered black and white rhinoceros. The park offers a diverse package of tourist attractions and activities, it is well known for its unique balancing rock features with the popular “mother and child” balancing rocks.
Attractions and Activities
*Balancing rocks * Game viewing * Rhodes grave * Fishing * Boating * Walking trails * Rhino Trails * Bicycle safaris * rock paintings
Facilities
Lodges (62 beds) | Chalets (8 beds) | Camp-sites | Picnic sites | Tennis/Basketball court | Catering facilities | Conference facilities
Nearest town
Bulawayo 39.8 km
The United Kingdom (UK) has hailed Zimbabwe’s elephant conservation practices, which have seen the country’s elephant population increasing to 85 000 against a carrying capacity of 55 000.
Responding to a written question by Conservative Member of Parliament for North East Hampshire Mr Ranil Jayawardena on Monday, Minister of State for Africa at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Minister of State at the Department for International Development Mrs Harriet Baldwin said the UK was working with Zimbabwe on long term solutions to the issue.
The responses were captured in the United Kingdom’s Hansard.
She said the UK will also continue to support wildlife conservation in the country.
“Zimbabwe has the second largest population of elephants in the world and overpopulation of elephants is a result of good conservation practice,” said Mrs Baldwin.
“We are working with the Government of Zimbabwe on long term solutions to the issue, such as our Green Corridors initiative, and will continue to support wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe.”
Mr Jayawardena had asked on the progress regarding an assessment the department of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had made in relation to the accuracy and implications of Zimbabwe’s elephant population.
“To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the accuracy and (b) the implications of the assessment by the Tourism Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe that Zimbabwe’s carrying capacity is 55 000 elephants, but the country now has a population of 85 000 elephants,” asked Mr Jayawardena.
Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira recently revealed that the country was now overpopulated with elephants and Government was pushing for lifting of ivory trade restrictions provided for under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES).
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo said some of the country’s major conservation practices included anti-poaching patrols, research and monitoring of the species, as well as carrying out conservation education and awareness campaigns in local communities living with wildlife.
“We also educate our communities living with wildlife to view elephants and any other wildlife as an economic opportunity,” said Mr Farawo.
He said communities benefit from proceeds made by Government through tourist visits and the sale of the same species. Early this month, Government announced that it earned about US$2,7 million after exporting 97 elephants to China and Dubai. The money was used to strengthen the country’s conservation activities.
Speaking at the Africa Elephant Summit held in Kasane, Botswana early this month, President Mnangagwa emphasized the need by the global community to lift a ban on ivory trade.
He said poverty eradication in rural communities can be enhanced if countries are allowed to “trade and benefit” from the elephants.
Thinking of visiting Hwange National Park but you are worried about fuel issues? Stress no more. You are assured of the availability of petrol and diesel at Hwange Main Camp.
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A new initiative to forge a new deal for tourism, rural communities and wildlife by 2030
A WILDLIFE ECONOMY
Africa is a future global economic growth engine. But this growth faces challenges, particularly the degradation of nature and people-wildlife conflict. Loss of nature is not only a conservation crisis. It is also a human crisis. When managed correctly, habitat and wildlife are critical resources that contribute to the economic and social health of communities, nations and the planet. Conversely, the loss of habitat created by growing economies and increasing populations has devastating effects on human welfare and on economies. This Initiative has been created to address that imbalance.
A CALL TO ACTION
H.E. President Paul Kagame, during his time as Chair of the African Union, approached UN Environment to together develop a response for this issue. Consequently, the African Union and UN Environment are now jointly launching the Wildlife Economy Initiative.
This aims to help fulfil the vision that President Kagame gave to African Union leaders of the key importance of conservation to the continent’s successful future, saying; “Africans need to take the lead, in partnership with like-minded global organisations, in the conservation agenda on our continent, because it affects all of us directly. Driving conservation will allow us to get the most out of our continent’s assets, contribute to better management of our agriculture and tourism sectors, and support efforts to mitigate climate change.”
A NEW VISION FOR AFRICA
In response to President Kagame’s call, the African Union and UN Environment are to unite political and community leadership, private sector know-how and financial resources for a new vision of pan-African conservation that will deliver sustainable economic benefit to nation states and local communities. Supported by Space for Giants through its Giants Club initiative, the initiative will work to develop the true value of nature and the role it can play in the well-being of citizens.
HOW THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED
Political leaders from across Africa are now invited to gather from 24 to 25 June 2019 at one of Africa’s most iconic tourism locations: Victoria Falls. Staged in one of Africa’s most important landscapes, the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, this inaugural summit of the Wildlife Economy Initiative will help set the African continent on a new path to improve the prospects for both people and wildlife. The major commitments and projects developed, as well as the workshops and symposiums that follow, will then report to H.E. President Kagame at a subsequent event to be staged in Rwanda in the next crucial phase in the progress of this Initiative.
WHAT IS TO BE DONE
Communities for Conservation
Livelihoods related to the appreciation of wildlife and biodiversity that provide solutions for reducing poverty and provide jobs amongst rural communities must be expanded, and people empowered to be meaningful and effective partners in the growing and measurable economic opportunities.
Harnessing Conservation Tourism
A key opportunity for making wildlife a legitimate and effective land use option in Africa is tourism. This Initiative will contribute to making conservation profitable and sustainable by unlocking financing and partnerships through enabling responsible investors to help build a ‘nature-based economy’.
Supporting Governments By gaining conservation-enabling investment, governments can generate opportunities to create jobs, national wealth and to secure wildlife for the future. To attract this investment the right operating environment needs to be in place and experts will work with governments on how to deliver this.
A New Deal: The Wildlife Economy
Where are the next frontiers for conservation tourism?
How can communities benefit from conservation-enabling investment?
What encourages responsible private-sector engagement?
These, and other questions, will be addressed for how Africa’s conservation assets can be a resource for all.
THE VICTORIA FALLS EVENT
In addition to the formal programme, excursions and gala evening events will be staged for delegates. It will include the delivery of The Giants Club Conservation Investment Toolkit detailing the financial opportunities that nation states can unlock through encouraging conservation-enabling investment.
ZimParks has relaxed conditions relating to the hunting of buffaloes by allowing the use of specific bows and arrows as part of efforts to diversify options for professional hunters and boost revenue from the sport.
For more information https://www.herald.co.zw/bow-and-arrow-for-hunting-buffalo/
Why Kazuma Pan National Park…….
Situated in the north-west corner of Zimbabwe between Kazungula and Hwange National Park and South-West of Victoria Falls,the park is 31 300 hectares in extent.
Common in the park but not often found in other parts of the country is the Oribi, a small antelope species.
The pan system in the park are also ideal habitats for large variety of water birds,including stocks,ducks and kingfishers making it a paradise for ornithologists.
Why visit Hwange National Parks….
The parks is the largest in Zimbabwe occupying approximately 14650 square kilometres in the NorthWest corner of the country,about an hour south of Victoria Falls. Hwange provides some tremendous selection of wildlife.
It is Zimbabwe’s most accessible and most wildlife packed national Park. One of the best times to visit the park is in the dry season which is ( August-October )when animals are drawn to the life giving water holes.
Attractions and Activities in Hwange National Park
-Game Viewing and Game Drives
-Fishing
-Wilderness Trails
-Moonlight viewing
-Viewing platforms
Facilities
-Lodges(56)beds
-Chalets (38)beds
-Cottages(26)beds
-Picnic Sites
-Restaurant
-Fuel station
Nearest Towns from the National Park
Hwange 80km
Victoria Falls 116.5km
Bulawayo 285.3km
Inset from Zimpapers.
THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority last week shot dead a hippopotamus that was damaging winter wheat in Nyanyadzi. The hippo, which had a calf, is believed to have escaped from Save Conservancy. ZPWMA ordered the shooting of the hippos after traditional leaders in the area reported that it was damaging crops and endangering lives. ZPWMA officer, Mr John Danfa, said they were still hunting for the calf which is believed to have found habitat along Save River. “Usually hippos move up and down rivers during the rainy season. We believe the two escaped from Save Valley Conservancy. They were both females and they do not usually click if there is no male.
“They are believed to have separated. We received reports from traditional leaders in Hot Springs and Nyanyadzi that these hippos were feeding on wheat and crops in their fields.” “People’s lives were endangered so the authorities ordered its killing. The first time we attempted to kill it, it was in the company of so many cattle and could not do anything.
Our officer teamed up with villagers to track it until last week when it was shot down in Nyanyadzi”. The officer is said to have fired 12 shots before the hippo died. The meat was shared by villagers. One of the villagers in Dirikwe village, Mr Tapiwa Munyati, said: “This hippo was becoming a threat to human lives in the area. It was being spotted near homes at night.
“There are vegetable gardens along one of Save River’s tributaries where it was being spotted.“We were told that hippos do not like light and the danger was that lives would have been lost.” “A villager survived death by a whisker recently when the hippo strayed into his homestead.“He went out of his house to investigate when his dogs were barking. He had a torch and the hippo advanced towards him. “Fortunately he managed to escape the attack and notified other villagers and the village head. We are appealing to the responsible authorities to make sure that the remaining one is also killed,” said Mr Munyati.
