Following on from Zimbabwe's 2014 Sanganai-Hlanganani Travel Show, held at the HICC in Harare 16th - 18th October, a group of 10 influential agents and media professionals from the UK were hosted by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) and some of Wild Zambezi’s partners on a post-Sanganai familiarisation trip to Lake Kariba and Victoria Falls.
Wild Zambezi met them at Kariba airport off new the Air Zimbabwe scheduled flight between Harare and Kariba
and accompanied them on a tour of Kariba Town’s sights, including the Kariba Dam Wall, the community craft market at Kariba Heights and the Church of St Barbara (below)
This was followed by a 3-day houseboat and safari lodge experience on Lake Kariba including crossing the lake to the Matusadona National Park.
They were hosted aboard Dunhu Ramambo’s luxury Umbozha Houseboat, (above and below).
They spent a night each at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge and Rhino Safari Camp, and stopping at Spurwing Island for lunch.
After the cruise, they took at quick tour of two accommodation options in Kariba, including Hornbill Lodge and Caribbea Bay Resort and then flew on Air Zimbabwe from Kariba to Victoria Falls.
During the trip, they were able to learn from Wild Zambezi about other places and travel opportunities they had not been able to visit because of time constraints.
In addition to taking a tour of the magnificent Falls, World Heritage Site and Zimbabwe’s most famous Natural Wonder, they took part in various activities on offer, including a Flight of the Angels helicopter ride over the Falls and toured some lodges and hotels. They were accommodated at Pioneers Camp and Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and enjoyed an evening’s dinner and cultural entertainment at The Boma Place of Eating.
The UK visitors then continued on to complete their Zimbabwe tour by visiting Hwange National Park and Bulawayo/Matopos National Park.
Here are some of the comments that we have received from those who took part:-
“It was truly an amazing trip and I genuinely think we all came away with a love for the country and a real desire to spread the word back here in the UK.” (Katie Edwards SAA London)
· “All of us left Zim feeling very positive” – Ian Barton (Venatour)
· “I'm not alone in saying the houseboat was a big highlight of our trip” - Simon Heyes (Simon’s Jamjar Blogspot) – see his wonderful Blogs on the trip, starting HERE.
Wild Zambezi thanks everyone involved in the hosting and organisation of this very successful tour.
We hope to see increased interest in Zimbabwe and especially the Zambezi River areas by UK visitors as a result of the wonderful experience that these agents and media had.