The Sunday News
Roberta Katunga
THE festive season is a time to relax and enjoy quality time with family and loved ones. Zimbabwe is a beautiful country endowed with numerous attractions that one can explore. It is home to one of the seven wonders of the world – the Victoria Falls – as well as the big five, elephant, rhinoceros, lion, buffalo and leopard. Besides the lure of the world renowned resort town, other attractions include Kariba, the Eastern Highlands, and the famous boulders of the Matopos as well as the Binga Hotsprings.
Each of these attractions is known for its unique features that make it worth visiting.
Safari enthusiasts have a bonus holiday this season as one of the renowned private game reserves in the country is offering reduced rates to locals. With the catch phrase “Trail the footsteps of the great pioneers and uncover the memories of a bygone era – Enjoy a Big 5 stay at the Stanley and Livingstone Private Game reserve, mere minutes from the world famous Victoria Falls and Zambezi River”, this place offers one of Zimbabwe’s unique features – the attraction of the endangered species.
Poaching has seen black rhinoceros numbers plummet, reaching a record low of around 2,400 in the late 20th Century.
Demand for their horn, both for use in Chinese traditional “medicine” and for traditional dagger handles in Yemen resulted in the loss of around 96 percent of the population between 1970 and 1992.
However, a stay at the Stanley and Livingstone Safari lodge and Ursula’s camp guarantees that rare interaction with the black rhino.
General manager, Mr Vincent Makamure, said the private game reserve which consists of the safari lodge, Ursula camp, a game reserve and student quarters, was reaching out to the local market hence the promotional rates to locals.
“You cannot have your place known by foreigners more than by your own people. Foreigners are sensitive to any changes like politics or disease outbreak reports but the local market understands and is consistent in terms of travel,” said Mr Makamure.
He said the Zimbabwe residents special would run until June 2015.
The Stanley and Livingstone safari lodge offers uncompromised luxury blending in old and new influences and comprises 15 exquisitely furnished suites comprising a spacious bedroom, a Victorian style bathroom and a living area as well as a secluded patio overlooking the African bush.
“Our guests have the opportunity to view different game from the comfort of their patios or from the safari’s gardens as these are less than 200m away from a waterhole where animals that include zebras and various antelopes, warthogs, buffalos graze and enjoy a drink,” said Mr Makamure.
According to the history of the place, when it was initially built in 1999, the idea was to have a holiday home hence its family friendly facilities.
Aptly named after game found in the area, Ursula camp’s four chalets – Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo and Kudu; is ideal for small groups or families and like the main lodge, the gardens have views of the waterhole.
As mentioned before, the game reserve is home to one of the endangered species – the black rhino which is a target by poachers for its horn. The Stanley and Livingstone game reserve has eight rhinos and one of the activities inclusive in the package is the rhino search.
A German couple and a Hungarian national, on one afternoon game drive exclaimed how complete their holiday is after a close interaction with the rhinos.
“We have travelled all around Africa and this is the first time we have seen the black rhino. This ugly yet beautiful animal has just made my holiday complete and we feel blessed to have taken this drive. Now we can go back home,” said the visitors.
The calamity that has befallen the rhino has made people more appreciative of this species and there is a certain lure that one feels towards this animal.
Animal lovers are not only treated to a close interaction with the rhino but other animals that include zebras, giraffes, elephants, lions, buffalos, baboons and monkeys, hyenas as well as different bird species.
The experienced guides have amazing knowledge of all flora and fauna and one leaves the place rich with knowledge.
The Reserve activities and facilities include gardens with views of the waterhole, swimming pools, restaurant and bar, morning and afternoon game drives, walking safaris, rhino search, birding and fishing and a guided visit to the Victoria Falls.
“Our ultimate day experience will comprise a combination of survival skills and exciting adventure tasks. We are set in the beautiful Victoria Falls area, among wild game, the fast flowing Zambezi River, high gorges and undulating terrain,” said Mr Makamure.
