PICTURE: Mr Ray Sandwith (second from right) hosts tourists
THE Great Limpopo Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) which covers southern Mozambique, northern South Africa and south eastern Zimbabwe is receiving remarkable rainfall that brings hope to both plant and animal life.
This is sweet news since the drought that was experienced in most low-lying areas of Zimbabwe in the previous year had threatened water sources. Drought situations usually lead to culling of wild animals. Drought-motivated culling usually reduces wildlife in huge numbers.
The Great Limpopo TFCA was established in 2002 under a peace parks project by the same name. The project sought to join Gonarezhou National Park, Limpopo National Park and Kruger National Park of Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa respectively into one large seamless park. Private wildlife reserves adjacent to the three parks also constitute the TCFA.
Zimbabwe has two public wildlife reserves, Gonarezhou National Park and Manjinji Pan Sanctuary in the TFCA. Manjinji Pan is found in Chiredzi South as Gonarezhou stretches from Chiredzi South to Chiredzi North. Its boundaries mark the border with Mozambique.
The south east region of Zimbabwe which is home to Gonarezhou National Park has been playing second fiddle to the northern region of the country in tourist arrivals. For years, the region had a tired tourism marketing strategy.
It is in the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) circles that the south east region made headlines. The region was iconic in promoting the sustainable utilisation of natural resources under the CAMPFIRE platform.
CAMPFIRE encourages consumptive tourism where animals are hunted in safari areas for sport or problem animal control. The proceeds from the hunting are channeled towards conservation of wildlife as well as improving livelihood of communities surrounding the national parks.
With the current wave where consumptive tourism is being seriously opposed by animal loving pressure groups well known as Green Groups, non-consumptive tourism is gaining ground across the globe. The Green Groups are arguing that non-consumptive tourism generates more revenue than the consumptive aspect.
In the wake of non-consumptive tourism, a south east Lowveld of Zimbabwe based safari operator has introduced non-consumptive products exclusive to the Great Limpopo region tourists. The safari operator, Lowveld Wanderer is offering walking trails and photographic tourism inside Gonarezhou National Park.
Established as a partnership between Mr Samuel Magwai who is the managing director and Mr Ray Sandwith who is the operations director, the Lowveld Wanderer has announced rates that will tempt all classes of people to gateway to the Great Limpopo region.
PICTURE: Mr Sam Magwai (centre) guides some tourists
Said Mr Ray Sandwith: “We have decided to cater for all classes of people including low-income earners. We are changing the norm that high-income earners are the only ones who can afford outdoor life. The ‘pay now, drive later’ three-month lay-by option we are offering is less stressful and will motivate low income earners to afford a tour of Gonarezhou National Park.”
The Lowveld Wanderer partner highlighted that the lay-by promotion is valid until end of March this year. “We have given tourists up to 31March to pay under the three-month lay-by scheme. What a person needs to do is to give us a date which s/he wants to visit, then we will work out the payment plan for him/her,” concluded Mr Sandwith.
According to Mr Sam Magwai, the safari operator is also expanding its services to Chipinge which is also his home area. Said Mr Magwai, “We are expanding to Chipinge. The eastern district has all what it wants for tourists to enjoy outdoor life in Zimbabwe. We are urging domestic tourists to take advantage of our lay-by plan to tour the south east region.”
Mr Magwai revealed that the Lowveld Wanderer’s products incorporate cultural tourism where photographic safari tourists also consume Tsonga/Shangaan and Ndau cultures as the south east of Zimbabwe comprises of mainly Ndau, Venda and Tsonga/Shangaan communities.
Tourists to Lowveld Wanderer’s operational area can consume cultural tourism offered by CCDI Multi-Cultural Village at Boli Muhlanguleni in Chiredzi South, Kambako Cultural Village at Chizvirizvi in Chiredzi North and Paiyepo Cultural Heritage Centre at Chikore in Chipinge East.
In 2016, the safari operator hosted 400 tourists from countries that include United States of America, United Kingdom, China, Turkey and Japan. With the new payment plan, the Lowveld Wanderer expects a notable increase in tourists arrival that will help the tourism industry contribute immensely to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.