Okavango Delta finally listed as a World Heritage Site

The 38th Session of the World Heritage Committee, which has been meeting in Doha this week, has agreed to the Inscription of the Okavango Delta as a Natural World Heritage Site. Below is the text of the Minister of Environement, Wildlife and Tourism, the Honourable Tshedkedi Khama’s, acceptance speech following the announcement.

"On behalf of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Botswana Lt. Gen. SKI Khama, the government and the people of Botswana, I am happy to accept the status bestowed on our Okavango Delta, Natural World Heritage Site. This is evidence that the international community recognizes and acknowledges the natural outstanding universal values of the Okavango Delta.

"...Let me assure you that the government of Botswana is committed to the protection of all its natural and cultural heritage, regardless of whether it is a World Heritage site or not. We therefore assure the committee that we will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, most importantly the communities living in and around the Okavango Delta, and the riparian States of Angola and Namibia to maintain the integrity of the Okavango Delta.

"We are very honored to have the Okavango Delta as one of the World Heritage sites after Tsodilo Hills which was inscribed in 2001. The success of this nomination is attributed to the support of the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), the World Heritage Centre, IUCN, ICOMOS, through the Nomination Training Programme for Africa dedicated to the training of heritage professionals in Africa in the development of nomination dossiers with the aim of increasing the number of World Heritage Sites in Africa in the World Heritage List.

Source: Okavango Delta Listed as a Natural World Heritage Site - Okavango Research Insitute (21 June 2014)
Botswana’s Okavango Delta becomes World Heritage Site - StarAfrica (21 June 2014)

More from the Zambezi Traveller
Okavango

Sun International Easter Art Exhibition

Over the Easter weekend, Sun International once again opened its doors to a selection of some of Zambia’s most popular artists and photographers. Although it was a small exhibition, there was a good selection of art and photography on display.

On opening night there was a chance to sling on the high heels and attend a cocktail party in aid of Acacia International School. This was well attended by the local Livingstone residents and besides proceeds of sales going to the fund raising effort, there was also an auction by the Headmaster of a beautiful framed elephant bull on canvas. Ms. Joanne Selby of Sun International matched the bid with a donation from the hotel so it was a successful night for the school. One lucky ticket holder also went home with a treasured “Baobab Sunset” photograph by Stephen Robinson so a great night for a good cause.

'TIMELESS' by Zambian photographer, Patrick Bentley

Music Festival, Livingstone - 14 June 2014

 

 

Livingstone Tourism Association, in conjunction with Mikenatics Events & Promotions, presents to you an evening of live music entertainment featuring Darai - an international band from Germany  supported by many local music bands, cultural dance groups plus many more artists.

 

 

14th June 2014
Maramba Cultural Village

17:00 hrs to midnight

VIP - K150 pp – includes welcome drink and waiter service
LTA members -  K50 pp
Non LTA members – K60 pp
Children under 12 – K20 pp

 

 

Come sing and dance to the sounds of love and culture

VIP guests will have cider / sparkling wine and Amarula options thanks to Sunrise Beverages

Tickets are available from the following LTA members;

Waterfront
Fawlty Towers
Livingstone Backpackers

For further information contact:

LTA / James Mwanza
Tel: +260 213 322 356
Cel:+260 973 421 983
Email: lta@microlink.zm
www.livingstonetourism.com

Zambezi Traveller Directory:
Livingstone Tourism Association

Sylvester doing well with new handler

Sylvester, the Cheetah Ambassador has recently had to adjust to a new handler, but is coping well according to Farai Chikwara, his new handler and friend - who has been spending a lot of time getting to know Sylvester over the last month-and-a-half, when he stepped in to replace Ed Oelofse.

Farai had been working in Livingstone and has a wealth of experience in working with and training big cats, particularly lions, cheetahs and caracals. He said that Sylvester has taken a while to adjust to the new arrangement but can see that he is now fully adjusted and doing very well.

From the May Wild Horizons Newsletter.

More from the Zambezi Traveller:
Sylvester makes the headlines (Zambezi Traveller Blog, May 2014)
Introducing Sylvester - Cheetah Ambassador, Victoria Falls (Zambezi Traveller, Issue 10, Sept 2012)

Leonardo DiCaprio gives $1 million to elephant conservation

The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation have a $1 million grant to the Elephant Crisis Fund, a joint initiative created by Wildlife Conservation Network and Save the Elephants. The grant will be used to save elephants from the current ivory poaching crisis by funding on-the-ground projects that stop poaching, trafficking, and demand for ivory.

The grant was announced at a gala in Malibu in support of the Elephant Crisis Fund, which brought the total raised that evening to $2 million, all of which will be sent directly to anti-poaching, anti-trafficking and ivory demand reduction projects on the ground.

“Elephant poaching is a brutal crisis, with more than 30,000 elephants killed last year alone,” said Leonardo DiCaprio. “The decimation of these animals is something we have the power to stop, and the Elephant Crisis Fund is a crucial part of the solution. I am honored to support them and recognize Dr. Douglas-Hamilton for his lifelong commitment to protecting this species.”

The Elephant Crisis Fund (ECF) directs 100 per cent of donations to global anti-poaching, anti-trafficking and ivory demand reduction actions on the ground. Projects supported by the Elephant Crisis Fund so far include an airplane that flies over Tsavo National Park in Kenya to detect poachers, and sniffer dogs trained to find ivory at ports.

"The only future for elephants is for governments, organisations, and individuals to join together in their support. What we have seen in Los Angeles has given us greater hope than ever, as a generous donation by the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation was matched by this astonishing community," said Iain Douglas-Hamilton, founder of Save The Elephants.

Source: Leonardo DiCaprio gives $1 million to elephant conservation