Africa Albida Tourism is hosting their 14th year annual golf tournament in aid of VFAPU on the 5th of September. We look forward to another fun event where we can count on your support for this great cause.
Borrowdale Golf Club, Harare
Contact: golf@africaalbida.com
Zambezi Traveller Directory
Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit
In August 2014 a combined Zambian/UK team will row the length of Lake Kariba, the world’s largest man-made lake, nonstop through the day and night under the light of a full moon dodging crocs, hippos and forests of dead trees finishing at Siavonga. They will then row from Kariba to Luangwa Boma through the Lower Zambezi game Reserve covering 500km in total in 7 days.
The 12 person team of athletes include Zambia’s top rower Desmond Nanchengwa as well as Iza Nalondwa and Wonga Silondwa from the Zambian Amateur Rowing and Canoing Association (ZARCA). Also in the team are international athletes from Great Britain’s rowing squad, including the head of Women’s rowing at Oxford University, Anastasia Chitty, and Alex Wood who has raced several times in the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. The team includes members of the successful 2011 Row Zambezi Expedition which took rowing boats 1000km along the Upper Zambezi from Chavuma to Livingstone, including 300km through the Barotse during which time they were granted an audience with the Litunga.
The Moon Row is a charity event that will raise money for two Zambian charities: Village Water has put fresh water into 650 Zambian villages so far and wants to do much more; Conservation Lower Zambezi is raising awareness and funds to deal with anti-poaching activities on the Lower Zambezi. The Moon Row is being done in 2014 to coincide with Zambia’s Jubilee celebrations, and is an official event in the Jubilee Calendar.
The Moon Row is a very tough event, with rowers swopping over every 90 minutes for up to 36 hours and only a short time to rest, drink, stretch and grab some food before starting again. The boats will carry GPS transmitters that will show in real time their exact location via the www.karibamoonrow.com website.
The Moon Row will be the world’s longest non-stop rowing event. The Moon Row is sponsored by exclusive Swiss watch maker Parmigiani Fleurier, and supported by several high quality operators in Zambia including Lake Kariba Inns; Kariba Bush Club; Tamarind Camp; Kanyemba Lodge; Kasaka River Lodge; Anabezi and Redcliff Lodge. In addition ZAWA and ZTB are providing advice and guidance for an adventure that will help promote the “Let’s Explore Zambia” initiative.
The Moon Row has three specially made rowing boats which are painted in Zambian colours, these beautiful boats will arrive in Siavonga on the 11th August after rowing across Lake Kariba.
Moon Row Expedition Leader Tim Cook said: “This is a very exciting challenge with a fantastic young joint Zambian and UK rowing team. Our motto is “Time For Water”. We are doing this On Water… For Water. Without water there are no sports like rowing and without clean water there is no hope for the children in these villages”
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.
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
Friends of Kyle and AWARE Trust invite you to Run-Walk-Ride for Rhino! Kyle National Park (Zimbabwe) on Sunday 25 May: 6, 13 and 24 km Routes (Approximately).
Make it a long family weekend at stunning Kyle National Park! Run, Walk or Ride through the Game Park, and admire the views and wildlife in the home of rhinos.
Registration Fee: $10 per adult $5 per child - plus normal National Park's Entrance Fees.
Pre-registration - From 16th May at Old Georgians Harare and Studio 52 Masvingo.
Late registration - 24 and 25 May at Hippo Lodge Masvingo and Kyle National Park entrance.
Start times: 9am to mid-day.
Plenty of water points en route.
National Parks spotless self-catering lodges overlooking lake and scenic camping facilities available, plus lodge and camping accommodation just outside Park.
Bring a boat - when last did you fish in Lake Mutirikwe?!
Food, refreshments and bar available, or bring your own.
For more, contact: tracey@awaretrust.org or masvingoedwards@gmail.com
Have Outdoor Fun - and Support your Park and Wildlife.
Blue Cross 2014
The Blue Cross is an annual charity event that raises money for the ZNSPCA. It requires that participants get from the lowest point of Zimbabwe – where the Save River leaves the country – to Nyangani Mountain – the highest point. Some people walk, some have ridden horses, but the majority ride a bicycle. https://www.facebook.com/zimbabwebluecross?fref=ts
Many people see this as a grueling challenge, limited to those who are superbly fit and have extraordinary stamina. In order to extend participation we have come up with variations that allow relatively ordinary bicycle riders the opportunity to participate in this wonderful event. It truly is a life changing experience so we ask you to read on and see if we can persuade you to join us in 2014.
The notes below focus on the Traditional Blue Cross (not the off road Brown Cross or walking) and outline three significant options
Relay – you don’t have to be fit and tough if you share the load with a friend or two
Extended time – split the difficult first and last day to make the ride so much more pleasant
Accommodation – either camping (for a budget Blue X) or comfort in lodges/B-and-B’s
Bicycle Options
For the bike riders there are two routes (the Traditional Blue Cross and the Brown Cross), each 500kms.
The Brown Cross (as it has become known) is the MTB route, with virtually no riding on tar roads, and the bulk on small tracks. This option really is limited to folk who are in a good state of fitness and who can deal with some serious riding challenges. These notes are NOT intended for Brown Cross participants.
The Traditional is a combination of gravel road and tar, with about one quarter on gravel. More serious riders in this option will use two bikes – an MTB for the gravel and a road bike for the tar, but those who are not intent on racing, and want to focus on enjoying the event can do the event on a typical MTB or hybrid.
Bikes are ridden from the Save River to the Nyangani Car Park, and then one walks up to the top of the mountain to sign the famous Blue Book at the beacon.
Relay
Last year two pairs did the Blue Cross as relay teams. This meant that it was possible to break the day up into easily done 10-20 km stretches with a reasonable break in between. The relay option allows riders to take part in this wonderful event even if they are not that strong or fit, and yet enjoy the experience. One of the participants, a fifty-plus lady, had only been riding a bicycle for 3 months and coped admirably.
The rules for relay teams are more relaxed than they used to be – just as long as the whole ride is covered by at least one member of the team. We would suggest that teams can be two to four riders. Last year some of the sections were ridden by both member s of the teams because some of the route is just “too good” to miss, but then spilt up the rest of the journey.
Extended time
Previously, the Traditional option started on a Monday and riding was completed on the Thursday – four days. In 2013 we tried a new format which we called the Extended Time or XT option. This option uses exactly the same route – so the same distance is covered - but the riding time is spread out a bit. The first 42kms of what used to be Day 1 is ridden on the Sunday, thus breaking up the long 158km ride from Chilo to Chipinge into two stages – one of 42kms and the other of 116kms. The Tuesday and Wednesday rides stay as they were. Then on the Thursday, instead of riding all the way from Vumba to Nyangani car park, the XT ride stops at Rhodes Hotel, and on the Friday morning, prior to the walk up the mountain, the 15kms of steep gravel from Rhodes Hotel to the Nyangani car park is done with a fresh body, getting to the car park by 8:30am – when the walk up the mountain starts.
These two changes have made the ride much much easier and allowed the XT riders more time to enjoy the scenery. It means that weaker and/or older riders can take part in the event without undue pain and stress.
Accommodation
In years past (pre-2008) many of the riders and their backup crews camped. We want to make this option available again for 2014. We believe that we will be able to get camping for $10 a night or less at spots where it will be safe and comfortable - hot showers etc. Of course campers will have to make their own arrangements for food.
If you’d prefer to have more comfort then there are the usual options of staying at the self-catering chalets at Chilo, the Chimanimani Hotel or Frog and Fern in Chimanimani, Inn on the Vumba and Rhodes Hotel , and a number of other places. In Chipinge we have located a B-and-B just a couple of kilometers behind the polo ground so there would be no need to “rough it” that night.
Dates
For the extended option participants need to be at Chilo Lodge by late afternoon on Saturday 2nd August and the prize giving lunch will be over at about 4pm on Friday 8th. If you do the ordinary Traditional you will need to be at Chilo on Sunday 3rd August. Entrance fee and charity contribution
The no frills entrance fee will be $50 and each participant (whether entering as an individual or as a member of a relay team) is required to raise a minimum donation of $100. This donation will entitle you to a Bronze medal. Donations in excess of $400 entitle one to a Silver medal and those raising over $600 will receive a Gold medal.
The cost of the prize giving lunch will probably be $25 and supper/breakfast at Fiddlers Green will be around $15. These amounts still need to be confirmed.
Contact
If you are interested in more information on the Traditional bike ride, either as an individual or as a relay team, please send an email to: bluextrad@gmail.com, or see us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/zimbabwebluecross
If you want to find out about the Brown Cross or other options such as walking, horse riding then go to the web page www.bluecross.co.zw
Description of the Ride – Extended Time
Sat Aug 2nd: Drive to Chilo Lodge which is on Save River, just a few kms before it leaves the country. Chilo is on the north bank of the river, and Gona re Zhou is the national park on the south bank, stretching to the SA/Moz border. Either stay in full board in the lodge, or self-catering cottages at the lodge or camp in the lodge grounds.
Sun 3rd: Starting at about 6:30am ride from the Save River bed to the tar road, a distance of just 42kms. This is a gravel road on which sedan cars can easily drive, albeit slower than a pickup or 4x4. It usually takes something under 3 hours for an average rider. Riders are collected at the tar road and get back to Chilo for an early lunch and then perhaps a game drive in Gona re Zhou for a few hours. This is still a wild park, good game concentrations, amazing birds.
Mon 4th: Drive to the tar road and start riding about 7am. There is a fairly boring stretch of flat tar next to the Save River for about 75kms, but this can be quite sociable as there is not much traffic and the friendly locals give one quite a bit of encouragement. One then leaves the tar and climbs up a long gravel hill called Barbara - about 15kms. This is definitely one of the biggest challenges of the event, but if you are in a relay team it is not bad as one can break it into 3km stages. Some walking is likely! At the top of Barbara there is about 28kms tar road to the Chipinge Polo Club – called Fiddlers Green. Most people will camp here, or sleep inside the very large clubhouse. The club provides supper and breakfast. It’s always a festive evening as the Brown Cross riders are there that night as well, and stories are shared. There are other accommodation options.
Tue 5th: This is the easiest day - about 68kms all on tar from Chipinge to Chimanimani. It is hilly and there are some longish climbs, but also some stunning downhills. Chimanimani is picturesque. There are several options when it comes to lodging or camping.
Wed 6th: This is the hardest day of the Traditional Blue Cross. The day starts with a dramatic 20km drop into the Martin Forest valley, and then the tough 20km climb to the top of Tanks Nek. Stunning scenery all along this old gravel road helps to overcome the tiredness. The ride is not that tough if you are in a relay team. Next comes one of the best sections of the Blue Cross - the 20km descent to Cashel. Sedan cars cannot do the Tanks Nek stretch from Chimanimani to Cashel but there is a good tar road via Biriwiri. From Cashel there is a pleasant downhill stretch of 20kms through the Umvumvumvu River valley to the junction of the Chipinge/Mutare road. The 60kms from this junction to Mutare is the probably the least enjoyable section of the whole ride. There is always some traffic and may be a bit of a headwind. But again, doing 10km spells in a relay team will make it fly by quite easily.
Thur 7th: This is an all tar day of just over 100kms with lovely mountains all around, and usually very little traffic. Starting at 7am after a good breakfast one is usually finished by mid-afternoon, even allowing for a coffee and snack break at the Montclair Hotel. That night one can stay at National Parks cottages, Rhodes Hotel or camp at Nyangombe nearby. Riders opting to do the original format would not stop at Rhodes but continue all the way to the Nyangani car park.
Fri 8th: An earliesh start to the ride of 15kms to the base of Nyangani Mountain makes it easy to get to the car park by 8:30am. The route is all gravel and there are some steep sections so most folk take it slowly - two hours - and enjoy the magnificent views. Around 8:30am the entire Blue Cross group, including most of the backup crews, then hike up to the top of Nyangani - about an hour and a half or so for most normal people, although the odd show-off will do it in 45 mins! After a good rest at the beacon, photo shoots, signing the Blue Book, hugs, sighs and all that sort of stuff – everyone heads back down the mountain and off to Rhodes Hotel for a fine lunch, medal presentations etc. Some leave for home that afternoon but most will stay on and go home on Saturday.
In aid of Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
For more information visit www.facebook.com/VictoriaFallsWildlifeTrustFunEnduro
BirdLife Zimbabwe is having an Art Auction on 9 Nov 2013 at 6pm and you`re all invited! The theme is 'water' in terms of biodiversity conservation.
Guest speakers are Prof Amon Murwira, Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, on Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation and Tim Broderick, Geologist.
Renowned artists: Lin Barrie, Ant Fynn, Peter Fogerty, Fraser MacKay, Graeme Arnott, Ingrid Weiersbye, Darryl Nero, Debby Hart, Sue Jarvis
Zambezi Teaser
7-11pm
The Deli, Lusaka
Teams of 6-8
Book your team now: sarah@conservationlowerzambezi.org
Zambezi Traveller Directory:
Conservation Lower Zambezi
A Bicentennial postcard to commemorate the 200 years since the birth of David Livingstone has been published and is on sale at the Livingstone Post Office at the stamp counter.
Read more online:
Livingstone Bicentennial
Read more from the Zambezi Traveller eNewsletter:
Zambezi Traveller eNewsletter (No5, Aug 2013)
Read more about the region in our destination guide:
Livingstone Destination Profile
Roof needed for Village school... Enthusiastic walkers stride out to help... The Msuna Walk, started three years ago by Larry and Judy Cumming, Victoria Falls residents, is now an annual event that raises money and supplies for needy schools between Victoria Falls and Msuna a resort Island on the shores of Lake Kariba. The Chikamba Village Project is close to their hearts and further fundraising efforts are being made to roof their school. Judy Cumming reports Chikamba Village in the Gavu Dip area has never had a school. The closest schools are too far for the very young children to walk to daily.
Permission was granted in January 2013 by the Ministry of Education for a school to be built in this area. Parents, who were never educated themselves, were delighted. They got together and built 'classrooms' for Grade 0,1,2 and 3 children.
In the middle of winter, these young children were prepared to sit on rocks and broken planks in the dirt because they wanted to learn.
The parents also built three pole and daga huts for the teachers. When I visited the site in June they were busy constructing basic squat toilets for the children.
Very close to the school is a half built church which could be used to accommodate the pupils when the rainy season arrives.
The village needs some money to put a roof up over the structure. The quote they were given by a hardware company in Hwange in November 2012 was for $1,476 which I am sure we can raise.
The headmaster, Mr James Siambare, told me that there are 54 children attending the new school. Of special need are the 20 orphans whom are being cared for by their grandparents and other family members.
Each year we organise a walk from Victoria Falls to Msuna which is 126km. Walkers donate money to buy stationery which is handed out to pupils along the route. This year a very special sponsor, Mrs Norwin Bhasera, gave us 20 khaki uniforms, 18 T shirts, 11 jackets and a bag full of sunglasses. All the uniforms were given to the children of the Chikamba School project. They were delighted. The sunglasses caused much hilarity along the route. The kids loved them and seemed to be more of a hit than the stationery!
If you would like to donate in cash or kind to this project, please contact Judy Cumming at judybee@iwayafrica.com
Read more from the Zambezi Traveller eNewsletter:
Zambezi Traveller eNewsletter (No5, Aug 2013)
The 2013 annual South Luangwa Conservation Society Fun Run and Sports Day held on 6th July was the best so far!! It continues to grow every year and proof of this is that we ran out of t-shirts for the runners this year. Close to 300 people ran the race and nearly 3000 people attended during the day.
The event was spiced up with Zambian footballer, Chintu Kampamba who not only gave a speech and entertained everyone with his presence but he also ran the 10km’s. This year we were also privileged to have the Mambwe District Commissioner, the District Education Board Secretary, Chief Mkhanya’s representatives and many other heads of department attending and taking part in the events.
The Fun Run has become a fixed calendar event which people look forward to throughout the year. It is a day of fun, sports and entertainment in a community where there aren’t many opportunities for such activities. The theme was wildlife conservation as usual and specific emphasis was made by the DC and sports celebrities how essential it is for each one of us to take part in caring for our environment.
The race kicked off at 8am and less than 30 minutes later the men’s winner, Given Phiri was back at the finish line in an unbelievable time of 29 minutes. The men’s runners up followed not too far behind in second and third place.
The rest of the day was taken up with volley ball, football, netball matches, relays and most entertaining of all tug of war.
In a competitive tug between the Zambia Air Force and SLCS supported scouts, SLCS won much to the delight on spectators especially considering our scouts are half the size of ZAF officers!
Visit the SLCS website or follow them on Facebook.
Read more from the Zambezi Traveller eNewsletter:
Zambezi Traveller eNewsletter (No5, Aug 2013)
Zambezi Traveller - your complete guide to the region.
More details will be coming soon on the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust website.
Greenpop provided a feast of musical entertainment for the Earth Festival, held in Livingstone on Saturday in celebration of Greenpop's Trees for Zambia 2013 initiative. (See also our recent blog post Planting the town green.) Here's a brief photo gallery of images from some of the performances - all links to external sites.
Read more about Greenpop and their work in the Zambezi Traveller:
Planning to re-green a country (ZT, Issue 12, March 2013)
Planting for a greener future (ZT, Issue 10, Sept 2012)
Read more about the region in our destination guide:
Livingstone
Victoria Falls
Website:
Greenpop
All Image Credits: Peter Roberts for Zambezi Traveller.
Over the last two weeks Greenpop have been in Livingstone as part of their Trees for Zambia project, planting trees at schools, community areas and even creating a future 'food forest'. Hundreds of trees have been planted in the month long event which reaches its climax this weekend with the Greenpop Earth Fest - find out more on the Zambezi Traveller website here (and also see Let's get this party started on this blog).
Trees for Zambia 2013 aims to plant 5,000 trees in schools, on subsistence farms and in reforestation sites, as well as hosting educational workshops for school children, subsistence farmers and volunteers. Everything from planting indigenous and fruit trees, working to set up micro-nursery enterprises in surrounding communities, implementing conservation education at local schools, promoting conservation farming techniques and fire prevention among small-scale subsistence farmers to raising awareness about deforestation, climate change, environmental sustainability and promoting alternative energy sources - such as solar cooking in order to reduce the region’s dependence on unsustainable charcoal burning.
Here's some photo highlights from their work over the past two weeks.
Read more about Greenpop and their work in the Zambezi Traveller:
Planning to re-green a country (ZT, Issue 12, March 2013)
Planting for a greener future (ZT, Issue 10, Sept 2012)
Read more about the region in our destination guide:
Livingstone
Victoria Falls
Website:
Greenpop
All Image Credits: Greenpop
This weekend Shoestrings Backpackers in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, hosted a warmup event for the forthcoming Trees for Zambia Earth Fest, organised by conservation awareness charity Greenpop, to be held in Livingstone, Zambia this coming weekend. Jeremy Loops, Chikenbus Band and Flint meet Spark all hit the stage to entertain guests and start a party that for some will probably last all week long! Big thanks to everyone who helped make it happen, and don't forget the big event is next week in Zambia.
The festival proper starts off on Friday 19th July in the evening with a party Train Ride from Livingstone train station to the Victoria Falls Bridge (DJs and all drinks included). Fest goers can meet at the Livingstone station at 16:30 sharp.
On Saturday 20 July, the festival will move to the Greenpop Village at Livingstone Safari Lodge where, from 15:00, attendees can participate in sustainability workshops. They will have the chance to learn more about what Greenpop is doing in Livingstone and get a taste of a full week’s activities. Music starts from 18:00 and will include performances by Jeremy Loops, Chikenbus Band, Yes Rasta, Black Light Panda, Pat McCay, Tribute Mboweni and more.
Find our more details on Greenpop Earth Fest on the Zambezi Traveller website.
Read more from the Zambezi Traveller:
Planning to re-green a country (ZT, Issue 12, March 2013)
Planting for a greener future (ZT, Issue 10, Sept 2012)
Photos by Shay Varley - see more on the Shoestrings Facebook page.
Website Links:
Shoestrings Backpackers
Greenpop Trees for Zambia
Jeremy Loops
Chikenbus Band
Flint meet Spark
Marathon mania hits Victoria Falls with the seventh Vic Falls Marathon, sponsored by Econet. Over 130 runners lined up at 6.45 this morning for the full marathon, joined by over 400 participants running in the half race.
The marathon is a registered AIMS (Association of International Marathon and Distance Races) event, covering a full 42.2km, with a 21.2km half marathon run and 5km fun run. Runners from all over the region and the world arrived to take up the challenege - after a 30 hour flight from Japan, and only arriving yesterday, this couple were eager to stretch their legs.
This year Zambezi Traveller proudly sponsored runners from the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit, participating in the half marathon.
Fancy the challenge? Get ready for 10th August 2014!
Website:
Vic Falls Marathon
Victoria Falls Anto-Poaching Unit
Zambezi Traveller
