International visitors flock to Vic Falls as tourist numbers surge

 

The Victoria Falls Rainforest has seen a rise in tourist arrivals during the first quarter of 2025, recording 61 139 visitors compared to 59 718 over the same period in 2024.

In a statement released on Monday, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said the increase was largely driven by a surge in international tourism, with arrivals reaching 47,633 in 2025, up from 44,110 the previous year.

However, domestic tourism declined, with numbers falling from 15,608 in 2024 to 13,506 this year.

“Key source markets driving international interest in Victoria Falls include Europe—particularly the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Germany—largely due to the availability of dedicated tour packages,” said Zimparks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo.

Farawo added that enhanced accessibility, following the expansion of Victoria Falls Airport and the introduction of new routes including direct flights from Frankfurt, had further fuelled interest from German tourists.

“The implementation of the KAZA UniVisa, which simplifies cross-border travel between Zimbabwe and Zambia, has also played a pivotal role in encouraging visitors to explore both sides of the Falls, offering a more seamless experience for tourists from many countries,” he said.

Farawo noted that regionally, South Africa remains the largest source of visitors, followed closely by Botswana, contributing to the continued growth of the tourism sector in Victoria Falls.

Source: International visitors flock to Vic Falls as tourist numbers surge (06/05/25)

Abseiling adventure unveils hidden beauty... Victoria Falls from below

 VICTORIA FALLS, famed worldwide for its majestic curtain of water cascading into the Zambezi River gorge, offers a breathtaking panorama from above. But for those craving a more intimate encounter with this natural wonder, there’s abseiling — an adventure that brings you face-to-face with its raw power from a completely different perspective, at the bottom of the gorge.

The thrilling activity offers tourists the unique opportunity to descend into the depths below the falls, where the roar of the water and the misty spray envelop them in the heart of the landscape. While the view from the top is undoubtedly awe-inspiring, abseiling allows adventurers to explore the falls’ beauty from a vantage point few ever experience, fostering a deeper appreciation of their scale and grandeur. It’s an experience that blends adrenaline with nature, revealing the hidden beauty of this iconic landmark from below.

Since its introduction in 2019, before a sudden closure due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, abseiling has rapidly become synonymous with Victoria Falls, attracting visitors from across the globe.
James Chinotimba, who operates an abseiling company in the resort city, explains that abseiling offers the ultimate Victoria Falls experience.

“Abseiling is an adrenaline activity, a complete package where people descend into the gorge to enjoy the view of the Victoria Falls from their base,” he says.

Chinotimba, an experienced operations and retail manager who spent years in South Africa before returning to Victoria Falls to venture into the hospitality industry, draws on his diplomas in education and business studies to run his businesses.

Abseiling in Victoria Falls brings visitors up close and personal with nature, enjoying the view from the gorge floor.

“People descend with confidence. They’re harnessed with equipment strong enough to hold an elephant.

Safety is paramount, and clients receive a thorough safety briefing before deciding to descend. There are two dedicated lines, and if someone is willing but nervous, they are accompanied by a jump master.

“At the bottom, a guide will detach the harness, allowing clients to freely enjoy the breathtaking views of the Zambezi River, the Falls, rapids, Victoria Falls Bridge, the Boiling Pot, and jet boats. People visit the Rainforest, but they don’t realise the beauty that lies at the bottom of the gorges,” Chinotimba said.

Abseiling began in 2019 but was interrupted by the pandemic. The activity reopened last year, and Chinotimba reports an overwhelming response, with clients travelling from all corners of the world to experience this rare activity. It’s also popular with the local market, especially from Bulawayo and Harare.

“Abseiling has made a significant contribution to tourism,” said Chinotimba.

During his recent visit to Victoria Falls, 11-year-old Ugandan Pan-Africanist Emmanuel Akot, who aspires to be the future President of a United Africa, tried abseiling during a tour of the Rainforest with Tourism and Hospitality Industry Deputy Minister Tongai Mnangagwa.

Brighton Munaku, an abseiling marketer for a company in Victoria Falls highlights the positive influence of social media on making abseiling popular.

“Most people were unaware of the product, and now they are beginning to understand that there is an activity that allows them to see the Victoria Falls from the bottom of the gorge.

“The media has played a significant role, and we are doing everything to market Victoria Falls to the world. Whenever we take pictures, we showcase the backdrop of Victoria Falls — the armchair, the gorge, the rapids, Knife Edge Island, and everything that can be seen from inside the gorge — so people can appreciate the beauty.”

Source: Abseiling adventure unveils hidden beauty... Victoria Falls from below (15/02/2025)

Victoria Falls Rainforest, vegetable markets disinfected

 THE Victoria Falls Municipality has started disinfecting public areas in the resort town and on Friday partnered with the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) on a similar exercise in the Rainforest to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

The local authority last week disinfected vegetable markets to allow vendors to return to their stalls.

Housing and Health Services director Mr Brian Nyamande said the exercise would be intensified this week to cover more areas in the resort town.

“As a local authority in partnership with the Covid-19 Taskforce, we procured hydrogen peroxide which is a disinfectant that we are using to disinfect all public areas in town. We have been targeting bus termini, shopping malls and business centres, offices and verandas.

“We were then approached by Zimparks who requested that we extend the exercise to their area of jurisdiction hence the exercise that was done. We are intending to continue with the exercise on a larger scale as we are bringing a water cannon this week,” said Mr Nyamande, who is also chairperson of the Victoria Falls Covid-19 Taskforce.

Zimparks Hwange cluster area manager Mr Samson Chibaya led the organisation in disinfecting the Rainforest.

The Victoria Falls National Park, which houses the majestic Falls, Rainforest and David Livingstone statue, is however, closed to tourists.

Meanwhile, Mosi-oa-Tunya High School in the resort town has been turned into an isolation centre for deportees from Botswana as part of measures to curb the spread of Covid-19. The centre has received eight Zimbabweans who are quarantined at the facility. The five women and three men who are from Victoria Falls, Hwange, Binga and Kadoma have been housed in two separate classrooms after being screened at Kazungula Border. More are expected from Botswana, Zambia and Namibia.

Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Cde Richard Moyo who chairs the Provincial Taskforce committee said the province identified the school as the perfect facility to accommodate deportees.

“So far there are eight people who have been deported and we have identified Mosi-oa-Tunya High School in Victoria Falls to be the quarantine centre for people deported from Botswana and Zambia,” he said.

Cde Moyo said the Department of Social Welfare was responsible for the deportees’ welfare. Matabeleland North Provincial Social Welfare officer Mr Macnon Chirinzepi said 200 beds had been mobilised but the school will accommodate 100 people so as to maintain social distancing.

“As a department will be catering for their welfare with the help of other stakeholders including the private sector, while police and Zimbabwe National Army will provide security. We have managed to mobilise most of the basics they will need such as food, toiletries, blankets and some clothes that will be distributed in due course,” he said.

Sunday News visited the school on Friday and observed that the classrooms had been prepared with bedding. Some of the deportees had a few bags while some said they left their belongings in the neighbouring country.

The Victoria Falls Municipality in conjunction with the local Taskforce has also converted Mkhosana Clinic and Zimbabwe Aids Project (Zap) Clinic into isolation centres to cater for Covid-19 cases.

Source: Victoria Falls Rainforest, vegetable markets disinfected (19/04/2020)

Victoria Falls sees increase in visitor numbers

Last year saw a 5.6% increase in visitors to the Rainforest at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, following efforts to market the countryto source markets.

Figures released by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) – which  manages the World Heritage Site -- show that 279 786 international visitors and 77 766 locals visited the rainforest in 2019 compared with 263 381 and 75 091 respectively in 2018.  

Zimparks says a further increase is anticipated in 2020. “We continue to market the Victoria Falls and other sites in the country and we hope that, this year the visitor numbers will surge due to various promotional programmes currently under way,” said a Zimparks spokesperson.

Shearwater Public Relations Executive, Clement Mukwasi, commented: “We are hopeful that 2020 will come with better fortunes for the rainforest and the industry at large.”

Source: Victoria Falls attraction sees increase in visitor numbers (17/01/20)

Free entry for locals into Victoria Falls

VICTORIA FALLS residents will be allowed free entry into the famed Rainforest on this year’s Independence and Heroes Days as government responds to complaints by locals that they were not benefitting from their God given resource.

While elsewhere, residents benefit from natural resources around them through community share ownership schemes bankrolled by businesses exploiting their resources, the situation is different with Victoria Falls where residents do not benefit directly from the lucrative tourism industry.

Residents have repeatedly appealed to government and authorities for free entry or reduced fees into the Rainforest and game parks.

Two years ago, residents petitioned Parliament demanding to be allowed free entry into the Rainforest.

They said their children were being disadvantaged and failing in school yet the Rainforest is closer to them because they cannot afford entry fees into the area.

It costs $7 for locals to enter the Rainforest and US$20 for those from the Sadc region.

Last week, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority hiked entry fees for locals to $20, a move which was immediately reversed by Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira following an outcry.

Speaking in Victoria Falls during the week, Minister Mupfumira said government was working on packages for Victoria Falls locals to benefit from the resources around them.

“I resisted increase to parks fees and even threatened the Zimparks director general because these fees are too high for locals. We are carrying an exercise to slash fees and we will be giving free entry for locals during the independence holiday and even the heroes day holidays,” she said.

The minister said free entry will also be extended to citizens above 80 as well as school children.

She said the country cannot not afford to thumb suck because it is losing business in Victoria Falls to Livingstone in Zambia and Francistown in Botswana where charges are much cheaper.

Speaking at a meeting with the minister last week in Victoria Falls, residents reiterated their demands for special packages.

Fortunate Mugwaha of Pride Africa Safaris said locals should be allowed to benefit from tourism because that is their heritage.

Schools across the country visit Victoria Falls for a tour of resorts and residents believe local schools should be afforded the opportunity to enter the Rainforest free of charge.

Even other activities such as rafting, bungee jumping, canoeing, and game drives among other are way beyond reach of ordinary citizens and locals can only watch as those with money from across the country and internationally enjoy.

Source: Free entry for locals into Victoria Falls (13/04/18)

Victoria Falls international arrivals continue to soar

 Tourist arrivals to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, increased by 11% in 2017, with international arrivals sharply rising, with the UK showing the most notable growth.

The international border tourist arrivals are distorted by cross-border movements by the same tourist on multi-country visits, day trips to Victoria Falls from Chobe/Kasane, and day trips to Chobe National Park from Victoria Falls and Livingstone. Therefore, the total number of actual international tourists is thought to be between 355 000 and 390 000 in 2017. The estimate has been arrived at by counterbalancing hotel and accommodation stays as well as entries to the Victoria Falls rainforest with tourist arrivals at borders, according to Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) who sponsored and conducted the survey.

The UK led the pack in 2017, doubling in arrivals, with 12 765 recorded in 2017 compared with 5 073 in 2016.

According to AAT’s report, the upsurge in UK arrivals in 2017 is likely to be just the beginning of significant volume increases.

Ross Kennedy, AAT Chief Executive elaborates: "The UK market was our largest source market until 2001. There is a long history, connection and bond between our two countries, but this was severely damaged by events between 2000 and 2015.

“In the last two years, the UK market has responded to many positive changes in Zimbabwe, as well as recognising and, indeed, remembering, that we have an incredible tourism destination to offer in Zimbabwe.”

According to Kennedy, the FIT market and group series market has once again fully engaged with the region’s tourism industry, and is selling an increased amount of the entire product and experience available in Zimbabwe.

The 2017 growth over 2016 has further increased in 2018 year-to-date versus 2017, a trend that should continue, explains Kennedy.  “The new Victoria Falls International Airport with its geographical hub location, plus much enhanced regional route access and connectivity have also played a part in the growth.”

Other key source markets that showed good growth include:

• USA: 73 803 in 2017 compared with 63 502 in 2016.
• Germany: 25 855 in 2017; 21 288 in 2016.
• Australia: 17 023 in 2017; 13 383 in 2016.
• France: 16 092 in 2017; 11 244 in 2016.
• Japan: 31 702 in 2017; 19 718 in 2016.
• Italy: 9 275 in 2017; 7 666 in 2016.
• Switzerland: 5 749 in 2017; 5 747 in 2016.
• Canada: 5 747 in 2017; 1 198 in 2016.
• India: 2 079 in 2017; 1 308 in 2016.
• China: 5 359 in 2017; 1 712 in 2016.

Tourism visits to the Victoria Falls Rainforest (Zimbabwe side only) rose sharply, adding 36% in two years. Local and regional arrivals were flat, mainly caused by excessive police roadblock activity on highways, which has now ended. This masked a meaningful rise in foreign tourist visits to the Falls of 50% over the two-year period.

Hotel room stays increased by 20% over this period, indicating a substantial increase d use of alternative accommodation options on the Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) side of the river.

There was a further sharp increase in visitor numbers to the Zimbabwe side of the rainforest in 2018 of 26%, however foreign visitor number growth rose 28% vs. local 15%.

Hotel accommodation stays grew less than rainforest visits at 12.5% in 2018 for the first six months, again reflecting a boom in non-hotel stays on the Zimbabwe side.

Occupancies were approximately 54% for 2017 for the area, reflecting substantial room capacity availability still for the short term.

According to the report, strategic opportunities include: a convention centre, which would benefit the area and assist airlines with volumes and business-class passengers; room for large volume activities to extend stays;  wide range of opportunities exist for the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) markets; less than 10% of area arrivals are children, therefore there is potential for family activities; Special Economic Zone (SEZ) investment incentives are being offered in Victoria Falls, and other investment initiatives in Livingstone and Chobe; as well as lower priced activities.

Source: Victoria Falls international arrivals continue to soar (11/09/18)

Abseiling a hit with Vic Falls tourists

 A new adventure — abseiling — has gained momentum in Victoria Falls as it is offering tourists a unique experience of swimming in the rock pools underneath the majestic Victoria Falls.

The adrenaline pumping adventure is run by Abseil Victoria Falls (AVF) and started operating last month during the Easter holidays. Abseiling involves being kitted up in full body harness, going down about 100 metres down to the bottom of the Falls while taking in the surrounding scenic views and then landing on the apron of a flat solid rock while overlooking the boiling pot of the Falls.

Once at the bottom, the client will be unhooked from the harnesses and can then explore a unique view which can only be seen from this location.

When at the bottom, tourists will be a mere stone throw away from the amazing Zambezi white water rapids and can view the Historic Bridge from below. AVF director Mr Comfort Chinengundu said the uptake of the high wire activity by locals and foreign tourists was overwhelming.

“The uptake of abseiling has surpassed expectations given that this is a new concept and people are not usually that adventurous. A lot of foreign tourists have been participating in this high adrenaline activity and locals have also overcome the misconception that such high wire activities are only for foreigners. Without a doubt, Victoria Falls will soon become the world’s tourism capital,” said Mr Chinengundu.

He added that kids under the age of 14 get a 50 percent discount of adult price. He highlighted that AVF has also avoided two and tier-pricing so as to avoid backlashes from travel agencies. Mr Chinengundu guaranteed clients’ safety citing that the firm is currently employing experts from abroad who have more than three decades experience in abseiling.

“High wire activities fully depend on safety and we can’t afford to have any accidents. Hence, we have acquired the services of experienced foreign operators from South Africa, Zambia, Canada and New Zealand. These specialists have zero records of accidents and they are training our local crew.

We also have a $250 000 public liability insurance cover by a reputable local insurance company,” he said.

Mr Chinengundu said the adventure will be expanded to other parts of the country.

“Expansion is the ultimate goal of every organisation but before spreading to other cities, we want to first focus on growing our product into a full blown product. We want to be able to offer tours and also serve drinks under the Falls. Our ultimate goal is to contribute towards tourism revenue and also make Victoria Falls the world tourism capital,” he added.

Other high-wire experience activities which are available in Victoria Falls include crocodile cage diving, gorge swing, flying fox, bridge swing, white-water rafting, game reserve tours and bungee jumping. Bungee jumping involves jumping 111 metres off the Victoria Falls Bridge and this is the activity that most people who visit the resort town engage in.

Crocodile cage diving involves being put in a cage and then lowered into the water using an elevator before a client is given the chance to feed crocodiles. The foofie slide, also known as zip line is one of the world’s most spectacular zip line slides, running 425 metres across the Zambezi River while the flying fox is a cable slide 120 metres above the green water of the Zambezi. 

Source: Abseiling a hit with Vic Falls tourists (22/04/2018)

Abseil Victoria Falls activity opens in Rainforest

Nqobile Sibanda in Victoria Falls

A NEWLY introduced tour activity, abseiling, has become a hit in Victoria Falls with scores of local tourists flocking to sample it to view the majestic waterfall during the just ended Easter holidays.
Abseiling, derived from a German word abseilen, which refers to a top rope down, resembles rock climbing where clients are controlled to descend using a rope.

New tour operator, Abseil Victoria Falls, introduced the activity on Saturday and immediately attracted scores of clients who got a chance to view the Victoria Falls from its base at the danger point.

All along tourists would view the waterfall from the top and now have an opportunity to descend to the boiling point at the bottom of the gorge and take pictures, thereby adding value to the tour of the falls. The company is operating from within the Rainforest thereby giving a double treat to tourists.
For most residents and tourists this will be the first time they are experiencing the activity, which costs $65 per person, although some operators once offered it some years back. Abseil Victoria Falls director Mr Comfort Chinengune explained how the new activity is done.

“We started the eco-friendly activity on Saturday and we are operating from right inside the Rainforest. It involves putting a client on a full body harness and helmet as well as being connected to three ropes for safety. The activity is eco-friendly and clients are assured of 100 percent safety,” he said.

The three safety lines include the main rope controlled by a jump master, safety line which the client can control and is used to pull a person up the cliff.

Clients can go as low as 100 metres down the gorge depending on the water levels. One will be accompanied by a guide who will be monitoring them and ready for rescue in the event of any mishap.

For those with cold feet who may not be comfortable to go down the gorge, Mr Chinengune said there was a ladder that would take them for only two metres for a photo shoot. The activity gives clients a rare treat as it is the only one where one can capture photos with the background of the rainbow.

“The guide is there as a whistle-blower in case anything happens but we want to assure our clients of 100 percent safety because we spent nine months researching on it. The three lines are manually powered and are anchored on a 12-tonne base from where the jump master will be controlling speed.

“One is able to take pictures and can request to stop regularly for a better view and to take selfies. The response has been overwhelming and is already the talk of the town because of its uniqueness,” said Mr Chinengune.

He said the “low” price was meant to cater for everyone. Those who go for the activity also have to pay entrance fees into the Rainforest to access the Abseil point. Locals pay $7 for adults and $4 for children to enter the Rainforest while international clients pay $20 for those from the region and $30 from other countries.

Mr Chinengune said they were planning on planting some trees around the site as he urged other tour operators to go green. He said the company was “here to stay” and hopes to contribute towards growth of the tourism sector. Lately, tourists would get to the bottom of the gorge near the Victoria Falls Bridge using some steps on the Zambian side.

@nqoesibanda82

Source: New tour activity a hit in Victoria Falls (04/04/18)

Website: Abseil Victoria Falls

The Victoria Falls Rainforest

Last year we developed an extensive section of pages on the Victoria Falls Rainforest for the Victoria Falls Guide (all articles researched and written by Peter Roberts).
The Victoria Falls Rainforest
Animals of the Rainforest
Plants of the Rainforest
Interesting Rainforest Facts

Photo Credit: Falls Spray (Peter Roberts)

‘World Heritage status of Vic Falls Rainforest intact’

The World Heritage Status of the Victoria Falls Rainforest has not been downgraded as Unesco still recognises it as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Engineer Walter Mzembi has said.

Eng Mzembi said only God could delist the Victoria Falls Rainforest from being one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Commenting on reports which alleged that the Victoria Falls Rainforest had been delisted from being one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World making way for the so-called New7Wonders of the World which include the Table Mountain of South Africa, Eng Mzembi said the Rainforest, which is the largest curtain of flowing water in the world, would remain as a natural wonder until the end of time.

“No individual or grouping can delist it or downgrade it. It is only God who can delist Victoria Falls Rainforest as a natural wonder if the world comes to an end. Fortunately, the world has not ended and therefore we still have the Rainforest as a natural wonder. God as He pleases when the world comes to an end may create the Rainforest somewhere, but for all I know it will be back in Zimbabwe,” said Eng Mzembi.

He said individuals or groups can only grade man-made wonders.

Eng Mzembi also said the publication on the New7Wonders of the World were a result of a private poll of the website, which is not the official position of Unesco.

“We have since established that the status of Victoria Falls has not changed at all. The Rainforest, as a World Heritage Site, is still highly listed as being among the Seven Natural Wonders of the World by the Unesco website and is the only one in Africa,” said Mr Clement Mukwasi, public relations manager for Shearwater Adventures.

He said the mentioning of Table Mountain as one of the new Seven Natural Wonders of the World was simply a marketing gimmick by a website, “The About.com” on the New7Wonders of Nature competition.

“This should not be confused with the long standing ratings of the Victoria Falls Rainforest. These private ratings that are a result of manipulated polls should not be taken seriously. The unfortunate part of it is that sometimes people confuse it with official pronouncements,” said Mr Mukwasi.

He said Victoria Falls Rainforest was among the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and compared well with some of the world’s largest falls such as the Niagara Falls of Canada and the Iguacu Falls, which are found between Brazil and Argentina. In 1989, Unesco upgraded the Victoria Falls to the status of a World Heritage Site in Zimbabwe alongside Mana Pools, the Great Zimbabwe and Matopo Hills. Meanwhile, the idea of listing the wonders of the world is hardly a new thing.

The historian Herodotus, according to the free encyclopedia, compiled his own list way back in the fifth Century BC and from then on many have been unable to resist the temptation of categorising and rating the world’s monuments, both natural and man-made.

The traditional Seven Wonders of the World were the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

These were the monuments the Greeks considered the epitome of man’s creative skill and ingenuity and only the Great Pyramid exists today. Little wonder then, that in the information age there are moves to make new lists of man-made and natural wonders.

The New7Wonders of Nature was a follow-up popularity contest to the New7Wonders Foundation, New7Wonders of the World, which were announced in July 2007. These are Iguazu Falls (Brazil), Jeju Island (South Korea), Komodo Island (Indonesia), Puerto Precesa Underground River (Philippines), Table Mountain (South Africa), Halong Bay (Vietnam) and Amazon Rainforest (South America).

Source: ‘World Heritage status of Vic Falls Rainforest intact’ (13/01/2013)

Rainforest Cafe at Victoria Falls receives UNESCO stamp of approval

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Gill Staden

(eTN) - The United Nations Education and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) has endorsed the Rainforest Cafe that was constructed at the entrance of the Victoria Falls rainforest, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr. Sylvester Maunganidze, has said. The development means that the World Heritage Status of the rainforest is not under threat from delisting.

Dr. Maunganidze said the endorsement of the restaurant follows a decision by UNESCO to send a secret mission into the country, which he said found nothing amiss at the facility.

The Rainforest Cafe has been closed for a month after the National Museums and Monuments (NMMZ) unilaterally took over control of the rainforest from the long-time managers, the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (NPWMA). At the same time, park rangers were also booted out of office. The two government entities are fighting each other for control of the entrance at one of the Seven Wonders of the World, which rakes in about US$7,000 daily, and the restaurant was caught in the crossfire.

In an interview at the resort town of Victoria Falls, Dr. Maunganidze said UNESCO convened a meeting in Livingstone, Zambia, to discuss the conservation program at Victoria Falls among other issues. He stated: “UNESCO had picked from the media that there were some fights around the restaurant with NMMZ claiming that the facility should not be there as it was in violation of UNESCO protocol and that it was disturbing the skyline of the falls.

“So out of that meeting, UNESCO sent a secret mission on Monday to see the restaurant, and the mission later reported that there was nothing amiss, adding that it was not interfering with the WHS.

“UNESCO also had never complained about the restaurant as some elements in the local and international media were claiming. UNESCO even quoted a local non-governmental organization that was raising the dust, and one wonders on whose behalf they were raising dust. In fact, UNESCO concluded that the restaurant was adding value to the falls.”

He added that UNESCO and his ministry had no qualms over the operation of the restaurant noting that a directive by Vice President Nkomo for the status quo of the facility to remain should be followed.

“My ministry gave the operator, Shearwater Adventures, a licence to operate and would see to it that they re-open soon. I am taking the matter up to Vice President Nkomo who gave a directive last month for the status quo to remain at the rainforest,” he said. Trouble started when NMMZ tried to control the Victoria Falls rainforest by elbowing out long-time managers, NPWMA. NMMZ also forced the Rainforest Cafe to close.

However, the government took a position that the management of the rainforest reverts to the parks authority. The battle to control the rainforest has been raging behind closed doors for more than a decade.

The area was declared a national monument in 1932 and a national park in 1957 before UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site in 1989.

Source: Rainforest Cafe at Victoria Falls receives UNESCO stamp of approval (30/12/10)

UNESCO endorses Victoria falls rainforest restaurant

THE United Nations Education and Scientific Organisation (Unesco) has endorsed the restaurant that was constructed at the entrance of the Victoria Falls rainforest (pictured), the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr Sylvester Maunganidze, has said.The development means that the World Heritage Status of the rainforest is not under threat from delisting.

Dr Maunganidze said the endorsement of the restaurant follows a decision by Unesco to send a secret mission into the country on Monday which he said found nothing amiss at the facility.

The restaurant has been closed for a month after the National Museums and Monuments (NMMZ) unilaterally took over the control of the rainforest from the long time managers, the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (NPWMA).At the same time parks rangers were also booted out of office.

The two Government entities are fighting each other for control of the entrance at one of the Seven Wonders of the World which rakes in about US$7 000 daily and the restaurant was caught in the cross fire.

In an interview yesterday in the resort town of Victoria Falls, Dr Maunganidze said Unesco convened a meeting in Livingstone, Zambia, to discuss the conservation programme at Victoria Falls among other issues “Unesco had picked from the media that there were some fights around the restaurant with NMMZ claiming that the facility should not be there as it was in violation of Unesco protocol and that it was disturbing the skyline of the Falls.

“So out of that meeting, Unesco sent a secret mission on Monday to see the restaurant and the mission later reported that there was nothing amiss, adding that it was not interfering with the WHS.

“Unesco also had never complained about the restaurant as some elements in the local and international media were claiming,” he said.“Unesco even quoted a local non-governmental organisation that was raising the dust and one wonders on whose behalf they were raising dust. In fact, Unesco concluded that the restaurant was adding value to the Falls.”

He noted that Unesco and his ministry had no qualms over the operation of the restaurant noting that a directive by Vice President Nkomo for the status quo of the facility to remain should be followed.

“My ministry gave the operator Shearwater Adventures a licence to operate and would see to it that they re-open soon.“I am taking the matter up to Vice President Nkomo who gave a directive last month for the status quo to remain at the rainforest,” he said.Trouble started when NMMZ tried to control the Victoria Falls rainforest by elbowing out long-time managers NPWMA.NMMZ also forced the restaurant to close.

However, the Government took a position that the management of the rainforest reverts to the parks authority. The battle to control the rainforest has been raging behind closed doors for more than a decade.

The area was declared a national monument in 1932 and a national park in 1957 before Unesco designated it a World Heritage Site in 1989.

Source: UNESCO endorses Victoria falls rainforest restaurant (23/12/10)

Rich pickings at Vic Falls

VICTORIA FALLS - The government has rebuffed calls from environmentalists to boot out a company that has constructed a restaurant and curio shop in the core zone of the magnificent Victoria Falls world heritage site.

The tour operator, Shearwater Adventures, was last month granted permission by the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to construct a restaurant and start selling curios right in the core of the Victoria Falls rainforest. Environmentalists have expressed concern about the impact of the development on the conservation status of the Victoria Falls, one of the world’s seven natural wonders, and the livelihoods of more than 100 poor curio vendors and their families who were earning a living selling curios outside the rainforest.

The vendors from Ema Doyilini, Busy Island, Sinathankawu and Rainforest are complaining that they have been robbed of a living. Said one environmentalist: “The beautiful angels that David Livingstone talked about when he first saw the Falls must be weeping in their flight as they see this beautiful national asset taking its first step towards its demise. Imagine a restaurant in the Great Enclosure of the Great Zimbabwe monument? Yes you can’t believe it. But its happening in Victoria Falls. The Lozi, Toka Leya, Tonga and Nambya speaking people handed it down to our generation undisturbed. Is this the legacy that we want to hand over to our children?” The Zimbabwean understands the National Museums and Monuments had ordered Shearwater to get out of the rainforest saying its construction was in breach of UNESCO regulations. But this quasi government department has now been sanctioned, and authority over the Falls has now reverted back exclusively to the more pliant Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

Environmentalists insist the tussle over control of the Victoria Falls monument is being fuelled by the rich pickings amid reports it earns an average of US$7 000 a day in gate takings. The permanent secretary in the ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Sylvester Maunganidze said Shearwater was staying put and claimed its development of a kitchen, top class restaurant and bar, plus a converted and expanded information centre in the rainforest was done in accordance with government regulations.

“It is time the country fully utilises its vast natural endowment for economic growth especially tourism,” he said. “From a tourism point of view, the building of the pole and thatch restaurant at the gate to the Victoria falls is ideal as before requests had been put forward by tourists that they need a resting place near the waterfall.” To buttress Shearwater’s controversial development, the permanent secretary has produced a government communiqu, inked by the Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Ray Ndhlukula giving back the management of the Victoria Falls to the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority until any recommended changes are approved by Cabinet.

Paul Connolly, a legal advisor to Shearwater, said in a statement: There are UNESCO regulations pertaining to the site. The UNESCO regulations say, among other things, that there should be no developments in an area which is not already designated a facilities area. Shearwater has simply improved and developed infrastructure within the physical parameters of the buildings that have been in existence for a long time. This is already a developed area and Shearwater did not go an inch outside that designated area.

Source: Rich pickings at Vic Falls (17/11/10)