Serengeti Five Ecotourism facility is situated 28km on the South West of Rusape Town. It was an initiative of an individual who was keen in conserving the environment involving local communities. The project started in 1991 with funding from Africa 2000, the construction was completed in 1997.

Management of the facility: The project is managed by the founder supported by Administration and Catering and Housekeeping staff.

Accommodation – Serengeti Five offers accommodation and conferencing facilities. 5 spectacular dagga and grass roundavels and one large conference facility provides accommodation to between 15-20 people.

Access – The facility is easily accessible by road from Rusape town where one travels 10km of gravel road from the Rusape Wedza road.

Amenities – Visitor amenities are available from Rusape Town. Local clinic can be of service to the visitors. The facility is covered well by mobile telephone networks. Attractions: Scenic views, Lake Rusape, rural setting/village life, nursery – green belt, caves

Activities –The facility is close to a man made dam used for recreational purposes such as fishing and swimming. Tourist are also attracted by the training in budding and grafting of trees to produce fruits within a year, conferencing, day and night booking and organic growing/farming.

Awareness – Nyathi Travel Company often markets the facility. However the facility relies on word of mouth especially from NGOs who come to Serengeti for conferencing.

Main Challenges: Marketing, shifting seasons hence reduction in dam levels which sometimes dries up. Low visitor inflows and community participation arrangements.

Future Prospects: To develop a large conference facility, increase accommodation capacity and involve more household beneficiaries.

Gairezi Ecotourism Project, a CAMPFIRE project, is a beautifully situated on the crystal clear Gairezi River in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe. It started in the early 1990s and they are in partnership with Nyanga Downs Fly Fishing Club. This project benefits 304 households from the Dazi and Nyamutsapa Communities, Nyanga.

Accommodation – self-catering set of four-bedroom lodges and a campsite that can accommodate 20 single tents.
Management of the facility: The project is run by a board of 6 individuals and a management committee of four all drawn from the local community. At the moment the management committee and staff are getting management and marketing support from Nyanga Downs’ Club. The community is in a partnership arrangement with the Nyanga Downs Flyfishers Club. A Board of Trustees drawn from the local community oversees the management of the center whilst five staff are employed one as manager, the other as resource monitor and the rest are lodge attendants.

Access – The facility is situated about 30 km on the north west side of Nyanga and about 18km from the Troutbeck resort. The 20km stretch off the Nyanga Nyamaropa road after Troutbeck is a gravel road but is well maintained by the Nyanga Rural District Council. In the rainy season, an all weather rough terrain vehicle is advisable. Amenities – A local clinic in Dazi area is accessible to visitors. The facility is also covered by two mobile networks albeit intermittently. Shops and fuels are available 20km away in Troutbeck.

Attractions – Scenic views of the Nyangani mountain range; Gairezi river; cool weather, pine plantations, unique tree ferns, chief Tangwena – (his Chimurenga history).

Activities –Fly fishing for trout, hiking, bird watching, shopping for local crafts, chief Tangwena story and village visit,

Awareness – The facility is marketed mainly by Nyanga Downs Fly Fishers Club. STEP Zimbabwe website also contains content on the website.

Main Challenges: It was noted during the interview that the project requires intensive capacity building for the employees and the board members for efficient running of the business. Although the partnership with Nyanga Downs has been good in sustaining the operations (especially visitorship) there is no apparent effort towards local community empowerment and gradual handover. In the event that Nyanga Downs draws out of the partnership, the local communities will be left wanting. They need to make their own decisions pertaining to the running of the business. It was also noted that project is operating without being registered as a community based enterprise with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. Some of the issues of the project include, poor capacity of board and members, weak partnership between Nyanga Downs Club, the Board and communities that does not promote transfer of skills from the partner to the community, poor readiness to takeover project despite the years of partnership, stagnant growth in facilities, activities and market. Future Prospects: The community plans to expand the facility by building more lodges along the river that are operated directly by communities. There are also plans for horse riding and village visits into the park and to the Tangwena community.

Situated 12 km off the Vic Falls Bulawayo Road, about 2 km along the Gorges road, the place located just outside the Vic Falls National Park offers a typical live traditional village life.
Management of the facility: Mr Ndhlovu the coordinator and owner of the village works with his extended family are involved in the day to day operation of the business.

Accommodation – The village has huts than can accommodate 10 overnight visitors and shelters where a maximum of 20 people can be sheltered overnight.
Access – Easily accessed by road from Bulawayo Vic Falls road. The 12km off tarmac can be travelled using 2x2 vehicles. Tours in hired buses are regularly organized from Vic Falls by tour operators.

Amenities – Ablution blocks, clean water, curious available on site. Other services are readily available from Vic Falls

Attractions: The village structures, traditional cuisine, crafts, scenic views of the Vic Falls, Masuwe gorge

Activities – cultural dance, storytelling, herbal solutions, live and stage made traditional wedding parties. The village also allows local craft makers to sell their wares to tourists who visit the village.

Awareness – At the moment the village is working closely with Victoria Falls based tour operators for sale, packaging and marketing of the product. Main Challenges: The facility lacks a proper framework for private – community partnership. Pricing of the product and packaging is an area that needs improvement. Future Prospects: As a social responsibility, the village has donated books for the schools around within the community, facilitated the maintenance of the roads and the famous KoMphisi soccer trophy. Above all the village is facilitating the water project for the community.

 Zimbabwe has been awarded the most sought after prize of Top Emerging Travel Destination of 2012 by the Travel and Leisure magazine of China. This is one of the major travel awards in Asia which is of international repute. Zimbabwe emerged the winner in a process that included competition from various destinations across the globe. The announcement was made recently at a ceremony held in Beijing, China where Zimbabwe was represented by its Ambassador to China, His Excellency Fredrick Shava.

The Annual Kariba Tiger fishing tournament attracts competitors from all around the world.

Any adventure into the African bush will heighten your senses and set your pulse racing. The very nature of your surroundings, its unfamiliarity and wildness, lets you know that you are entering the unknown.

The bush changes constantly with the seasons and from day to night. What you spot on a morning safari will be different from that in the afternoon. At night, after sunset, there is a changing of the guard again and you could encounter a range of animals that are seldom seen.

Victoria Falls Helicopter Flight, “The Flight of Angels” aptly refers to the Helicopter Flights over and around Victoria Falls.

Have you ever dreamt of really feeling at one with the African bush?  Elephant-back safaris offer a unique and exciting way to explore the wilderness around Victoria Falls.

111 metres of pure adrenaline rush! The bungi jump operates off the Victoria Falls Bridge. Over 50 000 people have committed themselves to the thrill of jumping off the bridge. Challenge the limits of your mind and test the edge of fear by leaping off the impressive bridge, with the falls behind and the mighty Zambezi below.

The sunset cruises vary in boat size – from essentially private boats that take 8 to 10 people to large party boats that can take 120 or more. When booking, ask the name of the boat and its size if you have a specific group size in mind or want a larger or smaller boat experience.