The investment of US$2.7m in a new luxury room block by Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is but one of many positive indicators that Zimbabwe tourism is on a steady revival path after a faltering past decade. Said Ross Kennedy, Chief Executive of Africa Albida Tourism (AAT), “there was a perceptible momentum in changing fortunes in 2011, backed by hard statistics, and 2012 has seen that pace quicken with “good news” stories coming in a steady stream”.  Africa Albida Tourism has put its money where its mouth is by embarking on the construction of an exclusive new 20-room wing, the Induna Club, and will also spend $300,000 on refashioning the public areas of the existing award-winning lodge.

Kennedy highlighted other good news stories coming out of Zimbabwe:

-          A number of industry players in Victoria Falls are also showing their confidence in the industry by undertaking similar projects to cope with the international upswing.  The Victoria Falls Airport is being modernised and enlarged and the runway is being lengthened to 4km to cope with bigger aircraft in anticipation of greatly increased numbers.  A number of international airlines are reported to be in discussions with Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) concerning direct long haul access to Victoria Falls.

-          Emirates has commenced its five-times-a-week schedule from Dubai to Harare via Lusaka to open up the Middle East to Zimbabwe for the first time and load factors are high.

 -          The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has enthusiastically endorsed Victoria Falls for its global summit in 2013, expected to draw 3,000 delegates and spouses from 158 countries across an 8-day programme between August 23 and September 02, 2013.

-          The African Travel Association (ATA) has followed suit and will stage its conference for up to 600 delegates at Victoria Falls from 18 to 22 May this year.

-          A modern conference centre and tourism “plaza” is to be constructed at Victoria Falls to lure international association events and is scheduled to be complete by August 2013.

-          South African Airways (SAA) has dramatically increased its capacity to Zimbabwe by 66% by introducing a daily A330-200 flight (222-seats) from Johannesburg to Harare and more seats to Victoria Falls. SAA’s monthly capacity is now touching 70,000 as a sure sign of resurgence for tourism.

-          Air Namibia are reported to be launching a four-times-a-week schedule from Windhoek to Harare in April.

-          A local airline SolAir has been licensed by CAAZ and is set to announce domestic routes soon using a 90-seater Beechcraft.

Map of Zimbabwe

It’s still a way off the heady days of 1995 but the New York Times recently rated Zimbabwe as one of three fast-emerging and worthy destinations. “Zimbabwe was once a thriving tourism magnet,” recalled the NYT, “but now the unity government, relative economic stability, brought about by the adoption of American dollars, is generating cautious optimism.”

In 2011 tourism earnings increased by almost 50% to 2.3 million visitors and that renaissance is continuing this year. The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA, USA) a significant global organisation headquartered in America has issued a January 2012 report to its members that shines a positive light on Zimbabwe.

“Should the positive upward trend of international tourists continue then the future of tourism in Zimbabwe in 2012 looks bright,” said ATTA, USA.  “The year 2011 showed a marked improvement in fortunes with seven of the main lodges/hotels in Victoria Falls reporting one seven-month period as their best since 1999”.

Kennedy added that these statistics were all the more impressive “because they were not driven by low rates but are rather based on revenue per room available (RevPar) which would be the envy of many regional competitors in the current tough world economic environment.”

In 2011 most hotels in the Victoria Falls region recorded increased occupancies. Arrivals into Victoria Falls grew by 19.6% in 2011 versus 2010, with growth from existing markets, plus increased interest and arrivals from new markets such as Eastern Europe, Middle East and Asia.  AAT’s flagship accommodation establishment, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, had the best July occupancy for 10 years in 2011 at 70%. At the group’s award-winning Boma – Place of Eating restaurant located on the same resort, only July 2007 had better covers with 183 covers per night, and July 2011 delivering 163 covers per night.

Arrivals in other parts of Zimbabwe are also growing.  Sharon Stead, Marketing Director and co-owner of The Amalinda Collection reports enthusiastically on Ivory Lodge in Hwange and Camp Amalinda in the Matobo Hills.  “Camp Amalinda had a record year in 2011 achieving 75% occupancy, with June 2012 already sitting at 90%!  Ivory Lodge, Hwange recorded its best month ever in August 2011 at 87% and 2012 bookings look set to break all previous occupancy records for the Lodge”.  Stead added “Together with many other Hwange lodge owners and operators, we are well advanced on the launch of a Hwange destination marketing campaign, to be known as the Herd of Hwange which will be formally launched at Indaba in May.  This will help to re-establish Hwange as one of the jewels of Africa’s wildlife sanctuaries”.

With the introduction in 2009 of the American dollar as the base currency and a process of reconciliation currently underway, Zimbabwe is fast becoming a viable and popular holiday destination for tourists. And it’s no surprise – with a wealth of natural treasures, including the magnificent Victoria Falls, luxurious and affordable safari and hotel accommodation all serviced by reputedly the most hospitable people in Africa, Zimbabwe has so much to offer local and international visitors. People, culture, history, monuments, wildlife, art, sport – Zimbabwe has it all!

Over the past three years a relative calm has returned to Zimbabwe’s economy and according to the influential tourism body, World Travel & Tourism Council, Zimbabwe’s tourism economy is set to grow at 9.2% this year, making it the third fastest growing tourism economy in the world. And with political goodwill in place to foster a more stable future for the country, more visitors are predicted to make their way to Zimbabwe, reclaiming the country’s reputation as the pride of Africa.

The new luxury Induna Club 20-room block at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge looks set to be THE showcase accommodation at next year’s World Tourism Organisation general assembly to be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia. This exclusive facility, including four majestic suites, will open in August this year, a year ahead of the global summit, and construction is well underway.

The butler-service Induna Club, incorporating private bar, lounge, terrace and check-in facilities, will set a new benchmark for deluxe accommodation in the resort town of Victoria Falls.

The UNWTO event is expected to attract about 3,000 delegates from 176 countries and will be the most important tourism showcase ever staged by Zimbabwe. The government says it intends to build a 5,000 seater convention centre in time for the summit that starts on August 26.

The mayor of Victoria Falls, Nkosi Jiyane, says that $350m would be spent on the project and that clearing of the site has commenced. He says the airport and runway would be expanded and that $170m had been set aside for this.

Planning a stay at our award-winning Victoria Falls Safari Lodge?  Now you may simply go online to the website…book…pay securely with your credit card ….done! Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) group constantly keeps at updating technology and customer service and has installed FastBooking, one of the world’s most powerful hotel booking engines to allow guests to book directly and with ease.

The booking system went live on February 7 for both the 72-room Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (VFSL) and the eight-suite luxury Ngoma Safari Lodge across the border in Chobe, Botswana. You may source their websites at:

www.victoria-falls-safari-lodge.com –

www.ngomasafarilodge.com –

If you’re not ready to book and pay there is an enquiries button that takes you to a property and destination expert who will answer your queries and describe how easy it is to package the two properties into one visit. What a glorious combination that is! A “world of wonders” at Victoria Falls coupled, just 90-minutes away on excellent roads, with one of the world’s greatest wildlife experiences. And you’ll be staying at the best of lodges – VFSL last year won Best Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe for the 16^th successive year and the sumptuous all-suite Ngoma is getting rave reviews after just 10 months since opening.

If you’re a pioneering type you may like to be among the first to stay at the exclusive Induna Club, a new 20-room wing now under construction at Victoria Falls safari Lodge. Not only will this transform the lodge into a 92-room facility but it will add a new standard of style, excellence and luxury in the iconic tourist town of Victoria Falls.

Induna Club, with rooms 50% larger than the current lodge rooms and many exclusive facilities, is set to open in August this year and its rates will soon be posted on the website to take the first direct bookings. The Club is in the private and luxury stratum and discerning guests will pay $245 per person per night (bed and breakfast) to enjoy its special privileges and comforts.

The Induna Club will be a regal showcase for Zimbabwe tourism during the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly in August 2013.

The awarding of the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly to Zimbabwe in 2013 has created a frenzy of activity and a buzz of anticipation in the Zimbabwe tourism industry.

In the 1990s Victoria Falls emerged like a firecracker as one of the world’s most desired incentive destinations for blue-chip global organisations, due to the pioneering and professional efforts of Green Route, southern Africa’s first specialist DMC and Africa’s first SITE Crystal Award winner. Hundreds of conferences and incentives were delivered by Green Route alone in the heady decade of 1990-2000; then came Zimbabwe’s economic collapse and a decade – and momentum – have been lost.

The UNWTO summit, expected to attract 3,000 delegates and spouses, has been the spark to set alight what had already been a positive turnaround and a new conference centre is certain to transform Victoria Falls into one of the world’s most sought-after meetings destinations. It is a “must-see” in your lifetime marvel and acclaimed as Africa’s adventure capital.

There seems to be a genuine new open skies policy by the unity government and Emirates has launched its five-times-a-week schedule Dubai-Lusaka-Harare that will open the Middle East and Europe. Transport Minister Nicholas Goche has said there are discussions to bring in more international airlines “such as British Airways”.

A return by BA would be a massive boost and has been widely anticipated for some months. Watch this space…and start planning those conferences and incentives at Victoria Falls.  Indeed, savvy DMC’s will know of the new exclusive 20-room Induna Club wing now under construction at award-winning Victoria Falls Safari Lodge – just perfect for a high-profile incentive group. Induna Club opens in August this year – what a beautiful month September is!

One of South Africa’s most distinguished interior designers, Carol Cornwall, has been selected to “weave her magic” on the new US$3m development at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, flagship of the Africa Albida Tourism group (AAT).

Seven designers tendered for the tantalizing task of creating a sumptuous look and feel at the award-winning lodge – the $2.7m new five-star 20-room block to be named the Induna Club and the $300,000 refashioning of the current lodge’s public areas.

“We selected Carol because she stood out as something out of the ordinary,” said AAT Chief Executive Ross Kennedy. “She has superb international credentials, having won contracts in Spain and France, and we felt she is top-drawer. We are confident that the finished product will amaze and delight our guests.”

The exclusive Induna Club will feature 16 luxury rooms and four suites. “It’s all about ‘wow’ impact,” said Kennedy. “The Induna rooms will be 50% bigger than the current lodge rooms and will be more opulent to set a new benchmark for quality at Victoria Falls. Their private facilities will make it a truly exclusive and pampering experience.”

The Induna Club is now under military-precision construction and is set to open on August 10 this year. The current lodge’s restyling will be undertaken with minimal disruption between 14-18 June this year. Total transformation is planned for the MaKuwa-Kuwa restaurant, Buffalo Bar and  terrace, activities desk, lounges and reception.

“All that will be done in a five-day turnaround,” said Kennedy. “Teams will work quietly late at night and when guests awaken they’ll be in for some delightful surprises.”

Carol Cornwall, who heads Cornwall International in Durban, specialises in decor for five-star boutique hotels and has earned her pedigree of excellence over 15 years in South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Spain and France.

Her alluring creations for Victoria Falls Safari Lodge have been approved and 3D visuals will soon reveal all. Her creations will be fully showcased at Indaba, Africa’s largest travel trade show, in Durban from May 12-15 this year.

Carol Cornwall

Africa Albida Tourism’s five-star Ngoma Safari Lodge just outside Botswana’s Chobe National Park is a landmark conservation enterprise for the area under the auspices of the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF).

The eight-suite eco-friendly lodge has needed vital community support for the project and this has been earned after some community members initially rejected the idea of Ngoma Lodge.

AWF first conducted a market assessment as to the viability of the project, which has then been financially supported by the U.S. African Development Foundation. Wilfred Mufwambi, AWF regional enterprise manager for southern Africa, was the point-man to explain to the locals that they needed to nurture the wildlife in order to benefit from it and that tourism was the solution.

A community trust was established and AWF has been there to impart skills on financial management and skills training. A memorandum of understanding was agreed and the terms of the partnership carefully outlined before an ecological impact assessment was carried out to ensure that the habitat was not harmed.

Once all the steps had been completed it took just eight months to build Ngoma Safari Lodge, which opened in May 2011.

Says AWF: “The lodge is attracting kudos from all around the world, even from the President of Botswana. But AWF’s work is not completed. We need to ensure strategies are in place to sustain and protect this project.” Therefore technical support will continue, such as business training to the community.

Africa Albida Tourism’s showpiece property is Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and Ngoma is the newest addition to the quality portfolio. Ngoma is a two-hour drive from Victoria Falls and thus an ideal add-on for an awe-inspiring wildlife experience.

One of the world’s most respected airlines, Emirates, this week launched its five-times-a-week Dubai-Lusaka-Harare schedule using an Airbus 330-200. There were hundreds of onlookers at Harare International Airport to cheer as the plane touched down on Monday to open the Middle East to Zimbabwe for the first time. The schedule is every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Zimbabwe Transport Minister, Nicholas Goche, welcomed the maiden flight and said: “Emirates flights give Zimbabwe a chance to host a truly global airline with an extensive network, huge fleet and great reputation for quality service.”

Emirates flies to 22 destinations in Africa and will now connect Zimbabwe to key European markets, the far East, Australasia and the Indian sub-continent and the Minister said this had given a positive signal to other airlines to consider Zimbabwe as a commercially viable destination. Emirates boast 120 destinations around the world.

Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi said: “Two and a half million tourists arrived in Zimbabwe last year and we are projecting growth to five million by 2015 that would generate US$5 billion and contribute 15% of our GDP.”

The Emirates flight departs Dubai in the morning and arrives in Lusaka at about 15h00 and connects to Harare, scheduled to land at about 17h00. The return flight departs Harare after two hours.

The investment of US$2.7m in a new luxury room block by Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is but one of many positive indicators that Zimbabwe tourism is on a steady revival path after a faltering past decade. There was a perceptible momentum in changing fortunes in 2011, backed by hard statistics, and 2012 has seen that pace quicken with “good news” stories coming in a steady stream.

Here’s a snapshot:

• Victoria Falls Safari Lodge has commenced construction of an exclusive new 20-room wing, the Induna Club, and will also spend $300,000 on refashioning the public areas of the existing award-winning lodge.
• Other lodges are being, or have been, built or are being extended at Victoria Falls to cope with the international upswing.
• The Victoria Falls Airport is being modernised and enlarged and the runway is being lengthened to 4km to cope with bigger aircraft in anticipation of greatly increased numbers.
• Emirates has commenced its five-times-a-week schedule from Dubai to Harare via Lusaka to open up the Middle East to Zimbabwe for the first time.
• The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has enthusiastically endorsed Victoria Falls for its global summit in 2013, expected to draw 3,000 delegates and spouses from 158 countries.
• The African Travel Association (ATA) has followed suit and will stage its conference for 600 delegates at Victoria Falls in May this year.
• A modern conference centre and tourism “plaza” is to be constructed at Victoria Falls to lure international association events.
• South African Airways (SAA) has dramatically increased its capacity to Zimbabwe by 66% by introducing a daily A330-200 flight (222-seats) from Johannesburg to Harare and more seats to Victoria Falls. SAA’s monthly capacity is now touching 70,000 as a sure sign of resurgence for tourism.
• Air Namibia are reported to be launching a four-times-a-week schedule from Windhoek to Harare in April.
• Local airline SolAir has been licensed and is set to announce domestic routes soon using a 90-seater Beechcraft.

It’s still a way off the heady days of 1995 but the New York Times recently rated Zimbabwe as one of three fast-emerging and worthy destinations, along with Labrador and Disquing China. “Zimbabwe was once a thriving tourism magnet,” recalled the NYT, “but now the unity government, relative economic stability, brought about by the adoption of American dollars, is generating cautious optimism.”

In 2011 tourism earnings increased by almost 50% to 2.3 million visitors and that renaissance is continuing this year. The Adventure Travel Trade Association, a significant global organisation headquartered in America, has issued a January 2012 report to its members that shines a positive light on Zimbabwe.

“Should the positive upward trend of international tourists continue then the future of tourism in Zimbabwe in 2012 looks bright,” said ATTA. “The year 2011 showed a marked improvement in fortunes with seven of the main lodges/hotels in Victoria Falls reporting one seven-month period as their best since 1999.

Ross Kennedy, Chief Executive of Africa Albida Tourism Group (whose flagship is Victoria Falls Safari Lodge) said that these statistics were all the more impressive “because they were not driven by low rates but are rather based on revenue per room available (RevPar) which would be the envy of many regional competitors in the current tough world economic environment.”

And guess what is the major overseas source market? The USA leads the renaissance with more than 17,000 visitors travelling to the country in 2011.

Concluded ATTA: “With its varied landscapes, astounding wildlife and birdlife, diverse flora and fauna, Zimbabwe offers a wide choice of experiences and activities at competitive costs to other regions in sub-Saharan Africa.

“In addition, the arrival of Emirates not only opens up additional access to the country but shows confidence from a leading international airline and is evidence that Zimbabwe is once again on the rise and is a destination that should be considered when looking at travel to southern Africa.”

Ground has been broken and construction is underway for a new and exclusive room wing at the award-winning Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (VFSL), Zimbabwe. The 16 rooms and four suites are a US$2.7m investment by the Africa Albida Tourism Hospitality Group (AAT) at its flagship property and will open in August this year as a luxury private facility named The Induna Club.

Jono Hudson, VFSL GM & Steve Kiggen, Induna Club Contractor

This will bring the total number of quality rooms at VFSL to 92 – the thatched African-style lodge opened in 1994 with 72 rooms and has consistently earned a pedigree of international excellence including being voted, by the Association of Zimbabwe Travel Agents (AZTA), the  Best Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe for 16 successive years.

“Victoria Falls is a ‘must-see-in-your-lifetime’ destination and we’re sure the Induna Club will enchant and attract more discerning international travellers seeking an extra dimension of luxury and superior service,” said Ross Kennedy, Chief Executive of Africa Albida Tourism.“Such a significant investment reflects our supreme confidence that the revitalisation of Victoria Falls, and of our country Zimbabwe as a global tourism jewel is well underway.”

Testimony to this is the continuing steady increase of individual visitors from around the world and significant success in attracting eminent conferences, such as the Africa Travel Association (ATA) in May this year and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly in 2013.

Mr Kennedy said the Induna Club would provide the Victoria Falls area with a “new and superior product that will compete with, and surpass, the best.” He termed the Club as “a VIP Premium experience with larger, more opulent rooms and high impact that will delight our guests.”

The rooms are 50% larger than the current rooms at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and the modern, more-open design will give the sense of abundant space. The exclusive club ethos will be reflected in such features as butler service, private check-in and check-out and a “feel-good” multi-functional area that includes a bar, lounge and terrace.

Victoria Falls is acclaimed as the Adventure Capital of Africa and also attracts older, nostalgia-seeking travellers. But the most powerful attraction is the world’s mightiest waterfall – a mile wide and, when in full flow, more than twice the size of the Niagara Falls. It’s one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World and a designated World Heritage Site under the UNESCO umbrella and, as the advertising slogan powerfully reminds,  is “now in its 150 millionth fantastic year.”

“Just stand there and gaze, smell, listen….you know instinctively that you’re experiencing something extraordinary in terms of the wonders of our planet,” said Ross Kennedy. “In a more humble but sincere way we also want our guests who experience the new Induna Club to be amazed and delighted about a new level of accommodation and service at Victoria Falls.”

The Mighty Victoria Falls

The eminent annual JWT Global Travel Trends Report is also making bold predictions for 2012. The recently-released report states: “An increasingly hot tourist spot will be Zimbabwe – home to one of the seven wonders of the world, Victoria Falls. The country also has some of Africa’s best game parks; the economy is stabilizing and, as more tour operators resume Zimbabwe tours, travellers are on the uptick. The country has the potential to once again be among the top tourist destinations in Africa.”

The resurgence of Zimbabwe tourism continues apace with good-news stories abounding these days, such as the current Southern Africa ICT for Education Summit at Victoria Falls, proclaimed by a Zimbabwe Minister as ”a great coup.”

The Summit brings together 14 Education and ICT Ministers from Southern African countries, who are attending along with major ICT companies such as HP, Samsung, Xerox, NEC, Epson, Intel, Sharp and Core (representing Apple).

In addition there are several respected  international education entities participating, such as Cambridge University Press, Macmillan, Blackboard and Oxford University Press.

At the forefront is David Coltart, Zimbabwe’s Minister for Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, who commented on his Facebook page: “It is a great coup for Zimbabwe to host this conference and I hope it will provide all those involved in our education sector with a new vision for where we need to be taking Zimbabwe’s education.”

On the night of Thursday 26 January more than 200 of the delegates enjoyed a rousing night  at The Boma – Place of Eating, the famous and most popular restaurant in Victoria Falls, showcasing the flavours and ethnic entertainment of Africa. The Boma is the public restaurant of the award-winning Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (VFSL) that is a nightly draw card for international visitors as a “must do” on their itineraries.

In tune with the rapid revival of Zimbabwe tourism VFSL is investing $3m in building a new luxury 20-room block that will open later this year and many other major development plans are afoot for Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe’s “World of Wonders” destination.

Follow Africa Albida Group on Twitter for many exciting developments. @AfricaAlbida.