June 27th came and went in Victoria Falls just as calmly, peacefully and normally as all days in our remarkable destination. We now look forward, as ever in tourism, to how we all continue to develop and deliver exceptional visitor experiences in this IUCN World Heritage Site.
The airlines continue to fly in daily and unload guests from a myriad of countries and points of origin as Victoria Falls continues to be the Hub of regional tourism. Stand in the airport or the rainforest and at any given time you will hear 4-6 languages being spoken as each plane delivers more visitors from across the world together with arrivals from our neighbours in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia and, of course, our very own Zimbabwean guests.
New products, excursions, activities and initiatives continue to be launched and the never-ending sense of positive motion that is part of the fabric of Victoria Falls and its community is always evident.
People come and go in the industry and it is wonderful news to welcome back Jono Hudson, his wife and 2 young children as of June 27th. GotoVictoriaFalls.com is very pleased to have Jono back on the team, as is the Victoria Falls community.
We recognise of course that certain agents, operators and travellers have concerns about visiting Zimbabwe as a result of travel advisories issued by some countries. On this topic, an industry delegation from JATA (Japanese Association of Travel Agents) visited Victoria Falls last weekend on a specific “look see” experience and have gone back determined to encourage their government to keep Victoria Falls on the lowest possible level of travel advisory. In a similar vein, we hope to be able to influence local embassies and high commissions so that Victoria Falls is not included in increased travel warnings for the country at large.
We once again reiterate that Victoria Falls remains one of the safest, calmest and most peaceful destinations on the planet. There is no sound reason not to visit, and indeed many good reasons why one should visit.
GotoVictoriaFalls.com and all its members have always been, and will always be honest, frank and professional in our communications about the status and facts on the ground in Victoria Falls. We will always seek to be the first to advise, should it ever be necessary, against travel to Victoria Falls.
Victoria Falls operations continue as normal with all GoToVictoriaFalls.com campaign members expressing utmost confidence in the destination. This is illustrated by their steady investment of human and capital resources into the area. As long-established tourism players living, working in and sharing this special oasis with visitors, operators see no reason for any change in plans to visit this World Heritage Site.
The Victoria Falls community, being entirely dependant on tourism, is keenly aware of the need to safeguard the industry and to ensure that visitors have a positive and memorable experience. At a distance of 878km from the capital, Harare, and 439km from Zimbabwe’s second city of Bulawayo, Victoria Falls operates as a microcosm of its own.
Meanwhile, seasoned Victoria Falls operators believe that the current cool, dry season is, in fact, the perfect time to visit for great views of the Falls, fabulous game viewing and the full gamut of adrenaline activities;
With the Zambezi water levels receding and resultant reduced spray from the falls, visibility for a full visual appreciation of the Falls in all their splendour is better than ever;
The bush is thinning out, so game is much easier to spot - a pack of 21 wild dogs was recently spotted, and elephant and buffalo are frequently sighted. White-water rafting is set to resume in mid-June when water levels in the gorge are expected to have dropped to safe levels.
Other exciting news is that on 1 July 2008, the Victoria Falls Steam Train Company commences scheduled departures three times a week onto the Victoria Falls Bridge at sunset for sundowners and snacks. This awesome location, within reach of the Falls’ spray on the century-old bridge straddling Zambia and Zimbabwe, coupled with stark Zambezi sunsets make for an unforgettable experience. Sport enthusiasts can look forward to three forthcoming events. The Victoria Falls Marathon and half-marathon take place on 24 August 2008, while both the Tour de Zambezi and the Zambezi Challenge whitewater rafting and kayaking festival are scheduled for later this year. These events can uniquely boast of a stunning setting in the unspoiled environs of one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World.
Recent, unsolicited visitor comments taken from influential travel website TripAdvisor.com bear witness to the peace prevailing in Victoria Falls:
'Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe… A truly special place’I have just returned from a fabulous trip to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe… The people are very friendly and hospitable and we felt quite safe walking around the town. Our hotel is highly recommended. It overlooks a watering hole and each evening we would sit on the deck watching the sunset and a variety of wildlife.We went on an early morning elephant back ride watching a beautiful sunrise and saw giraffe and lots of birdlife. This was followed by a lovely breakfast in a bush setting.
The helicopter ride over the Falls is an amazing sight. We were persuaded and plucked up the courage to do the "Adrenalin Rush" which is a flying fox over the gorge, followed by a "zip-line", where you whizz down a line to the bottom of the gorge and up the other side. The 3rd activity was a gorge swing - a sort of bungi jump. The sunset cruise on the Zambezi River was relaxing with a stunning sunset and lots of hippos popping up. The Victoria Falls really is one of the world's greatest wonders - we felt so at peace in an almost surreal setting - Africa at its best. Maquire Perth May 8, 2008
‘No trip to Africa would be complete without a glimpse’ Absolutely amazing. Both sides of the falls are great, but Zimbabwe is much, much better. Bring a raincoat and non-slip shoes! findingmyshoes Fairfax, CA Feb 5, 2008
Victoria Falls operators are fully appreciative of visitor concerns. All members closely monitor developments and reassure the supply trade that client safety is of paramount importance. Should the situation on the ground change, we will advise immediately.
'Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe… A truly special place’I have just returned from a fabulous trip to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe… The people are very friendly and hospitable and we felt quite safe walking around the town. Our hotel is highly recommended. It overlooks a watering hole and each evening we would sit on the deck watching the sunset and a variety of wildlife.We went on an early morning elephant back ride watching a beautiful sunrise and saw giraffe and lots of birdlife. This was followed by a lovely breakfast in a bush setting.
