This was published 2 years ago
Two new safari camps open in Zimbabwe as rhinos make a comeback
Dining under the stars at Mpala Jena Camp, Zimbabwe.
COVID-19 may have temporarily decimated tourism in Africa, but in Zimbabwe, the absence of travel had a very welcome side effect – the population of the country's rhinos, though still designated critically endangered, has increased significantly.
The pandemic's 2020 travel restrictions limited the movement of poachers as well as their ability to send rhino horns to Asia. In addition, several charity funds supplemented the incomes of rangers, so they could stay on the job despite the absence of tourism dollars. One such fund was set up by Great Plains, who in further good news have just opened two new safari camps, the first in Zimbabwe under the Great Plains banner.Great Plains, a responsible safari and conservation organisation founded in 2006 by National Geographic filmmakers and Explorers-in-residence, Dereck and Beverly Joubert, has nine camps in Botswana, and seven in Kenya.
The new Mpala Jena Camp sits within the Zambezi National Park near Victoria Falls while its sister property, Tembo Plains Camp in the Sapi Private Reserve.
The new Mpala Jena Camp sits within the Zambezi National Park near Victoria Falls.
Both are on the banks of the Zambezi River and each is designed to be sensitive to the environment while offering high-end luxury and a box-seat experience of wildlife.
Zimbabwe and other Southern African countries, including South Africa, remain on the "reconsider the need for travel" list for Australians.
However, Melbourne-based Intrepid has been running trips to Eastern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda) since October 2021. "Travellers from the US and UK have continued to travel to Africa on Intrepid trips since we recommenced them; it was just Australia that had a slower response to the return of international travel," says Intrepid's Erica Kritikides.
Tembo Plains Camp is designed to be sensitive to the environment while offering high-end luxury and a box-seat experience of wildlife.Credit: Andrew Howard
Kritikides says, however, some Australians are booked on Intrepid's first departure into Southern Africa this month that includes Botswana and Namibia, with "suppliers reviewed to make sure they are ready to begin receiving tourists again." Intrepid hopes to plan more Southern Africa trips this year.
Tembo Plains Camp from ($US895) $1194 a person a night twin share; Mpala Jena Camp from ($US780) $1040 a person a night twin share. See greatplainsconservation.com
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This year's Taste of Kakadu Festival will premier Kakadu Dreaming, a dinner under the stars at the Warradjan Cultural Centre at Cooinda. Cooinda Lodge executive chef, Paul Garreffa will create the feast from local native ingredients. Other highlights of the nine-day festival include a daily Yellow Water Sunset Cruise, with native-inspired canapes, while cultural aspects will include indigenous art classes. On May 20 – 29. See parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/taste/program/
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