Steppes Discovery Blog July 10

Steppes Discovery Blog July 10

Steppes Discovery Blog July 10

Has There Ever Been a Better Time to Visit Zimbabwe?

Has there ever been a better time to visit Zimbabwe? I doubt it, not if the reports we are getting from our partners in Zimbabwe are anything to go by. So why are things looking positive again for the country that went from being the bread basket of Africa to the basket case of Africa?

Most importantly, the economy has been dollarised which means the fifty trillion' dollar bills that were recently in circulation are now only good for scrapbooks as a reminder of an economy that was previously in freefall but is now stable. At a meeting with a lodge owner recently he commented: "Everybody is happy because you go to bed with a dollar in your pocket and when you wake up in the morning it is still worth the same!" The shops are full of produce, lodges are open for business and there is a real sense of positive anticipation on the ground especially as Morgan Tsvangorai is now urging travellers to visit Zimbabwe to see the progress that has been made.

By sending clients to Zimbabwe are we inadvertently feathering Mugabe's nest? As a tour operator, this is the question that bothered me most but I am pleased to say this is not the case. Lodges and ground handlers in Zimbabwe are mainly privately owned and not linked to the government. Yes, taxes will be generated but the money being spent is going straight into the private sector which in turn provides jobs for local people and stimulates the economy as a whole.

Zimbabwe is renowned for having the best guides in Africa. Intelligent and perceptive in the field by day, engaging and witty around the camp fire at night time, Zimbabwean guides are proud professionals with knowledge and passion in equal measure. A safari in Zimbabwe led by African's finest guides is both educational and inspiring and recent reports of game sightings are all very positive with large herds of elephant and giraffe being seen in Zambezi National Park and leopard, cheetah and lion all being spotted in Hwange.

Steppes Discovery has put together a Journey Idea that incorporates Victoria Falls, Zambezi National Park and Hwange National Park. As well as game drives and game walks, Discovery clients get to join the Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit for a morning and gain fascinating insight into the crucial work being undertaken to preserve Zimbabwe's diverse fauna and in so doing contribute to the overall recovery of this beautiful country.

Steppes Discovery Supports Indonesian Evening

Last night I was lucky enough to spend an evening in the company not only of the great and the good of Orangutan conservation, but also of Indonesia's award-winning Parahyangan choir whose enigmatic singing and dancing had the specially invited audience giving a standing ovation at the end. The event was a joint fund-raising evening in conjunction with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia and the Orangutan Foundation UK to highlight the plight of Asia's only Great Ape. Money was raised through a variety of raffle tickets, the main prize for which is a place on our pioneering Orangutan Conservation Tour in 2011, designed to take you behind the scenes of the work the Orangutan Foundation are doing in Borneo and to meet the apes themselves.

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