ZIMBABWE EXPEDITIONS

One of the most beautiful boutique hotels of the Nyanga region Inn on the Rupurara has closed its doors and fallen into liquidation effective Thursday 27 April 2017 according to a statement issued by Gordon Addams who is the Best of Zimbabwe Chairman. Gordon Addams In the statement sent out to "friends" in the travel trade yesterday, Mr Addams cites  'the substantial decline in tourism in the Eastern Highlands over the past 15 or so years," as the key reason for this move.  You can read the full statement below. "Dear Friends in the travel trade After 20 years of service to the travelling public of Zimbabwe and the world, Inn On Rupurara at Nyanga has closed its doors and ceased operating with effect from Thursday, April 27. This was the direct result of a number of years of unprofitable operation, brought about by the substantial decline in tourism in the Eastern Highlands over the past 15 or so years. It has become impossible to continue t...

Wow!! How time flies. It has already been 2 years before I posted on this blog and yet we have grown so much with the #VisitZimbabwe tourism and hospitality marketing campaign and brand. We now even have a logo well that is almost reaching its first birthday since its release, and we have hit thousands of kilometres across Zimbabwe to various beautiful destinations within our world of wonders - Zimbabwe. Anyway, enough of the blubber (you obviously have more stories to peruse before jumping off this blog. A friend of mine recently mentioned Lelethu Guest House to me in a random conversation. Being the Publisher of the Zimbabwe Hotels and Restaurants Directory, it beat me that if this Lelethu Guest House was worth any mention how I had never come across it. So I decided to pay them a visit, while at the same time making it my  Workers' Day treat because trust me, this year has been super busy for my travel buddy at #VisitZimbabwe (Patrick) and I as we prepare to launch our...

African Print clothing seems to be the new fashion trend. I chose not to be left out and got my African print fabric from Tanzania for my African Print shirts. I particularly like the short sleeved African print shirt pictured here below in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. If seen close up it has a glittery finish and can serve well as an evening event shirt. Evidently both these African print shirts can be easily adorned in both formal and casual environments. I think the best of African print shirts is yet to be exposed and I predict that this will always be a classic fashion line. Share your African print shirts too. Love Africa and #VisitZimbabwe Sam Nyaude in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Sam in #Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

This is what I ask for Christmas... Dear Mr Mayor, Well since I do not believe in Santa Claus, and apparently you are the guy responsible for making sure people have Christmas in your town, I guess you will not blame me for directing my Christmas request to you. I have been told by a little birdie that you have a “Christmas Cheer Fund,” sadly for me it has never brought cheer to me. I hope this year you can restore my belief in Christmas. I understand if you are a very busy man, Your Worship; but I too want my share of Christmas. Do you remember the Christmas advert that used to be flighted on ZBC TV by Bata - the shoe company? Well my request is not that you bring back the quality that was at ZBC TV then, well that is before Professor Moyo dictated was it 75% or 100% local content. Maybe you might not have the powers to do that, but the kids in that advert emphasised that Christmas was a time of love and sharing and at the end the cute little Indian boy from Princ...

The tweets by https://twitter.com/zanu_pf on social media this week caused a bit of mayhem in tourism circles with Zimbabwe being accused of lacking in comradeship after Kenya stood by Zimbabwe during the times when it had been hit by severe travel warning by especially the European Union, especially Britain; and also the United States of America. Kenya has had a series of terrorist attacks of late thus seeing the same source markets issuing travel warning against visiting Kenya. Online publisher http://www.eturbonews.com/47191/dont-risk-your-life-kenya-come-zimbabwe-safe-holiday went on to publish a story titled “ZIMBABWE TOURISM SMEARS KENYA TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN TWITTER CAMPAIGN” which resulted in top government officials from both countries having to meet to clear the air. 3 days ago, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Chief Executive Karikoga Kaseke had to respond to delegates from the Kenya Tourism Board regarding these allegations at the Routes Africa aviation conference in Victoria...

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority hosted the Zimbabwe International Carnival that was supposed to run from the May 21-26 2013 but ended up being Harare's biggest ever street procession. For a first time event I think the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) was rather rash in organising what was supposed to be one of Zimbabwe's mega-events hosted to increase tourism arrivals to the "World of Wonders." Coordination of the many proposed events that were supposed to make the carnival week fell apart towards the dates of the Carnival resulting in so many advertised participants not attending. This development left ZTA with no choice but to ride on existing Harare activities resulting in a landslide decrease in the number of attends. Events such as the Mbira Night were hosted at the Book Cafe, which is a considerably small venue hosting less that 200 people comfortably. Reggae night was moved to Red Fox Hotel, one venue that has asserted itself strongly in the reggae ...

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe has been listed among the worlds 510 most beautiful hotels scoring an impressive 92.5 out of 100 total score on the Conde Nast Gold List 2013 The rating is derived from the assessment of rooms (90.2); service (90.2); food (92.7); location (97.6); design (92;7) and finally activities (91.4).  Every entry is rigorously tested and screened by about 47 000 Conde Nast Traveler readers who produce an independent final selection of the very best by participating in their annual Readers' Choice Survey.  "The GOLD LIST is a representation of  real quality no matter how far flung." - Conde Nast Traveler.     Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is home to the famous Boma Restaurant that serves Zimbabwean cuisine accompanied by traditional dancing and drumming. The Makuwa-kuwa Restaurant, which faces a waterhole in the unfenced Zambezi National Park is one the best to have breakfast while sighting animals such as elephants, kudu,...

The Christmas season is back.   It is that time of the year that most people the world over take most of the year preparing for in very diverse ways depending on locality. Generally, it is a time for family, love and sharing, but for me, being a black Zimbabwean, Christmas has its own meaning that I eagerly anticipate its arrival every year.  Growing up, for me Christmas meant, going to “kumusha” ( our rural home) where we would meet up with the rest of the family clan. It was that holiday that I was assured to meet my distant cousins, check out who had grown faster, who had excelled academically or in sport and just find reason to show off even with a twenty cent plastic watch. It meant sleeping late on Christmas Eve while arguing and betting which beast of our cattle herd was going to be slaughtered by “Sekuru” ( our grandfather) . It also meant waking up early in the morning to catch a cold bath and be the first to wear one’s “Christmas clothes”. When now adorn...

http://www.zamsoc.org/?p=1733 See more on the above link...

Baboon Head Recipe... Here is an interesting account by Cindy Ross, and american photographer and writer who recently visited Zimbabwe.

Minister Mzembi reads Vice President Hon J. Mujuru's speech at  Pandhari Lodge at  a Sanganai/Hlanganani 2012  cocktail In a speech read by the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Honourable Eng. Walter Mzembi on behalf of the Patron of the Tourism Sector - Honourable Vice President Joice Mujuru at a cocktail hosted by the Vice president for buyers, exhibitors and media at Pandhari Lodge, government reiterated its support for tourism development in the country. Part of the speech read: “The Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe is fully behind the development of tourism, not only in our nation but also in the region... The strength of tourism as a people-to-people phenomenon that can bring about international understanding cannot be over emphasised.” The speech went on to mention the great economical potential that the tourism sector bears and its capability to change the fortunes of the country. The notable growth of Sanganai/Hlanganani 2012...

One of the most crucial highlights of Sanganai/Hlanganani 2012 is the business forum slated for 18 October 2012 to be held in the Harare International Conference Centre at the Rainbow Towers Hotel. This all stakeholders forum seeks to deliberate and resolve or at least map out a plan for the resolution of various factors affecting the rapid development of tourism in Zimbabwe. The three session forum will focus on how national policies have affected the growth of tourism in Zimbabwe and on strategies that can be employed to develop a positive destination image. Two key moderators in Dr. Shingi Munyeza and DPM Professor Aurther Mutambara will lead panellist from relevant government and private sector organisation through the forum. Tourists are on record for preferring destination Zimbabwe to other destinations with an almost similar product offering. However, most would rather opt for alternative destinations such as South Africa, Kenya or Tanzania because o...

Hon. Eng Mzembi (Minister of Hospitality and Tourism Industry) flanked by ZTA C.E. Mr K.Kaseke, HAZ Administrator V. Rukande and ZCT ExecutiveDirector J. Muchemeyi at a Sanganai/Hlanganani Media Update Conference in Harare The Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair 2012 is this year especially outstanding because of the introduction of new concepts to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) owned annual tourism trade market. For instance the business- to-business networking model implemented to ease the buyer-exhibitor interface is hoped to see actual trade deals being sealed during the course of the fair. The re-introduction of the ‘Tourism Night’ – a night of free entertainment and celebration for Zimbabweans and their visitors courtesy of ZTA was necessitated by public demand. Another new introduction is the Urban Footsteps Township Tourism Program that is based on the South African Township Tourism model in Soweto. A street carnival that will be led by the ...

All is set for AFRICA'S SECOND LARGEST TOURISM EXPO -  Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Africa Fair 2012. Indications show a bigger better travel expo as ZTA has changed it's traditional methods of buyer invitations and also introduced the business-to-business method of buyer-exhibitor interface ZTA Chief Executive - Mr. Karikoga Kaseke after addressing 2012 Sanganai/ Hlanganani Stakeholders The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) will this year host its annual flagship event Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Africa Fair at the Harare International Conference Centre inside the Rainbow Tourism Group’s – Rainbow Towers Hotel from 18-21 October. The four day event paired off as ‘Where the World meets Africa’ is this year running under the theme “Celebrating Africa’s Tourism Diversity”. This year ninety five (95) international buyers – tourism operators, media and tourism investors- from world tourism markets such as China, Germany, United States of America, U...