VFA official opening drags on to December
VICTORIA Falls opened
its highly anticipated
international airport in
December last year. With the
ability to handle wide-body
aircraft, it was hoped that
international airlines would
begin using Victoria Falls
as a new Southern African
hub, but at this stage, the
airlines operating routes out
of the airport are Air
Zimbabwe, Air Namibia,
Comair, Fastjet and SAA.
Ross Kennedy, ceo of
Africa Albida Tourism, says
he can confirm that several
airlines are in advanced talks
with CAAZ about additional
slots, bigger aircraft and new
routes servicing Victoria Falls
International Airport, but
there has been no official
announcement as yet.
Airlines' hesitance to
commit may be due to several
outstanding issues that need
to be addressed before the
airport can be commissioned.
The completion of the
airport has been repeatedly
postponed, starting from
January this year. Currently,
the deadline is set for early
December.
Furthermore, for the past
few months, the focus of the
work has been on the second
phase of the construction
project, which involved the
conversion of the old airport
into a new domestic terminal,
which according to the Civil
Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe
(CAAZ), has now been
completed.
But, the delays have not
dampened South Africans’
interest in visiting Vic
Falls. According to Sherry
Sibanda, Zimbabwe’s Minister
Counsellor for tourism, South
Africa remains Zimbabwe’s
most significant African market
in terms of tourist arrivals.
Despite the weakening of
the rand and the economic
slowdown in SA, tourist
arrivals from this market have
increased by 22% this year.
This is also expected
to further improve with
the opening of the new
domestic terminal, says Nico
Bezuidenhout, ceo of Fastjet.
“Victoria Falls has always
been a major leisure travel
attraction and an improvement
in accessibility with the launch
of the terminal is bound to
have a positive impact and
stimulate traffic volumes.”
Ross expects that this will
lead to improved access and
affordability in Victoria Falls.
“Tourism is an industry that
is tightly linked to market
forces, and so both airlines
and all service providers
on the ground will look at
ways to maximise loads and
occupancies across the year.
This will no doubt lead to
some great deals in certain
seasons as we all seek to
grow revenues,” he says.
“Increased air access will
lead to better and more
creative packaging by South
African tour operators into
Zimbabwe, as choice always
stimulates price comparisons
and hence competitive forces
– which usually result in better
fares and rates,” adds Ross.
While this increased
demand may result in cheaper
pricing, this isn’t necessarily
guaranteed, says Nico.
“Increased volumes and
demand spikes will have a
positive impact across the
board, but affordability and
fares are also highly impacted
by external factors such as
exchange rates and other
input costs such as fuel. A
challenge in Victoria Falls is
the amount of accommodation
available, especially in
high season, which has an
inflationary effect on prices.”
A hub for various destinations
The new Victoria Falls airport is playing a key role in
attracting low-cost carriers into the destination from
Johannesburg and Harare, says Glenn Stutchbury,
ceo of Cresta Hotels. Airfares were traditionally one
of the highest costs when travelling into Zimbabwe,
but with greater choice between legacy and low cost
carriers, travellers will be able to find better deals, he
adds. “We are starting to see some value coming into
what is usually one of the highest costs.” The benefits
of this are likely to be felt far beyond Vic Falls, says
Glenn, who believes that it will serve as a hub for
various destinations. “The fact that Victoria Falls is
central allows one to also consider Chobe for part of
the trip, as either a day visit, or an add-on to Victoria
Falls and Zimbabwe.”
Safety concerns
There is an ongoing
perception that
Zimbabwe is unsafe,
says Sherry Sibanda.
“Zimbabwe continues to
fight this negativity by
undertaking programmes
to prove that it is a safe
destination.”
“The increased
presence of the
Zimbabwe Republic Police
on the roads makes the
South African visitor
fear that the nation is
unsafe.The Zimbabwe
Tourism Authority
continues to engage the
necessary stakeholders
about reducing the
police presence on the
highways,” says Sherry.
MICE suppliers open to negotiations
WITH the rand
tumbling against
the dollar,
Victoria Falls
has become
an increasingly
expensive MICE
destination, but
despite the odds,
South African
companies
continue to
host their
conferences,
events and
incentives in the
destination.
Sherry Sibanda,
Zimbabwe’s Minister
Counsellor for Tourism says
that the country’s proximity
to South Africa has meant
that the number of SA
incentive groups coming
to Vic Falls continues to
steadily increase, despite
the global reduction in
incentive budgets. “Victoria
Falls has been one of the
major beneficiaries in terms
of incentive group arrivals.”
This is despite
Zimbabwe’s
dollar-based
pricing, which
makes it an
expensive
destination
for the South
African market.
“This has forced
the industry
to come up
with affordable
packages for the
South African
traveller,” says
Sherry. “Group
travel attracts favourable
discounts and entrance fees
to national parks are lower
for South Africans than
rates paid by international
tourists.”
According to ceo of
Dreams, Erica Barrett,
suppliers in Victoria
Falls have been very
accommodating. “They have
an attitude of ‘what can
we do to make it happen’”,
she adds. “With the current
downturn in the economy,
I believe many of the MICE
groups have changed focus
to domestic destinations,
but we can definitely see an
upturn in pipeline business
to Victoria Falls.”
Ross Kennedy of Albida
Africa Tourism agrees, and
says MICE business to
Victoria Falls from South
Africa has certainly been
impacted by the weakening
rand in terms of expense.
“Combined with the cost
of flights, accommodation
and services/activities, it
can make it a budgetary
challenge for many.
Remember, in many cases,
the cost of say a beer, Coke,
coffee or meal has actually
not changed in US dollar
terms in Victoria Falls for
the past three to five years,
so the higher costs are
directly linked to the falling
rand,” he explains. “At
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge,
we reduced a number of
food and beverage prices
in early 2016, having
previously reduced 2016
accommodation rates in
2015.”
Ross says most MICE
suppliers are willing to
negotiate on packages
and rates to win South
African business, but that
customers should not
expect SA comparative
rates, given that the
supplier’s costs are in
US dollars.
New hotels and major upgrades
Increased accessibility has led to a flurry of activity in the accommodation sector,
with a number of hotel groups embarking on refurbishment programmes and new
builds. TNW rounds up some of the latest openings and upgrades on the Zambian
and Zimbabwean sides of the Falls.
High-end lodges
&Beyond Matetsi River
Lodge
Situated near Victoria Falls
on a 50 000-hectare private
wildlife concession on the
Zambezi River, &Beyond
Matetsi River Lodge opened
in August. It comprises two
camps of nine suites each,
including a family suite at
each camp. Other facilities
include a safari shop, gym,
massage sala, conference
facility and a 20-metre rimflow
swimming pool. A soleuse
private villa, &Beyond
Matetsi River House, was
also built for private groups
of up to eight guests. It has
four bedrooms, a kitchen,
indoor and outdoor dining
areas, firepit and private
veranda. Activities include
game drives, tours of the
Falls and High Tea excursions
to the Victoria Falls Hotel.
Thorntree River Lodge
African Bush Camps has just
taken over management of
Thorntree River Lodge on
the banks of the Zambezi
River in Livingstone, a short
distance from Victoria Falls.
Set to open in mid-2017,
The lodge will be completely
rebuilt with a contemporary
design and tented roof
structures. It will comprise
eight twin rooms and two
family units (with four beds
each). Each unit will have
its own private plunge pool.
Facilities will include a spa,
gym, open-plan kitchen and
dining room and a walk-in,
temperature-controlled wine
room.
Victoria Falls River
Lodge
The property in the Zambezi
National Park has just
undergone an upgrade.
Private plunge pools have
been added to the lodge’s
13 luxury tents. Bar and
spa facilities have also
been added. The thatched
riverside bar offers views of
the Zambezi River, which can
also be seen from the new
Toa Spa.
Mid- range properties
Batonka Guest Lodge
Officially opened in June,
Batonka Guest Lodge is
walking distance from the
centre of Victoria Falls town.
It offers 22 rooms, all with
air-conditioning, television,
WiFi, a private veranda and
contemporary décor. Lodge
facilities include indoor and
outdoor dining areas, a lounge,
swimming pool, activities desk
and curio shop.
African Sun
African Sun, together with its
partners, the Legacy Group,
has launched a refurbishment
programme for its Victoria
Falls properties. At Elephant
Hills, the exterior has been
repainted and rethatched,
while general work has been
carried out in the resort’s
gardens and the rest of the
hotel. A temporary conference
facility with capacity for
1 000 seated guests has
been constructed. At The
Kingdom Hotel, the casino
is being converted into a
conferencing facility.
Budget stays
Shearwater
Adventures campsite
Shearwater Adventures is
constructing a campsite
with capacity for 100
guests in Victoria
Falls, due to open in
December. The facility
is aimed at large groups
who are seeking an
outdoor and adventurous
holiday.
10 great Vic Falls specials
Dreams is offering threenight/four-day
packages
at AVANI Vic Falls Resort
from R11 627pp sharing.
Bookings must be made
before November 30, 2016
for stays until March 31,
2017.
Dreams is also offering threenight/four
day packages at
the five-star Victoria Falls
Hotel in a standard double
room from R9 699pp
sharing. Rate includes return
economy-class airfare from
Johannesburg to Victoria
Falls, airport taxes, airport
transfers and breakfast daily.
Valid from November 15,
2016 to March 31, 2017.
Terms and conditions apply.
Air Zimbabwe has introduced
discounted W-class fares on
flights from Johannesburg to
Victoria Falls, starting from
R1 550 excluding taxes of
R580 (subject to exchange
rate) and US$50 (R688)
Zimbabwe Civil Aviation tax
payable upon departure from
Zimbabwe. Valid until March
2017. Fare basis WSPCLOW.
AfricaStay has introduced a
Victoria Falls special
for three nights from
R6 170pp sharing.
The package includes
accommodation at the fourstar
Kingdom Hotel, flights
from Johannesburg (including
taxes) and breakfast. Valid
for stays from December
1-19.
Visit Victoria Falls with Air
Holiday with packages from
R3 899pp sharing. Rate
includes return flights from
Johannesburg to Livingstone,
cross-border transfers, two
nights’ accommodation
in a standard room at the
Kingdom Hotel with
breakfast and dinner daily,
a sunset cruise on the
Zambezi and a guided tour
of Victoria Falls. Add an extra
night for R1 440pp sharing.
Rate excludes taxes of
approximately
R2 550pp. Valid for stays
until December 19.
The Holiday Factory is
offering specials at various
properties throughout
Victoria Falls. Guests
can stay at the three-star
Elephant Hills Resort from
R7 950pp sharing, the fourstar
Victoria Falls Safari
Lodge from R9 730pp
sharing or the five-star
Victoria Falls Hotel from
R9 990pp sharing. All
packages include return
flights from Johannesburg
to Livingstone, approximate
airport taxes, hotel
transfers, three nights’
accommodation, breakfast
daily, sunset cruise and
tour of the Falls. Valid for
travel over selected dates in
December.
Flame of Africa has launched
a ‘stay three, pay two’
Victoria Falls package with
rates from R7 911. Rate
includes return airport
transfers, three night’s
accommodation at the
Victoria Falls Hotel with
breakfast daily, one dinner
at Jungle Junction, one lunch
at Lookout Café (excluding
drinks) and a sunset cruise.
Rates exclude flights, visas
and travel insurance. Valid
for travel between November
15 and December 20, 2016
and January 6 and March
31, 2017.
Thompsons Holidays is
offering a three-night special
at A’Zambezi River Lodge
from R8 279pp sharing.
The rate includes return
flights from Johannesburg to
Victoria Falls (including the
airline levy), return airport
transfers, accommodation
with breakfast daily,
complimentary scheduled
shuttle service trips into
Victoria Falls town and the
rain forest, WiFi and in-room
water. Valid until December
20.
Spend three nights at the
three-star Victoria Falls
Rainbow Hotel from
R7 511pp sharing. Package
includes return flights from
Johannesburg to Victoria
Falls (including the airline
levy), airport transfers,
accommodation with
breakfast, scheduled shuttle
service trips into Victoria
Falls town and the rainforest,
WiFi and in-room water. Valid
until December 20.
Ventures in Africa has
introduced three-day/
two-night packages from
US$311 (R4 280), including
accommodation on a B&B
basis at Bayete Guest Lodge,
return airport transfers from
Victoria Falls, sunset cruise
and guided Falls tour. Valid
until December 1.
Three popular Vic Falls add-on safari destinations
SHERRY Sibanda, minister
councillor for tourism in
Zimbabwe says these
national parks are becoming
increasingly popular addon
destinations for South
African travellers extending
their trip outside of Vic Falls.
Hwange National Park
South Africans tend to
choose Hwange National
Park because of its proximity
to the Victoria Falls, as
they can easily add it on to
their trips. At 14 000sqm,
Hwange National Park is the
largest in Zimbabwe. It is
one of the most pristine and
best-managed wildlife areas
in the world, and home to
the “Big Seven” – elephant,
buffalo, lion, leopard, rhino,
hippo and crocodile.
Gonarezhou National
Park
Self-drive South African
tourists favour going to
Gonarezhou National
Park which is located in
the southern region of
Zimbabwe, and is now part
of the Greater Limpopo
Transfrontier Park, joining
game reserves in South
Africa, Zimbabwe and
Mozambique. This is where
the famous Chilojo Cliffs
are found, and as the
name ‘Gonarezhou’ (Shona
for haven of elephants)
suggests, this is where
some of the largest herds of
elephant are found.
Mana Pools and
Matusadona National
Parks
Both of these parks have
become very popular with
the South African market.
Situated in the western
region of Zimbabwe,
Mana Pools is one of the
wildest and best-preserved
ecological areas, while
Matusadona is situated on
the shores of Lake Kariba.
