Zimbabwe’s hotspot destination, Victoria Falls, remains a key tourist drawcard when visiting the country, however, operators need to start diversifying their packages when selling the destination, which has so much to offer, and by doing so, provide benefits for local communities.

Arno Delport, Sales & Marketing Manager at Acacia Africa, believes that operators need to start placing more importance on providing packages that include other areas of the country.

According to 263 Chat, Anne-Lee De Backer of Sensations Travels from Belgium, the country needs to take advantage of other destinations besides Victoria Falls, which, according to Africa Albida Tourism (AAT), has received a record number of tourists.

“Talking to my colleagues in the town, it is clear that forward bookings are much stronger than usual for the rest of 2018 and all indicators for 2019 reflect continued growth,” said Ross Kennedy, AAT Chief Executive in May.

“While there is no doubt that Victoria Falls is Zimbabwe’s signature destination, the country certainly has more to offer. From Hwange, its flagship national park, to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, one of the most important archaeological sites in Southern Africa. Zimbabwe is rich in experiences,” added Delport.  

263 Chat quoted Backer saying: “When travellers come to Zimbabwe they want to see new things. They want to see something different from Tanzania or Kenya so that’s when other places like Kariba or Hwange National Park come in,” she noted.

“Tour operators, like ourselves, which offer multi-country tours, can, I believe, help pave the way in promoting Zimbabwe as a leading safari destination. Clients booking with us are looking to see the region of Southern Africa, or at least a small part of it, and we are giving them a taster of the country's

highlights, something which will likely encourage them to see more of Zimbabwe in the future,” said Delport.

As well as spending time at the Falls, Acacia Africa’s current tours also feature wildlife viewing in Hwange and Matobo national parks, as well as visits to Great Zimbabwe.

Diversification of packaging from operators could also have a positive knock-on effect for smaller, sustainable tourism businesses, as Delport highlights: “It is definitely an initiative that should and could help at a grassroots level. Sustainable tourism is not only of importance to the environment and local livelihoods, it’s also viewed as a key driver of tourism, with clients actively choosing to visit camps, parks and projects that are low impact and community driven.”

After a 12-year absence, Wilderness Safaris will return to Mana Pools National Park, with its new Chikwenya Camp, set to open on October 1.

Speaking about the opening, Wilderness Safaris CEO, Keith Vincent said: “In this way, we not only demonstrate our unwavering commitment to driving authentic and sustainable ecotourism in Zimbabwe, but we can reveal the wonders of this extraordinary wilderness area to our guests.”

All safari activities at Chikwenya Camp will be led by highly skilled local guides, and will include day and evening game drives, guided nature walks, boating, catch-and-release fishing, as well as canoeing, which will be available for the 2019 season.

"Our life-changing journeys are all about purpose, ultimately ensuring that authentic and sustainable ecotourism continues to make a positive contribution to the conservation of Zimbabwe wildlife and the empowerment of its people," added Vincent.

Buyers attending the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo, taking place between September 6 and 8 in Bulawayo, organised by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), are expected to sample the country’s tourism products, which will enable informed packaging across various markets, such as Mana Pools, Bumi Hills, Kariba, the Eastern Highlands, Gonarezhou, Masvingo, Hwange, Binga, Matopos and Bulawayo.

ZTA International Marketing Executive Director, Jeffreys Majengwa told reporters that the Expo would help market the country and unlock investment opportunities.