Funny how sometimes things come together. I was recently doing some research on wildlife places to stay when we next go back home to Zimbabwe to visit family and friends and then a TV program about Black Rhino conservation and Imire Game Ranch on the National Geographic Channel began playing in the background.

I watched with sadness as well as admiration for all the work that John and Judy Travers as well as John Olivey, the Game Park Manager and all their staff were doing to help protect these and the many other wonderful animals on their reserve as well as in Zimbabwe. From what I have heard they have, like many other wildlife areas in Zimbabwe, gone through some really tough times recently. The good news is that they are still up and running and what is more, they have plenty to offer:

Accomodation at Imire

Located just over 100km kms by road or one and a half hours drive south east of Harare, in-between Marondera and Wedza lies Imire Safari Ranch making it an ideal location for a weekend getaway. At Imire there are a few different types places to stay, depending on what you are planning on doing, and obviously if you plan to ‘rough it’ or not. There is always a limited number of people that Imire can handle, so it pays to book early.

• Numwa House
  This is a beautiful five bedroom farmhouse set within the game park just. Guests are entitled to two elephant rides each and are able to walk within the area to their hearts content and are encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment as the house is set upon a fish rich dam. Although no motors are allowed on the waters boats can be brought to the dam and guests are also able to make use of the boats available.
• Sable Lodge
  A simple farmhouse lodge consisting of 6 thatched rondavel cottages with en suite bathrooms set in the heart of the Imiri Safari ranch. The Lodge is small, but there is a dedicated staff to look after you and the atmosphere is intimate and friendly and you will get the attention and service you deserve.
• Bush Camp
  Facilities include four empty, thatched huts sleeping four, in which sleeping bags and mats can be laid down, one staff/food storage hut, showers with a firewood heating system, one large mess area with a central fire-pit, seating and food service table, outdoor kitchen with cooking done on open fires, outdoor fire-pit with seating around it. Ideal for those with their own transport including families, backpackers and school groups. Activities include: fishing, however no motors are allowed on the dam and you must bring your own fishing equipment and boats. Elephant rides, rhino walks and game drives can be organised at extra cost with guides upon arrival or during stay.

Imire Wildlife Volunteer Program

What could be a better way to help wildlife than to volunteer your time and do your bit in saving these astounding animals from extinction. Imire offer you the fantastic opportunity to live in close contact with black rhino, elephants, buffalo and all the other species of animals. To volunteer at Imire the minimum stay is 2 weeks, but a stay of one month is preferable.

Directions
Travel out on the Mutare Road, at the 68 km peg you will cross a railway line, at the 70 km peg (3 km before Marondera) you will see an Imire sign post, turn right here. Travel down this road for 2.5 km and you will see another Imire sign, turn left here. Travel down this road for 40 km and will come to the Imire butchery, go 800m past this and you will come to the Sable Lodge turn off, turn left here and it is 1 km down this road to the lodge.

More Information

For more information on Accommodation prices and booking as well as the Volunteer program, check out the excellent Imire Safari Ranch Website

Zimbabwe Travel Guides

If you are not a local and are looking for accommodation and things to do whilst on holiday in Zimbabwe, the books below feature Imire as well as many other excellent places to stay.

Zimbabwe Travel Guides

Zimbabwe (Bradt Travel Guide)
As political tension relaxes, wildlife enthusiasts and curious tourists are returning to Zimbabwe. With some of the finest national parks in Africa, the country is blessed with stunning landscapes and an abundance of wildlife. The mighty Zambezi River offers adventure holidays and Victoria Falls will leave visitors breathless, while the range of birdlife draws enthusiasts year-round. Game viewing in some of Africa’s finest national parks is a rewarding experience and this guide offers in-depth information on the facilities, advice on itinerary planning as well as how to select a safari. Accommodation is covered with up-to-date information on everything from luxury safari camps to budget stays for younger travellers who arrive overland, heading for the fast flowing waters of the Zambezi gorge.

UK
Zimbabwe (Bradt Travel Guide) on Amazon.co.uk

USA

Zimbabwe (Bradt Travel Guide) on Amazon.com

Southern Africa (Lonely Planet Multi Country Guide)
An excellent book if you are travelling in the region, although it can be a little hit and miss as the book is essentially cobbled together out of other Lonely planet books on the individulal contries and therefore some of the information is out of date. Countries covered include Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

UK
Southern Africa (Lonely Planet) on Amazon.co.uk

USA

Southern Africa (Lonely Planet) on Amazon.com

Link South Africa is selling a wildlife screensaver to raise money for The Friends of Hwange Trust, a group of dedicated Zimbabwean conservationists who have taken into their own hands the care of the wild animals and maintenance, particularly water supply, of Zimbabwe’s largest national park.

What the Friends of Hwange Trust Does

Since 2005, FOH has been responsible for 10 key northern waterholes in Hwange National Park. These are Kennedy One, Kennedy Two, Makwa, Sinanga, Tshebe Tshebe, Mabuya Mabena, Shumba, Tshompani, Inyantue and Shapi.

Owing to the expense of diesel (a single borehole engine uses around 500 litres a month) alternative methods of pumping have been explored. Since 2007, five Poldaw windmills have been established at Kennedy One, Shumba, Mabuya Mabena, Shapi and Tshompani waterholes. Whilst the windmills are robust and affordable, their pumping capacities are limited. Their function is to provide a head start for the waterholes so that they are at least as full as possible by the start of the long dry season, thereby reducing diesel requirements for the drier months.

In the dry season (July – November) the pressure for available water increases, especially from elephant. The Lister engines are kept running continuously and the need for diesel is at its maximum.

One of the trustees, Dave Dell, decided something he could do to help raise money for the plight of Hwange’s animals would be to photograph the wildlife and landscapes inside the park. We have built our screensaver from Dave’s stunning images.

So please sacrifice a couple of coffees this week, spend 10 Kiwi Dollars downloading our screensaver, and help The Friends of Hwange Trust save many many animal lives in Zimbabwe, while you get to enjoy Zimbabwe’s beautiful wildlife on your computer screen every day!

• Click here For more information and to download the screensaver
• Friends of Hwange Trust Website

About Homes in Zimbabwe
HIZ helps financially destitute pensioners in Zimbabwe by providing food, equipment and services mainly to care homes throughout the country. The beneficiaries are local and British citizens whose pensions have no value in the local economy.

This year they aim to feed 1700 frail, elderly in Harare, Bulawayo and other towns around Zimbabwe and they provide food to 28 residential homes. It runs a soup kitchen and supports SOAP (Save Our Aged People) in Harare and Bulawayo; a network of volunteers who deliver food parcels to elderly people struggling to survive in their own homes. Without Homes In Zimbabwe’s support many would starve.

How you can help
You can either donate money, or gifts in kind or get involved with some of their fund-raising events such as the HIZ Royal Thames Yacht Club Annual Fundraising Dinner, Charity Golf Competition or the eXtreme 5 Challenge.

Homes in Zimbabwe Website

Aim
The eXtreme 5 Challenge is aiming to raise £100,000 for “Homes in Zimbabwe” (HIZ – UK registered charity 1104512). HIZ looks after destitute pensioners who lost their life savings in Zimbabwe’s economic collapse. Participants can either raise money for this charity or one of their own choosing. (More about Homes in Zimbabwe)

The Challenge
eXtreme 5 Challenge’s teams of 4 to swim, run, cycle and kayak whilst raising money for charity.

eXtreme 5 is looking for 100 teams to participate in the eXtreme 5 Challenge on Sunday 12 September 2010 at Willen Lake, Milton Keynes.

The challenge is a relay consisting of a:

• 1.5km swim;
• 5km kayak;
• 30km cycle;
• 10km run; whilst raising money for charity

“We came up with the concept of this team challenge after completing our own physical challenges in 34 days during the summer of 2009. We ran a 26 mile marathon, cycled 1050 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats, kayaked 60 miles along the Caledonian Canal and played four rounds of golf in 15 hours. We are challenging others to do something similar” said Simon Grint, one of the eXtreme 5 organisers.

This is going to be a fun day out for both participants and spectators with food, drink, music and a children’s play area. The event is free for spectators wanting to come along and cheer on the teams.

If the physical elements sound a bit daunting, there are other ways to support the event. The organisers are looking for volunteers to act as marshals and to man course refreshment stands on the day. If you would like to volunteer to help, please call the eXtreme 5 Challenge on 0845 056 8379.

When & Where
Date: Sunday 12 September 2010
Location: Willen Lake, Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, UK

For more information on the event and to sign up visit www.extreme5challenge.co.uk or to make a donation go to www.justgiving.com/extreme5

Contact:
Simon Grint
eXtreme 5 Challenge
0845 056 8379
extreme5challenge@googlemail.com

Join the Chirundu.com Team

I am looking to form at least one Chirundu.com team.

I think initially the “Chirundu.com team” will just compete for fun, with the aim of just finishing. But depending on the amount of interest and the level of those wishing to compete, we could possibly put together more than one team, with one more serious than the other. So If you are interested in taking part and would like to join in or know somebody else who may be interested please contact me, letting me know your level of fitness and preferred event.

“Scott is facing bankruptcy amid the turmoil that grips the financial markets of 2008. He is saved when money is transferred to his account from an unexpected source. We flash back to war-torn 1970′s Rhodesia where Scott is growing up as a privileged white boy alongside his best friend, Simba, a black boy, on his parents’ farm…”

Blood Lily by Mason Cranswick is “a sweeping tale of naivety, treachery, war and genocide, of love and friendship… and ultimately of hope and regeneration”

The book mainly revolves around the fictional relationship between two boys born in Rhodesia (now Zim) and one that many who grew up in Africa may be able to relate to: One boy is the son of a white farmer and the other is the son of a black domestic worker on the same farm and at the core of the novel is a message of hope and promise for Zimbabwe.

By Ingrid La Trobe on Amazon: “The two boys grow up together as best of friends, with the black servant and her son regarded as part of the wider family circle on the white man’s farm. But therein lies the problem in this relationship and the wider society of Rhodesia, as such a paternal outlook fails to provide the basis for true equality and shared aspiration for all the country’s people. Cranswick’s story takes us through the years of civil war in Rhodesia into the tragedy of life today in Zimbabwe, and there is plenty of excitment and drama to keep one engaged, in what is ultimately a story of betrayal, redemption and Africa’s endurance despite the folly of man. ”

Chirundu.com: An easy to read and well written book that every Zimbabwean or anyone interested in Zimbabwe should read. Even though it is a fictional account, it portrays a part of our history in a wonderful story of how in the end, friendship can conquer all. Blood Lily was hard to put down and leaves you with mixed feelings of some sadness for the past, but also of hope for the future.

Mason Cranswick

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Mason Cranswick received an MBA from Cambridge University (Magdalene College) in 1995. Prior to that he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in the UK, after obtaining a degree in commerce from Rhodes University, South Africa. Like many Zimbos. Manson is a keen sportsman and has played international rugby for Zimbabwe Schools in 1984 and, as an amateur boxer, was a Cambridge University Blue and captain in 1994/95. He now lives in Cape Town in South Africa.

Charity

A contribution of one British Pound will be made to Zimbabwean Pensioners (M’dala Trust) for every ebook sold anywhere in the world outside South Africa. For all South African online sales and sales to readers made directly from the Publisher’s or Author’s office (not including retail outlets such as bookstores/shops etc) a contribution of R15 per book sold will be made to M’dala Trust. On top of this Manson has said that he will for the first five thousand books sold in South Africa make an additional personal contribution of R2,000 for every thousand books sold anywhere in South Africa to the Zane High Density Areas Medical Appeal, that is working in the communities in the high-density areas surrounding Harare and other major cities.

Where to Buy Blood Lily

Amazon, in the UK and US have paperback copies of the book and in the US, you can also buy a digital Kindle Book version:

UK
Blood Lily on Amazon.co.uk

USA

Blood Lily on Amazon.com

South Africa

Buy Blood Lily from the Publishers Website

Write a Book Review

If you have read this book or any other book relating to Zimbabwe or Africa and would like to review it on Chirundu.com, please contact me as I would love to be able to include it on the site.

Zimbabwe Orphan Care has been providing for orphans since 2000. A dedicated eight-person team of Alan and Dorothy Graham of Northern Ireland and native Zimbabweans Shepherd, Perpetual, Sarah, Yemu, Upwards and Sophia has established an extensive feeding and education programme in Harare and in the rural areas.

Background
Alan & Dorothy Graham, originally from Belfast, have been working in Harare, Zimbabwe for Child Evangelical Fellowship since October 1999. The main purpose of this work was to integrate into schools and orphanages operating ‘Good News Clubs’ and Bible teaching based activities for children. It soon became clear that the work through CEF, while very important, was not going to be able to impact the lives of the children in the way they wanted, so while they were developing the CEF work they also established Zimbabwe Orphan Care in 2000. ZOC was set up to help in more practical ways, offering feeding programmes and providing school uniforms and clothes for the poorest children to attend school. It became clear that many children were not able to attend local schools as the fees couldn’t be paid, and so ZOC was able to assist with paying school fees for thousands of children every year. The work in the early days was generously supported by people, mostly from Ireland who shared the ‘vision’ with Alan & Dorothy. The CEF work is now reaching into 60 schools every month and speaking to over 60,000 children and young people with the good news of the gospel as well as continuing feeding, clothing and funding programmes. We also distribute football kits, footballs and sports equipment into these schools as their funds do not allow the purchase of these items.

What Disturbs You?
As the country of Zimbabwe started to decline into turmoil, Alan & Dorothy felt a call to get involved in a more practical way. The term, which has become the vision of the ZOC charity, ‘What Disturbs you?’ spoke to their hearts and while in our ‘modern’ world, children not having the biggest TV or latest X-box, or not getting the latest designer clothes are ‘disturbing’ to most, God impressed on their hearts the young girls being raped by Robert Mugabe’s soldiers and then discarding their new-born babies by the roadside or in buses or trains. The direction of the work of ZOC took a new ‘avenue’ and ‘Jabulani’ home was planned, to house newborn abandoned babies and give them a live, a hope and a future.
ZOC applied for full charitable status as a Northern Ireland registered charity in August 2008 and received this approval soon after allowing us to seek funding from ‘foundations’ and claim additional ‘Gift Aid’ support on future donations .
This work was against a backdrop of a devaluing currency and subsequently the Zimbabwe Dollar has now ceased being used and even with the US Dollar as the ‘normal’ currency, inflation is still 5% every 2 weeks.

The ‘Jabulani’ Vision
Initially we planned to build the home for abandoned babies outside of the city, however after discussions with local authorities, it was agreed that we didn’t want to set up an ‘institution’ and that an inner city plot, albeit a lot more expensive, was the best way to establish this. In September 2008, we identified a property in the Marlborough District of Harare and set about to purchase the house and 4 acres of land it occupied. The home was purchased, and what should have been a simple renovation ended up with a complete redevelopment, due to structurally unsound foundations and walls. The total cost of purchasing the building and site, along with the renovation costs was £150K. We then shipped a container of new furniture for the whole home from Northern Ireland (with financial support from IKEA) at a cost of £15K. This whole phase of the project was funded in full through generous donations from friends and supporters of ZOC through our ‘Build an Orphanage in a Day’ appeal, which encouraged people to donate one day’s salary to help in this work

The next phase
With costs continuing to escalate in Zimbabwe, we felt we should press ahead with the next phase of the development to build 2 homes on the same site to house ‘family units’ for the children to live in once they were old enough to leave the main home. Construction costs, due to inflation, were being quoted at $1000 per sq metre. We were able to come to an agreement with a local builder for him to build the 2 main structures for $120K (approx £75K) and then the plumbing, electrical, painting and furnishing will cost approx £45K – a total cost for both homes of £120K. These homes were started in October 2009 and are due for completion in early 2010.

The Future
At the outset of this project we agreed we would do everything to the best possible standard, and have tried on all occasions to comply with every rule and regulation in Zimbabwe, albeit many are corrupt for extortion purposes. Over the last 2 years we have shipped 5 (shared) containers to Zimbabwe with everything from furniture, foodstuff, nappies and baby clothes, toys, footballs and footballs kits. These have been in conjunction with Elim Missions. We have had donations from foundations towards the work and also for specific items such as the 300 footballs, pumps and nets we recently shipped for the schools work there. We have applied for full Zimbabwe registration as a NGO (non government agency) which will allow us to import out own aid containers in the future. We have also applied for more licenses for the amount of babies we can ‘legally’ have in ‘Jabulani’ as at present we have a full quota with 6. The home and houses will be able to rescue between 40 – 50 children depending on licenses. We have established an excellent working relationship with the local authorities and have social services and even the police are in regular contact and even bringing some babies for short term care prior to their adoption. HIV / Aids is still the worst killer in Africa and we have already children in our care who are victims of this, however we are able to offer them a good standard of life through regular medication and constant care. ZOC also support other HIV / Aids programmes based around the Harare area.

How you can help
At present we still need to raise the money to pay for the second phase of the houses, as well as the ongoing running costs of the home and staff, and the ongoing feeding, clothing and school projects. We are actively organising bag packing, sponsored events and seeking donations to ensure these houses can be completed to the same excellent standard as the main home, in the necessary timescale without affecting all the other essential work. Full details on all the activities can be viewed at www.zimorphancare.org or you can contact me on +44 (0) 7711 771 563.

Alan Lowry
ZOC Chairman

The Adonis Musati Project was named after a young Zimbabwean and former police officer in Chimanimani who died of starvation on the streets of Cape Town while waiting to get his asylum papers at Nyanga Refugee Reception Center. Gahlia Brogneri, Terry Hodson and some fellow Zimbabweans living in Cape Town decided then to form the charity at the end of 2007 in order to try to ensure that no refugee will ever die of starvation in Cape Town ever again.

A former schoolteacher from Zimbabwe, Terry Hodson maintains strong ties with her home as family members still live there. Like many of us she returns home almost every year, and she hopes she will be able to persuade her South African husband to retire there.

While she has always empathized with refugees from the economic, social, and political trauma in Zimbabwe, it was the death of Mr. Musati that pushed her into action to help those who cross the border from Zimbabwe or other countries in any way she can. “I feel really strongly about all the suffering,” she says. “So much has been messed up (in Zimbabwe). The whole social structure and fabric has been torn apart.”

“If anything went right (in Zimbabwe) tomorrow, and they could get work, they would go home,” Hodson says. “A lot of them just want to make a better life for their families. So they come here thinking they can make a lot of money to send back, but it doesn’t work. Then they want to go back to their families.” So on top of helping with food and accommodation, the Adonis Musati project also raises funds to send home one Zimbabwean a month who wants to go back as, the expense of returning to Zimbabwe is often beyond a refugee’s means.

The project also helps refugees compile résumés for job interviews, distributes food, clothes and sleeping bags, and recently opened a halfway house for 12 refugee orphan boys.

How you can help

Adonis Musati Project is funded entirely by donations and run solely by volunteers and everything the organization has goes directly to the refugees and asylum seekers.

If you would like to help and can’t or don’t want to just donate money, you can help with providing things like sewing machines, tools, mattresses, blankets, clothing, food etc. Or if you are in Cape Town you could donate some of your time doing things like collecting and sorting clothes, providing transport, distribute food, assist those in need of medical help
supply food, help with administrative functions or help to raise funds.

For more information check out the:
Adonis Musati Project website: www.adonismusatiproject.org
The 2007 News report on Adonis Musati on the BBC News Website

The North Bradley Baptist Church in Wiltshire will host an evening with former Zimbabwean cricket star Henry Olonga as part of a free entry, fundraising night in aid of Cancer Research.

Pastor Ben Midgley said that “It’s about building a bridge between ourselves and the local community.” and that “Outreach events like this are essential. You can’t expect people to come to the church if we can’t make the effort to introduce them to what we have to offer.”

All are welcome to enjoy an evening of cricket chat and Henry will speak about life now in the UK, as well as share his own personal passion for singing.

Where: North Bradley Baptist Church, Wiltshire
When: 7.30 pm, Friday 30th Oct 2009

Henry’s Faith:
Henry became a Christian at a youth camp at the age of 16. Some friends who were Christians invited him along to a youth camp. He heard messages each night and on one of the final evenings a man got up and preached the message of the gospel. It was to this message that he responded and gave his life to God.

For more information: Henry Olonga comes to North Bradley

Not to be confused with the British Home Secretary also named Jacqui Smith, who last year warned of an influx of Zimbabweans into the UK, and who had to repay British taxpayers £21 after it was revealed that expenses she claimed last year for home internet service also included four pay-per-view movies, two of which were adult films!

We are talking about the Zimbabwean Jacqui Smith, who used to swim for Zimbabwe and who recently completed the iconic feat of swimming across the English Channel.

I don’t know about you guys, but I have dipped my toe in the sea in Brighton before and it was almost frozen off, so the idea of swimming from Dover to Cap Blond-Nez in France sounds like madness.

The swim took her 12hrs 35mins and she did it to raise money for WEZIMBABWE, a Registered Charity (in England) that is dedicated to the training for children and young people throughout Zimbabwe.

Before the even she said that “The more money I raise for Zim, the more I will quite literally be encouraged not miss training, every penny will push me closer to France.” and that “One pound will go miles in Zimbabwe… I am not asking for a fortune, just a small donation.”  To date she has raised (offline & online) £4,511.27, which is not far at all from her target of £5,000.00.

It is not too late to recognise her incredible effort with a donation:

http://www.justgiving.com/jacquismithschannelswim/ or for more on her swim, take a look at her blog: Jacqui Smith English Channel Swim.

About Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage

Registered Welfare Organization No: (38/77)

Location: Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Chipangali is a wildlife sanctuary for animals which stand little chance of survival in the wild. Animals which have either been orphaned, abandoned, injured, born in captivity or brought up unsuccessfully as pets. It is often the last refuge for those brought in sick or injured, and increasingly it is a sanctuary for confiscated animals.

The wildlife Orphanage was established in 1973 by Vivian Wilson and his wife Paddy. Chipangali is not a zoo, it offers a home to orphaned, abandoned and sick wild animals. When possible, rescued animals and birds are rehabilitated and returned to the wild. If safe release into their natural habitat is not possible, animals are cared for and kept for educational purposes and study. Endangered species may undergo captive breeding programs.

The word Chipangali derives from the Chinyanja language it means ‘open friendly country’.

Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage is a registered Welfare Organization (38/77) in Zimbabwe.

You can assist Chipangali’s endeavours by either:

• Joining their volunteer program
• Adopting an orphan
• Making a donation

Chipangali will be greatfull for any support you can give!

Chipangali Wildlife Volunteer Program

No two participants will have the same experience due to the ever changing nature of work being under taken at Chipangali. during your four, six or eight week stay you will be involved in a number of activities which may include:

• Bathing of the black rhino
• Hand rearing of leopards, lions and antelope
• Darting of animals
• Carnivore research
• Radio tracking of leopards, cheetah and brown hyena in the wild

For more info: www.chipangali.com

Other Wildlife Volunteer Programs in Africa

If you are interested in volunteering with wildlife, take a look at my guide to Volunteering Wildlife Work in Africa on the Safari Guide website.