Video of some short clips from my trip to Kariba in 2009

I only take video when not taking photographs or fishing, so there is plenty that I missed and I just use the video mode on my camera, so sorry for the camera shake! You can take a look at the photos I took on my last trip here: Beautiful Zimbabwe.

Music is “Dreaming” by Bud Cockcroft and has been used with his permission – Go to www.budcockcroft.com for more of his songs and to buy.

I have just returned from my latest visit to Zimbabwe where I had an excellent time catching up with family and friends.

Every-time I go back I am stunned by just how beautiful the country, the people, it’s scenery and the wildlife is. Below are a few of the many, many photos I took either in my parents garden in Harare, at Mazvikadei Dam just outside Banket or on Lake Kariba.

Whilst in Kariba I went to see the dam wall because I knew that they had opened a few gates, I had not however expected to find three gates open! The power of the water coming through is incredible and you could even see the spray rising over the town of Kariba from Antelope Island in the early morning!

Generated by Facebook Photo Fetcher

I hope you enjoy the photos, if you would like to use any please feel free to contact me. Below are a few great Coffee Table type books on Zimbabwe:

The Wankie (Hwange) National Park Beginnings

A story of how Hwange Game reserve begun, taken from “This is our land” by Frank Clements

IT WAS NOT until 1926 that people in Southern Rhodesia (Now Zimbabwe) began talking about establishing a game reserve. The idea was first put forward in the Legislative Assembly by Colonel Boggie in 1927. As a result, Native Commissioners were asked to suggest which tract of country would be most suitable, and it was at last decided to set apart an area of some five thousand square miles lying to the west of the railway between Bulawayo and Livingstone and south of the Deka River. It was called the Wankie Game Reserve, and Mr. Ted Davidson was appointed the first Game Warden.

He established his camp near Dett, and pat-rolled the area by lorry under the guidance of a local hunter, Mr. J. G. Lundin. The season had been very dry and the only game to be seen were a few giraffe and ostriches. Never- theless, Ted,Davidson decided to persevere and his first task was obviously to.provide water. The bushmen were his allies, for they had their secret watering points and knew where under-ground water could be found. Ted Davidson spent years wandering around the unmapped interior. There was so little information about the country that when he was asked by his African assistants where he was going, he usually just said “in that direction” so that he was given the name of Dubanyika, which roughly means “through the country.”

Tsetse fly threatened to invade the reserve from the Sebungwe District, and. they could only be driven off by shooting the game be-tween the Reserve and the Gwaal River, and when a fly-free cordon had been established, the park was opened to visitors in 1932. Contemporary accounts report that they were thrilled, although there was little to see, the game population amounting to something between fifty and one hundred beasts only. However, water supplies and protection Increased the game enormously, and by 1949 rest huts and roads had begun to be built. Most important of all, the reserve boundary ha been extended to the Deka River, thanks the generosity of a farmer, the late H. Robins, who bequeathed his 20,000 acrer to the people of Southern Rhodesia to be game sanctuary. Intervening patches of lan were bought and in 1949 the old reserve a the Robins Game Sanctuary were proclaimed a National Park.

As the game increased, additional wate supplies were built up by the sinkiing of boreholes and the construction of dams. The road system by which tourists were able to reach the best game areas was extended and proved, and recently tar roads have made their appearance.

Ted Davidson relinquished his post as Chief Warden in 1960 after 32 years, for 28 year of Which he was ably assisted by his wife Connie, who spent much of her life on horse back with her husband, observing game, tracking poachers, and mapping the country. Ted himself has now donned a white shirt and colla as Assistant Director of National Parks, an when he did so he left behind him a staff which had grown from one European and ten Africans to eight Europeans and one hundred and fifty Africans, working together to preserve the oldest and still the best-known game sanctuary in Southern Rhodesia.

The Rhinoceros is one of my favourite animals and I have had some truly excellent experiences with them. As a guide working on a reserve in South Africa that had a large population of White Rhinos, they always provided me with excellent sightings for both me and my guests. However mostly because of poaching they, especially the Black Rhino are highly endangered.

Save the Rhino Campaign

Bud Cockcroft’s “Run Rhino Run” was the theme tune for the very successful “Save the Rhino” Campaign  in Zimbabwe in the 1980’s that brought the black rhino back from near extinction. The song brings back loads of memories for me, as it was often played on  ZTV’s “Sounds on Saturday”. This video below was filmed back in 1998 at “The Inn Place” at the Holiday Inn, in Harare Zimbabwe, in 1988:

Go to www.budcockcroft.com for more information and to buy Bud Cockcroft’s music including Sunrise in Zimbabwe (the old Air Zim ad), Run Rhino Run music video, and the Dreaming about Zimbabwe.

Len Strydom
The lead guitarist, who you catch a glimpse of playing the awesome guitar solo about halfway through the song was called Len Strydom. On a personal note: I used to have guitar lessons with him in his flat in Harare in the early 90’s, If he ever reads this, I would just like to thank him for all his patience and for creating calluses on my fingers that are still with me today! I’d love to hear how he is doing, if anyone knows.

Zimbabwe Black Rhino Conservation

Zimbabwe is home to the fourth largest population of the  black rhinos in the world.
Unfortunately with the collapse of the economy and just about everything else, there has also been a massive increase in poaching. Poaching of black and white rhinos in Zimbabwe has more than doubled in the past year and organized poaching gangs may have literally been getting away with murder.  Not only do the poachers slaughter rhinos, but they have also been firing on the people who try to protect them. According to Save the Rhino, the London-based organization which supports on-going rhino conservation through financial and in-kind support, the combined population of black and white rhinos was about 830 at the end of 2007, but by December 2008, the numbers had fallen to about 740, despite good birth rates. Already in 2009, 18 rhinos have been slaughtered by poachers who kill the one- ton animals for their horn.  Because of collapsing law-enforcement efforts, not a single Zimbabwean rhino poacher has been sentenced in a court during the past three years.

By the end of 2008, eighty percent of Zimbabwe’s black rhinos and half of its white rhinos were located in the lowveld. These large tracts of land, converted from cattle ranches to wildlife management areas, were created to safeguard the rhino.  Despite recent losses, the lowveld conservancies, monitored by the Lowveld Rhino Trust and linked with Zimbabwe’s Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, still hold 360 black rhinos and provide the best hope for their survival.   >> More Information

Volunteer Program
If you would like to help save the rhino, you can get involved by working as a volunteer on Real Gap’s ‘Black Rhino Conservation Project.’ This ‘save the rhino’ project is based in the beautiful Midlands of Zimbabwe and is endorsed by the WWF. Volunteers help save the rhino by helping out with important day-to-day tasks such as monitoring the local black rhino population out in the field and recording relevant data. The type of people working on this ‘save the rhino’ projects ranges from local Zimbabweans through to other volunteers and respected conservationists. As well as doing your bit to save the rhino it’s also a great way to experience ‘real’ African culture and meet both local people and other like-minded fellow travellers.

The efforts of ‘save the rhino’ campaigns such as this one in Zimbabwe will hopefully help stabilise the black rhino population. However the fight to save the rhino is very much an on-going process and there is no room whatsoever for complacency. By getting involved with this fantastic project you can do your bit to save the rhino for future generations of visitors to Africa.  >> More Information

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.

White Rhino and a young calf. I took this photo whilst working at Welgevonden Game Reserve in South Africa

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.