The story of Mauya Travel Guide is one of hope, vision, perseverance, and difference. For seven years I have desired to help the tourism industry with a marketing solution that would add to the wonderful solutions available, to promote Zimbabwe and lure visitors.
Learning to fly
Following closely the marketing initiatives made, and learning from already established marketers in the industry, I had hope. This hope became flesh at the end of 2007, after registering the magazine, being one of more than ten failed tourism products, we begun building a team, creating an audience, and writing articles.
New Friendships
After failing ten times, a friend, Lovejoy, approached me and told me of his passion for publishing a different magazine that will be realistic and effective. We brainstormed and gave birth to Mauya Travel Guide, later to publish the first edition.
Mauya Travel Guide is a magazine with a different view, of the same picture, bringing hope and neo vista to Zimbabwe’s cash cow industry – tourism. Mauya is for everyone on this planet, and as in the name, welcomes you to a new way of seeing the beauty of Africa’s Paradise. This is our contribution to Zimbabwe, and Africa.
The Zambezi Edition
I hope you will enjoy this first edition as I enjoyed reading the articles. The story of Zambezi has been captured in an unusual way that causes one to jump into the car and drive up to the great river and drift downstream from Chirundu to the Namibia tip near Victoria Falls.
Life for a people is truly centred on a river, and our river of life is Zambezi. This is the place Mauya Travel Guide has chosen to guide you in this beautiful African Paradise.
Enjoy the journey!
Oscar Manduku
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Victoria Fell From Zambezi
Some thousands of years ago, the Zambezi River was cracked under the earth by nature to form four sharp gorges, one of which would be called a wonder of the world. And a wonder it was since its discovery.Then came Livingstone
In 1856, David Livingstone, a British explorer of renown, was drifting down the Zambezi and came across a majestic piece of nature and named it after his reigning queen at the time – Victoria. This was the beginning of the publicity of the Lower Zambezi River, as the upper parts had been discovered and were used for fishing expeditions. The life around the Zambezi River was never the same ever since, as many visitors came to see this wonder of the world.
The River’s water made the difference
Victoria Falls without the Zambezi is only a dry sharp gorge, and would most probably been called a Grand Canyon as in the United States – a dry series of crack landscape, stretching kilometres. Yet, the Victoria Falls is grand, only because of the fervent and large quantity of moving water drifting at speeds unfathomable, pouring down the great gorge, now known as – VICTORIA FALLS. The Zambezi is known for its fast paced water that rushes through as though there is no life form in the water.
Which is the wonder of the world?
Is Victoria Falls greater than the Zambezi? There is often debate when it comes to the egg and the chicken, about which came first, and even between father and son, of their greatness. In the case of Zambezi River and Victoria Falls, the debate could be endless, yet one should draw up their own conclusions as to which of the two is greater than the other.
No one can deny that the Victoria Falls have attracted more guests and claimed bragging rights across the globe than the Zambezi has. Yet at the same time, without the Zambezi, all these pleasures enjoyed by the Victoria Falls, would not have been a reality.
Perhaps it is a case of Bernie and Clyde relationship, the one cannot to be successful without the other.
Zambezi-conomics for Victoria Falls
Lastly, the Zambezi has been the labourer for the falls in regards to generating money in Victoria Falls. After you visit the falls, usually a three hour visit per day, you then want to do other activities, 80% of which are water based. There is only one place to go – the Zambezi.
The Zambezi has brought in a lot of after sales revenue for companies that use Victoria Falls as the catch marketing product. The river has truly been an ox in regards to revenue for the falls.
This is the brief story of how Victoria Falls came from the Zambezi River.
The River of Life
“…There is a river, whose streams make glad the city of God…” is a true quotation of the Book of Psalms, as the Zambezi River has done for the people of eight countries, in southern Africa. From Tanzania down to Botswana, from Mozambique cross to Angola, the Zambezi has its tributaries running fervently, spilling into dams, lakes, pools, and eventually the Indian Ocean.Nations Involved: Basin territory
The Zambezi has its sources in Upper Zambia, and runs down the country, going all directions, turning westward, inland, creating one of Zambia’s inland rivers – the Kafue River. The Zambezi extends westward into Angola, with four smaller branches that get into the centre of the country. On the other upper side, the Zambezi three branches. The first one goes into Tanzania, and the second into Malawi, the third into Mozambique, and the fourth down into Zimbabwe. In Malawi, the Zambezi feeds Lake Malawi, a life centre for the Malawian people. In Mozambique, the Zambezi feeds two dams, Cabora Basa being the largest, and a power generating dam.
In Zimbabwe, the Zambezi branches of seven times, with two branches coming from Mozambique on the North eastern side of Zimbabwe. The third branch on the northern side comes right down to Harare, feeding Harare’s major water source – Lake Chivero, though forming other smaller distribution points feeding other dams and pools. Four of Zimbabwe’s branches of the Zambezi are on the western side, which form major rivers that feed the rest of the Zimbabwean provinces.
The Zambezi River also has two other branches that feed Namibia and Botswana. In total, the Zambezi basin covers 1.3 million kilometres.
Dams and Lakes: Water & Power
The Zambezi River has 16 dams and lakes connected to it, two of which generate electricity, and the rest are sources of water for drinking and sanitation. It supplies electricity to six major cities, through the Kariba and Cabora Basa power stations respectively. According to an ICUN research conducted in the year 2000, the Zambezi River can supply 10,000m3 of water per person per year within the basin it covers.
Terrain: Passion of Life
The Zambezi River is one of the few rivers in the world to run through many political territories and terrains. It is visible in the deserts of Namibia and Botswana, in the grasslands of Angola, in the wetlands of Zambia, in the Savannah woodlands of Zimbabwe, and in the marsh lands of Malawi and Mozambique.
The Zambezi is known to being a violent river, with extreme rapids and gorges. It has more than forty gorges, the bulk of them being on the main stem, running between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Fish and Birds, and other animals
According to the ICUN the Zambezi hosts more than 147 species of fish, and the Tiger fish is the second most popular, after the bream. The tiger fish is one of the few species found both above and below the Victoria Falls. Pike is predominant in the upper course of the river, as are yellowfish and barbel. Bream are now common both above and below the falls.
Crocodiles abound in the Zambezi, though they generally avoid stretches of fast-running water. Hippopotamuses are also found in the upper and lower stretches of the Zambezi. Elephants are common over much of the river’s course, particularly in areas such as the Sesheke Plain and near the Luangwa confluence. Game animals include buffalo, eland, sable, roan, kudu, waterbuck, impala, duiker, bushbuck, reedbuck, bushpig, and warthog.
Of the big cats, lions can be found in the Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe and elsewhere along the river’s course; cheetahs, although comparatively rare, can be sighted; and leopards, rarely seen by daylight, are common, both in the plains and the river gorges. Baboons and monkeys abound throughout the region.
Cashing in on the Zambezi
The Zambezi is home to the best fish in southern Africa, with bream, tiger, and kapenta being significant contributors to the economics of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique. Major fishing industries are based in Kariba (Zimbabwe), Kafue (Zambia), Cabora Basa (Mozambique), and Lake Malawi (Malawi & Tanzania).
Communities by the river fish extensively from it, and many people travel from far afield to fish. Some Zambian towns on roads leading to the river levy unofficial 'fish taxes' on people taking Zambezi fish to other parts of the country. As well as fishing for food, game fishing is a significant activity on some parts of the river. Between Mongu and Livingstone, several safari lodges cater for tourists who want to fish for exotic species, and many also catch fish to sell to aquaria.
Tourism Cash Cow
In order to understand the extent to which the Zambezi has a stronghold over the tourism industries of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and even South Africa, just Google the word “Zambezi”. You will get more than 1.3 million hits, being tour and travel operators and resorts offering packages for visitors. The Zambezi is the centre of Zimbabwe and Zambia’s tourism, as the host of four major attractions – Victoria Falls, Mana Pools, Kariba Dam, and the Zambezi itself.
The Zambezi hosts many of the World’s best Lodges, Resorts, and Hotels. The Zambezi also has many national parks, hosting Safaris of vast game and territory. The western areas of Zimbabwe are reserved for game parks and bird sanctuaries.
The river is considered the best Whitewater rafting area, with thousands of rafters engaging the rapids and gorges. Many visit from Europe, North Africa, Asia, and the Americas just to participate in rafting events.
Sunset Along the Zambezi
In the fading twilight hours, take a sunset cruise, for the vast Zambezi River is a place to wonder alone as you gaze at its beauty. The Zambezi River is renowned for its sunsets, as many photographers have graced the long, winding, spectacular river to capture the sunset. Sunsets all over the world are experiences that native people cherish, just as the natives of this great African river enjoy on a daily basis.The Experience
No trip to Victoria Falls is complete without experiencing the famous Zambezi River sunset by boat. A 2 hour sojourn up the river, starting approximately 3km above the Falls, with the opportunity of seeing elephant swimming to the islands, or the white rhino and giraffe on the Zambian bank. Pods of hippo snort and gape, and crocodiles slither from the sandbanks. Herds of buffalo and antelope may be seen coming down to the river to drink.
The Cruise
The boat is allowed to drift quietly as the sun sets through the Ilala palms lining the bank, and a myriad of waterbirds skim the surface, heading for the islands to roost. The haunting cry of the fish eagle is an ever present reminder that you are in an unspoiled corner of Africa. The cruise includes hotel transfers, a full complimentary bar, and finger snacks. Each cruise also has a qualified guide to answer questions on the flora and fauna, and history of the area.
The Experience of Linda Kaye, from San Antonio, Texas USA
“The highlight of this cruise was the Sunset view and therefore the name - SUNSET CRUISE. We were not disappointed, for words and photographs can not adequately describe the spectacular view we experienced. Another pleasant experience was the interesting conservation we had with our tour guide. He was gave us so much information about the river that it seemed that we were getting a geography lesson, but in the most enjoyable environment.
As the sun set on the horizon and the light of day faded into the night, our stay in Zimbabwe was also drawing to a close, for the next day we would return to South Africa. Soon our travels to this part of the world will also conclude, but will not be soon forgotten.”
The Animals refreshing
As the sun sets, animals of all manner – lions, monkeys, warthogs, elephants, and leopards come to the river to refresh themselves and cool off by taking baths in the mana pools. The Zambezi River sunsets are times of refreshing and even hunting for animals like the lion. The activity in the animal kingdom is all at the disposal of the cruise visitors.
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