Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE US$12 million Matetsi Victoria Falls Lodge on the edge of Zambezi River celebrated its 5th anniversary yesterday with a passout parade of 18 game scouts as the facility invests in conservation as one of the key pillars for sustainable tourism.
It probably is the first hotel in the country to have in-house game scouts with the main goal of protecting the environment and wildlife, which are key draw cards for tourists.
Five years ago the over 55 000ha private concession was decimated with no wildlife, as poaching activities had escalated while the lodge itself was falling apart.
The Gardner family took over the property and invested over US$12 million towards refurbishment, which also included installing solar-powered boreholes.
A diversity of animal species including four of the Big 5 are now resident in the sanctuary, making it one of the best places to visit in Destination Victoria Falls.
The five-star facility is located about 40km outside Victoria Falls and exudes unique stone dungeons partly resembling the Great Zimbabwe ruins with stone work at the main gate and detached on the deck rooms.
The rooms are made of stone work, brick and mortar and poles with most of the floors made of cots carpets.
There are 16 suites and two family villas located spaciously along the Zambezi River all overlooking the Zambezi River.
Matetsi Victoria Falls’ private concession stretches for over 15km along Zambezi River, bordering with Zambezi National Park on the eastern side and towards Kazungula and the proprietors have a 25 year lease from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, in one of typical partnerships encouraged by the Government in its Vision 2030.
Co-founder of the facility, Ms Sarah Gardner, said their vision was to showcase everything about Zimbabwe.
“When we first came on the property there was an old lodge, which was in disrepair and there was no wildlife as there was a lot of poaching,” she said.
“So, there has been an amazing conservation journey and the wildlife is now thriving. The initial investment was US$12 million.
“From a conservation perspective we have put a lot of solar-powered boreholes around the concession and there are animals everywhere.”
Ms Gardner said conservation activities were the major highlights on the history of Matetsi as they are the cornerstone of tourism.
“We want people to be proud of what Zimbabwe has and what we can do here. Animals had migrated from the concession because of vandalism and in the past three years they have returned because there is sustainable conservation including water provision,” she said.
“It’s been difficult especially this time of Covid-19 and our property was targeted as solar panels were stolen. If panels are not there, we are not pumping water and that is actually one of the reasons we set up our anti-poaching scouts’ team.”
Matetsi employs more than 170 staff, 60 percent of them from Matabeleland North. The facility has also developed a private airstrip and helipad for clients that fly direct into the conservancy.
It is a high-end facility targeting travellers from western countries and world celebrities and royal families have stayed there before. Matetsi conservation and security manager Mr Brian Gurney said the scouts will protect animals and assets.
“The training focused on discipline, fitness, patrol, dealing with wild animals. This is a very key area with an abundance of wildlife and historically it was decimated by poaching and there wasn’t much animals while we have had theft of solar panels from the watering holes,” he said.
“We have to preserve everything for future generations.” — @ncubeleon
Online Reporter