Oct 1, 2023 | Eco Tourism, Green Tourism, Old Drift Lodge, safari guide, Safaris, Sustainiable Tourism, Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Wildlife
Collaborative Conservation Efforts in the Zambezi National Park
In the expansive wilderness of the Zambezi National Park, Old Drift Pro Guide, Vusa Sibanda, discovered a distressing scene that would set in motion a remarkable and heart-warming tale of heroic conservation efforts. Within a tight-knit herd of approximately 15 elephants, a young calf was found in a desperate plight, ensnared by a wire snare that had inflicted deep and painful wounds around its neck.
While poachers mostly target antelope and other smaller game, the snares are indiscriminate. The crude, noose-like traps often maim or kill non-targeted animals such as lions, giraffes and in this case, a baby elephant.
Vusa called Leslie, the Old Drift Lodge manager on duty at the time, and Les wasted no time in reaching out to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, urgently seeking their assistance. The Trust’s dedicated team has successfully freed hundreds of snared animals, including giraffes, buffaloes, lions, hyenas, elephants, kudus, waterbucks, warthogs, and impalas. They arrived at the scene, ready to embark on a challenging rescue mission.
The very nature of snares makes them nearly impossible to remove; the harder an animal pulls, the tighter the snare gets, and rescuing a trapped baby elephant within a protective elephant herd is a complex and risky endeavour.
To minimize potential danger from the anxious mother during the rescue, the mother and calf were simultaneously darted with a sedative.
The injured calf sought solace closer to its mother, and one of the quick-thinking guides manoeuvred a vehicle to gently guide the mother away, ensuring the safety of the rescue team and the vulnerable calf.
Once the calf was safely immobilized, the team carefully approached, skilfully removing the wire snare that had inflicted so much pain. With utmost care and precision, they treated the wounds before reversing the sedative’s effects. As the baby elephant regained consciousness, it instinctively tried to reunite with its mother, but a protective sibling intervened, shielding her tranquillized mother from any harm.
As the sedatives wore off and both elephants awakened, the emotional climax of this remarkable rescue unfolded as the mother and calf were reunited. With their wounds tended to and their spirits rekindled, they rejoined the rest of the herd, who had remained close by, protectively observing the entire operation.
This incredible rescue mission would not have been possible without the heroic efforts of individuals like Adrian Read, Vusa Sibanda, the support of Zimparks, the dedication of Les and Old Drift Lodge, and the unwavering commitment of The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust.
Small Actions Create Huge Change: How You Can Support the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
Since its inception, the Trust has tirelessly worked to remove snares from National Parks areas in the Victoria Falls region and rescue wildlife trapped by the contraptions. Each rescue mission requires drugs, medications, sterile equipment, sampling supplies, as well as personnel and vehicle/aerial support. The drugs and equipment used to remove the snare from 1 elephant cost approximately USD $250.00. If you would like to support their rescue missions, you can make a donation on their website. Find out more here: https://vicfallswildlifetrust.org/projects/fighting-wildlife-crime/
Feb 23, 2018 | Green Tourism, Tours & Transfers, Victoria Falls Anti Poaching Unit, Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Wild Horizons Activites, Wild Horizons Elephants
Vanity Fair, March 2018.
We are proud to be featured in this progressive, positive article in Vanity Fair, March 2018.
The story features the Wild Horizons Elephant Sanctuary at The Elephant Camp and highlights the positive impact the Tourism Industry and Responsible Travel can have on conservation.
Dec 14, 2015 | Accommodation, cultural Victoria Falls, Green Tourism, Sustainiable Tourism, The Elephant Camp, Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Wild Horizons Activites
The Elephant Camp has recently been invited, with other leading hospitality establishments in Victoria Falls, to spearhead a new project in Zimbabwe. This is to be part of Green Tourism, the largest and most established sustainable certification programme in the world, with the aim of achieving one of their respected awards.
A Green Tourism Award means that a business works responsibly, ethically and sustainably; contributes to their community; reduces their impact on the environment and aims to be accessible and inclusive to all. Businesses that meet the required standard receive a Bronze, Silver or Gold award.
The Elephant Camp has worked tirelessly since its inception, to reduce the impact of the business on the environment and improve links with the local community and now feels the time is right to join the programme. We currently have the following initiatives in place and look forward to expanding upon these:
- Solar Heating: All of our water heating systems are either solar or currently in the process of being converted to solar.
- Worm Farm: All plant waste there from Elephant Camp, as well as most elephant dung from our resident herd, is fed into our worm farm, creating valuable compost for use in our organic vegetable garden.
- Organic Garden: In order to supply as much organic produce to our guests as possible The Elephant Camp produces much of its own herbs, spices and vegetables for use in our kitchens.
- Indigenous Tree Planting Program: To rehabilitate areas that were once denuded of trees by uncontrolled wood collection, we created an indigenous tree nursery. Trees are grown from seed and are transplanted once established, into areas in need of rehabilitation.
- Biological Monitoring and Erosion Control: The Elephant Camp employs a qualified Environmental Officer to monitor the biology of the reserve and assists with mitigation. Bi-annual biological surveys are conducted, alien vegetation is eradicated and soil erosion is carefully managed in the reserve and on neighbouring communal areas.
- Community Relations: We make every effort to employ staff from neighbouring areas, and work closely with the community on projects such as transporting thatch from neighbouring areas annually for roofing of homes in neighbouring areas annually for roofing of homes.
- Education: The Elephant Camp frequently hosts school children on educational trips, teaching them about and allowing them to experience, the beautiful natural environment and the threats that face it today.
The Elephant Camp will be graded on-site by a qualified team of assessors against a rigorous set of criteria, covering a range of areas such as energy/water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity, social involvement and communication.
Craig White, Operations Director said:
Wild Horizons pride ourselves on being driven by a team that is passionate about our environment, and fully committed to sustainable environmental practices. The inclusion in Green Tourism is an exciting development to our business, as The Elephant Camp strives to be a leader in sustainable tourism practices. Whilst we have come a long way on our own initiatives, the inclusion in such a prestigious body gives us a host of new challenges which we are determined to meet in our quest to reach Gold Standard status.
It is also extremely exciting on a National level, to see that Zimbabwean Tourism has evolved to the stage where international bodies such as Green Tourism are keen to establish a foothold in the country. This inevitably encourages local companies to strive toward sustainable environmental practices. International travellers are seeking out establishments that practise environmentally sustainable tourism. This naturally encourages operators to look closely at their businesses from an environmental perspective, or risk being left behind as tourists become more discerning in their holiday choices.
About The Elephant Camp
The Elephant Camp is a luxurious and intimate lodge under canvas within easy reach of Victoria Falls. Situated on a private concession with breathtaking views of the Victoria Falls’ spray, and the spectacular gorges which separate Zimbabwe from Zambia. We also cater to exclusive groups and families at The Elephant Camp West, which has exclusive suite accommodation for 8 guests in 4 luxury tents.
About Green Tourism
Green Tourism awards recognise places to visit that are taking action to support the local area and the environment in general. Green Tourism is the largest sustainable certification programme of its kind, assessing hundreds of fantastic places to stay and visit worldwide, with Zimbabwe being the latest addition to their portfolio.
