Wildlife Conservation: Elephant Calf Rescued from Poacher’s Snare and Reunited with Its Herd

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/

Introducing The Wallow Lodge

Introducing The Wallow Lodge

If you had to write one sentence for a white water rafting trip, one for a luxury lodge and one for a home-hosted meal, they would all sound very different. But underneath all the adjectives and superlatives, every Wild Horizons product tells the same story: Wander wildly and tread lightly, remembering that your journey has the power to make an impact. The new Wallow Lodge is no exception. 

Victoria Falls is Travel Ready

In the wake of the pandemic, tourism in Victoria Falls plummeted as lockdowns brought travel to a halt. The Wallow was a few months away from opening when borders around the world began closing. 

The pandemic once seemed like a never-ending journey, but today, almost 80% of the Victoria Falls adult population has received the vaccination, making it the first city in Southern Africa to achieve herd immunity. 

The overwhelming success of Zimbabwe’s vaccination program, combined with the open spaces and exclusive experiences intrinsic to a safari, means that Victoria Falls qualifies as one of the safest destinations to visit in this new era of travel. So it is time to return to our remote wonderland of rivers and rainforests, and The Wallow will show you that it has been worth the wait.  

A Hidden Gem In The Heart Of The Wilderness

The Wallow Lodge is located in the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary, a private concession in the Victoria Falls National Park. A birds-eye view of the area would show you the silver-blue shimmer of the Masuwe River, snaking across a mosaic of green and gold wilderness. The landscape is punctuated by the black basalt gorge, where the rapids of the Zambezi River froth 140 meters below the edge. The ‘Smoke That Thunders’ hangs like a heavy white cloud above the treetops on the horizon. A closer look reveals the canvas suites and main area, blending in seamlessly with the environment on the banks of the Masuwe River. This is a destination of exceptional beauty, and The Wallow Lodge reflects the landscape. 

All Wild Horizons Lodges are uniquely and thoughtfully designed to have their own character, but the golden thread tying them together can be seen in Craig White’s signature style that emphasizes sustainability and space. With only 16 suites to accommodate a maximum of thirty-two guests, The Wallow Lodge is perfect for families and small groups who want to reconnect with nature and spend quality time together. Victoria Falls is a short twenty-minute transfer from the lodge, giving guests the freedom to tailor-make their experience and find a balance between the exclusivity of the bush and the excitement of Africa’s Adventure Capital.

The Main Lodge 

Panoramic views of the Masuwe River form the backdrop of the main area, cleverly incorporating the unrushed rhythm of nature into the open plan design. There is an echo of the elements in the infinity pool and sunken firepit, both of which overlook the river from an expansive deck. The furniture is earthy and sophisticated, brought to life with splashes of colour. The effect is captivating yet calming and epitomizes the inherent unpredictability of Africa. The Wallow Lodge embodies the simplicity and authenticity of safari life, with a modern freshness about it.

The Suites 

Enchanting and intimate, the sixteen suites are ideally situated to overlook the Masuwe River and surrounding wilderness. The imaginative use of canvas preserves the romance of yesteryear with a classic safari atmosphere, accentuated with all the modern creature comforts. Each room is raised beneath the shade of ancient riverine trees, and from this elevated vantage point, guests can enjoy uninterrupted views of the river from their private balcony. The décor is simple yet elegant with wooden furnishings and potted plants. There is a touch of ‘bush bohemia’ in the vibrant ‘chitenge’ cushion covers, ensuring an authentic translation of local culture in the decorative theme. The attention to detail strikes a perfect balance between contemporary, homely touches without detracting from the surrounding wilderness.

Shining A Spotlight On Sustainability

Wild Horizons represents the sharp edge of transformative, sustainable travel that demonstrates the value of protected wilderness areas. Sustainable technology such as solar power, environmentally friendly decking, and non-disposable products ensure that every journey leaves a light footprint on the land. At the same time, the activities create synergy between guests and the environment. For example, guests are invited to tour The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, located in the Wild Horizons Wildlife Sanctuary. This gives them an insiders perspective on the innovative conservation initiatives that help mitigate human-wildlife conflict, further our knowledge of keystone species, and safely rehabilitate injured wildlife. The safari experience has been reimagined beyond a wilderness experience to include community, conservation and meaningful immersion. 

The Wonder of the Wallow Lodge

From Guided Tours of the rainforest to game drives and Gorge sundowners, you will experience the best Victoria Falls has to offer as well as a few hidden gems other travellers don’t know about!

You are an email away from your safari getaway. Get in touch with our travel experts to start planning a life-changing holiday at The Wallow Lodge.

Beyond The Challenges, Our Passion & Purpose Prevails

From the Zambezi River to the surrounding National Parks, Wild Horizons is wholeheartedly invested in Africa’s pristine and unique natural beauty. We work tirelessly to preserve and protect the environment in every dimension of the business, sharing the benefits of ecotourism with the communities we work alongside. 

Our eco-initiatives and empowerment projects have continued despite the downturn in tourism as a result of the global pandemic. We are excited to share with you, two awards we recently received. 

Travelife Partner Status Award

Wild Horizons is proud to announce that we have achieved the Travelife Partner Award in recognition of our long-term efforts and frontrunner position regarding sustainability and innovative ecotourism. We have been pioneering a greener way to travel for over 30 years and are the first organization in Victoria Falls and the second in Zimbabwe to receive this award.

Mr Naut Kusters, manager of Travelife for tour operators stated,

I am delighted to see that sustainability in the tour operators sector is obtaining momentum. The award of the first few tourism companies in Zimbabwe sets an example for the whole Zimbabwean tourism sector. It will inspire other companies to follow the same path.

Naut Kusters

Manager Of Travelife For Tour Operators, Travelife

Wild Horizons complies with more than 100 criteria, related to our office management, product range, international business partners and customer information.

Environmental Management Agency Conservation & Community Empowerment Award

environmental awards wild horizons
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and The Corporate Social Responsibility Network Zimbabwe (CSRNZ) celebrate excellence in sustainable development through awards to the lead performers in this trajectory. 
Wild Horizons received this award in recognition of our positive impact on Zimbabwe’s sustainable development by contributing to the country’s vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals.
This award is inspired by:

Sustainable Management

The immense contribution and involvement in the sustainable management of the environment

Best Business

Adoption of best business practices in every dimension of the organization 

Uplifting Communities

Uplifting and empowering local communities in the region 

Growing Zimbabwe's Economy

Growing Zimbabwe’s economy by contributing to the country’s vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals.

Everything that we do is guided by our core ethos to protect and preserve the environment while sharing the benefits of ecotourism with the Victoria Falls community. Tourism is the life-giving force for the conservation of iconic areas. When you travel with Wild Horizons, you leave Victoria Falls having made a lasting contribution to its natural and cultural legacies. Discover more about our on-going conservation and community empowerment projects in the video below.

As we reflect on the year and look beyond the challenges our industry has faced, we are reminded how much we have to be grateful for. Together with our travellers and partners, we are all making a difference and we will continue to do so in the decades to come. Thank you for sharing this journey with us.

Elephant Art Safari

The Wild Horizons Elephant Sanctuary and Art of Africa have teamed up to create an eco-conscious and unique elephant experience, brought to life by the artistic strokes of your fingertips, while surrounded by the African bush.

Guests will be provided with canvas, paintbrushes and paint. A private tutor will guide them as they paint the resident herd of elephant while learning about the rescue-rehabilitate-release program. 

Cultural Connections

Clients are taken to an authentic rural village approximately 20km from Victoria Falls town where they are given the opportunity to watch local villagers going about their daily tasks.

The tour enables the client to see rural life first hand; visiting rural homes, watching their fields being tended and possibly getting the chance to help in some of the day-to-day chores. Meet the village chief and learn about the way of life from him.

Home Hosted Meal

We pioneered and continue to facilitate home-hosted meals to create a space within which our team can share their heritage and pass on cultural knowledge to people visiting the region. Wild Horizons provides transport, mineral water and soft drinks, and the host family prepares and shares a meal with their guests. The fee of this activity provides an additional source of income to the family, and promotes an appreciation of local cultures that enrich our guests own travel experience.

Shop With Purpose

Through the Pay It Forward activity offered by Wild Horizons, holiday makers can make their journey ever more meaningful. Teach your family that gratitude is the best gift one can receive by helping an organisation in need, be it an orphanage, old age home or local clinic. Wild Horizons will give you a “wish list” compiled by the organisation, and a mission to fulfil it by exploring the unique markets dotted around the town.

You will then be transported to the organisation to deliver you goods and meet the strangers whose day you have brightened.

Travel Updates | Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana | Wild Horizons

Travel Updates | Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana | Wild Horizons

If ever there was a destination that assured travellers of wide-open spaces, it is undeniably Victoria Falls. The reopening of International Airports is a defining moment for the travel industry, and as borders open, we have the thrilling opportunity to escape to vast wilderness areas.

Over the year, we have had time to dream, and now it is time to move into the planning phase of your safari escape. Here is what you need to know about travelling to Victoria Falls.

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Dusty Road Victoria Falls

Dusty Road Victoria Falls

I started this blog with the words, “The first thing I noticed about Dusty Road..” and then my fingers froze over my keyboard. Because when I...

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Get In Touch

Our products have a purpose. From community empowerment to conservation and culture, we create meaningful and enlightened travel experiences that enrich your experience while giving back to the legacies that make Victoria Falls so spectacular.

Get in touch to book your safari to Victoria Falls today and experience the abundant beauty Victoria Falls promises throughout the year.

Negative Ions Inspire Positive Vibes | Victoria Falls

The Positive Impact of Negative Ions: Your Wellness Safari In Victoria Falls

When you step into a raw, natural space, something shifts – emotionally, physically and mentally. Nature inspires a sense of empowerment and tranquillity, igniting an electrifying paradox of sensations. Anyone who has done a tour of the Victoria Falls rainforest will understand the intoxicating feeling, but not everyone understands what causes this euphoric state. Beyond the beauty of this Natural Wonder, there is something else at work here – negative ions.

Couple enjoying negative ions Victoria Falls rainforest

What is the Difference Between Positive and Negative Ions? 

Quite simply, positive ions have lost one or more electrons, whereas negative ions have gained electrons. Though we might assume that ‘positive’ is synonymous with ‘better’, the true meaning of these terms have collapsed into their connotations and can cause confusion. Negative ions produce biochemical reactions that increase serotonin levels. This helps to:

  • Alleviate depression
  • Relieve stress
  • Boost our daytime energy

Positive ions, on the other hand, have lost their electrical charge and the benefits that go with it.

Negative ions are created as air molecules break apart due to sunlight, radiation, and moving air and water. This is why we feel uplifted by thunderstorms and inspired by waterfalls.

Woman surrounded by negative ions from Victoria Falls waterfall

Negative Ions Make You More Alert And Energetic

The environment in urban areas disrupts the delicate balance of ions. Artificial lighting and air conditioners deplete negative ions, causing people to feel lethargic and demotivated. Throughout lockdown, people have navigated the world from behind screens that bombard us with positive ions. A safari in Victoria Falls will influence your health measurably and positively. It is more than the roar of rushing water or the beauty of a rainbow on rainless afternoons – a safari in Victoria Falls is health generating as well as breathtaking. Now more than ever, we need to escape toxic environments for the healing power of nature.

Waterfalls and rapids are the hydraulic equivalents of fireworks. Whether you are rafting down white water rapids, or even swimming above the Victoria Falls in Devil’s Pool, negative ions will generate an increased flow of oxygen to the brain to make you more alert and energetic.

Get In Touch

Our products have a purpose. From community empowerment to conservation and culture, we create meaningful and enlightened travel experiences that enrich your experience while giving back to the legacies that make Victoria Falls so spectacular.

Get in touch to book your safari to Victoria Falls today and experience the abundant beauty Victoria Falls promises throughout the year.

The Last Straw

The world is facing a plastic problem, and it is snowballing- but so is awareness and determination to halt the crisis in its tracks. Wild Horizons has several strategies in place, and all of these have seen massive success.

Only a few years ago plastic bottled water was thought to be an inescapable essential on safari. Then, the world seemed to draw a collective breath as images of sea horses carrying earbuds emerged. A plastic bag was found thousands of feet below the ocean’s surface in the world’s deepest trench. Birds were seen nesting in shreds of shopping bags.

As heartbreaking as it is to think and see these images, our planet and our wildlife need us to realise the extent of the damage that is caused by these fickle, yet indestructible products.

 

Searching for solutions 

Our mission began when we joined the ”straw war”, banning the use of plastic straws at all of our lodges and on our activities. The next step was to address the use of plastic bottles. We installed water purification systems at each lodge and provided every guest a reusable water bottle that they could refill with fresh filtered water. We stopped serving plastic bottled water during meal times and instead we provide purified glass bottle of water. The initiative has been a massive success, and we are proud to report a 100% decline in plastic water bottle consumption in all three lodges, with not one plastic bottle of water being provided.

 

Nine million reasons to join the war on plastic

Victoria Falls has an average of almost 605, 000 international visitors every year. If each visitor stays an average of 4 days and consumes 2liters of bottled water per day, over 9 million plastic bottles will be discarded annually. Recycling programs in Africa are severely limited, and one plastic bottle can infest the earth for 450 years before the elements can decompose it. The enormity of the problem can not be ignored.

We need to change the way we think about plastic. When we ”throw it away”, where is it going? When plastic is buried, it does not nourish the earth. It leaches toxins into the soil, poisoning or ensnaring wildlife. The purpose of a safari is to appreciate the earth’s natural beauty, a pleasure and a privilege that we will go great lengths to protect.

Five tips to limit plastic waste on safari 

Most plastic products take centuries to decompose, which means almost every piece of plastic ever produced is still in existence… much of it in oceans or landfills. The small changes you make now could create a big difference for future generations.

  • Say no to bottled water, and refill a reusable one.
  • If you are concerned about water quality when you explore off the beaten track areas, take a Life Straw or Steripen with you to filter out harmful bacteria. Alternatively, do some research and purchase a water bottle that has a built-in filtration device.
  • When you go souvenir or grocery shopping at local markets, take an eco-friendly cotton bag with you. These are light and very easy to pack.
  • Many people who go into rural areas are tempted to give the local children sweets, but the wrappers from these are extremely harmful to the environment. Instead, take a box of fruit with you.
  • Avoid travel-sized toiletries and plastic-packaged toiletries when you pack. Instead buy a bar of shampoo, conditioner and soap with a steel tin to store it in.

If you have bought some new gear for your trip, remove any plastic packaging it may be wrapped in and send it to a nearby recycling station. Don’t bring it to the bush.