New offices … new products … and the regional development and expansion of the Natureways brand
2008 is certainly shaping up to be an exciting year for Natureways.
Not content with being the leading mobile safari operator on the lower Zambezi, Natureways will soon be announcing our new products and plans for the expansion and development of the Natureways brand which we look forward to sharing with you in the very near future….
Clive Millar being instructed by Ian Fearon on how to crack open one beer bottle with another for clients during the first trip of 2008 – overlooking Lake Kariba. The breathtaking beauty of Kariba is a mere 40 minutes away from Lusaka, and Mana Pools is only 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Lusaka (via Kariba to clear customs), on charter plane/s. Due to phenomenal recent rains Lake Kariba is rising at approximately 3 cms per day. The lake has already risen over 2 metres, and this just from the rainfall within Zimbabwe. This has never happened before at this time of the year. In local memory the biggest increase from local rains was about 12 to 15 years ago when it rose by one metre. The fishing has been very good in the grass which has recently been covered with water, with many stories of multiple keep-cages being filled with "pan size" bream.
Everything is pointing to a full lake this year and the possibility of the gates been opened.
River Guide Training Trip - Fisheagle Canoe Safari – Lower Zambezi – Semi Participatory Canoe Safari (Kariba to Mana Pools) - 6 Days, 5 Nights – Traversing 120 kms of the Zambezi River
River Guide Training Trip 12/01/08
Natureways is pleased to announce the inauguration of our river guide training school. This aims to take young aspiring people from the Kariba community and train them to be Professional River Guides. The course will prepare the trainees to face the stringent competencies that must be successfully completed in order to gain the qualification of Professional River Guide. (Including 1000 hours on the river, fire arms and medical training amongst other things). This training is carried out through a series of lectures, practical training on the river and private study.
Last week saw the 1st river trip from Kariba to Mana Pools (a journey of 120 km) under the instruction of Natureways Professional River Guides Bonus and Tendai and lead by Pro Guide Gus Alexander. This 5 day training session is based on the Natureways Explorer canoe trip format (see website for details) and focused on client relations, knowledge of flora and fauna and learning how to safely navigate the Zambezi River.
Even with the thick foliage that is characteristic of the rainy season, as you can see from the photos, there were some spectacular game sightings. (Just imagine what it’s like in the dry season...) This time of year is also a paradise for the bird enthusiast. From the grand Marshal Eagle to the diminutive weaver bird, the trainees were treated to a spectacular array of birdlife of all colours and sizes, encapsulating the huge biodiversity of this paradise.
The history and legends of the Zambezi form an important part if one wishes to truly appreciate the river and its surroundings. Luckily we have one of the best story tellers in the business; step up Gus Alexander. The final part of each evening was spent with “Gus’s bedtime story”, a story telling of legends and facts and demonstrating how intrinsically interwoven they are, whereby our trainees will be able to share the history of the Zambezi with our guests and help them understand how truly special Mana Pools is.
All for now, but we look forward to sharing the progress of the trainees as they face their numerous exams and move towards the goal of being a Professional River Guide on the Zambezi river.
- Home from home
- Breakfast
- Leadership
- Extra Snacks
- Spectacular Game
Fire Poem by Marek Lapham – 12 years old (Natureways Operation Manager Guy De Wet’s grandson)
FIRE!
A spark of green, a flash of gold,
The wind is warm, the sky is cold.
A flame rises from the coals on the earth,
It’s hazy, acid breath makes it’s journey away from it’s birth.
The African bush is thick and boy it is so bold,
The dry grass catches and the story is told.
All animals running first north then south,
In a desperate bid to outrun the flaming mouth.
A swarm of insects fly through the air,
As animals run hoping it’s all a dreadful nightmare.
A rotten branch is falling,
The angry beast is roaring
An old Acacia tree falls and catches,
As the flame crawls, burns and snatches.
The roar and thunder of fire gets louder,
All that’s left is a thin black powder.
This is a spectacular wonder that man can’t control,
As another comes to battle and takes it’s toll.
The hiss of rain falling on this battlefield,
Has won this match and has this fire’s fate sealed.
And all around life settles to calm,
With the soothing water as a balm.
The land is scarred and many have died,
But soon the earth will regain it’s pride.
By Marek Lapham