Zimbabwe Parks outreach.
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:49 pm
I have just returned from a wonderful trip through zim. (vic falls, Chizarira lodge, MAtusadona, Chirundu (fishing for tigers), mana pools and lake kyle).
the people on duty in the parks try really hard, but there are so few visitors there that revenue is minute, also it doesnt go back into conservation. some of the park employees cant remember when they were last paid, however they are at there posts and very helpful.
the facilties however are in urgent need of attention. (basics such as mozzie screen on windowes and doors, tap washers, paint. )also they need other help see below the email from Dick Pitman who runs Zim4x4 tours. my thoughts would be to put together a work trip or two to some of the least visited parks, as well as maybe starting a fund from which needed anti-poaching equipment can be bought and then donated. please let me know, give inputs etc, I havent started anything like this before, but the zim parks and zimparks staff really left aan impression on me and as a community who enjoys visiting our neighbours and touring I think the least we can do is try to give a little back.
quote from correspondence with Dick Pitman of Zim4x4
his mail is info@zim4x4.co.zw
for anyone interested in contacting him
"As regards outreach and the Hilux Club - all offers of assistance are very welcome. We do already have an arrangement with the Land Cruiser Club, but it has gone a bit quiet lately, for whatever reason. As regards the nature of such assistance: I always feel that issues such as (eg) building maintenance are capable of being - and should be - undertaken by Zimbabweans, who tend to be quick to complain but rather slower in actually doing anything. But the necessary items are freely available here.
However, other things are more easily obtained (and often much cheaper) in South Africa, and these tend to be on the field operations side of things. There is, for instance, a perennial shortage of handheld radio batteries (and often of radios themselves). GPSs are extremely useful for anti-poaching and other ops, but choice and availability are limited in Zim. Vehicle spares &c are a perennial need, and a whole other story!
Other things that come to mind, however, are (eg) 'road improvement' expeditions, for little-used but fundamentally useful tracks (we did an exercise of this kind with the local 4x4 Club last year, on Mana's Middle Jesse Road). The trick here is to choose something basically 'do-able' by an enthusiastic group in a reasonable time-frame.
Really though it's a question of what the Hilux Club - and you - feel you'd really prefer to do. There's plenty of opportunity, in all the Parks in our operating area, so do please discuss it with them and let's develop the idea. "
the people on duty in the parks try really hard, but there are so few visitors there that revenue is minute, also it doesnt go back into conservation. some of the park employees cant remember when they were last paid, however they are at there posts and very helpful.
the facilties however are in urgent need of attention. (basics such as mozzie screen on windowes and doors, tap washers, paint. )also they need other help see below the email from Dick Pitman who runs Zim4x4 tours. my thoughts would be to put together a work trip or two to some of the least visited parks, as well as maybe starting a fund from which needed anti-poaching equipment can be bought and then donated. please let me know, give inputs etc, I havent started anything like this before, but the zim parks and zimparks staff really left aan impression on me and as a community who enjoys visiting our neighbours and touring I think the least we can do is try to give a little back.
quote from correspondence with Dick Pitman of Zim4x4
his mail is info@zim4x4.co.zw
for anyone interested in contacting him
"As regards outreach and the Hilux Club - all offers of assistance are very welcome. We do already have an arrangement with the Land Cruiser Club, but it has gone a bit quiet lately, for whatever reason. As regards the nature of such assistance: I always feel that issues such as (eg) building maintenance are capable of being - and should be - undertaken by Zimbabweans, who tend to be quick to complain but rather slower in actually doing anything. But the necessary items are freely available here.
However, other things are more easily obtained (and often much cheaper) in South Africa, and these tend to be on the field operations side of things. There is, for instance, a perennial shortage of handheld radio batteries (and often of radios themselves). GPSs are extremely useful for anti-poaching and other ops, but choice and availability are limited in Zim. Vehicle spares &c are a perennial need, and a whole other story!
Other things that come to mind, however, are (eg) 'road improvement' expeditions, for little-used but fundamentally useful tracks (we did an exercise of this kind with the local 4x4 Club last year, on Mana's Middle Jesse Road). The trick here is to choose something basically 'do-able' by an enthusiastic group in a reasonable time-frame.
Really though it's a question of what the Hilux Club - and you - feel you'd really prefer to do. There's plenty of opportunity, in all the Parks in our operating area, so do please discuss it with them and let's develop the idea. "