Majestically beautiful Africa
From the moment the Limpopo touring party of five jetted off from OR Tambo International Airport to Zimbabwe last Tuesday, the excitement was tangible.
LIMPOPO – The contingent, led by Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) Events and Exhibition Coordinator, Lillian Manngo, included group elder Nkele Motsoaledi of Reatswalela Travel Agency, the lady of Green South Africa, Mathapelo Phiri, Bruce Nabela of Nhlamulo Destinations and Victor Mufamadi of Vuwa and Safari Lodge.
They are currently in South Africa as part of the Sanganai-Hlanganani Travel and Tourism Expo which ends on 19 June.
This annual event is organised by the Zimbabwean Tourism Agency showcasing the widest variety of Africa’s best tourism products, at the same time attracting international visitors and media attention from across the globe.
LTA Manager Corporate Communications, Mike Tauatsoala, said the past eight editions of the Sanganai-Hlanganani were resounding successes as they attracted the leading African destinations and major world tourism markets, including South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique Malawi, Kenya, Namibia, Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Zambia, and Italy among others.
The one and a half hour trip was an experience that will linger in the memories of the Limpopo tourists for years to come.
However, judging from their informal conversations when they already booked at the luxurious Rainbow Towers at the heart of the Zimbabwean capital of Harare, they are not the greenhorns of the travel and tourism sector.
Last Wednesday morning, ahead of the first excursion to Kariba, the bus negotiated its way to our destination, meandering through the countryside en route to the sleepy town of Chinhoyi.
A punctured tyre delayed the trip but when we finally arrived at the tourist attraction, the Chinyoni Caves, about 139 km north west of Harare, there were awed gasps as all and sundry was amazed by the wonders of nature at the godly caves.
The cave system is composed of limestone and dolomite and there is an impressive descent to the main cave with its pool of cobalt blue water.
The pool is popularly called the Sleeping Pool of Chirorodzive, loosely translated in Shona as Pool of the Fallen.
The highlight of the first two days ahead of touring the iconic Victoria Falls was the tour to Caribbea Bay where tourists were taken on a cruise on the Zambezi Trader Houseboat.
By the end of this tour, the Limpopo team will certainly have plenty to reminisce over the wonders of our beautiful continent.
