The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube
Tourism Correspondent
THERE is need for extensive marketing of tourism products in the Eastern Highlands and safeguard its flora and fauna as the area has vast potential to steal the limelight in the global tourism sector.
This was the notion of international media practitioners who took the opportunity of the just-ended Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel Expo to tour some scenic tourism sites in Manicaland.
The international journalists were drawn from various media houses in Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Kenya, Turkey and South Africa.
The media houses include otiuMadrid (Spain), Dubai Global News (UAE), Voyages Afrique Media, Travel Compass, Africa Actual (Spain), Media Max (Kenya), Travel Compass (Poland), Kucuk Dunya (Turkey) and TCB Media Publisher (South Africa).
A freelancer from the UK, Mohammad Reza Amirinia, was also part of the group.
The journalists were charmed by the magnificent scenery, peace and tranquillity of Vumba Mountains.
They were enthralled by the stunning views of Nyanga Mountains, while the picturesque Mutarazi Falls and the awe-inspiring Skywalk and Zipline experience fascinated them.
The wildlife and game viewing at Leopard Rock, as well as the La Rochelle Botanical Gardens and the hiking of the Nyanga Mountains also made their experience memorable.
“I came here (Zimbabwe) after being invited by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and I am impressed. We discovered some wonders in the Eastern Highlands. Zimbabwe is a place of wonders.
“Places like Masvingo, Mutarazi Falls and Vumba Mountains captured my heart. My skywalk experience at Mutarazi Falls is unforgettable. Naturally I am very scared of heights, but I could not resist the skywalk. The Eastern Highlands is definitely a place to be and I will be back in the near future,” said Africa Actual media house editor-in-chief, Mr Franck Olivier Kra.
Mr Ahmed Elsadr, the chief executive officer of Dubai Global News said he wished he could stay longer.
“We are grateful for ZTA who invited us to be part of Sanganai and explore the scenic areas in Zimbabwe. We enjoyed exploring the eastern side (Manicaland) and we wonder how the Zipline was crafted. It is a wonder. It is beautiful. The Mutarazi Falls are also fantastic,” he said, before adding, “If one comes here, he or she will definitely wish there was a way to stay for longer,” he said.
Besides visiting scenic areas in the Eastern Highlands, the media also visited monumental areas such as Great Zimbabwe in Masvingo and the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
The Natural Museum of Zimbabwe was built in 1962. ln 1982, all natural science collections were moved there and it was renamed the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe.
The museum was officially opened in 1964 and have exhibits illustrating the history, mineral, wealth and wildlife of Zimbabwe, including the second largest mounted elephant in the world.
