Dear All

Pelicans on Kings Pool in Liuwa Plain. It was a special treat for us to see pelicans - I didn’t expect them at all.

LIVINGSTONECrocodile Eater

You would expect this photograph had been taken in South Luangwa or Lower Zambezi National Parks. But it wasn’t. It was taken by James Hitchins as he was with friends having a sundowner at Waterfront Lodge in Livingstone. Hearing a scuffl e in the water below the bar the group got up to have a look. A large croc was taking his prey, another croc, into the pond by the chalets.

Crocodiles often leave their prey hidden under the water for several days so that it goes rotten and is softer to eat. This crocodile must have done that because the following day I went down to have a look and big croc was leaving the pond; he disappeared into the river ... but I am sure he will be back ...

School Club Zambia

I sent out a plea for all the readers of this newsletter to vote for School Club Zambia in a competition to win £5,000 for the development of more schools in Zambia. Thank you to everyone who voted. If you haven’t voted yet, please go to www.oceanfi nance.co.uk/win-the-tin. We are up against many UK charities but we can still try!!!

Property Rates to be Re-Assessed in Livingstone

It is about time that our rates for property were assessed properly. It has been many years since this was done and the Council is not receiving the income it is entitled to. In order for them to do the valuation of property in Livingstone, the Government Valuers have been subcontracted to do the job.

According to the Rate Act, property rates are defi ned as:“rateable value” means the price which the rateable property would be expected to realise if sold on the open market as at

the time of valuation and on the assumptions set out in section seven;

I looked for Section Seven, but couldn’t fi nd it ...

Anyhow, through the Livingstone Council, the Valuers are sending round the following letter to owners of property. The pertinent bits are:

... Your property is among several others that are to be inspected and included in

the Main Valuation Roll.

In order for your establishment to be assessed correctly and fairly, the following

information is required from you:

Number of rooms and types

Room charges for each type

Average monthly operational expenses

Average monthly income from other sources, eg shop, restaurant, bar etc and

Audited accounts for the last three years ...

It is an offence under Section 4(2) of the Rating Act No. 12 of 1997 (as

amended) to deny the Valuation Surveyor and/or his him team access to

inspect your premises and not to release the requested information. Penalties

include a fi ne not exceeding three Thousand Five Hundred penalty units and/or

imprisonment for a term not exceededing six months. ...

The owner of the lodge which received this letter was, of course, a bit cross. Property Rates are defi ned as the value of the property not the income it earns. Tourism is about service, more than the value of the property. An owner can have a beautiful lodge and run it badly so its income will be low. In the same token, a very basic lodge can be run extremely well and earn heaps of money ...

I had another look at the Rates Act which gives a Schedule I for the use by valuers. It states that the valuers should be given the following information:

1. Stand Number ……………………………………………………

2. Name and present address of owner …………………………….

3. Please state: Date of construction ……………………………….

Cost ………………………………………………………………

(i) ORIGINAL BUILDERS………………………………

(ii) ALTERNATIONS AND ADDITIONS ………………

4. Were the buildings and/or improvements –

(a) self built ………………………………………………………

(b) built by contractor (labour only)………………………………

(c) built by contractor (labour and materials)

5. If the property was purchased, please stated date of purchase and price…….

6. If the property is let, please state the following:

(i) Rent per month …………………………………………………...

(ii) Furnished or unfurnished …………………. ……………………..

(iii) Date of commencement of lease or tenancy ………………………

(iv) Period of lease or tenancy …………………………………………

(v) Is the owner responsible for –

(a) repairs ……………………………………………………………

(b) rates ……………………………………………………………...

(c) any other outgoings including services ………………………….

(vi) Is the rent above for the whole property or a portion only?

(if the property is let in parts, please attach schedule of lettings, giving full details as required above)

7. Details of any title restrictions ………………………………………………………

I am sure we have not heard the end of this ...

The Liuwa Story

Liuwa is one of Zambia’s premier parks but is little known to the outside world. Liuwa is a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance; it is an Important Bird Area, recognised by Birdlife International; it is the second largest wildebeest migration in the world and, if that was not enough National Heritage Conservation Commission is applying for the Barotse Floodplain to become a World Heritage Site. Peace Parks Foundation is also negotiating with Angolan authorities for a Transfrontier Conservation Area between Liuwa and Mussuma.

Liuwa used to be the hunting ground for the Litunga but, at the end of the 1800s he proclaimed it a conservation area and it was protected. It was made a national park in 1972 but still had the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) an integral part of its management. In 2003 African Parks was given the mandate by the Zambia government and BRE to come into the park to manage and assist with its conservation. Now the park is overseen by the three organisations – ZAWA, African Parks and BRE. I can imagine that it is quite a process to get decisions made. However, African Parks is very upbeat about its involvement in the park and are making good progress.

Liuwa is a fl oodplain and in the rainy season the water from the rivers fl oods out over the whole area and it becomes almost inaccessible. The wildebeest and other wildlife don’t mind; they like it. Anyhow, one of the best times to go is late November or early December. A point to note is that the Barotse Floodplain also fl oods meaning that vehicles can’t cross from Mongu to Kalabo after mid-December. When the Causeway is complete in 2016 (we hope) this will not be a problem.

When we arrived there had not been much rain. On my previous visits the plain had been inundated with streams and pools; bulbs and herbs were pushing through the ground and the plain was covered in pinks, yellows and blues. This time, though, there was just a sprinkling of fl owers and the ground was dry with only the pools offering water for the birds and animals to drink from.

Our campsite was Katoyana, one of four community campsites in the plain. They have basic facilities of fl ush toilets and cold showers in a reed and thatch construction. The water comes from a well and, looking down the well, you can see that the water is not far underground.

There are villages inside the park and also some of the people are given fi shing licences to fi sh from the pools. So, driving round the park, it is not unusual to see people walking through or fi shing in the pools.

Let me get on to the wildlife in the park and show you some pictures. Although there were plenty of wildebeest to see, others were still coming. The main animals which we saw in the park are zebra which always follow wildebeest, hyena, lion, jackal and oribi. The lechwe and sitatunga were still in the rivers because of the lack of rains. We didn’t see the recently introduced eland and buffalo.

The predators, apart from the hyena are lion, wild dog and cheetah. One of our group saw cheetah but there was no sign (for any of us) of wild dog. The park is unique for its dominant predator, the hyena, and the Zambian Carnivore Programme is working in the park to research how the predators co-habit the area.

Our days in the park were usually spent with an early morning drive, followed by a laze in camp during the heat and then another drive in late afternoon followed by sundowners at Kings Pool. Kings Pool is a wonderful spot

ZAMBIA

and was close to our camp so we could quickly pack up the chairs and rush for camp just as the sun was setting – there is no night driving in the park.

The good news is that Norman Carr Safaris are to start a new camp in Liuwa and it will be at Kings Pool.

The birds at Kings Pool were spectacular - pelicans, skimmers skimming and avocets fi shing ... lots of other too ...

At the other pools we found the cranes.

Driving around the park is easy but it is also easy to get lost. There are a few landmarks here and there but largely it is fl at and featureless. A GPS is required. Before going on the trip I had looked up the park on Google Earth, done a rough sketch of the park and identifi ed some landmark GPS coordinates. The information was invaluable.

On our fi rst day out none of us saw hyena. With 400 of them in the park you would have thought we would glimpse a few - no such luck. The next day, though, we saw plenty. One hyena had just made a kill of a young wildebeest and taken it back to a dry pool where she was rolling in its blood. Her mate was kept away until she had had her fi ll.

At night we all heard the hyena calling. In the mornings we could see the paw prints of hyena patrolling our campsite. One night there was an almighty wooping - it seemed like the hyena was right in the camp but none of us got out of our tents to fi nd out.

Here are just a few more pics of wildebeest - many with young - of zebra, a side-striped jackal and a land monitor.

And we mustn’t forget the little things ...

We found a lot of dung beetles rolling around their balls of zebra dung and digging a hole in which to bury it - the eggs would hatch inside and have lots of yummy dung to eat ...

We were not alone in the park. The convoy below was a bunch of South Africans all in a line. In fact most of the visitors to the park were South African ... we need more Zambians in there, so pack your car ... there is still a bit of time to get into the park ... the rains haven’t set in yet.

Univisa

The Univisa between Zambia and Zimbabwe is now in place although I have heard that there are teething problems. Also, please note that the visa is not for people who live in Zambia or Zimbabwe. If you have a work permit in your passport from either Zim or Zam, the full visa fee is required. Does this mean that people who work in Zambia or Zimbabwe never go on holiday? Surely this can be looked into.

Felix Chaila. Managing director for ZTB, also had a comment about visa fees which he stated at the launch of the Univisa

in Livingstone:

We made a request to the Ministry of Home Affairs through our parent Ministry of Tourism and Arts to make certain visa

adjustments to key source tourism markets such as United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), France and

Germany among others.When we studied the visas regimes, we have discovered that our neighbouring countries have

completely scrapped off or reduced visa fee to such countries while the Zambian fees are too high. ...

Well done, Felix.

ZAWA NEWS

ILLEGAL IVORY TRADER ARRESTED

A combined team of offi cers from the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) and the Zambia Police have arrested a 32 year

old man, who is wanted by Botswana authorities for unlawful possession of ivory.

Ben Simasiku, a Zambian of no fi xed abode, is said to have escaped Botswana authorities, after being arrested on

May13, 2012 for unlawful possession of seventeen cut pieces of elephant tusks, weighing 114.5Kgs.

He was granted bail by Francistown Magistrate court, which he skipped. Following his escape, a red notice was issued

within the context of operation INFRA-TERRA (International Fugitive Round Up and Arrest), which led to his subsequent

arrest in Livingstone this week. He is currently detained at Harry Mwanga Nkumbula Airport.

INFRA-TERRA focuses on 139 fugitives wanted by 36 member countries for crimes and violations against the

environment. This includes wildlife traffi cking and illicit trade in ivory, illegal trade and fi shing, illegal disposal of waste and

illegal logging.

ZAWA is still awaiting further information from Botswana before moving forward with the matter.

South Luangwa

This elephant has a snare round its neck. South Luangwa Conservation Society helped to immobilise the elephant and remove the snare. The latest news is that the elephant is fi ne.

Zambians Captured Poaching In ZimbabweMatusadona Anti-Poaching Project

Two banana boats were recovered on Friday night with four stroke engines and fi ve Km of twine net, four Zambians were apprehended whilst four on Land escaped into the Matusadona National Park who were later picked up by another boat and returned to Zambia,

Information suggests fi ve boats entered into Zim from Zambia with 20 poachers to harvest fi sh in Zimbabwe as the Zambians have depleted their fi sheries from poor practices.

These poachers will be looking at between one and two years in jail.

Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force

BABY ELEPHANTS ABDUCTED FOR EXPORT TO CHINA

November 27, 2014 at 2:57pm

We have received some very disturbing reports of animals being captured in Hwange National Park for export to China. Tourists and visitors to Hwange have complained about this.

Apparently, China has ordered a certain number of animals, amongst which are 30 lions. So far, 34 baby elephants, 7 lions and about 10 sable have been captured and are being held at Mtshibi Capture Unit, 7km from Main Camp. The elephants are between 2 and a half and 5 years old.

Our investigators have seen the animals and tried to take photos but were not allowed. The security there is very tight. They were told that the animals will be sent by container trucks to Maputo in Mozambique where they will be transferred to a livestock sea freighter and sent on to China.

Why is Zimbabwe stealing from the future generation’s natural resources? The baby elephants quite likely won’t survive the trip and the only crime they have committed is being born in Zimbabwe. They are now being sentenced to a life of inhuman treatment. This is very traumatic, not only for the baby elephants but also for their families. Elephants don’t forget and this is very dangerous for future visitors to Hwange.

We have to try and stop this export from taking place.

UPDATE ON ELEPHANTS CAPTURED FOR EXPORT (8th December 2014)

December 9, 2014 at 12:01am

Further to our last report, we have now been informed that 36 elephants have been captured for export to China. Of the 36, one has already died and the meat was shared out between the people at the boma. We are extremely distressed that the elephants haven’t even left yet and one has already died. 27 elephants have been medically examined and found to be fi t for travel but we don’t know what will happen to the other 9.

We would like to thank everybody who has signed our petition on www.avaaz.org.

ZIMBABWE

Harare-Masvingo-Chiredzi

Air Zimbabwe is to reintroduce the

Harare-Masvingo-Chiredzi fl ight from 16

December. The schedule for the fl ights is

not yet set as it depends on the needs of

the tourist and business industry.

As I had forgotten where Chiredzi is, I

borrowed a map from Victoria Falls Guide.

Masvingo

Chiredzi

Mining in Lower Zambezi National Park

The Zambezi Society

In November 2014, we were asked by Zimbabwe’s Community-Based Resource Management Forum (CBNRM Forum) to

help them respond to a plea from WWF Zambia for Zimbabwe Civil Society to assist in petitioning our relevant Ministers

to oppose the Kangaluwi Open-Cast Copper Mining Project in the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia (right opposite

the Mana Pools/Sapi/Chewore World Heritage Site - see map).

On 13th November, together with the CBNRM Forum, we conducted a workshop for Civil Society on the subject with

various speakers including a WWF representative from Zambia who is one of those responsible for challenging this

project in the Zambian courts.

The Zambezi Society, the Zimbabwe

CBNRM Forum and attendees of the

November workshop put together a Press

Release on the subject - you can read this

on our website at this link: ZIMBABWE

CIVIL SOCIETY SUPPORT BID TO

PREVENT LARGE SCALE COPPER

MINING IN LOWER ZAMBEZI NATIONAL

PARK, ZAMBIA ...

The workshop also prepared a hard copy

Petition to Zimbabwe Ministers, which was

handed to the Minister for Environment,

Water and Climate The Hon Saviour

Kasukuwere at the end of November.

A decision on whether this potentially

devastating mining project should go ahead still rests with the Zambian courts, as it was not resolved on 17th November

when a court hearing was supposed to take place. There is still time to gather momentum for an international cry of

outrage at this.

Our petition to the Zimbabwe Ministers is now available online for everyone to sign up to. Please have a look at it on

Change.org and SIGN UP to show your support. Please spread the word widely and encourage everyone to sign. We’d

like to get as much support against this mining project as possible from those who are concerned about the Zambian

mine affecting our precious World Heritage Site.

Please pass on the Petition link around to your contacts. We will also be sharing it widely on Social Media, via The

Zambezi Society , SAVE MANA POOLS and Friends of Mana Pools among others.

BOTSWANANata Bird Sanctuary under threat

Botswana has cattle, lots of them. It is said that half of the people in Botswana have cattle and that there are more cattle

in the country than people. The ‘cattle barons’ tend to be from the towns, hiring villagers to keep their cattle safe in the

rural areas. Having cattle is a sign of wealth, as much as having a new car or a fat bank balance.

Botswana’s economy relies fi rstly on diamonds, secondly on tourism

and thirdly on cattle.

From some articles in the news recently it seems that the owner of

the land on which Nata Bird Sanctuary stands has been approached

by the cattle barons to allow them to use it for grazing their cattle.

At the same time, the community which runs and, at present, pays

for the lease of the land wants to fence it for better protection of the

wildlife.

The matter is being heard by the Land Board.

As Nata Bird Sanctuary is one of the few remaining places on the

planet where fl amingos and pelicans breed, I do hope Nata Bird Sanctuary wins their case.

The photo is not great but if you look carefully that pink band on the horizon is a mass of fl amingoes. We couldn’t get

closer because the pan was wet ...

Santonga

The Sangonga Project near Victoria Falls Safari Lodge has been on the cards for many years. Now it looks like it is to

happen and work has already started.

The project is to turn the rocky hillside of largely mopane woodland into an eco-park which will tell the story of Victoria

Falls over the years through its history, culture and nature. The project is set on 80 acres (approximately 30 hectares).

6,000 indigenous trees will be planted and a lot of top soil brought in to support the growth. It will take 2½ years to

complete.

Livingstone‛s Adventure Special

Quad Bike and African Queen Sunset Cruise

K730 for the month of December

Contact us:TEL: (+260) 213 320058 / 323589 / 323587 / 321513

FAX: (+260) 213 324071CELL: (+260) 978 770175

NAMIBIANamibia’s Save the Rhino Trust responds to rhino poaching crisis

Africa Geographic

Namibia’s reputation as one of the last safe haven’s for rhinos in Africa from the ruthless greed of rhino poaching

syndicates took a serious knock this year, with at least twenty rhinos killed by poachers. The majority of rhinos

were targeted in Namibia’s north-west, and more recently, three rhino carcasses, all with their horns sawed off, were

discovered in Namibia’s premier national park – Etosha.

Amidst increasing calls for stronger, pro-active measures against the poaching syndicates, the CEO of the Save the

Rhino Trust (SRT) in Namibia, Simson Uri-khob, released a statement underscoring the hard work and efforts being

poured into rhino conservation and security throughout the past three decades by SRT staff and the continued passion

with which the team works today to safeguard these precious animals.

I am of this soil, the same land where for more than 25 years I have worked shoulder to shoulder with the dedicated men

and women of the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT). Blythe and Rudi Loutit, Ina Britz, Justus Garoeb, Sakeus Kasaona and

Simpson Tjongarero are amongst the protectors of rhinos who came before me. They laid the foundation for SRT and the

commitment to protecting the rhinos of the Kunene Region.

Those who are with me now, the SRT trackers and guardians know each rhino by their spoor, their range and by their

family history.

It is this accumulation of knowledge over more than three decades, and daily patrols covering some of the harshest, most

beautiful land in this country, that has helped the rhino population grow. Their population growth has been a source of

pride for Namibians from all walks of life. But without the support of our local communities this wouldn’t be possible.

Our respect for those who work for SRT, their families and their communities is based on family, history and values. It is

who we are, the fabric of life in Namibia, and particularly in communal areas.

We have never turned our backs on those who need our help. We help by getting those who are sick to clinics. We attend

funerals, and we celebrate births. And, together we are committed to sharing this land – our land – with the rhino.

Day in and day out, the SRT tracking teams are working hard to ensure that this legacy of life continues in ways that

benefi t both rhino and people.Save the Rhino Trust also has a long-term, important relationship with Wilderness Safaris that keeps teams of trackers based at Desert Rhino Camp in the fi eld.At Grootberg Lodge, we have assisted the local tracking team, who leads the rhino activity, with training and they regularly provide us with rhino identifi cation forms.

We are proud pioneers in transforming tourism into a rhino conservation tool. It is interesting that so far, not a single rhino that is being monitored by rhino tourism has been poached. At the recent Hospitality Association of Namibia Gala event, the tourism industry came forward in a show of solidarity by donating over N$300,000 to rhino protection, supporting the efforts of those of us working in the fi eld.

Namibian tourism associations, such as Tourism Supporting Conservation and The TOU Trust, have also contributed funds to support our efforts to strengthen our local rhino protection force.

From the High Court to marches in the streets, there is no doubt that one and all, we, Namibians, stand united in our desire to protect our rhinos.

Desire and passion are great. They are necessary, but alone they won’t divert a crisis. And this is where we fi nd ourselves, a nation who protects rhinos, and those rhinos are under siege.

This is not the time for false accusations or individuals acting in isolation or for self-interest, it is the time for all Namibians to come together in the monitoring and protection of our rhinos.

The Save the Rhino Trust has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to research and monitor the rhinos of the Kunene Region. This MOU is born of many years of hard work, action and respect. We stand behind this – and I stand behind my team of trackers.

TOURISM PRIVATE SECTOR GETS RESTLESS OVER GOVERNMENT IN-ACTION IN KENYA

The meeting earlier in the week between the tourism recovery task force and members of the tourism fraternity in

Mombasa once again showed the widening rift between the offi cial government position and the reality on the ground, described by some to be ‘as bad as it was never ever before’. Some senior stakeholders in fact suggested that having failed to launch suffi cient countermeasures, and in view of ongoing security concerns, recovery may be much further away than the Kenyan government has led the public to believe. Information that Tanzania’s parliament has again thrown out proposals to levy Value Added Tax on tourism services, in line with what Uganda and Rwanda have been doing too, has further infl amed the situation with several regular contributors suggesting that the powers that be in the Kenyan government, in charge of tourism, are completely removed from reality and have failed to impress upon cabinet that the continued charge of 16 percent VAT on a range of tourism services, is in fact one factor which has all but killed coast tourism by making the services more expensive at a time when demand was withering away. …

WOLFGANG’S COLUMN

Chairman of the Board of Trustees Honourable Dudu Murorua

and the other members of our board have allocated funds that

will allow SRT to double our presence in the fi eld.

There will be no downtime for us. SRT trackers will be in the fi eld 365 days a year spending long, hard, hot days away from family looking out for our rhino by foot, donkey and vehicle. The work is very diffi cult and dangerous but we do it because we believe it makes a difference.

The Rhino Rangers, a group of conservancy members trained by SRT to conduct monitoring operations in their area, are also active in the fi eld and within their communities. They are very proud of their new skills and responsibility to look after their rhino.

After nearly 2 decades of population growth, of knowing of the decimation of rhinos across our borders, Namibia has been hit. We are devastated by the loss of even one rhino, and together with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Rhino Rangers we resolve our efforts to protect our beloved rhinos.

The investigation into rhino poaching is the job of the Protected Resource Unit and they will come out with the truth at the end of the day and we will know who is guilty.

I do not want to point fi ngers at any one at this stage or make any accusations. We have good laws in Namibia and committed Law Enforcement Offi cers and we rely on them and they will deal with this.

I have heard the Honourable Minister of Environment and Tourism speak of Team Destination Namibia. It is time for Team Rhino.

We stand with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the Honourable Councillor Hendrick Gaobaeb, our partners at NGOs, tourism enterprises, communal conservancies, and every single Namibian in fi ghting to protect what is part of our legacy, our birthright, those animals who roam the land where I was born, and one day I will die – the rhino.

Solar Roadways

A new concept is being developed in the US - solar roadways. If our miles and miles of roads were turned into solar panels, we could generate enough electricity to power any country ...

It is very much in the developmental stage. Check it out on:

www.solarroadways.com

OTHER STUFFInternational Year of Soils (IYS)

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has been nominated to implement the IYS 2015, within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership and in collaboration with Governments and the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertifi cation.

I am out of town – in Lusaka – and when I fl ew over Zambia I could see many fi res burning – people clearing their fi elds for planting their crops. Chitemene, the method of farming from many years ago, meant that land was cleared of all trees, the debris burned and the crops planted. The soil survived this cruel treatment for possibly 3 years, and then it was exhausted. But that was no problem in the old days – the villagers moved on to more virgin soil not far away and restarted. Now that our populations are stuck in one place this practice of burning and clearing the land has to end.

Our soil is fragile and needs to be given some TLC. This is also apparent in our towns. Livingstone roads are covered in sand – our topsoil which is washed down the hillsides when the rain has come or when the wind blows. We have all seen the erosion in parts of Livingstone and this is merely because the land has been cleared of vegetation – in gardens, along roads and roadsides. We need to have a complete mind-change about how we look at our environment – be it in the farms or in the towns and villages. I hope this UN International Year of Soils makes us wake up.

Have a good two weeks

Gill

EXCHANGE RATES

US$1 K6.36

P9.42

Nam$11.43

WEATHER

Min Temp Max Temp

21°C 30°C

The temperature has dropped because we have clouds. But it is the silly season for rain - yesterday it rained heavily in town, but 5 km away at my house we didn’t have a drop.

I don’t have a Smile for you this newsletter because I am short of time. But here is a photograph of my son, Muftau, and me on the pontoon over the Luanginga River to Liuwa National Park.