Article NZiRA Travel Zimbabwe | Images Elephant’s Eye Hwange
Tourism is moving in a more sustainable and eco-friendly direction to minimise the harmful impact of waste on the environment and facilitating community development. We had the pleasure of visiting one such Ecotourism facility- Elephant’s Eye, Hwange under the Hideaways Group. This bespoke ecolodge embraces the biophysical environment and incorporates sustainable activities in their operations, conservation and local community development. It is located two hours from Victoria Falls and is set on a private concession that borders the Hwange National Park, effortlessly merging luxury and sustainability. With 8 raised tented chalets and a capacity of 16 adults sharing; these tents are spacious and comfortable, with a King-sized bed, quality linen, an indoor tub and an outdoor shower. One has the option to enjoy uninterrupted views of the waterhole as you soak in the tub, or an exciting shower experience under the open skies; sharing these moments with the wild as you take in the crisp fresh air that surrounds you. We travelled during winter and the temperatures drop at night, we were very appreciative of the small yet cosy fi replace in our rooms; a great welcome addition. The camp also has a plastic-free policy with all room amenities in glass containers. Apart from building the camp using sustainable material, Elephant’s Eye has retained and renovated the old buildings on site, converting them into a spa, curio shop and offi ces. These buildings, though new, provide a bit of history to the camp. In support of the local community of Dete, their staff has been hired locally contributing to a rise in employment in the area.
The camp is solar-powered and guests have uninterrupted access to electricity. With the camp solar-powered, it serves as a basis for protecting natural heritage and actively engaging towards protecting the environment. A great feature found at Elephant’s Eye is the Ozone pool which gives the aesthetic of a luxury pool in the middle of a bush, but is chemicalfree and safe for the animals, particularly elephants, that frequent the pool for an afternoon sip! We had the opportunity to go on a concession drive with our guide Dumi, the incredible views of this concession offer great photo opportunities of the grasslands, plains and waterholes often visited by a variety of birds during our stay. Another special feature found on the Elephant’s Eye concession is their treehouse which affords you a 360-degree view of the waterhole. The treehouse is a great place to have a much-deserved sun downer as you watch the sunset and its reflection on the water evoking all your senses and feelings as you enjoy this unforgettable moment before you head back to camp and dive into a well-prepared meal by Chef Enock! We found each meal quite delicious showing how it was made with the utmost precision, care and a sprinkle of love then served by the ever-smiling Daphne; we truly felt at home.
COMMUNITY ECOTOURISM
Cultural preservation and empowerment of the local community are part of the Hideaways Africa ethos. Elephant’s Eye is 3 km from the developing town that is relatively isolated with limited shopping and educational facilities. The majority of the residents are low-income earners with most households being womenled. Elephant’s Eye through Hideaways Group is involved in initiatives that uplift this Dete community by supporting the local women and groups. Elephant’s Eye provides them with a market to sell their wares to guests from their shop at camp or through their community tour where they encourage guests to purchase or donate. This encourages cultural sensitivity between the guests (the tourists) and the community guiding in sustainable development. During our stay, we were taken on a community tour and were fortunate enough to meet the Vukani Group. Vukani meaning, “Rise Up” in the isiNdebele language, is a group of 10 members who have come together on a micro-financed project to create jewellery from recycled paper beads. This jewellery is sold as a source of income in support of their families that average 5 dependants per household. The Hideaways Group motto “life changing experiences” made sense to us after our tour as we realised the impact tourism has on local communities. The tour helped us and many other guests realise that bush safaris offer so much more; an appreciation of the entrepreneurial skills of the community, an understanding of their culture and heritage that make up the heartbeat of Dete. With their community ecotourism model and company ethos, the Hideaways Group also supports the ‘Project Penya’ which translates to Project “Shine”. A project whose core objective is to keep the girl child in school during her menstruation days as teenage girls in this community miss out on 25% of their school days annually (growafricafoundation.org). Due to financial constraints, their parents cannot afford the necessary sanitary wear but through this project and with the assistance of guests and well-wishers the Hideaways Group has managed to provide the young girls of Dingani (approx. 200) with washable sanitary pads. These pads come in a packet of 6 and can last a teenager for the whole year. Our trip to Elephant’s Eye was an eyeopener on just how much a bed-night can not only contribute to the running of the camp but also the local community. There are lots of stories to tell and initiatives to support. Your bed-night also contributes to the preservation of the wild dog. In Covid-19 times like these, the locals and wildlife need all the support they can get! Plan a trip to Elephant’s Eye and have your “lives changed” in a beautiful way!