Torrential rains plagued Zambia and Botswana in the beginning of this year, leading to flooding and the displacement of people and wildlife. When the Kariba Dam was forced to open its floodgates in March, the resulting flood caused wildlife to be stranded on numerous little islands. Though buffalo usually swim between mainland and islands, they ran out of food and became too weak to swim. Tour operators and conservationists in the area sprung into action to aid the starving animals.
Yolandi Scanes, Sanctuary Retreats, said the camp together with other operators in the area, had assisted Conservation Lower Zambezi as well as the Zambian Wildlife Authority with initiating ‘operation buffalo buffet’, an initiative to send several tons of hay to feed all stranded animals along the river.
Glenn Stutchbury, md Africa Albida Tourism, said there were still approximately 100 animals stuck on starvation island but with the help of donations, Bumi Hills was able to provide food to the animals every second day. He is confident that within six weeks there should be enough shoreline, where grass grows, for the game to survive on their own.
Numerous lodges in the area were forced to close due to the heavy flooding. One of the lodges forced to stop operations was Sanctuary’s Zambezi Kulefu Camp. Scanes said Sanctuary didn’t want to compromise their guests’ safari experience. The lodge opened again on July 16 after the Zambezi River Authority closed three floodgates on July 14, resulting in an immediate drop in water levels. Scanes said: “With a two- metre drop in water levels, we are pleased to announce that sanctuary Zambezi Kulefu Camp has reopened.”
Valerie Mouton, PR manager &Beyond, reported none of the &Beyond lodges had to close but the operator did experience damage to Xudum and Nxageba airstrips. Mouton said: “&Beyond decided to counteract this by offering guests a helicopter transfer from the nearest airstrip to the lodge they are visiting at no additional cost to the guest.”
Although numerous operators said the large amount of water present in Botswana this year made a visit to the Okavango Delta a truly special and exciting experience, an inside source told Tourism Update operations in the Okavango were greatly affected. He said the floods were a phenomenal celebration of nature but they also greatly hampered game drives. It isn’t all bad news though, he said. Due to the current floods, grasses will be abundant next summer making for phenomenal game viewing from January to April.
By Dorine Reinstein
