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Zambezi Traveller
Travellers Friend
Victoria Falls Rotary update
donations were fundraised by the school children.
By Anne Taggart President
Rotary and the organizers of the Victoria Falls marathon are working together to raise
PHOTO: ROTARY VICTORIA FALLS
Children from the Rose of Charity Orphange
funds to support the Rose of Charity orphanage. 42 orphans have had their out-
standing school fees paid for, with the help of the Rotary Club of Lancaster in England.
On 12th November 2011 Victoria Falls Rotarians will be holding another golfing
Thanks to CAZ, we will be distributing sunscreens that have been collected to various schools and swimming clubs in Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls Rotarians would like welcome any interested persons to attend their Thursday luncheon meetings, which are held between 1 and 2pm at Ilala Lodge.
It’s snake season
The Mosi O Tunya High School Interact club together with Rotarians, held a luncheon for the old folk at the Chinotimba Old People’s home. The Interactors also sang for the ‘oldies’. On the 24th June, 2011 the Interactors handed over ‘goodies’ to the hospital. The
PHOTO : PINIEL SIBANDA
I
nstallation of a generator switch at the Victoria Falls hospital has recently been completed. Funds to cover this were raised through a community golfing and fun day, held at the Elephant Hills golf club last year. 40 by 3 seater desks and chairs were donated to Chamabondo school on 14th July, 20 through a matching grant from the Rotary club of San Jose. U.S.A. Another consignment of desks is in the pipeline.
On 30th July the board members of the Interact club, attended a leadership seminar in Bulawayo at the Dominican Convent.
63 children, have had their third term school fees paid, through “Children in the Wilderness”, in conjunction with The Rotary Club of Victoria Falls.
fun day and everyone is invited to participate and raise some more funds for the needy in our community.
Appreciating the Valley – every step of the way By Susan Cottrell
B
efore dawn on Sunday 12 June we assembled, shivering in the chilly dark, at the grid on the Gorges Road. We set out, striding into the sunrise, over golden corrugations; our group had just three from last year’s original epic. This time we had a truly interna-
tional team with visitors from Kualar Lumpur, Durban, Triangle, and Kasane. Two hours later we breakfasted beside a river bed before a further two hour stretch till we collapsed in some shade for a splendid lunch. This became the measure of our days; hard walking interspersed with amazing food. Our first supper was nothing less than Mandalay prawn curry prepared by Plax beneath a galaxy of stars between two giant baobabs
2011 – 2012 Vic Falls New Years presents:
LOCNVILLE
CRASHCARBURN THE FIRST DESCENT
GHAPI
CLINT & CO
Accommodation and Tickets on sale now in Harare, Bulawayo, Vic falls and online at www.fallsfest.co.zw Or email fallsfest@yoafrica.com, +263 774 432 800 We support a no under 18 drinking policy. U18 ticket options available
A large python is captured by author and taken into Zambezi National Park for release
By George Van Wyk
PHOTO: JUDY CUMMING
A group of 11 walked 125 km from Victoria Falls to Msuna Island – for the love of it .
Walking for the love of it
on a farmer’s field. A campfire blazed and we were truly amazed at experiencing the luxury of a hot shower in this dusty wilderness. Days rolled into one another with long painful periods of aching muscles, creaking joints, swelling blisters, but always views. Such views! Day three, soon after dawn, we crested a rise and beneath us spread a panorama of autumnal trees reaching to the far-off purple hills of Hwange. All along the way we met cheerful, friendly people, making bricks, weaving baskets, herding cattle, cutting thatching grass, carrying heavy barrels of water, or somewhat luxuriously, travelling by ox or donkey cart. We passed skinny dogs, grubbing black pigs and giggling schoolchildren, the latter staring in amazement at the sight of mukiwas walking by choice and such a long way at that! Aaeewe! Early on day four we glimpsed the Zambezi River glinting silver blue between
the hills as we dropped sharply towards the Matetsi River for yet another awesome scenic breakfast. Later, our spirits lifted as we rounded the bend and there was the mighty Zambezi rippling swiftly by beside the road. That night, at the 100 km peg, camped on the banks of the rustling river, with delicious dinner done, we watched the total eclipse of the full moon. The Earth’s shadow crept darkly over the surface of the moon and the silvery light dimmed. Much later she reappeared to bathe our tents in lunar light. The final day heard creaks and groans as tired limbs uncrimped from snug sleeping bags. After campfire coffee we walked the final 25 km stretch to the amazing, brilliant greens and blues of Msuna Island. It was an incredible experience for each one of us. The children at a school along the way will benefit by receiving books from our contributions.
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nake season is here again; you may recently have become aware of the frogs calling at night – a sure sign that cobras are soon to follow! However, snakes play a vital role in our ecosystem, and need and deserve our protection just as much as any other species of our rich and diverse natural heritage. The reputation that snakes have is largely due to incorrect, incomplete or even non-existent information. Well-informed is well-prepared. If you encounter a snake, leave it alone. Stand still or move away from it slowly. Snakes do not actively seek to attack people. We are not prey to them, and they will only defend themselves if threatened. However, it is much safer to have a snake safely captured and removed, especially if you have children or pets on your property. There are a few important points to note, especially in the event of a bite, or venom in the eyes. With bites, the most important thing is to keep the patient as comfortable as possible, but get hold of your medical rescue service immediately. Remove any restrictive clothing or
shoes where the bite is on a limb, and immobilise the limb if possible, preferably below the level of the heart. A pressure bandage can be applied to a bitten limb, but ensure this is not too tight, and loosen it if there is severe swelling. Until the medical rescue people arrive, stay with the patient; reassure them, but be on standby to perform CPR if necessary. Administration of antivenom should be done by informed medical personnel. For venom in the eyes, flush the eyes out immediately with large quantities of clean water or similar liquid. (Remember that venom on the skin has no effect unless it enters an open wound.) Thereafter a course of antibiotic eye ointment is very helpful, and the eyes should recover in 3 to 4 days. It is virtually impossible to prevent snakes from ever coming onto your property. We live in a wildlife area. However, Victoria Falls is fortunate to have a couple of people in the community who are experienced at capturing and releasing snakes, or able to give any advice. George van Wyk, on (013)44614 or 0772 942 859 Charles Brightman, on (013)45821 or 0712 209 144