Community Based Tourism

Old Bulawayo

Tourists have visited Zimbabwe's rural areas for many years, although the local communities were rarely involved (or benefited from) tourism until a few pilot projects were set up by CAMPFIRE in the early 1990's. Most revenues from tourism in Zimbabwe's communal lands are generated through the leasing of sites for nature tourism, although in some cases local residents run basic tourist facilities and act as guides. Many more tourism plans are in the pipeline, including cultural tourism, bird-watching and access to natural hot springs.  Through the Zimbabwe Sun Hotels, a high-end tourism initiative was developed in the 1990s. The initiative saw the establishment of “high-cost, low-volume” game lodges located in communal lands, and mostly adjacent to National Parks in the Zambezi Valley and Southeast Lowveld. 12 such lodges were in operation by 1999. Today there are five such facilities in operation. Private interests operate these ventures under lease agreements with RDCs on behalf of communities who are the major beneficiaries. These facilities share some of the following features: High level of comfort, Range of wildlife experiences, Targeted international the high-end market. 

Tourist communal areas

In 1999-2003, CAMPFIRE Association established the CAMPFIRE Development Fund (CDF) with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). One of the components of the CDF was the eco-tourism initiative. It consists of “low-cost, high volume” basic overnight accommodation, rudimentary camping, day visitor cultural centres and craft shops in communal lands, which were funded through infrastructure development grants, with communities providing locally available materials and labour. 14 out of the 18 large and small tourism enterprises funded have been completed to date and are operated mostly by community trusts and/or lease agreements with the private sector. These facilities provide a diverse product offering and target market based on wilderness experience, and specialist activities such as sport fishing and bird watching.