THE HISTORY BEHIND THE KOTAKOTA HILLS

NOT what men destroy with war, but only what men build with their work constitutes the basis of peaceful human and animal coexistence. These are the thoughts that need to be embraced for all peace-loving persons.

NDUBI MVULA looks at one of the eco-tourism and one of its products called Kotakota Hills.

“Our vision is to create a secure environment in which there are viable and stable populations of elephants and rhinos in their natural habitat. We believe that attaining this vision will contribute to the economic and spiritual wellbeing of our people.”

Massimo Selicato the proprietor of this magnificent resort recently stated that the creation of this rare resort will be achieved through the realisation of opportunities and benefits derived from the sustainable utilisation of the natural resources that are in abundance.

He says Kotakota through its philosophy, principles and commitment to the sensitive ecological environment in which it operates, will ensure that it plays a major role in the development of the eco-tourism industry over the next decades.

Kotakota management has a Master Plan whose effective implementation of the objectives should contribute to the long-term viability of the species despite the often-unpredictable social, economic, and political threats to conservation.

“In practical terms the vision will be advanced by the implementation of a well-planned strategy executed by the management and coordinated through the support of the local and international agencies,” he said.

Incorporated in 1987 as a commercial Game Reserve the Kotakota Hills and as a provisional national monument in 2005, the site was selected by Massimo Selicato because, as a peninsula surrounded by Lake Kariba, it is the ideal haven for a large diversity of wildlife.

The resort is currently a national monument and awaits drawings from the survey department, presented before the Minister for provisional declaration, which will come in the form of a Statutory Instrument.

This unique 7000-hectare African wilderness abounds in game, from the awesome herds of elephants to the elusive leopard, while the surrounding crystal waters of the Kariba are filled with fish.

Selicato’s love for nature’s wonders as a young boy created a dream of living, conserving and uniting himself with Africa’s land and its people. Since that day, his dreams have been born into reality…. as it says: ‘That once you drink the waters of the Zambezi, her sweet waters flow into your veins and you will never leave her shores for very long.’

This is what happened to 1961 Eritrean-born Selicato some years ago,” she sustains me, she inspires me, and I need her more than any worldly possessions.”

In 1983 he began to search for land to build his dream and started in South Africa and Botswana but did not have the funds to purchase or fence a game sanctuary hence embarking on a searched on maps of Africa, concentrating on rivers and lakes, looking for an area that would provide water as a frontage, and as a boundary creating a natural fencing.

The Zambezi as the wildest river in Africa was his first choice. Being almost 3000 Km long, it took him some time and many adventures before discovering the peninsula of Kotakota, on the Zambia side of Lake Kariba. A majestic peninsula, in the middle Zambezi Valley, Kotakota became the home of the elephants and he decided to spend the rest of his life protecting them and their environment, at any cost.

Kotakota is the first private game reserve in Zambia and was incorporated in 1984 from a dream that became a reality. He approached Chief Chipepo in Lusitu and explained to him his intentions, of conserving one of his areas with wildlife and creating a sanctuary.

“The time spent at the “palace,” the chief’s residence, was an unforgettable experience. The hunting for chief was the way that I spent most of my time. The killing of buffalo and hippo for his family, which was composed of 7 wives and 37 children. The hunting was not very pleasant for me but was a duty because of Kotakota,” he said.

He says at times he had shed tears of frustration and tears of joy to an extent of wanting to give up but his vision and love for Kotakota, and the desire to protect the animals has given him the strength to continue.

During the construction of the reserve, he did intensive anti-poaching operations and placed salt licks and maize cobs at strategic points all over the reserve in order to create a stable environment for the animals in the area, and to attract the animals from the surrounding areas. The community around the reserve was used to hunt on the peninsula, as the Tonga tribe is hunter – gatherers. It has taken years to educate them on the value of sustainable wildlife.

“My wife joined me in 1993 and has contributed to the dream in many ways; we are a team and share the same vision. The creation of the lodge and chalets was a challenge for me because I wanted to construct buildings that are in harmony with nature. It is made from natural rock, wood and thatch grass,” he said.

His passion for protecting wildlife has led him to commence a proposal to reintroduce and breed black rhino on the Kotakota peninsula and it is his greatest desire to be able to restock Zambia with rhino. This project has been in the pipeline for a number of years.

“Kotakota has been my life and it will remain my life for as long as the waters of the Zambezi run through my veins,” he said.

The resort is rich in the best game drives, which gives the visitor an exceptional African experience guided by the knowledgeable and experienced ranger and skilled Tonga tracker, guests begin an adventure to spot a myriad of wild animals including, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and hippo.

It is noted that Rangers and skilled Tonga trackers are trained to understand the needs of our guests. They go to great lengths to ensure that Safari’s at Kotakota are an unforgettable experience and that tourists leave the resort with a wonderful knowledge of the flora and fauna, as well as having taken award-winning photographs of the creatures with the close, unlimited encounters with the wildlife.

There are also bush walks – the quintessential wilderness experience, fisherman’s paradise with the fly-fishing or angling, Tiger Fish Tournament held on the Lake Kariba annually and the surface spear fishing equally an exciting adventure that is best done at night.

The bird enthusiast is not left out in this what with so many birds to see from so many vantage points and there is also an adventure area of bush dinners or breakfasts, bird watching, cultural tours, game viewing, boating trips, helicopter flights, micro light flights, airplane flights and photographic safaris.

The bird-life around the lodge is also abundant. Bird diversity is high, including Hooded Vulture, Secretary Bird, African Fish Eagle, Batleur Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Dark Chanting Goshawk and Giant Eagle Owl. Cuckoos, Rollers, Kingfishers, Hornbills, Shrikes, Starlings and Weavers are well represented.

There is a variety of fish such as the red breasted Tilapia, Chessa, purple labeo, bottlenose, electric catfish, sharp tooth catfish-barbell, vundu, African mottled eel.

Enough of that how about the reptile family the resort also has a share of this, such as lizards and snakes, water monitors, the formidable Nile crocodile.

For the botanically minded, there are many fascinating examples of sub-tropical flora, including large numbers of the magical and mysterious baobab tree. There are termite mounds and pans. Since the termite mounds constitute the largest accumulations of soil in the woodland areas they are of exceptional importance contributing significantly to the diversity of plant life. These also harbor aardvark burrows, which provide dens for warthog and porcupine.

Kotakota Game reserve has been very mindful of the community surrounding it and made sure that it is somewhat taken care of. Children and their teachers from the local schools surrounding Kotakota visit the game reserve and learn about the significance of conservation.

Kotakota is funding the construction of a primary and secondary school about 14 km outside the reserve. At present the teachers of Mabula School are sponsored by Kotakota Hills. The reserve employs local people in conservation -related jobs. Promoting community involvement: The future of protected areas, the security of wildlife and the maintenance of bio-diversity in Kotakota is closely linked to the creation of partnerships between conservation organizations and the community around the reserve. This is seen as one of the best ways of reducing the threat to elephants.

Therefore, Kotakota considers the objects such as the promoting partnerships with the community, increasing awareness through improved communications, transferring capacity and skills to the community in a variety of disciplines to encourage potential economic development, empowering the community to manage, protect and utilise wildlife resources in the area on a sustainable basis, Encouraging the equitable distribution of tangible benefits from elephant conservation to community.

However, just as not all can be exhausted in this column, like always advised, you need to get there for one of these festive holidays and see for yourself what this magnificent place has to offer.