A tour operator in the resort town of Victoria Falls has invested over US$2 million in constructing an aviation facility aimed at enhancing the tourism industry, creating jobs, and contributing to the sector’s ambitious goal of reaching US$5 billion.
The Zambezi Helicopter Company (ZHC), part of Shearwater Adventures’ significant development, demonstrates strong confidence in Victoria Falls as a leading global investment hotspot.
This investment marks the company’s relocation from its previous site near the Elephant Hills Hotel to a new location in the Chinotimba Industrial Area. Construction began in September 2023 and has recently been completed, with final touches being made in anticipation of the official opening this month.
The ultra-modern facility includes an Air Management Organisation (AMO), an administrative block, three operational helipads, two maintenance helipads, a restaurant, a VIP lounge, briefing rooms, helicopter hangars, fuel facilities and a new road network. Additionally, the site will provide pilot training programs and helicopter maintenance services for outside companies, expected to create significant local employment opportunities.
The newly constructed Zambezi Helicopter Company aviation facility in Victoria Falls
Dr Clement Mukwasi, the public relations manager for Shearwater, explained that this development was driven by the necessity to expand operations and respond to market growth.
“The Zambezi Helicopter Company has been operating helicopters near the Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls. We have, however, now built another helipad in the Chinotimba Industrial Area,” he said.
“The new helipad was developed at a value of about US$2,1 million. This will then mean that the helicopter operations will move from near the Elephant Hills Hotel to the new site.
“The development was necessitated by our expanded operations in terms of service provision and also our expanded market. We also think that it is the best area to operate helicopters from, considering that it is in the industrial area,” said Dr Mukwasi.
He said the investor also wants to increase the services that they give to the community, which will include training of pilots while also doing repairs and maintenance of helicopters, not only belonging to the company but also for any other company in the country.
“We have since recruited more pilots. We have also increased our employment base,” said Dr Mukwasi.
He said the development is directly in line with the Government’s target of raising the value of tourism to US$5 billion.
“We have contributed US$2,1 million towards this target. We started the development in September 2023. That is when we did our environmental impact assessments and all other plans.
“We were supposed to be finishing our development by June 2025. However, as things stand, we are ahead of our schedule and we are looking forward to opening the helipad by the end of May,” said Dr Mukwasi.
He said the facility is a spectacle for everybody who wants to come through to enjoy the world in Victoria Falls.
Dr Mukwasi said they were aware that helicopter flights in general have become one of the most preferred activities in Victoria Falls, with international and domestic tourists expressing their love for the activity.
“We are confident that the destination has got a long life because we are in photography tourism, and we are not going to consume the activity that we are offering. It is an infinite product.
“Tourists have shown us, we have seen their high confidence in the destination. Equally, investors are doing the same in the country by pouring in huge investments into the redevelopment of the infrastructure,” said Dr Mukwasi.
He said they were sure that many other operators and many other hospitality players would equally follow suit and put investment into developments within the city of Victoria Falls.
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