ZAMBIA | CANOEING THE ZAMBEZI
PADDLING TO A POWERFUL BEAT Canoeing The Upper Zambezi
[ WRITER: Shelley Cox-Africa Conservation Travel ] When you combine passion and purpose to the beat of nature, you can be certain that this powerful trio of ingredients is going to deliver something special. For Prince Ngwenya, it is this trio of components that have continued to drive him and the Victoria Falls Canoeing Company forward with determination to survive the impacts of the COVID pandemic and come out paddling more powerfully than before. Victoria Falls Canoeing Company was started by one of Zimbabwe’s top river guides, Misheck Ngwenya, fondly known by his river guide friends as “Shacks”. Tragically in 2019, Misheck passed away suddenly and without
40
TRAVEL & LEISURE | Sept - Dec 2021
warning, and his wife Stella, along with his son Prince, took over the reins to continue the legacy that Misheck had created – providing exceptional canoeing and guiding experiences for those visiting the majestic Victoria Falls and the upper Zambezi River. Being a guide, it was only natural that fatherhood included instilling his passions and experience into that of his son, and from a young age, Prince quickly developed the same values and similar passions to that of his father – a deep love for the natural world and ambitions to share the incredible beat of nature with others. However it is not just passion that drives Prince forward… since the loss of his father Misheck, Prince has made it his purpose to honour the
[ PHOTOS: Nicholas Milne ] legacy his dad had started and created for him. It is this purpose that has seen Prince working hard behind the scenes to continually look at ways to take the company forward, reviewing current business strategies and forming new partnerships, looking at ways to enhance the traveller experience, and increasing his knowledge under the mentorship of other renowned and well-respected guides and business owners within the tourism sector in and around Victoria Falls. And then of course there is the natural element, the heart and soul of this region and the vital aspect that ultimately brings visitors from far and wide to Victoria Falls – the majestic Zambezi River and the biodiversity
