Rainbow Tourism Group has concluded a partnership deal with luxury safari operator, &Beyond, with regard to the Matetsi Private Game Reserve concession near Victoria Falls. In terms of the deal announced this week,  Rainbow Tourism Group will take over ownership of the Matetsi concession and assets from &Beyond with effect from 1 March 2010, whilst &Beyond will continue to manage and market Matetsi Water Lodge.

Rainbow Tourism Group CEO, Chipo Mtasa, said the acquisition of Matetsi complemented the group’s growing portfolio of hotels and game lodges in Zimbabwe and further positioned it to take advantage of the expected uptick in tourism arrivals.  “We are delighted to have a property of the caliber of Matetsi within our portfolio. Retaining &Beyond as the management company ensures that the Matetsi brand and service standards will be upheld, which is important for continuity for both the trade and guests”, she said.  

“We believe this is a win-win deal, giving a Zimbabwean company control over a unique local asset whilst ensuring that the iconic Matetsi property continues to leverage the benefits of being marketed within the Beyond portfolio of leading game lodges across the high spots of Africa,” said &Beyond CEO Debbie Meyer.

Meyer said that Matetsi’s current staff compliment of 114 people would be retained and day-to-day operations would continue as normal. “We have invested substantial capital in Matetsi over the past (13) years and have formed strong ties with the Matetsi staff who have excelled and made us extremely proud over these years.   , we believe that partnering with the Rainbow Tourism Group, the second largest Tourism and Hospitality Player in Zimbabwe ,  will add value  to Matetsi ,” she said.


About Matetsi

Located 40km from Victoria Falls, Matetsi Game Reserve forms part of an extensive wildlife conservation area that extends throughout northwestern Zimbabwe and into Chobe National Park in neighbouring Botswana.

&Beyond, formerly CC Africa (Conservation Corporation Africa) was awarded the 50 000 hectare Matetsi concession by the Zimbabwe Government in 1996 with Rainbow Tourism Group as one of the original major investors in the project.

This former hunting area is now considered one of the premier wildlife concessions in Zimbabwe. Matetsi Water Lodge comprises 36 beds in three intimate camps situated along the 17km exclusive river frontage. It was nominated as Zimbabwe’s Leading Safari Lodge in the 2005 World Travel Awards and was awarded the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority’s Silver Jubilee Tourism Merit Award in 2006