Zimbabwe's World Famous Bird Sanctuary

Your Adventure Starts Here

It’s happening again – the Chivero Challenge!

Last year it was lit 🔥 so we’re doing it again this year!
The Chivero Challenge Winter Edition 2021 – 12th -13th June.

The Chivero Challenge is an international, multi-disciplinary event designed to advance environmental preservation, sports recreation, tourism, health and wellness as well as grassroots sports development.

Funds raised at the event will go to Kuimba Shiri Bird Park and Chivero Basin Conservancy.

2021 Sporting Challenges:

*Running (5,10,15 & 21km)
*Horse Riding
*Rowing
*Speed Boating
*Cycling
*Jet skiing
*Trail Riding (Motorcycling)

The 2021 challenge focuses on finishing the race and improving athletes’ time. The challenge attracts both professional athletes and amateurs from a broad range of abilities, interests and spectators. Positive impact and awareness will be created for Kuimba Shiri Bird Park, Lake Users Association, AYICC Zim, National Parks, Zimbabwe Tourism, Sports and Recreation, City of Harare and other Partners.

For more information about the event contact:
Gary Stafford +263 772 226 635 – birdpark@mweb.co.zw
Jean +263 785 757 022 – ayicczim@gmail.com
Muku +263 717 577 958 – lakechiverochallenge@gmail.com

To participate in the 2021 Chivero Challenge, please complete the registration form via the link below:

A Special Plea for Your Support
Covid has created tough times for Kuimba Shiri

June 4th 2021 – At Kuimba Shiri we have always prided ourselves on being self-reliant, sustaining our operations for decades through the income earned from our visiting local and international tourists.

But the global COVID crisis has changed all that.

Since March of 2020, we have seen the number of visitors to our park drop by 90%, and international tourism has practically disappeared completely. But tourists or no tourists, we still need to feed our horses, birds, and the other wildlife that we care for in our sanctuary, pay weekly salaries to the 40+ employees who help us keep Kuimba Shiri running, buy fuel for generators and food for our staff, and maintain the property . We have done all that we can to cut our costs, but we can only sell so many pieces of equipment, our beloved horses, and other assets to pay for our daily operations.

Frankly, we desperately need your help right now, so that we can continue our mission to defend, rescue, rehabilitate, and release wild birds in Zimbabwe, especially the raptors in which we specialize.

Because of the difficulty in receiving foreign currency in Zimbabwe, owner Gary Stafford’s sister (Brenda Holden, who lives in the UK) has set up a GoFundMe page in England, in an effort to help Kuimba Shiri raise the funds it needs to stay in business. You can read more about our situation on the GoFundMe page.

ANY AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED WILL HELP. 
We would greatly appreciate it, and we thank you for your blessings.

Please click the ‘Donate now’ button to the right or below, to be taken to our official GoFundMe page.

 

This is Our Story

Kuimba Shiri is situated at the shores of Lake Chivero, in a Recreational Park boasting over 400 species of wild birds. Kuimba Shiri (which means ‘singing birds’ in Zimbabwe’s Shona language) was founded by conservationist and falconer Gary Stafford, in 1994. By 2002 he had established the largest collection of indigenous birds in Africa. A number of our birds have been featured in BBC Documentaries such as ‘The life Of Birds’ and ‘Eagles’ with David Attenborough.

In 2002, approximately 1000 birds were moved to South Africa for safe keeping due to the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe. The Stafford family faced many challenges but survived. They re-started renovations back at Kuimba Shiri in 2010.

Lake Chivero was declared one of the seven RAMSAR sites in Zimbabwe by UNISCO and WWF and the Government of Zimbabwe. RAMSAR is the international convention for the protection of wetlands.

Recognised for our peaceful position during difficult times in Zimbabwe, we were also declared a Sri Chinmoy International Peace Park in 2014. Kuimba Shiri shares this privilege with 800 other sites around the world such as the Great Barrier Reef, Mount Fuji and Victoria Falls.

The bird Park is a non-profit organisation offering refuge for injured and orphaned birds. We also offer educational trips for students from kindergarten to university. Injured and captive birds are released to the wild if they are successfully rehabilitated. All this is made possible by people supporting our restaurant, bar, accommodation and camping facilities. Boat trips to the National Park to see wild game on the plains, including White Rhino, can also be enjoyed. We are open every day of the year.

Photos from our FaceBook Gallery

Scroll down to see more images.

'Singing Bird'

Explore our world renowned bird park where we raise, rehabilitate, train and release Africa’s wild hawks, owls, eagles, falcons and more. (More information coming soon!)

Bar & Restaurant

Enjoy a delicious meal, cocktails or mocktails in our two restaurants located on our sprawling grounds overlooking Lake Chivero, complete with full service bar, coffee shop and sweet shop. (More information coming soon!)

Accommodation

Stay for the weekend or the week, in one of our 8 chalets overlooking hippo creek, complete with spectacular sunsets. Or set up your tent in our Campsite for a budget stay. (More information coming soon!)

Cruise & Canoe

Come and join us for a sunset cruise on the lake, or rent a canoe and paddle yourself on your own adventure. (More information coming soon!)

Learn more about our founder, Gary Stafford, in this video.

"Let us remember that animals are not mere resources for human consumption. They are splendid beings in their own right, who have evolved alongside us as co-inheritors of all the beauty and abundance of life on this planet."