Tabitha Black Pepper: Tavita Natasha Mpala of Public Relations

The 4th edition of the Lake October Great Zimbabwe Tourism Festival is set to be the ultimate celebration of Masvingo’s rich heritage! The Lake October-Great Zimbabwe Tourism Festival is a 2-day extravaganza that showcases the city’s diverse tourist attractions, arts, sports, music, culture, and heritage. Held annually since 2018, this festival aims to promote Masvingo tourism and position the iconic Great Zimbabwe Monuments as a top destination in Zimbabwe .
Located in the southern part of Zimbabwe, Masvingo is an ancient city steeped in history and cultural significance. The Great Zimbabwe Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are a major draw for tourists and a testament to Zimbabwe’s rich past .
The festival has gained recognition and endorsement from the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), solidifying its importance in Zimbabwe’s tourism landscape. With over 5,000 attendees in its inaugural year, the festival is poised to become one of Africa’s premier destination festivals.

Festival Highlights:

• Sports Tourism_: Exciting sporting events to enjoy
• Adventure Tourism_: Explore Masvingo’s natural wonders
• Cultural Tourism_: Immerse yourself in local traditions and customs
• Music and Dance Festivals: Groove to the rhythms of Zimbabwe
  Top Tourist Attractions in Masvingo:
• Great Zimbabwe Monuments_: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Lake Mutirikwi_: A serene and picturesque destination
• Tugwi Mukosi Dam_: A popular spot for water sports
• Kyle Recreational Park_: Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts
• Gonarezhou National Park_: Home to diverse wildlife
• Mushandike Game Park_: Get up close with Zimbabwe’s incredible wildlife
  This year’s festival aims to attract over 8,000 tourists, creating opportunities for local businesses, including hotels, lodges, car hire companies, tour operators, and more
• The festival through its various projects and activities raises funds for charity. The
  month of October is Cancer Awareness month, that aims to spread CANCER awareness and to raise resources and support for people affected by cancer.
• The festival begins with Masvingo Golf Club hosting the annual Lake October golf day
  on Friday 11 October 2024. The opening night of the music festival dubbed ‘ Fill up Masvingo’ will be held on Friday 11 October 2024. The music concert will
  be headlined by live performances by Zimbabwe’s top male
  and female artistes and the line up is as follows
  Freeman
  Chillspot Family
  Trevor Dongo
  Nisha Ts
  Dj Nospa
  Black Pepper
  Mc Kauleza
  plus surprise Guest artiste
• On Saturday 12 October the festival shifts to the Great Zimbabwe Monuments, Lake
  Mutirikwi, and surrounding tourist attractions for a full day of fun and tourism
  activities that Masvingo has to offer. Activities include but not limited to tours of the
  Great Zimbabwe Monuments, Lion encounter, game-drives, fun shooting, Quad
  biking, boat cruises, Ziplines, fishing, nature walks, beach sports and bush parties. In
  the evening Zimbabwe’s top artistes, will headline the closing night of the music
  festival is also dubbed ‘fill up Masvingo’ and will be headlined by
  Winky D
  Gemma
  Hwindi Presidente
  Mbeu
  Mr Candy
  DJ Crazy DEE
  Miss Candice
  MC Kauleza
• The festival uses arts and sport in the form of musical concerts, golf day,
  cultural tourism to generate revenue and exposure for Great Zimbabwe Monuments
  and indeed Masvingo Province as a prime tourist destination in Zimbabwe.
• The project is born out of the desire to market and promote tourism to Masvingo and
  to re-position Masvingo as a prime tourist destination of choice.

Benefits of the Festival

• The event will expose Zimbabwean arts and tourism to a wider national and
  international audience.
• With thousands of people converging in Masvingo, at Great Zimbabwe Monuments
  and at the Lakeshore at Lake Mutirikwi, the event provides enormous business
  opportunities for tourism establishments and the retail industry to generate business
  by reaching out to existing and new customers, promote their brands and make
  fantastic sales.
• Local businesses will generate sales worth over USD1 Million United states dollars
  during the festival period. This will positively impact on the growth of the provincial
  economy.
• Urban businesses and rural communities will benefit from downstream business
  generated from the influx of tourists to the event.
• The event will create temporary employment for rural communities that live near the
  Lake Mutirikwi and Great Zimbabwe Monuments, before, during and after the event.
  Local rural communities will also benefit from vending during the event.
• Hotel and Lodges will benefit by supplying accommodation and meals. Local tour
  operators will benefit by supply touring services to tourists.
• The project is set to revive tourism in Masvingo.