Safari operator gets platinum award

TATENDA Safaris is firmly consolidating its position in the tourism industry as one of the country’s fastest growing businesses by registering its footprint in different sectors of the economy.

The company which is headquartered in Victoria Falls and has branches in Harare and Bulawayo, saw one of the directors – Mr Tafadzwa Gunda being christened Platinum winner – male entrepreneur of the year during the recently held MegaFest National Business Awards ceremony that were held virtually, due to Covid – 19 restrictions.

The company has since establishment managed to transform Vic Falls through employment creation and service provision. Mr Gunda who added icing to the company profile by scooping an award said he was delighted to see that the company’s efforts were not going unnoticed.

“It’s been 18 years since I was introduced to this industry. Tatenda Safaris is a family business founded by my late father Brigadier General Paul Armstrong Gunda and my mother Rangarirai Tatenda Gunda. It is then directed by my younger brother Tawanda and myself. Our head office is in Victoria Falls but we have managed to expand and we have allowed growth to take its course, I head the Bulawayo branch and my young brother takes the Harare branch,” said Mr Gunda.

Mr Gunda said the part of the company’s interests, which is transport played a major role in developing the economy.

“Business has its ups and downs like any other business out there, with transport one will never go wrong as it is a necessity for people to move from point A to point B. Tourism has its seasons, but like I said just like any other business it has its own challenges as well. With all that being said am proud of myself because when I came to Bulawayo Tatenda Safaris was not popular. I managed to penetrate and make a name for the company and myself. It has not been an easy road I had so many challenges but I managed to overcome them. I have managed to learn and grow,” said Mr Gunda.

He said he felt Tatenda Safaris could make a great name, after taking the reins from his late father.

“It was when my father passed away in 2007 that I decided to take the reins and try to help my mother in every way I could because by then she had so much grief and anger. When my father passed away we were into tourism only. We then sat down as a family and decided to expand the business. I came to Bulawayo to introduce the transport side of the company and that was when we bought our first bus in 2014, which was for private hire only. It was a good decision, as we realised profits and managed to acquire more buses and cars for private hire. To date we own a large fleet of vehicles that service the country,” said Mr Gunda.

He said Tatenda Safaris had since establishing a branch in Bulawayo managed to service various schools.-sundaynews