The American billionaire, ranked among USA’s top 100 richest people with a US$4,3 billion bounty to his name, Paul Tudor Jones II touched down at the Buffalo Ranch Airport in Chiredzi last Thursday morning and is expected to be in the Lowveld for several days on holiday.
He brought with him a 30-member entourage that includes members of his family, his IT specialist, doctors, assistants and sports coaches for his children, the local Mirror reports.
Journalists acting on a tip off managed to see the arrival at Buffalo Ranch Airport of Jones who has an estimated US$4,3 billion fortune. He and his family arrived aboard a private jet which sources said had flown direct from the United States of America.
The rest of the entourage came in two other planes that were said to have flown from South Africa.
Jones was received at the airport by Malilangwe Conservancy Trust chief executive officer Mark Saunders and left soon afterwards for Malilangwe by road in Saunders’s Toyota Fortuner.
Other members of the entourage left in their planes.
Efforts to get a comment from Jones were fruitless as The Mirror reporter was not allowed to get anywhere near him.
The choice of Zimbabwe by such an esteemed businessman as a holiday destination is testimony that Zimbabwe has some of the World’s most attractive resorts. It also puts paid attacks in some countries against Zimbabwe as an unsafe tourist destination.
Jones who is on number 108 on the USA richest persons list and number 345 on the World list according to Forbes Magazine is believed to be the principal donor of Malilangwe Game Reserve. He is the founder of Tudor Investment Corporation, a private asset management company and hedge fund.
Although his itinerary could not be obtained sources said Jones comes to Malilangwe Trust annually and on all those occasions he stays for more than ten days. Sources revealed that Mr. Jones and his family are staying at top class Singita Pamushana Lodge where a five-bedroom luxury private retreat costs over $5000 per night per guest.
Jones also founded the Robin Hood Foundation.
In 2011, Colombian singer Shakira made a surprise visit to Malilangwe. In 2012
Bill Gates also visited the reserve while many renowned people are also understood to have enjoyed the comfort of the game reserve.
The reserve which is on 130, 000 acres is home to picturesque scenery that includes wildlife, rock paintings, lush forests and sandstone outcrops.