Five Mintues with Ntimba Zulu

Where did you grow up? On the Copperbelt in a town called Chambeshi. My father used to work for the mines.

What first brought you to Mfuwe? After my father retired we came to Mambwe, that’s where I did my secondary school and completed Mambwe High School.

When did you join Mfuwe lodge? I joined Mfuwe lodge in the year 2000 and I worked as a laundry attendant and housekeeper in 2001. I later moved to the stores department in 2003. Mfuwe lodge sponsored me to study purchasing and supplies and I did a diploma in storage management. I was then appointed to store manager/procurement. They then sponsored me again to study business administration and I obtained a degree from the Univer sity of Wales.

What does an average day involve? Coordinating the staff, checking who is doing pick-ups and drop offs, and making sure guides are assigned. Welcoming guests and making sure their stay is memorable.

How do you see the future of Zambia’s tourism? The tourism sector has huge potential and we can do much better. We are not impacting anything on the environment but preserving it. All we need is more advertisement and government support in selling Zambia to the rest of the world. Most of the people do not even know where Zambia is.

Why do Zambians need to know about their tourism products? First we Zambians have to explore and see what we have. We have to start appreciating it and valuing it by getting more involved. Tourism will not be developed by outsiders but by us Zambians.

Anke and Ron Cowan, owners of Kafunta Safaris, built Kafunta River Lodge in 1997 on the floodplains of the Luangwa River, south of Mfuwe. The view from the lodge and the chalets is one of the best in the whole of South Luangwa, with elephants, giraffes, puku and hippos constantly roaming around the wet plains.

A few years later, Anke and Ron built Island Bush Camp further south in the national park. It is an authentic seasonal bush camp with open-sided chalets directly on the banks of the Luangwa River, offering uninterrupted views of the river and the abundant wildlife. Combining both camps is the best way to truly experience the spirit of South Luangwa, and soon a third sophisticated yet earthy tented camp will join this well established portfolio.

My husband-to-be Ron and I travelled overland from Europe through Africa and visited many countries. In Malawi we were offered work as tour guides and we used to take groups to South Luangwa. We fell in love with this magic place and in 1993 had the opportunity to move here and build a camp. We became shareholders and the company grew from there. We love the adventurous lifestyle and the Luangwa Valley has been our home ever since.

It is not easy to think of one occasion as there are so many over the years and it feels like every day is a new adventure. Living in a wilderness area is what makes it so special and I would say the encounters with the wildlife are the most memorable. The event that stands out was the day I went jogging and a baby giraffe joined me and ran along-side me!

Having spent over two decades in the Luangwa Valley, this is certainly the most remarkable place for me. It is not only the vast wilderness, natural beauty and abundance of wildlife that makes it so special, but also the local communities that add to the magic of the place. We are proud of the contribution our company has provided over the years and our team of staff has become like family to us.

Name: Anke Cowan

Position: Director

Company Name: Kafunta Safaris - Kafunta River Lodge, Island Bush Camp and in 2017 Three Rivers Camp, South Luangwa National Park

Country: Zambia