Safari Magazine Edition 32 Zambia Insert

Back at the start of the summer, the ZMG – Zambia Marketing Group – launched an initiative to help increase tourism to the country from the UK. In recent times, Zambia simply hasn’t grabbed enough of the headlines that its authentic safari credentials so richly deserve.

We want to see more Zambia in the media and have launched an intiative to make sure that happens. More than 20 major players in Zambia’s tourism industry are backing the idea See www.zambiatourism.co.uk for full details.

UK Media Takes a Walking Safari

To set things rolling, five award-winning UK journalists and two leading magazine editors joined the Kamageo PR team to experience zebras, lions, elephants, giraffes and leopards on a Zambia-like walking safari in the heart of London. Suitably kitted out in Zambia safari gear, our intrepid group walked on the world’s most photographed zebra (crossing) in Abbey Road; encountered a pride of lion (statues) in Trafalgar Square; sampled Elephant beer; dined at the Giraffe Restaurant and sipped Zambezi cocktails at the Leopard Bar. Due to the inclement weather, the journalists even experienced the spray from Victoria Falls (well, Victoria Embankment) and knew how the Emerald Season feels as the sun broke through to shine after the rains. Adele Cutler, Kamageo’s PR Director added “As a result, all of theparticipants have committed to visiting Zambia within the next few months, so that will produce all-important editorial”.

As Nick Aslin, MD of Zambian Ground Handlers said “We want to increase visitors to our country, so we’ve set aside our individual interests for the benefit of Zambian tourism as a whole”.

Media Sponsorships and& Mareting Ideas &

You can take advantage of this campaign too. Why not sponsor one of our many planned media trips (in exchange for editorial credits)? Plus we’re open to marketing suggestions of all types, but please do recognise we have a small budget.

This is about working smart, not spending big! For more information on the ZMG, please contact Tim Henshall via tim@kamageo.com

Bradt Guide to Zambia, Limited edition

Keep an eye on your mailbox in November when we will be distributing copies of the excellent Bradt Guide to Zambia. Our limited edition features a 32-page colour section highlighting all the various members of the ZMG.

Press Ad Campaign

We launched a modest print ad campaign for Zambia, appearing in travel related titles including Travel Afric, National Geographer Traveller as well as the Guardian’s Travel Guide supplement 25

EN ThrAlling three river s This season, Kafunta Safaris added a new bush camp to its portfolio – Three Rivers Camp.

As the name suggests, it is located at the confluence of the Luangwa, Luzangazi and Kapamba Rivers. The new location is about 2 hours south of Kafunta River Lodge, about 7 km upriver from Island Bush Camp. The area features open lagoons and is teeming with wildlife including big herds of elephant and buffalo, giraffe, antelope and plenty of predators.

Three Rivers and Island Bushcamp are the only safari operations in the area so you can be assured of a real private safari in a pristine area of the Luangwa Valley. This seasonal camp offers both game drives and bush walks. It’s also possible to walk from Three Rivers to Island, or vice versa. A combination with Kafunta River Lodge is always recommended to maximise game viewing.

The camp has 5 large tents on a raised platform, stylishly decorated with natural hues and material. The bedroom is very spacious with twin beds, and a sitting area, large gauze windows overlooking either the Luangwa River or the lagoon.

The en-suite bathroom includes 2 sinks, a flushing toilet and offers the choice of both indoor and outdoor shower.

Each tent has its own outdoor verandah, but most importantly its own connected and raised platform with day beds which will be turned down at night to offer the opportunity to sleep under the stars under the protection of a mosquito net.

For more information, please contact Sasha Brunt at sasha@kamilisafaris.com or visit www.luangwa.com 26

Three Rivers and Island Bush Camps are the only safari operations in the area so you can be assured of a real private safari in a pristine area of the Luangwa Valley.

27

PLAY hid e and peek w i t h sh enton s Shenton Safaris’ Kaingo Lodge in South Luangwa has long been a favourite amongst discerning UK operators, but its newly upgraded rooms – which opened for the 2017 season – have attracted an even greater number of admirers.

As the season has progressed, they have also opened each of their legendary wildlife hides (giving amazing close up photo opportunities in the static hippo and elephant hides, as well as the floating Carmine Bee-eater hide).

And for those amongst us who simply can’t go a day without getting our “safari fix”, Shenton Safaris provides Zambia’s first live streaming webcam! They have two set up, one at their hippo hide and one situated in camp, which is proving extremely lively.

Take a look for yourself at www.zambiatourism.co.uk/news.

You can also view the time lapse to see what’s happened in the last 24 hours in just a couple of minutes!

28

T he leopard mag net Being a stand-out guide in South Luangwa is really very difficult, because the standard is just so high. But Godfrey from Thornicroft Lodge really does.

He’s somewhat unique in a couple of ways – firstly, as well as being head guide at the lodge, he also part owns it – making him the only black Zambia to be the owner of an international standard property in the Valley.

Secondly, we’ve never met anyone with quite the same ability to find the usually elusive leopards in the daytime. We christened him “The Leopard Magnet” as during our last visit to his lodge, we were treated to at least three different sightings on each game drive. What was also notable was Godfrey’s keenness to share his spotting techniques. We repeatedly strained ears to listen for bird and monkey signals to create metaphorical guidelines to chart the leopard’s position. Time after time, Godfrey would stop to locate another of these most stunning of felines. He’s charming, charismatic and full of personality.

Godfrey is one of the directors at Thornicroft, which opened in 2010 in the Mfuwe sector near the park entrance. It’s a pretty little 3* camp, more basic than some of its illustrious neighbours, but it’s comfortable, presentable and very homely. We’d recommend Thornicroft as a good option for more budget orientated clients whose priorities are enjoying great game and sharing Godfrey’s fabulous tales of the bush!

For racks under $200, see www.thornicroft-lodge.com 29

C ons ervat ion s o u t h luan gwa Rachael McRobb’s Tusk Award-winning work with Conservation South Luangwa (CSL) strives to ensure South Luangwa is securely protected with sustainable levels of wildlife and intact habitat under the custodianship of Zambian people. CSL supports 65 community based scouts to help ZAWA protect the flora and fauna of the Luangwa Valley, whilst detection dogs (some very newly arrived) are increasingly being used to reduce wildlife trafficking by detecting wildlife contraband.

Human populations have more than doubled over the past twenty years and as a result, there is a high demand for bush meat as well as opportunistic and planned commercial hunting forays. Snaring is easy, generates high returns and presents a very low risk to the poacher. Special attention needs to be given to anti-snaring patrols in South Luangwa as the park and surrounding areas face rapid encroachment from human settlement and agriculture.

CSL has set up a specialised wild dog and lion anti-snaring team who use GPS locations provided by the Zambia Carnivore Program to determine where best to deploy effective anti-snaring patrols. In addition, all CSL supported scouts conduct regular anti-snaring patrols throughout the GMA.

If scouts or safari guides see an animal with a snare attached it is immediately reported to CSL and they mobilise the wildlife veterinary unit. In this way hundreds of snared animals have been rescued and have fully recovered. Over 10,000 snares have been removed from the bush by CSL supported scouts and more than 160 elephants, 25 lions, 20 hyenas have been treated for snare wounds since 2005.

In partnership with Working Dogs for Conservation, CSL introduced Zambia’s first ever wildlife detection dog unit in South Luangwa. These highly trained and specialised dogs were imported from the USA and now reside in Mfuwe. Six scouts were handpicked for their enthusiasm and rapport with dogs and undertook an intense four months training course in dog handling. See www.cslzambia.org 30

Going t h e e xt ra m i le wit h r e m ote a f r i ca s a fa r i s

Sat in front of a campfire clinking your icecold G&T, before tucking into your sumptuous 4-course dinner, how often do you consider the work that’s gone into making it all happen?

Zambia is rightly famed for some of its amazing bush camps, often built afresh each year. Locations are often remote and access can be difficult, especially out of season.

So around the start of April each year, the various construction teams head out into the wilderness to re-create their safari wonderlands. But due to their locations, getting the materials into camp can be far more complicated than it might at first appear. Roads may still be impassable, rivers too high and as for airstrips…well they’re rare indeed.

Take Remote Africa’s Chikoko Trails camps, where the nearest road is 10km away. How exactly does the fridge, the sofa, the huge tables and stylish bathroom suites make it into camp each year? They’re manually carried, of course. Every step of the way.

So spare an extra thought for the dedication and damn hard work done by the staff of these bush camps to deliver those memorable and often luxurious moments in the bush. I’ll certainly raise my glass to that.

31

all to you r se lf One of the most exciting trends in Zambia has been the emergence of private safari houses – stylish properties offering high-end accommodation for parties of 2-10 from honeymooners, to families (including ‘multi-generational’) or small groups of friends - but all booked on an exclusive basis.

Dotted in various locations across Zambia, these outstanding properties offer a new dimension in luxury travel. Come and explore…

The Crocodile Nest, part of Flatdogs Camp in South Luangwa National Park

Jackalberry Treehouse, part of Flatdogs Camp in South Luangwa National Park

River Farmhouse, Livingstone

32

The mystery of KaingU’s Meyer’s parrots Over the last few years, KaingU has been observing a rather interesting phenomena; groups of Meyer’s parrots gathering at a mud pool opposite their lodge in Kafue National Park.

At first it was assumed that the birds were consuming the vegetation in the muddy water but to their surprise, it was found that they were consuming the mud itself.

This unique spectacle has proved to be something of a mystery - even to the experts at the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town. KaingU has witnessed flocks of over one hundred birds gathering at sunrise to eat the mud. This behaviour has only bpreviously been observed efore been adopted amongst parrots in the Amazon, due to the soil containing sodium, (salt), So for this to be identified in Africa is rather special. It could be that this soil also contains sodium, or it could be that the clay soil allows the parrots to ingest fruits containing alkaloids that would otherwise be toxic to them; however the element of mystery is drawing in numerous visitors and birding enthusiasts.

KaingU has since opened a ”rough and ready temporary hide” for visitors to observe and photograph this unique sight for themselves, which takes place every morning without fail.

For more information on KaingU Safari Lodge, please visit www.zambiatourism.co.uk 33

DRIF T over THE kafue

Ballooning over the remote plains of the Kafue can be very special - not only are you the only balloon in the air, but the only vehicle you will see below is your ground crew heading to meet you with a glass of bubbly, as you gently land.

The plains of Kafue are vast, dotted with thick foliage allowing the pilot to rise and descend at any time, granting a stunning 360 view of the surrounding area, as well as flitting inches above trees and skimming the last remaining pools of water.

One moment you are hundreds of feet up where everything looks tiny, the next you are almost eye level with a pod of hippos.

open plains to the water pools. Lion are common on morning flights as they bask in the early morning sun to warm up after a cool evening. Jackal, hyena and oribi are seen in the taller grasses and even mongoose and serval have been sighted regularly.

Just you, the balloon and 22,400 km² of game-rich but unexplored National Park all to yourself. For more info see www.wilderness-safaris.com/countries/zambia

The serenity experienced whilst flying over one of Africa’s most remote wilderness areas is unparalleled. As there are no other balloons when you fly – it’s just the balloon and endless views as the sun starts to rise.

Keep a close eye when passing nearby bushes, as zebra, wildebeest, sable and roan are a little shyer as they cross the 34

Chiawa’s Safari Suite : Just in time They had wonderful plans for a stunning new flagship suite at Chiawa...but would it be ready?

The construction team was on site and all the building materials were to hand. They even had a booking – a honeymoon couple who’d changed their travel dates especially to be the first guests after the launch of the room. Whilst initial plans went ‘swimmingly’, that description became all too accurate as heavy rainfall made the construction work hugely difficult to complete. With more normal seasonal weather coming just in time, the Chiawa team were able to catch up, but with those all important final touches needed, the room’s nearest neighbours decided to spent the vast majority of their stay either in their room or on the verandah making (noisy) work all but impossible.

But never fear, the Chiawa team all joined in to work around the clock to ensure its newest accommodation looked simply stunning ahead of the newly-weds’ arrival. Grant Cummings, Chiawa’s relieved owner is rightly proud of the finished room and of his team’s efforts, too.

35

from

The Bushcamp Company

Thirty-six distinct sounds from Vervet monkeys have been identified, including several different alarm calls that identify the type of predator

The average size of tusks has decreased over the past hundred years? Hunting elephants for their ivory has resutled in the b‘ ig tusk gene’ becoming increasingly rare

Check out the fantastic The Bushcamp Company App, Did you know... African Wildlife’

36

Ex pe r ience T rue Za mb ia In March, Tukongote Community School opened its doors to three classes of children in a ceremony attended by around 500 villagers who had walked miles for the occasion.

A few years back, WATERBERRY ZAMBEZI LODGE’s staff suggested that as guests had been asking about life in Zambia, why not offer a village walk to visit their homes and families?

Built on land that the village headman allowed Tukongote to buy in order to protect its status, this school will continue to develop with classrooms added year by year. Older children will be helped by the skills centre to go on to work in trades including building, which is invaluable in this community.

Now the walk is a key activity for guests wanting to see the reality of rural Zambian life. No one comes back unmoved by the contrast between their own home and village life in the riverside communities. Chicken huts are high off the ground to avoid snakes, someone keeps an eye out for crocodiles whilst others do the laundry in the river. Mealie is stored in raised barns to protect it from hungry predators, the headman smelts iron to make axes in exactly the same way as it has been done for hundreds of years, and someone always has to be watching the crops, otherwise the monkeys, birds and elephants would take their share.

Waterberry also has encourage volunteers to come to help in landscaping, farming and general education. All this has been made possible by generous donors, and the astonishing kindness of guests who are prepared to carry enormous quantities of school materials in their limited suitcase space, who give donations, who sponsor children and who encourage them daily with messages, money and goodwill.

The modest fees charged for the walks are shared between the villagers, whilst back at the lodge, the shop sells local gift items made in the local communities too. All profits and guest contributions go towards our community programmes, the most important of which is education.

Waterberry is proud to be able to showcase its contribution towards ‘giving back’ to the community through their various programmes.

Waterberry supports four preschools - three in the riverside communities and one further north closer to the main road.

All the schools were set up at the request of the community or, in one case, by a teacher who retired to her home village and saw the need to educate the rural youngsters. All are staffed by enthusiastic and committed local men and women.

Waterberry pays the teachers’ salaries, sends them to teacher training college in the holidays, and works with them daily to improve their skills. They have just introduced a food programme into the schools, which further encourages attendance - which was pleasingly already high because of the children’s own enthusiasm for learning.

37

Ren ovati ons we ll un de rway at lion ca mp

Lion Camp, one of the oldest camps in Zambia’s renowned South Luangwa National Park, is currently undergoing a big renovation.

The team in camp have been working hard to create a more sustainable and lighter camp, enhancing the exceptional views of the Luangwa Wafwa. The structures of the new shaped guest rooms are now in place. In the main area of the camp the thatching is complete and the steelwork for the new extended lower deck has now been installed. The rhinoboard decking timber has also arrived; this timber being one of the most sustainable natural wood building materials available.

The decking will cover the main area and boardwalk and will be used in the rooms. It is durable, beautiful and sustainable.

The renovation is going to schedule, the camp is starting to take shape and everyone from the Lion Camp team including the waiters, drivers and barmen have all played their part!

The camp is due to open in May 2018.

To keep up to date on the renovation visit www. zambiatourism.co.uk and be sure to check out Lion Camp’s new website where they too are posting updates.

38