Mfuwe Village: A Volunteer’s Perspective

Mfuwe village, South Luangwa, seems to be a wonderfully chaotic place to live. Driving along the main road through the village you see a whole host of life. Groups of huts cluster by the roadside and women are seen transporting goods on their heads, babies slung across their backs. Everything is buzzing with constant life. Children run behind the vehicles chasing and waving. Men sit around gesticulating or dancing to the music pouring out of the make-shift shops. Families are seen cooking on stoves, while the smells of burning wood and oil waft through the town. In the centre of the village, stalls line the road selling fruit, vegetables and fabric. This market is constantly filled with gossiping ladies and the fabric injects vibrant colours into the otherwise sandy landscape. Colourful shops are found set back on the road which range from hardware to fashion. There are a couple of tourist shops which sell beautiful handmade skirts, keyrings and jewellery. I always loved driving into the village to pick up the camp’s staff or to buy supplies. You have to be careAuthor: Flora Strachan Photos: Flora Strachan

ful, of course, making sure to avoid all of the bicycles, goats, dogs and the wandering elephants which all assemble on the narrow and bumpy roads. It was always my favourite part of the day, watching life play out and soaking up the infectious atmosphere. This simplicity also sees hints of modernity with the village having many crucial and excellent facilities. The village has a filling station, police station and clinic. Not to mention the famous Mayana: a modern and fully stocked supermarket selling everything anyone could ever need. Not to mention many guilty pleasures - with much of the produce South African - we gorged on Simba crisps and biltong for the three months I was there. On the most part in this village, the residents want for nothing and always greet you with a wide smile, the latter certainly making a difference coming from the streets of the UK. When your car breaks down, a big group of men will happily stop what they are doing and help you jump-start the engine. Everyone in the village is interested and everyone is friendly. The village is perfect and has everything you really need, yet still retains its charm. When driving away from Mfuwe to the airport for the very last time, road markings and lines were encroaching ever closer to the village. I fear this is a sign of the times with modernity and uniformity creeping in. But for now, Mfuwe village is a rare and special place left in our world that remains unchanged and exquisite, despite the world that lies outside. It remains happy and the most wonderful place I have ever had the pleasure to visit. TL Z