Meet Your Guide - Gilbert Kang’ombe

Andrew Muswala talks with Gilbert Kang’ombe

one of the top safari guides in Kafue National Park

Gilbert on a walking safari (opposite: same)

1) What is your full name and when did you join Mukambi Safari Lodge? My full name is Gilbert Kang’ombe and I joined Mukambi Safari Lodge in 2004.

2) Tell us briefly about your background? I was brought up in the village in a place called T.B.Z (Tobacco Board of Zambia) in Nkeyama district and I did my junior secondary at Nkeyama Secondary School. Due to lack of financial resources I did not continue with my education, I joined Phoenix Construction and worked as an operator of the bitumen spraying. In the year 2002, I joined Chilongozi Safaris in Kafue National park. I started as a general worker and was later moved to housekeeping. In 2001 I became a waiter at one of Chilongozi Safari Camps called Ntemwa Tented Lodge. I worked with them for close to three years.

3) How did you start working for Mukambi Safari Lodge? After Chilongozi Safaris closed, I went back to the village. The head waiter from Mukambi Safari Lodge told me that they were looking for waiters and that’s how I joined as a waiter. A year later I was trained as a Chef by Tony from the Netherlands. I then became a chef for one of Mukambi Safaris Camps called Busanga Plains Camp.

4) How did you become a safari guide and what are your qualifications? Mukambi Safari Lodge was growing and there was a need for more guides. I was asked whether I wanted to be a guide or remain a chef and I chose to be a guide because of the passion I have for it. I did a guiding course but did not pass the exams. The following year I had to rewrite the exams and I got the highest marks. In 2014 I sat for my grade 2 guiding exams (for driving) and was among the five students with the best marks. In 2015 I wrote my grade 1 exams (for walking) and also wrote the boat and fishing guide exams, of which I got the best marks in both exams.

5) What’s been your biggest achievement? Firstly I have learnt a lot about conservation. I have also managed to build my own house and bought two cars.

6) Is your work ever dangerous? Since we are close to the animals, dangers are always there. But we understand the nature of these animals and are able to read them and know how to handle them.

7) How long have you been working at Mukambi Safari Lodge? I’ve been working for Mukambi Safaris for close to twelve years now.

8) What does your work involve? Firstly, I am the head guide and I look after the other guides, prepare the guiding schedule and also make sure that the security guards are present.

9) Where else would you like to work in the world? It has never occurred to me to work anywhere apart from here in Zambia and in the Kafue National Park!

10) In one sentence, how would you describe Kafue National Park? It’s a fabulous park, vast with so many spices of mammals and birds - a park with all the big cats: lion, leopard and cheetah. TL Z