SLNP - A Volunteer’s Perspective

SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK A VOLUNTEER’S PERSPECTIVE

By: Flora Strachan Photos: Flora Strachan

I have the fondest memories of South Luangwa National Park and the wildlife that surrounded Croc Valley Camp. I was lucky whilst in Zambia (when? Should enter date here for reference) to see some amazing wildlife and so many new, exotic animals. I’ve heard South Luangwa National Park referred to as Africa’s last great wilderness and in my experience, I cannot claim anything different. Mountains and acacia trees mark out the horizon of the park, whilst in the forefront, the glistening Luangwa River stands out as the only colour against the sandy landscape. There are no fences in the park, leaving the Luangwa Valley unspoilt and untouched.

The abundance of animals and wild species is staggering. The leopard population is vast and South Luangwa is said to be the best national park in Africa in which to see them. It was not uncommon for our guests to come away having seen more leopards than giraffes! To my amazement, I had three separate wild dog sightings and witnessed a large pack with pups playing and hunting. I never found the park too touristy; it was not uncommon to have a sighting all to myself. The park is not excessively built up either. You can think you are in the middle of nowhere, when unexpectedly you happen across a safari lodge. Their manicured lawns, spacious verandas, and private chalets speak out against the natural landscape, but not in an obtrusive way. I found that the balance of the natural park and the tourist accommodations ran in perfect equilib- rium with neither one overruling the other.

I will never forget my first morning in Africa. Driving to the village for the very first time, I rounded a corner and suddenly saw a giraffe standing serenely under a tree— tall and graceful eating from the branches. Nor will I forget the complete excitement and breath-taking moments of the game drives: the smells of rotting flesh alerting the senses to the possible chance of viewing a recent kill, the heart-quickening moment when a lioness sinks her teeth into a scampering zebra or antelope. Thrill over and continuing through the park, you can often spot a movement in the shadows or a flutter in a tree. Eyes peeled, the viewers of this strange animal kingdom sit quietly in a dusty vehicle—alert and watching out for something spectacular. I loved being in the park and experiencing this thrill, but I also loved the complete contrast and slow pace of the wildlife—the trudge of elephants and the lolloping gallop of the giraffes. I found the different species of birds fascinating: the soaring fish eagles overhead, groups of carmine bee-eaters fluttering around on their branches, and the beauty of the lilac-breasted rollers.

All in all, South Luangwa is without a doubt the most beautiful place I have had the fortune to visit; the place has a way of getting under your skin. It is breath-taking, it is natural and it issoothing. I will always picture a dusty oasis filled with herds of buffalo and trotting warthogs and the red sun setting over the river turning the park to purple.

The Luangwa Valley has long-faced the huge challenge of finding access to clean and safe drinking water. But recently, the BushCamp Company has put smiles on the faces of the people in the region by sinking boreholes in various communities in Mfuwe. From the time the project started in 2013, a total of thirty-two boreholes have been sunk and more are being sunk this year. This has provided families and children with convenient access to clean and safe water very close to their homes. One community which has benefited from this project is the Muzenje Community. The borehole in this community was sunk in November 2015 and before this, people of the community used to walk about 20km to the nearest school to fetch clean water. Anna Sakala, who has been living in this community for more than thirty years, had this to say about the Bush Camp’s efforts: “Thank you to the BushCamp Company for bringing clean and safe drinking water to our door steps. This has made it easier for us to prepare food on time and also to wash clothes.”

Mkasanga School

Remote Africa Safaris in South Luangwa National Park helps support education in the local community of Chinyanta village. They support the local school Mkasanga primary by donating books and stationary to pupils termly and the total number of stationary donated depends on the number of learners enrolled per term. Each pupil from grade one to four receives seven A5 40 pages books and two pencils, those from grade five to seven receive seven A4 40 pages books each, two pens and two pencils. Grade eights and nines receive A4 80 pages books each, two pens and two pencils. This has greatly assisted the community in that most parents in the village are unable to buy books for their children. The school has also benefited as they no longer experience situations where learners do not write in class because of not having books, pencils and pens.

For a number of years now, the BushCamp Company has been working closely with local communities in Mfuwe to help improve children’s education. Currently, they are sponsoring a total of 105 pupils at the Mfuwe

Secondary School.

Dennis Tembo and Agness Banda are two of the beneficiaries of the educational support and they spoke to Travel and Leisure Zambia.

Dennis Tembo

Dennis began to receive assistance in grade 11, when his parents could not manage to pay his school fees. Now in grade 12, he can concentrate on the long hours of study that his boarding school requires. His academic performance in class has improved as a result of this support.

Agness Banda

Agness has received sponsorship from the BushCamp Company since eighth grade. School fees, uniforms, books, and money to buy groceries are all taken care of in the sponsorship and this has enabled her to achieve her dream of getting an education.

Mukambi Safaris offers three magnificent camps in

Kafue National Park, one of the largest areas of unspoiled wilderness.

Each camp has its own character and style in different areas of Kafue National Park, making them completely....unique by nature. We offer attractive packages where you can visit all of our three camps.

Mukambi Safari Lodge

Mukambi Safari Lodge is overlooking the Kafue River and is the gateway to Kafue National Park.

Fig Tree Bush Camp

This camp lies in an undiscovered part of the park on a Shishamba River lagoon. The only camp in a range of 30 km - it offers a unique out-of-Africa atmosphere.

Mukambi Plains Camp

Mukambi Plains Camp has 8 beds available in a classic bush camp on the famous Busanga Plains.