Africa – Chanters Lodge Livingstone

Kariba Bush Club

Overnight we were lucky to have as Guests at Chanters Lodge, Livingstone, Carmen and Geoff Greenwood and their two children. Carmen and Geoff have connections with Kariba Bush Club . The Club is managed by Peter Nel an old friend of ours and his dad Brian is one of our fish suppliers too! Bream Fillets asap please!

“Established in 2003 originally as a back-packer’s lodge and guesthouse able to accommodate 32 guests, Kariba Bush Club has grown extensively over the years with the addition of another guesthouse, four luxury chalets and two houseboats, now being able to accommodate a maximum of 76 guests excluding the campsite.

The lodge has something to offer everyone – whether on a tight budget or not. And of course there are the many activities for all to enjoy, as well as various facilities that the lodge has to offer guests. These facilities include a swimming pool, volleyball court, bar, restaurant and much more. Wildlife to be seen around the lodge includes bushbuck, puku, impala, duiker, zebra, bush-pig, warthog, ostrich and the ever-so-inquisitive monkeys, to name some. Baobab and Marula are both unique in their own way, but both are fully furnished and self-contained, offering a perfect retreat for groups of families or friends.

Baobab House (check the photo) is a double-storey thatched cottage built atop a ridge alongside a massive Baobab Tree. This house sleeps 6 people, is equipped with DSTV and offers private parking. It has shown to be a favourite amongst guests, with its large verandah elegantly wrapping around the front of the house, showing off the spectacular views of Lake Kariba that this house has to offer. Facing west, it is perfectly situated allowing guests to watch the infamous sunsets over Kariba without having to move further than the verandah. It is also ideally located in the sense that it is a mere 100m walk from the main lodge swimming pool yet still tucked away in its own corner, maintaining that true feeling of tranquility and privacy.”

That’s the blurb. I’ve never been there but it sounds stunning. How do you get there? Ah! Going from Livingstone turn right at Batoka and it’s about 200kms I was told! I also notice there’s no map on either the brochure or the website! Lol! I’ll find out sometime and let you know!

10
JUL

accommodation, Africa, guests, innovation, Lake Kariba, management, wildlife, Zambia

Bring On The Brass Band!

I liked this piece from Joanne Noble who blogs from Sun International. It’s true the brassband still does it’s thing! In my experience sometimes more tunefully than at others! The fete she mentioned at Mukuni Park on Monday was a huge success and Henry and Grace had a great time there! Here’s Joanne’s piece.

“I am sure that when you think of African music, you will think of the African drum and possibly the marimba, like a xylophone. It may surprise you then to know that one of the favorite bands in Livingstone is a brass band. When Zambia was Northern Rhodesia they did not have an army; they had a police force. It was known as the Barotse Native Police. The rank and file of the police were men from the Lozi tribe and the officers were expatriates who had come to Zambia to work.

As soon as the police force was formed the officers thought that it would be a great idea to have a brass band; they decided to find out if their men could learn to play. So they brought in trumpets and tubas, drums and trombones and they gave them to their men. The constables could neither read nor write and certainly did not have a clue about crochets and quavers. This did not matter, though. Within a short time they learned to play their strange instruments and the Barotse Police Band was formed. Every Thursday evening the band played in the center of town in Barotse Gardens for the entertainment of the townsfolk. It was thought to be one of the best bands in the whole of southern Africa.

The other day as I was going through town I found the army brass band marching towards the Barotse Gardens, now known as Mukuni Park. The members of the Catholic Church were holding a fete in Mukuni Park and the army band had come to join in the fun and to make it more festive. The people in town all stood to watch as the band marched past and the children jumped up and down, they were so excited.

As I watched them go by I thought of those days now a hundred years ago. Things were so different then, so much has changed. Northern Rhodesia is now Zambia; the bandsmen wear long trousers and a cap instead of shorts and a fez. But some things have not changed. We still have a brilliant brass band in Livingstone and they continue to play for the enjoyment of us all.”

(The band often accompanies fund raising causes on the main road at weekends causing traffic hold ups, and that brings no enjoyment at all! – R)

9
JUL

activities, Africa, livingstone, music, Zambia

Julie Sanger on 107.7 fm

Meet Julie Sanger from Southern England as she appeared as a Guest with us on our regular Sunday night radio show The Chanters Lodge Experience! The show goes out live on local radio after the news at 20.30 hrs on Zambezi Radio 107.7 fm, and reaches listeners within a radius of about 50 or 60 kilometres!

Julie had been a Guest at Chanters Lodge last week for a couple of nights, prior to joining up with the crew of the Book Bus, about which we’ve written and blogged before! Julie featured on radio for us to remind people about this amazing bus that goes around various schools in Livingstone at this time of year, showing and reading books to youngsters. Like most ‘voluntary’ work these days, Book Bus volunteers do pay to participate. The Livingstone children just love this bus.

Julie usually works with the National Health Service in UK but is taking about a nine month break to travel, including an overland trip, after her Book Bus stint, through Botswana, Namibia and then on to South Africa. She has friends in Cape Town and she told listeners she was really looking forward to seeing and spending time with them. Julie told us about her job and her family, and said she was especially proud of her 28 year old daughter who just last week had qualified as a solicitor. Congratulations all round!

The music was a really mixed bag. We opened with our old theme tune ‘Crazy’ by Gnarls Barkley and played PSquare ‘Gimme That’. Drake’s ‘Find Your Love’ is really popular in Zambia at the moment and though Julie our Guest didn’t know too much of the music we played, she did know the ever popular ‘Closest Thing To Crazy’ by Katie Melua. It was a bit of a crazy show as we also featured Billy Currington’s huge smash US country hit ‘People Are Crazy’. We do play Zambian tracks every week on the show and I hope George will soon start writing a blog feature for us – I’m afraid I think it’s beyond me!

Of course there was talk of the World Cup and football. Milli Jam and George wanted to know how the Chanters Lodge competition was going along. We reported that Melinda from reception, and Agness from the kitchen looked the most likely winners. Who did I want to win the World Cup? Holland of course! Two of my ‘children’ are half Dutch. By this time next week we’ll all know who’s won!

We gave a prize to the first person to text us Julie’s nationality, British, and the regular dinner for two at Chanters Lodge was quickly snapped up by an alert listener.

5
JUL

accommodation, Africa, Chanters, guests, radioshow, travel, volunteers, World Cup 2010, Zambia

Nate Sinyangwe Plays 107.7 fm & Suite 1!

When Nate, Laura and Liana Sinyangwe (above) arrived at Livingstone Airport at 16.30 hrs on Sunday (when I was happily missing the Germany v England debacle on TV), the first thing I said to them was ‘will you do me a favor for a favor?’! “Why not?” answered Nate straight away, as daughter Liana tripped along excitedly beside him. “What’s the deal?”

Well, I said, “we’ll give you our new executive suite at the normal double rate you booked for your stay, and you can be the first people ever to stay in it, – IF – you’ll appear on the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient ft George Soulchild (as well as Zambia’s most famous part time mzungu DJ!) live at 20.30 hrs on 107.7fm tonight! Nate and Diana were delighted with the deal and though we were sorry Laura and Liana couldn’t make it for the show, just too travel weary! Nate was great value. So too was the suite!

“Is it true you work for BP“? We wanted to know on the show. “In the Gulf of Mexico?” “No Alaska!” “What are you doing about the spill in the Gulf?”. Nate admitted there wasn’t much they could do until the new pressure wells were finished. Nate had been educated at Hill Crest School near Chanters Lodge so his was a nostalgic visit home with his wife and cute daughter. Good example too, of what determined and bright young Zambians can do we said!

We played Treysongz – I’m so deep into that at the moment, ‘Already Taken’ and ‘Missing You’. We played Mumpi – Fever and Gyptian Hold Ya! So Nate could catch up on his Zambian latest and overall musically we had a good selection as usual.

We gave away the normal dinner for 2 at Chanters Lodge – quickly snapped up, for the first texter telling us which country Nate lives in now! Thanks Guys!

29
JUN

accommodation, Africa, airlines, Chanters, football, music, radioshow, World Cup 2010, Zambia

Chanters Lodge

This was lovely from the Gregersenblog the other day. Thanks guys!

Chanter’s Lodge
Chanter’s Lodge in Livingstone was our favorite place to relax and get refreshed. The food is fantastic and the rooms are great, but the best feature of Chanter’s Lodge is the owner Richard Chanter. He became a dear friend and helped us many times with trips to the airport, parking for our vehicle when we were out of the country, and assisting countless Namwianga guests during their sightseeing stays in Livingstone. We spent our last night in Zambia at Chanter’s Lodge.

Richard was recently interviewed and featured on Ben Reed’s travel blog. I think you’ll enjoy getting to know him through this article.

Richard is on Twitter and finds great information and quotes about Africa that we appreciate. Today’s gem is a quote: “If you only visit two continents in your lifetime – visit Africa – twice” (R. Elliot)

Chanter’s Lodge in Livingstone was our favorite place to relax and get refreshed. The food is fantastic and the rooms are great, but the best feature of Chanter’s Lodge is the owner Richard Chanter. He became a dear friend and helped us many times with trips to the airport, parking for our vehicle when we were out of the country, and assisting countless Namwianga guests during their sightseeing stays in Livingstone. We spent our last night in Zambia at Chanter’s Lodge.

Richard was recently interviewed and featured on Ben Reed‘s travel blog. I think you’ll enjoy getting to know him through this article.

28
JUN

accommodation, Africa, blog, Chanters, reviews

The Ben Reed Interview (3)

This is the last part of the feature kindly written by Ben Reed on Adventures With Ben about Chanters Lodge. Thanks Ben!

“Sunday evenings from 800-900 P.M. are dedicated to The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient Featuring George Soulchild. on 107.7 FM. It’s an outlet for him to live his dream of becoming a DJ, promote Chanters Lodge and have a little fun. On the evening he invited me as a guest, Richard gave away dinner for 2 at the lodge to local listeners. Contest applicants had to text their guess to that evening’s question to win. What was the question? What country was tonight’s guest from? I think my accent gave it away.

In an instant, Richard’s phone was buzzing with responses and well-deserved accolades on his return to radio after a brief hiatus. He’s popular among the radio station staff and the local community. A dinner for two at the lodge is a special treat for many:

27
JUN

Africa, Chanters, internet, management, radioshow, reviews, richard

Late Jonathan Lungu

We were very sorry to hear recently that Jonathan Lungu had passed away. Here’s a photo of him doing what he really did best – sorting things out when the ‘the authorities’ were involved. On this occasion water from the City Council! Jonathan’s on the left in the photo.

Late Jonathan worked for Chanters Lodge from early in 1999 until early 2009 as an accountant and assistant manager and was widely known and liked in the City, and by our Guests. He was particularly helpful when I had to be away from the lodge for any reason. He helped us set up our initial systems and was good at keeping the Chanters Girls in order when necessary! He was an exceptionally good cook!

We pass our condolences to Jonathan’s father, and sister Elizabeth and her family in New Zealand, and hope that Jonathan has found peace.

20
JUN

Africa, Arsenal, Chanters, development, entrepreneurship, friends, guests, management, Zambia

Poor Skippy!

Thanks to Roger Jones (again!)

Kiddies’ party costume $100

National flag 50c

Return flights $2500

Accommodation $2500

Budweiser beers at stadium $50 x 3

Entertainment & local sheilas $1000

Result: Germany 5 Australia 0

Post-match photo . . . . PRICELESS ……

Post-match photo . . . . PRICELESS

16
JUN

Africa, Australia, World Cup 2010

The Chanters Lodge Experience Relaunched

Here’s a nice picture taken when Ben Reed featured on the relaunch of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient on June 6th on Zambezi Radio 107.7 fm.

Left to right Ben, Richard, George and Milimo.

It is cold in that studio!

Lol!

15
JUN

Africa, Chanters, entertainment, livingstone, radioshow, victoriafalls, Zambia

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