chanterscom6 – Chanters Lodge Livingstone

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.

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)

28
JUN

1

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

1

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

Suite 1

The new suite at Chanters Lodge Livingstone nearly finished on June 23rd having started demolition of rooms one and two after we’d moved into the new offices in early April. Bathroom sitting room and bedroom!

Alive!

26
JUN

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Chanters, garden, innovation, Kafue, livingstone, management, Zambia

Chanters Lodge – The Ben Reed Interview (2)

Here’s the next part of my interview with Ben Reed from Adventures With Ben

“Managing a Social Media Marketing Strategy

With nearly 800 followers on twitter, regular posts on his Lodge Blog and an active Facebook Fan Page, Richard has embraced social media and leveraged it to make Chanters Lodge the most visible hotel in Livingstone and on the Internet.

For a gentleman who always wanted to be a writer, blogging was the perfect platform. “I blog about Zambia, family, the lodge and anything else that takes my interest. One of the reasons I keep on blogging is because it brings new content onto the site. We’ve re-marketed the hotel through other parts of Zambia through Facebook.”

He continued by saying, “It’s about social interaction. Loads of clients said they check the blog before they arrive and continue reading it after they leave.” [Very true as Chanters Lodge Blog is downloaded into my Google Feed Reader every morning.] His eyes lit up as he recalled the power of twitter, “I can be talking to a llama farmer in Devon [England], a lady in Brooklyn called Cookie talking about what Rihanna’s doing. Twitter reaches further.”

For Zambia Tourism, social media is important now more than ever. In Richard’s opinion, “[Zambia] is over-hoteled and under-marketed.” In addition, visa fees for travelers are increasing and Zimbabwe is slowly regaining a foothold in appealing to more tourists. Zambia has some competition ahead of them. “If you’re not in the top three or four [in your hotel category], you’ll have some bad years ahead of you.”

While this may be a concern for Richard, he doesn’t show it. Chanters Lodge has expanded considerably since it first opened. Current renovations include converting a standard room into a suite with more plans on the way for additional rooms. Updates are posted on his blog regularly. He never stops working.”

Thanks Ben and for the great picture!

25
JUN

0

accommodation, Chanters, guests, internet, richard, victoriafalls, Zambia

The Ben Reed Interview (1)

I was recently interviewed by Ben Reed from Adventures With Ben and here’s the first part of what he had to say about me and us!

“Richard Chanter and his Lodge

Tucked away down a small dirt road, around the bend lies an assuming guest lodge in Livingstone, Zambia. But don’t be fooled, this 11-room complex in the middle of a bustling residential neighborhood is one of the premier places to stay when visiting Victoria Falls: Chanters Lodge.

Chanter’s Lodge was my home away from home during a 3-day/ 2-night stay in Victoria Falls. It was truly the perfect retreat for this travel blogger after a hectic 40-day sprint through South Africa. During my stay I had the opportunity to catch up with the owner, Richard Chanter, and ask him what makes Chanters Lodge so special…

Having accumulated over 40 years in the hotel industry (30 of them in Zambia), Richard knows how to manage a hotel. “This business is about people” he says.

It Started on Trip Advisor
And it’s the people that keep him working all these years. A chance encounter with an ill guest led Richard into the world of social media and the Internet. He explained,

“I took him to the doctor and brought him back. He said, “Have you ever heard of Trip Advisor? Join it. It would be in your best interest.””

And so Richard did, “It was very easy to join in the early days. I registered and put a picture of the lodge.” Shortly thereafter, his first review appeared from the guest he assisted…

“There’s nothing that Mr. Chanter won’t do to help you.”

It was at that moment that Richard realized the potential of the Internet. “We said, hey, we need more of this stuff.”

Thanks Ben

24
JUN

0

Chanters, livingstone, management, People, radioshow, victoriafalls, Zambia

Zena and Leon Ferreira

There was a touch of sadness at the start of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George Soulchild, our weekly radio show on 107.7 fm Zambezi Radio, as we had to announce the untimely passing during the week of Jonathan Lungu. Jonathan, erstwhile assistant manager and accountant at Chanters Lodge between 2/1999 and 1/2009. Late Jonathan was actually the very first Guest on our radio show which we started in late 2008. We offered our condolences to his family and friends on air. Jonathan was very popular with Guests and Staff during his time at Chanters Lodge.

Our Guests on the show this week were Leon and Zena Ferreira, (above,) from UK, but we were surprised to hear that Leon had spent the first 15 years of his education at Kabulonga Boys School. Then called the Gilbert Rennie school in Lusaka. We made the prize a dinner for two to anyone who could tell us the former name of the school, and we did have one winner. Most Livingstone people were watching Brazil play Cote d’Ivoire I guess last night and were not listening to the radio.

It was interesting to hear of Leon’s early life in Lusaka and of he and Zena’s recent wonderful holiday in Flatdogs in the Luwangwa Valley. They’d loved it and it was part of Leon’s 60th birthday celebrations. They’re a widely travelled family having visited Asia many times.

There was a mixed musical scene: Shyman’s latest and latest from Dizzee Rascall and Iyaz. Leon and Zena enjoyed a rhumba track and I enjoyed Tinie Tempah ft Labrinth – ‘Frisky’! We played a track by Brenda Fassie too.

It’s thanks to Zena and Leon for guesting on our show and we hope they enjoyed the experience!

21
JUN

0

Chanters, guests, livingstone, radioshow, tourism, victoriafalls, wildlife, Zambia

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

0

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