tourism – Chanters Lodge Livingstone

Lion Country

We were delighted on Sunday night’s ‘Chanters Lodge Experience’ (our regular weekly radio show aired from 20.30 hrs for an hour on Zambezi 107.7 fm Livingstone’s great local radio station), to host the film crew staying at Chanters. The team are winding up filming the lion encounter based at Thorn Tree Lodge for the forthcoming second series of Lion Country, a documentary to be broadcast on ITV in UK from January 2011 every Friday at 20.00 hrs for 12 weeks.

“We’re in competition with Eastenders at that time” commented Phil Broadhurst – the cameraman who took that great shot of the studio above. Personally I don’t think they need to worry – they had an audience of 4 million for the first series and the second series sounds wonderful! The rest of the crew in attendance were Sebastian Dunn, the sound man, and Alison Quirk, the producer. Also in the photo are Milli Jam and George Soulchild who expertly co-host the show, and myself.

“Are you scared of lions?” We wanted to know. Generally they said they were not, but they mentioned that when they were filming in Zimbabwe they were surrounded at night by 80 of the beasts making a tremendous noise. Sebastian, the sound man, gave us a great impression of a lion’s roar which we made him repeat! “Have you done the night encounter?” we asked the crew. “Not yet, it’s the last thing we have to shoot before we go home” Alison informed the listeners.

The crew gave us the background to their professional careers revealing that both Phil and Seb have been highly involved with all sorts of programmes featuring wildlife in the past. Alison is the producer and the organizer. We’ve had great business at Chanters from various members of this crew during 2010, and it was lovely to hear them praise the lodge, the food and the staff and to tell listeners that Chanters really felt like their second home.

The music for the show was a good mix as usual. Bruno Mars ‘Just The Way You Are’ kept up our record of playing the current number one in UK – we played it back to back with Rihanna’s ‘Only Girl In The World’ the first single from her new album, high in the US Charts. On the local scene George featured ‘Temperature’ by Uniq (“I suppose it means his girl friend raises his temperature” I speculated. “Affirmative” the guys replied). We played the ever popular Petersen’s “Dance With You” as well. (I was delighted to be given a copy of the new JK album by George, though Milli Jam reported massive disappointment amongst the Livingstone public that JK had been miming during his recent album launch at Steprite).

Milli Jam featured Soul IV Real’ ‘Candy Love’ back to back with Aaliyah’s ‘Rock The Boat’ and we played two tracks from the new Phil Collins album ‘Going Back’ – the title track and ‘Papa Was A Rolling Stone’. Great new version of an old favourite. We played ‘Going Back’ for Cara, the Lion Manager out at lion encounter who’s a great Collins fan.

As usual we gave away a dinner for 2 at Chanters Lodge with drinks – this week for the first person to text us the name of the animal the guys had come to here to film. There was a quick response and everyone got it right! We greeted Guests, mentioning that we were very multi-national this week at Chanters with Guests from Japan, Italy, UK, Egypt, USA, Norway, South Africa and Zambia. We wished two of the Chanters Girls not feeling well a speedy recovery, and greeted the rest of the staff by name too.

The crew thanked the lodge for our hospitality and thanked too all the people at lion encounter who had made their trip so memorable. “When do you leave?” Asked Milli Jam. “On Wednesday” replied Phil, as Milimo and George laughed. “What’s funny?” asked Phil. “Richard only brings Guests leaving on Monday” they replied, as we closed a really fun show.

5
OCT

accommodation, activities, Africa, entertainment, radioshow, tourism, uk, wildlife, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Hostels Board Of Zambia

The Hostels Board Of Zambia has recently opened Livingstone Lodge (pictured above) in the city. The lodge is located on the road to Maramba just past central police, on the site of the former Busiku Guest House. Their room rate is K250,000 per room per night – about US$50 at today’s exchange rate. They might, however, not be able to maintain that rate for long, given the statement from Government below.

“Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti has announced a cut in financial support to all lodges under his ministry because ‘they have the capacity to generate their own income’. “This is the last time that you will be supported by my ministry. I have seen individuals with only one lodge and they are surviving but you have 10 lodges. I warned the Hostels Board the last time we were budgeting that I am cutting their budget because they have the capacity to generate their own income. This is a timely warning that this is the last year,” he said

Mr Mulongoti said the lodges must generate money so that Government receives dividends from them and that these should be declared at the start of the next financial year (2011). Government has spent K2.7 billion in the rehabilitation and construction of facilities at the Livingstone Lodge which comprises a conference room, deluxe executive suite and 11 executive rooms.

The second phase of the project will involve the building of a one storey building that will have 20 rooms. Mr Mulongoti said this yesterday when he commissioned the new Livingstone Lodge. The Minister was accompanied by his deputy Dr Christopher Kalila and permanent secretary Watson Ng’ambi. He said the Hostels Board should no longer depend on government for financial support. He challenged the National Hostels Board to venture into constructing a five-star hotel instead of being comfortable with lodges.

Mr Mulongoti encouraged the Hostels Board to go into partnerships with other investors. He said that since its inception in 1957, the board has had only seven hostels that were left by the colonial government, and three that have been constructed since. “I want one day, either President Rupiah Banda or myself to be able to commission a five-star hotel before we continue quarreling with our competitive sector we are in. You know we have too many vuvuzelas (critics) who are always refusing to acknowledge what we are doing. This is one of the developments,” he said.

He urged the staff and management to work hard in their lodges throughout the country in order to win consumer confidence and attract clients. “We have as a nation not approached tourism with the aggression it deserves. Investing in this sector is not easily accessed especially for Zambians hence the need for a total review of requirements and procedures for one to venture into tourism,” he said.

29
AUG

accommodation, Africa, hotels, infrastructure, innovation, livingstone, tourism, Zambia

Bushtracks Africa

Bushtracks Africa has expanded, adding a new office and new team members. On July 19th the new office located in Johannesburg, South Africa, went ‘live’. The office houses the reservations, finance and general management departments. The expansion will allow Bushtracks Africa to provide improved customer service with faster response times and a greater range of booking services.

At the Bushtracks Africa base in Livingstone, Zambia, the team has also been expanded. This expansion is focused on improving the visitor’s experience the moment he or she steps off the plane; the Ground Handling Department will focus on ensuring that Bushtracks Africa’s customers receive the best possible service while escorting them around Livingstone and the Victoria Falls region.

Bushtracks Africa offers a range of services and activities based in the Livingstone area. Visitors can take a sunset train ride on the immaculately restored Pullman Carriage train called the Royal Livingstone Express, or fly over Victoria Falls in a helicopter and any number of adrenalin-pumping activities such as bungee jumping or white water river rafting down the Zambezi.

25
AUG

activities, Africa, tourism, travel, victoriafalls, Zambia

Livingstone ‘International’ Airport

We’re happy that construction of a new terminal has started at Livingstone Airport as per the article below from Lusaka Times and have seen the evidence for ourselves. However, when the runway extension was completed at huge expense some years ago, we were promised direct flights from Europe, Asia and other African countries apart from South Africa and that has not happened. Let’s hope the new terminal isn’t another ‘white elephant’ and actually produces an increase in international flight connections, otherwise it will just be a waste of more money!

“Communications and Transport Minister Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa has said that it is governments priority to ensure that all airports in the country are operational.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of new international terminal building at Livingstone international airport estimated to cost about $12 million, Professor Lungwangwa said that it is for this reason that government is carrying out maintenance works in provincial airports to improve connectivity in the country.

Professor Lungwangwa noted that with massive investment witnessed in Livingstone especially in the hospitality industry the number of tourists flying into Livingstone has been on the upswing. And speaking at the same function Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe said that one does not need to doubt that the Government under the leadership of Rupiah Banda is a working government.

He said that government through its sound economic policies is attracting a lot of investors and hence need to increase airport capacity. And at the same function National Airports Corporation Limited Managing Director Robinson Masitala said that the corporation has many challenges but that it will endeavor to provide efficient services to airline operators and the traveling public.

He said that the corporation is in the process of acquiring state of the art ground handling equipment to enhance service delivery capabilities at all the four international airports in the country.”

19
AUG

Africa, airlines, infrastructure, innovation, livingstone, rsa, tourism, transport, travel, victoriafalls, Zambia

Peter Ronald, Jane Miller Erin and Eli play 107.7 fm

Meet Peter Ronald, Jane Miller, daughter Erin and son Eli, traveling around Africa for six weeks in a rented camper van and hailing from Seattle, USA. Peter’s a financier and Jane a surgeon/professor back in the USA.

We had a reservation for the family for Saturday and Sunday but on Thursday they arrived and asked if we had space for two extra nights, which we had! The deal was that if I gave them the room, they’d appear on Sunday night’s Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient, featuring George Soulchild our weekly radio show, hosted, promoted, directed and financed by Chanters Lodge on Zambezi Radio 107.7 fm! Livingstone’s leading local radio station. I think it was the best show we’ve done since we came back on air in June this year. Why?

The Guests were great, lively, talkative, informative and funny. Had Erin (14) received an invitation to Chelsea Clinton’s wedding? ‘No!’ Did she want to be a doctor or a financier? ‘No!’ What was Eli (10)’s favourite kind of music – classic rock, Monkees and Beatles. Was Jane in a hurry to get back to work in Seattle – no! Is it true the family had stood just one metre away from Victoria Falls on Livingstone Island that very afternoon. Yes! Would they come back to Africa one day? Yes! Had they seen a World Cup game in RSA? Yes Holland v Cameroon. Had they enjoyed it? Yes? Did we want a couple of vuvuzelas asked Jane – ‘yes!’ We said – ‘No’ yelled the kids, they were not giving them away! Shame!

The music on the show was great ‘I Want You’ by Treysongz does it for me at the moment, though our American Guests had never heard of him! ‘Today’ by Brandy is a great song which the Chanters Girls love. ‘We No Speak Americano’ by Yolanda Be Cool – top that week in UK, unknown to our Guests from USA – but it had Eli and Erin talking. Typical summer disco track and no, ‘we no speak Americano!’

I hope George will write up the Zambian musical aspect of the show for a blog later this week but Milli Jam featured J Dot ‘Could you be the DJ?’ – I preferred his Chrishian ‘And When You Missed Me’, though I can’t find out much about the artist or the song at the moment. Spelling?

Had our Guests enjoyed Zambia? Yes, especially as by chance they’d been at Mukuni Village at the time there were rehearsals for the famous Lwindi Tradtional Cermemy so they’d seen a lot of traditional dance and had loved that! They seemed to keep themselves pretty busy while they were here.

As usual we greeted the Guests and staff back at the lodge and gave away a dinner for two for the first person to text us Jane’s profession. Doctor – easy winner! We made special mention of the long hours and hard work undertaken by the Chanters Girls during a busy week with very early departures and a lot of running about!

3
AUG

accommodation, activities, Africa, education, guests, medical, tourism, usa, 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

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

Livingstone Island

Here’s the good news from Tongabezi:

Full View
Livingstone Island Reopening

After nearly 2 months break due to the high water levels in the Zambezi River and the Falls , the Livingstone Island activity is about to reopen on the 09th June 2010.

This will not mean swimming in Devil’s Pool just yet but it’ll make an amazing excursion to see the Falls close up.

Let us know if you’d like to book through Chanters Lodge

8
JUN

activities, Africa, tourism, victoriafalls, World Cup 2010, Zambia

Tour Guide

Mike Scott who I know to be of Downe House School clearly hs other hats, one of which is Tour Guide! Thanks to him for this written recently on his blog:

“Just returned from research for creating tours in Zambia/Botswana. Had a great time on safari in Botswana. Fitted in visit to Victoria Falls. Stayed at Chanters Lodge which I would recommend to anyone for a fairly priced, welcoming, family run lodge where nothing is too much effort for the host Richard Chanter. I have stayed with him before and would stay with him any time I am in Livingstone.”

That’s Mike with one of his hats on, sitting at the back of that elephant!

26
MAY

Chanters, guests, tourism, uk, victoriafalls, wildlife, Zambia

Some More Travel Agent Stories…

Some more travel agent stories for you! The photo? A hipppo, what else?!

– A lady called needing to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:20am and arrived in Chicago at 8:33am. The agent explain that Michigan was an hour ahead of llinois, but the Client couldn’t understand the concept of time zones. Finally she was told that the plane went very fast, which she accepted!

– A woman called and asked, “Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know who’s luggage belongs to who?” “No, why?” The agent asked. The Client replied, “Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said FAT, and I’m overweight, is there any connection?” The agent explained that the city code for Fresno is FAT, and that the airline was just putting a destination tag on her luggage.

– A Client asked, “How do I know which plane to get on?” When asked what he meant he replied, “I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these darn planes have numbers on them.”

– A woman called needing to “fly to Pepsi-cola on one of those computer planes.” When asked if she meant she needed to fly to Pensacola on a commuter plane. She said, “Yeah, whatever.”

– A businessman called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China. Following a lengthy discussion about passports, he was reminded he needed a visa. “Oh no I don’t” he said “I’ve been to China many times and never had to have one of those.” The agent double checked and sure enough, the Client’s stay required a visa. When told he said, “Look, I’ve been to China four times and every time they’ve accepted my American Express.”

– A woman called to make reservations, “I want to go from Chicago to Hippopotamus, New York” The agent was at a loss for words. Finally, the agent asked: “Are you sure that’s the name of the town?” “Yes, what flights do you have?” replied the customer. After some searching, the agent came back with, “I’m sorry, ma’am, I’ve looked up every airport code in the country and can’t find a Hippopotamus anywhere.” The customer retorted, “Oh don’t be silly. Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!” The agent scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, “You don’t mean Buffalo, do you?” “That’s it! I knew it was a big animal!”

Have a great weekend!

1
MAY

tourism, travel, wildlife

Stories From Travel Agents

Check these travel agent stories!

– A Client asked for an aisle seats so that her hair wouldn’t get messed up by being near the window.

– A client called in inquiring about a package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, she asked, “Would it be cheaper to fly to California and then take the train to Hawaii?”

– A woman called who wanted to go to Capetown. The agent started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information when she interrupted saying “I’m not trying to make you look stupid, but Capetown is in Massachusetts. The agent calmly explained, “Capecod is in Massachusetts, Capetown is in Africa.” Her response … click.

– A man called, furious about a Florida package. The agent asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an ocean-view room. The agent tried to explain that this wasn’t possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state. The Client replied, “Don’t lie to me. I looked on the map and Florida is a very thin state.”

– A man asked, “Is it possible to see England from Canada?” “No.” Replied the agent. The Client said “But they look so close on the map.”

– Another man called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas. When the agent checked the booking he noticed the Client had only a 1-hour lay over in Dallas. When asked why he wanted to rent a car, the Client said, “I heard Dallas was a big airport, and I need a car to drive between the gates to save time.”

The photo? Capetown of course! Who could possible be confused….?

29
APR

rsa, tourism, travel, usa

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