volunteers – Chanters Lodge Livingstone

Paul & Lesley Jenkins on Zambezi fm

Meet Paul and Lesley Jenkins (above) from Cambridge, England, guests on the latest edition of The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George da Soulchild – that’s our regular Sunday night radio show airing live between 20.30 and 21.30 hrs on Zambezi 107.7 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station, reaching a radius of about 75 kms and streaming live on the internet. (Just go to the Zambezi fm website and click ‘listen live’). Lesley and Paul were guests at Chanters Lodge and kindly agreed to appear on our show.

Lesley told listeners that she’d been in Zambia longer than Paul, as she’d been volunteering with Book Bus and went on to explain that The Book Bus aims to improve child literacy rates in Africa and South America by providing children with books and the inspiration to read them, books impart knowledge, fire the imagination and open up new horizons; they are also a tremendous source of enjoyment. The Book Bus is currently working to improve literacy rates at a community level in Zambia. She had much enjoyed her time as a volunteer.

Paul explained that he had only arrived in Zambia two days before the show but had managed to pack in a lot of activity in that short time! He and Lesley had taken the sunset cruise on Lady Livingstone the previous evening and on the morning of the show he’d taken a 15 minute microlight flight while Lesley looked on! He reported the view of Victoria Falls from the air as ‘amazing’. Before coming on the show they’d taken the rhino walk with Bwaato Adventures and had been happy to find and photograph one large rhino with its baby.

The music on the show was great. We opened as usual with ‘Candy’ by Aggro Santos ft Kim Wyatt, followed after the introductions by ‘Moves Like Jagger’ – Maroon 5 ft Christina Aguilera, back to back with ‘Don’t Wanna Go Home’ – Jason Derulo, the current UK number 1. “Up to date as usual on The Experience” I commented. Our Zambian tracks were ‘Mukondo’ by 4th Rock From The Sun coupled with ‘Move Me’ – Sobre, KRay Jay ft Salma. Milli Jam chose ‘Just A Dream’ by Nelly and Rihanna’s ‘Man Down’. We also played Flo Rida’s ‘Good Feeling’ and ‘TGIF’ by Katy Perry. The Chanters Girls rocked back at the lodge!

Paul and Lesley told listeners that Paul was a season ticket holder at Portsmouth FC in UK, that they’d been married for more than 30 years and had a son Matthew 21 and daughter Emma 24, back home in England. Paul is a banker. Lesley had recently visited Rwanda where she’d seen and been captivated watching the mountain gorillas. She’d also spent time in Mombasa,Kenya. Lesley said she’d love to volunteer again with Book Bus. She passed her greetings on to all the staff and volunteers with whom she’d worked in Livingstone, especially Kelly. The day after the show this funny and loving couple told listeners they were going to spend a week in the South Luangwa National Park.

Finally we gave away the usual dinner for two at Chanters Lodge to the first person to text us telling us which country Paul and Lesley came from. There was an excellent response some of which gave a new meaning to predictive texting as they told us the answer before we’d asked the question! Our weekly prize is very popular in Livingstone!

6
JUL

accommodation, activities, Africa, Chanters, computers, education, entertainment, music, radioshow, travel, victoriafalls, volunteers, wildlife, Zambia

Cara Watts – Lions Manager

“Not many people in the world with that job title”! We remarked, when Cara Watts, pictured here with George da Soulchild Kaufela (left) and Milli Jam, guested on the most recent edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience, our regular Sunday night radio show, airing weekly on
Zambezi fm from 20.30 – 21.30 hrs. “No” Cara replied succinctly. Cara is a lions manager for Lion Encounter based at Thorn Tree Lodge, having previously studied Animal Management and Welfare at the University of Lincoln in UK. She’s been involved with Lion Encounter since first going to Zimbabwe with them as a volunteer some three years ago. She subsequently came back to Zambia for a lot more!

“How many lions do you look after”? Asked Milli Jam. “24 altogether aged between 4 months and 5 years” said Cara. “How dangerous are they”? Milli Jam wanted to know, sounding rather fearful, and Cara replied that it depended on which ‘stage’ of lions he was talking about. She explained that there’s a 4 stage process in bringing up the lions before some are put back in the wild. Cara’s job involves ensuring the health and welfare of the animals and she assured Milli Jam that lions can be dangerous! She explained that Lion Encounter offer 3 activities for visitors, a lion walk and a lion drive as well as a night lion encounter. I reminded Cara about the time Nigerian visitors to Chanters Lodge had witnessed lions hunting then killing a wildebeest in front of them during their lion drive. They’d been thrilled!

“How popular is the TV Series about the lion encounter on ITV in UK”? Milli Jam wanted to know, reminding Cara that not so long ago the crew who were visiting Zambia to record the series, had guested on the show. Cara said that Series 2, currently being broadcast, was a great success and although there was no firm decision, she thought that a third series was a possibility. “What music do you like”? Asked Milli Jam, completely changing the subject away from lions! Cara said her tastes were quite general but at the moment she was into Lady Gaga and Jason Derulo. “Great”! We said and proceeded not to play tracks by either!

Instead on this show we played ‘Believe In Me Now’ the latest from Taio Cruz, back to back with ‘Colder Weather’ by the Zac Brown Band, currently No 1 on the US country charts. George then chose Mampi’s ‘Swilili’ and Roberto’s ‘Love You More’ for his local tracks – the Mampi track is hot in Zambia! (She sings about her confusion as her boyfriend doesn’t contact her often any more or as often as he used to!)

Milli Jam chose ‘All Of The Lights’, the smash hit by Kanye West featuring Rihanna, then Jennifer Hudson’s ‘Don’t Look Down’. Rihanna and Britney Spears’ remix of ‘S&M’ was coupled with Beyonce featuring Swizz Beatz and ‘Move Your Body’. We closed with ‘Party Rock Anthem’ by LMFAO and friends, huge in UK right now.

Cara told listeners that she was happy to be on leave while her parents were visiting Africa and that they’d just returned from a safari in Kapama Private Game Reserve in South Africa where they’d spent five wonderful days, managing to see all of the ‘Big 5’ and taking some great photos. The day after the show Cara and her parents were heading to Chobe National Park in Botswana for a two day safari and were greatly looking forward to the trip. “Are you married”? Asked Milli Jam, inevitably. “No” replied Cara. “Spoken for”? I continued. “No” replied Cara. That was that. “Where would you like to be and what would you like to be doing 10 years from now”? Asked Milli Jam. “I’m not really sure” replied Cara thoughtfully “but I’d like to be in Africa and still working with animals”.

Lovely girl! Lovely show! Lovely lions!

19
APR

activities, Africa, Botswana, Chanters, Chobe, entertainment, guests, livingstone, radioshow, rsa, tourism, travel, victoriafalls, volunteers, wildlife, Zambia

Norway Rules!

Once again it’s our pleasure to introduce you to Norwegian guests staying at Chanters Lodge. Meet from left to right Erna Ravn, Silje Helland and Line Mannerud who featured last Sunday on our radio show – The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George da Soulchild. The show goes out between 20.30 and 21.30 hrs every Sunday night on Zambezi Radio 107.7fm, Livingstone’s most popular local radio station. We feature music and conversation in just about equal proportions, chart news from around the world and the latest from Lodgeblog, as well as giving away a weekly prize of dinner for two at Chanters to the first person to text us the answer to a deliberately simple question. This week we asked which country our guests hailed from and towards the end of the show Joyce quickly answered ‘Norway’ and won!

Erna, Silje and Line are 3rd year students at the University of Tromso in chilly Northern Norway, studying teaching and currently in Zambia for a month to complete their course practicals at Nansanzu Basic School in Livingstone. The girls will be educating Grade 8 pupils in history, home economics and maths respectively. They were due to start teaching on the Monday following the show having completed a week’s acclimatization, and we weren’t sure whether they were more nervous about starting work or appearing on radio! Mind you Line seemed nervous about nothing! The girls said they were staying at Chanters following a recommendation from fellow students who had stayed with us last year. We liked that!

“How long have you been in Livingstone?” Milli Jam wanted to know. The girls replied that they’d been in town just over a week. “What activities have you done?” He carried on, and here began the partial tale of woe! The girls told listeners they’d been for an elephant safari on Saturday morning and whilst they’d had a good time, as they were dismounting Line fell off the beast and cut her leg. On Friday evening they’d taken a sunset cruise and Erna had been stung by a wasp – her wrist was still sore and swollen as the show went on air. The girls said “these things go in threes, we’re waiting for something to happen to Silje”! We hoped not! “Had they been clubbing already?” They were asked. “Not yet” they replied expectantly… “but we’ve flown microlights over Victoria Falls and seen the Falls from the ground as well, getting very wet in the process.”

The music on the show was great. We opened with Enrique’s latest smash featuring Ludacris and DJ Frank E ‘Tonight I’m Loving You’ back to back with Jennifer Hudson’s ‘Where You At?’ Our Zambian tracks were Zeck Dizzy with ‘Danger’ coupled with T-Sean’s ‘Wonder Why’. Ne-Yo’s ‘One In A Million’ and Keysha Cole’s ‘I Ain’t Thru’ featuring Nicki Minaj went down well and so too did Christina Perri’s ‘Jar Of Hearts’. We asked the girls which band was ‘hot’ in Norway at the moment (as if you could be – lol!) and they told us Kvelertak. “You be careful” said Line “this is dark rock”! We promised we would be!

Inevitably Milli Jam and George wanted to know if the girls had boyfriends pining for them back in Norway. Erna had, Silje and Line hadn’t. “Where would you like to be and what would you like to be doing ten years from now?” We asked these three lovely, lively ladies. Erna wanted to be married to her boyfriend and teaching in Norway. The much travelled Line still wanted to be travelling and quite fancied teaching in Zambia. Silje wanted to be at home with 40 cats listening to classical music! (Yes 40!)

Amidst studio discussion about Arsenal’s 2nd half debacle the previous Saturday afternoon and Manchester United’s first league loss the same day, together with Liverpool beating Chelsea (Torres and all) that evening, the girls admitted they didn’t follow football but just loved skiing, though they supposed people in Zambia didn’t ski much! We confirmed that……..

Were the girls happy at Chanters? Milli Jam wanted to know. They were and just loved the Chanters Girls!

8
FEB

activities, Africa, cricket, education, leadership, livingstone, Norway, radioshow, victoriafalls, volunteers, wildlife, Zambia

The Aussies Are Back!

No! Even though it’s Ashes time this isn’t a cricket reference! The headline refers to the three Australian ladies pictured above left to right – Judy Smetherham, Kerry Hegney and Di Rapson, appearing (with furry friends) for the second time on our weekly Sunday night radio show, The Chanters Lodge Experience with The Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George da Soulchild, which goes out live at 20.30 hours for an hour on Zambezi Radio 107.7 fm. The ladies’ first appearance was back in April 2009 on their last visit to Zambia. What brought them back? Well, when they were asked this on air, their smart reply was “we heard rumours Richard was looking much younger”! “Quite right too!” I said, while others just sniggered…

In fact the ‘girls’ were back in Livingstone for two weeks to do some of the things they hadn’t done on their last visit, including a microlight flight over the Falls, a swim in Devil’s Pool on Livingstone Island and a two night, three day visit to the Okavango Delta in Botswana, leaving from Kasane Airport the next day. They also planned to do the cheetah encounter and as usual visit Maramba Market and Zambian friends they’d made during their last stay. In a way more importantly, the ladies had come from Australia via the Copperbelt in Zambia where they’d delivered 400 school bags, and over 200 soft toys to children at Chiwawatala, Chankuta and Mishikishi Primary Schools. They had to get special permission from the airlines they used to carry all that excess luggage in such a good cause. Oh! and they brought some beanies too. “Beanies”? I hear you ask. Don’t know your Aussie slang do ya? Woollen hats in real English. I only knew the slang as the ladies kindly brought me the ‘Australian Slang Dictionary’! Allows me to be rude to the Aussie cricketers on TV in their own language.

The only tinge of sadness was the news that Mr Billy Mulonda, head of one of the families the ladies had been helping in Ndola had been struck by lightning and killed the day they were leaving the Copperbelt. We sent our deepest condolences. After the Copperbelt the ladies had spent time at Mfue Lodge in South Luangwa National Park and had had a great time, seeing loads and loads of different animals.

The music on the show was awesome and featured numbers from Aggro Santos, Bruno Mars and Cee Lo Green to get the party started. George chose Cray J with ‘Chipe’ for the first of his local tracks, and then Brothahood Crew with ‘If It’s Loving’. George himself featured on this track – as I mentioned last week he’s a locally famous singer by the name of Kafuela as well as a great DJ and technician. George was hot from a live rock show at a venue in Livingstone on Saturday afternoon organized by 107.7 fm. ‘Were you mobbed by young girls’? I wanted to know. ‘Of course’! Was the short answer. Milli Jam chose 112 with ‘Only You’ and Aliyah with ‘Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number’ for his tracks, after which we moved on to ‘Bottoms Up’ by Trey Songz featuring Nicki Minaj, ‘Love All Over Me’ by Monica and Jay Sean’s great ‘Break Ya Back’!

“What have you ladies been up to since the last time we saw you” Milli Jam wanted to know. Well, plenty was the answer. Judy had travelled to the UK and Paris, Kerry to Egypt, Turkey and Holland and Di to Bali. Di, who’d sadly lost her dad during this period, had also been to shows by Pink and Nickelback in Perth where these ladies live. “Noticed any changes in Livingstone and at Chanters”? The DJ’s wanted to know. “Plenty”! The girls replied – mentioning new rooms and the suite at Chanters, as well as Richard and Annastasia’s new offices. They’d seen that Livingstone boasted a new shopping mall.

As usual we gave away a dinner for 2 at Chanters Lodge with drinks to the first person this week who could tell us where these lively and funny ladies came from. Australia was the first answer we received by text from Karen. Result!

8
DEC

accommodation, activities, Africa, Australia, charities, children, Customers, entertainment, guests, livingstone, radioshow, volunteers, wildlife, Zambia

Lion Drive

Safari Par Excellence through Lion Encounter have introduced a new activity which I’m sure will prove very popular. So many visitors coming to see Victoria Falls and to enjoy some of the many activities Livingstone has to offer, long to see lion, and the lion drive will certainly be their chance! Here’s the blurb from Safpar.

A Drive in Lion Country

You’ve done a Lion Walk, now climb aboard our game drive vehicle and meet the older sub-adult lions who have “graduated” from walking to hunting in Dambwa Forest. Join our pride in stunning Dambwa Forest as they bond, play, laze around and hunt. Once on the game drive vehicle, and surrounded by lions, our experienced guide will tell you more about the life of a lion, give insights into their individual characters, social dynamics and ‘who’s who’ in the pride. No activity comes close. Guaranteed lion viewing. Unparalleled photo opportunities. Minimum number for the activitiy is 2 people and the charge is US$85 per person, including transfers from and to the lodge.

Safpar are also offering a combo of lion drive and sunset cruise (Lady Livingstone) for US$130 pp or on Makumbi for US$120 pp.

Of course Chanters Lodge is always happy to help Guests with their activity reservations either in advance, or on arrival.

3
DEC

activities, Africa, Chanters, volunteers, wildlife, Zambia

Elisabeth Gaarder & Xenia Ploger

“We’ve never done it before and we’re very nervous” said Elisabeth (left) and Xenia pictured above, as we headed towards our Sunday night assignation in my car. “Don’t worry, it’s fun and very nice” I replied “just sit back and enjoy it”. Thinking something different? Tut tut! Actually, we were heading towards the studios of Zambezi Radio 107.7 fm in Livingstone, Zambia, for the latest edition of The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George Da Soulchild, as the girls were guesting for us on the show! Elisabeth and Xenia are part of a team of 5 Norwegian 3rd year Tromso University students staying at Chanters Lodge, while they teach pre-school children for a month at Rainbow School in Livingstone, as part of their university course. Our radio show goes out live every Sunday evening between 20.30 and 21.30 hrs, and features music and chat.

“Do you have boyfriends back in Norway”? Milli Jam asked the girls. “What boyfriends”? This made George on technical pay attention and he played ‘Chipyango’ by Dalisoul. The girls were rocking. “They seem to like that number”. I remarked. “I know they do!” Replied George, laughing. “Have you been clubbing every weekend while you’ve been in Livingstone”? Milli Jam enquired. “Oh yes”! Elisabeth and Xenia replied, also laughing, and I knew instantly how George Da Soulchild knew the girls liked Dalisoul!! “What’s the track about”? I wanted to know. “He’s telling girls not to allow themselves to be treated like a local broom – used once, then ditched”. Was the succinct reply. I speculated that the Chanters Girls would have been dancing to that track back at the lodge too, and I think I was right! The other Zambian number we played on the show was a coup – UZ47 with ‘Killa Love’ – first ever airing of the track on radio anywhere in Zambia! Well done George! Our expert on the local music scene.

We played ‘Gone’ by Nelly and Kelly, as well as ‘Shine A Light’ – McFly ft Taio Cruz. Milli Jam selected an old favourite Chaka Khan – ‘Ain’t Nobody’ and Dr Dre’s latest – ‘Kush’ – that was a nice one! ‘Like A G6’ – Far East Movement and ‘The Flood’ by Take That proved we’re right up to date on the Chanters Lodge Experience!

“What activities have you done since you’ve been in Livingstone”? Milli Jam asked our Guests, “apart from clubbing”? The girls told listeners they’d been to Chobe National Park in Botswana for a 2 day 1 night safari the first weekend they’d been in Zambia, and had really enjoyed the trip despite the scary insects! That afternoon they’d had high tea on Livingstone Island and swum in Devil’s Pool. They’d loved it! One of the girls had also flown in a microlight over Victoria Falls on the ‘Flight Of Angels’ and one intended to go Bungee Jumping. “It’s all scary” they commented, laughing at the same time.

The girls explained to listeners that they’d known each other since they were in high school, aged 15 or so, and that they shared a house in Tromso while they were studying, although they were both originally from Oslo. Neither of them had been to Africa before but they’d both travelled widely through Europe. The future immediately after leaving University? They weren’t sure. Longer term? Marriage and children seemed to be on both their agendas. “Better start looking for boyfriends soon then” I remarked, to in-studio laughter.

We gave away our usual dinner for two to the first person to text us the name of the country the girls hailed from and there was a huge response. ‘Nowe’ was one of them! Great that so many people were listening to the show! George, a Liverpool supporter, wanted to talk about football in general and Arsenal in particular, but Milli Jam and I did not!

A good time was had by all, and of course there had been no need for the girls to be nervous!

23
NOV

accommodation, activities, Africa, Arsenal, Botswana, Chanters, education, music, radioshow, staff, training, victoriafalls, volunteers, wildlife, Zambia

Patrick Kasoka – Man On Sport

We asked Patrick Kasoka, pictured above at Chanters Lodge, to guest for us on our regular Sunday night radio show on Zambezi Radio 107.7 fm last Sunday – The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient. This was to present the prizes to our World Cup winning staff, and he was kind enough to do so. Unfortunately we didn’t get a picture of him with the winners – but Milli Jam deputized and you might have seen that photo on the blog yesterday which gives details of who won!

Patrick’s been 107.7 fm’s ‘Man on Sport’ since the inception of the radio station in 2005 and he hosts 3 programmes a week. Half hour slots on Saturday and Sunday evenings mostly featuring results, both local and international, and then a full one hour discussion programme on a Wednesday evening. Although Zambia’s football crazy, Patrick doesn’t limit himself to that sport but features netball, basketball and a variety of other sport as well. His knowledge is awesome!

Patrick was a soccer player himself between 1979 and 1982 in Zambia featuring for the successful Green Buffaloes army team until a broken leg forced him into early retirement. In fact he joined the army as a result of football, and stayed in the forces for a successful 18 years, mainly involved with stores and supplies, and travelling extensively during this period. Patrick is a Lunda from Zambezi District and finished Form 5, as it was then, at Solwezi High School.

Patrick runs a very successful Youth Soccer Academy in Livingstone which we understand is over-subscribed, and perhaps because he gets to see the good players early on, he, and a catholic priest who has subsequently returned to Poland, formed Communite FC in Livingstone. The Club has achieved remarkable success rising to the top of Division 1 (South), but Patrick lamented on the show that he’s been unable to find new sponsorship and the club may have to fold. Football sponsorship is very expensive in Zambia and it would take a big organization or company to take it over.

Patrick has ten daughters and we asked him if he intended to become a lobola millionaire but he told the audience on air that his tribe, Lunda, are very lenient when it comes to bride price! Altogether, truly Livingstone’s ‘Man On Sport’ and we’re happy to have him around!

20
JUL

accommodation, Africa, Chanters, education, entertainment, football, livingstone, radioshow, victoriafalls, volunteers, 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

Elephant Charge 2010

Here’s something different from http://www.elephantcharge.org/

“Zambia’s extreme off-road 4×4 challenge is about to start! Join us in this exciting event and sign up your team now. The Elephant Charge raises money for conservation and wildlife education in Zambia on a not-for-profit basis. All proceeds raised this year will go towards:

– Lusaka National Park
– South Luangwa Conservation Society
– Conservation Lower Zambezi
– The Kafue Trust

What is the Elephant Charge?
The Elephant Charge challenges teams of cars and motorbikes to complete a grueling course through the Zambian bush. Teams consist of either a 4×4 vehicle with up to 6 individuals or 3 to 4 motorbikes. The teams drive and drag themselves around the course, building roads with their bare hands and steering their vehicles up and down outrageous inclines in an attempt get home in the shortest distance possible. The straighter you dare go the more intimidating it will be!

The Elephant Charge engenders a fantastic team spirit and generates a huge feeling of accomplishment both in terms of funds raised and terrain conquered. It is a great weekend in the wilderness for competitors, their families, sponsors and supporters. This year’s Elephant Charge will take place on Zambia’s Independence weekend, 23rd, 24th and 25th October 2010 at a secret location, which will be revealed to competitors the day before the event.

How to Enter An entry fee of K1 million is payable to Elephant Charge Zambia Ltd by each team. The entry fee is used by the organising committee to pay for any costs not covered by event sponsors. Teams must also pledge a minimum of K2 million sponsorship when they enter the event. All sponsorship received by the event will be paid to the charities. We look forward to your support knowing that each and every contribution will help protect and develop wildlife conservation and education in Zambia.

Please email info@elephantcharge.org if you would like to enter a team, act as an official, or sponsor the event, a checkpoint or a trophy. Visit www.elephantcharge.org for the latest information on the event and to download entry forms.

So, what are you waiting for?!

18
MAY

Africa, charities, Lusaka, volunteers, wildlife, Zambia

Volunteer Work At Mwandi Mission

I don’t normally reproduce Guest reviews for the blog, after all you can check them on our site anyway, but I’m making an exception in this case because of the reference to Mwandi Mission. I know lots of people would like to spend some time undertaking voluntary work in Africa, and Mwandi’s one of the best places you can do this! Here’s the review:

“My daughter and boyfriend stayed at Chanters Lodge last October and highly recommended it. They were so right. When I decided to volunteer in the Livingstone area I emailed Richard, the owner, and he could not have been more helpful. He put me in touch with a wonderful project in Mwandi

I stayed a total of five nights at Chanters. The accommodation is first-rate and the restaurant one of the best in Livingstone – the pepper steak and Zambian dishes were my favourites. We had poolside air-conditioned rooms set in a beautiful garden. It is an intimate hotel (about 10 rooms) with a terrace to eat on as well as an inside dining room and lounge. Richard collected us from the airport and took us back and could not have provided better service. He organised things for us including a sunset cruise on the Lady Livingstone (well worth the money), and a walking safari with Chiinga which was excellent ( we saw the rhino close up). The museum lived up to his recommendation and of course the Falls are fantastic – but a very wet experience in March (at least take a waterproof bag, we got soaked through in the rain/spray).

The project in Mwandi was brilliant. I spent three weeks there building a mud hut, helping at schools, feeding programme etc etc. I know Paula is always keen to have more volunteers and as it is only two hours by bus from Livingstone (very easy). Shorter visits are feasible.”

Great stuff! Thanks to the reviewer.

14
MAR

accommodation, Africa, charities, guests, TripAdvisor, volunteers, zambezi, Zambia

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