Craig Brown & Abby Wills


Craig and Abby, pictured above, staying at Chanters Lodge, guested on the latest edition of our Sunday night radio show – the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George da Soulchild – which airs every Sunday night from 20.30 – 21.30 hours on Zambezi Radio 107.7 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station. It was the last show of 2010!

Craig’s a New Zealander, Abby’s English, and although not married they’re partners and currently live in Johannesburg, South Africa where Craig’s a consulting engineer with Mott MacDonald an employee-owned management, engineering and development consultancy serving the public and private sector around the world. “Do you work?” Milli Jam asked Abby. “No” she replied “I’m a lady of leisure in Johannesburg with a great social life and loads of friends, mainly because of work permit problems”. “That must be a a bit boring, wouldn’t you prefer to be working”? I chipped in. “Not in the slightest”! Was Abby’s instant reply which had us laughing.

Quite a lot of chat on the show was about rugby. Obviously we wanted to know from Craig, a former player with London Scottish, why New Zealand had never won the Rugby World Cup! Craig claimed that they had, in the 80’s, but Abby quickly scotched this idea by reminding him that South Africa didn’t feature then, so somehow it wasn’t a genuine victory! Nice one Abby!

Craig and Abby told listeners about their fascinating travels to both Cambodia and Rwanda earlier in the year with the Penguins Rugby Club, teaching rugby in these developing countries to disadvantaged youngsters. They’d been surprised at the amount of raw talent seen in both places. The Penguins is a ‘by invitation only’ club and you can read more about it by following the link above. What did surprise us was to hear that Abby had also been a rugby player when she was younger until injury forced an early retirement. We also had respect for Craig on learning that he’d recently completed the Paris Marathon in under 3.5 hours.

The music on the show was good, as usual. We got off to a flier with the Ghanain band R2Bees ft Wande Coal’s ‘Kiss Your Hand’ back to back with the awesome ‘Man Down’ from Rihanna’s latest smash album. George chose Petersen’s ‘Wanna Dance With You’ and Kelvin Mwesa’s ‘Wonderful Time’ for his two local tracks. Milli Jam chose Jamie Foxx with ‘Winner’ and Akon’s (imo horrible) ‘No Labels’. We also played ‘Many of Horror’ by Biffy Clyro to give listeners a feel for the UK Christmas No.1. I commented that our closing track Sean Kingston’s great ‘Party All Night’ (and sleep all day) was a good track for this time of year in Livingstone.

Craig and Abby told listeners about their one day safari to Chobe National Park in Botswana where they’d been lucky enough to see a pride of 8 lions – a record for our guests on that trip. This delightful couple had also enjoyed their helicopter flight over the Falls, as well as a sunset cruise and a morning river safari. Abby told listeners that on their last morning, the next day, she intended to bungee jump. (And she did!)

I took the chance to wish our listeners a belated Happy Christmas and a prosperous 2011, and also to thank the staff at the lodge for their extra-ordinary hard work during the holiday period. As we went on air the lodge was packed and for once the girls didn’t have too much chance to enjoy the show!

0

Mfue Lodge, Zambia


Nice to see a big site like HotelChatter giving Zambia some publicity!

“We were slightly obsessed with the best places to go glamping earlier this year but just as we started to think that glamping was all about Louis Vuitton trunks, WiFi, free-standing deep soaking tubs and champagne, this recent incident at the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia quickly ripped the cashmere sleep mask from our eyes.

A photographer and his wife were staying at a resort within the park and while the wife conversed with the lodge’s owner, a bull elephant came within three feet of their veranda. Fortunately, the guests were not harmed and the photog even managed to take a snapshot but the presence of wild animals at many of the wildlife resorts, particularly the ones located within national parks and game reserves, is not something to take lightly.

Coincidentally, this not the first time that elephants have decided to check-in to a hotel in Zambia.

Two years ago, at the Mfuwe Lodge in the South Luangwa National Park, elephants casually strolled along the hotel grounds and even through the lobby in search of mango trees with ripe fruit. We have to admit, that’s kind of a cool thing to experience during your stay.

If you think so too, elephants usually hit up the resort around the end of November and stay for about four to six weeks. Rates at the Mfuwe Lodge at that time start around $275 a night for a stay in one of their 18 thatched chalets. More on the elephants in reception can be found here and to make your rezzies go here.”

0

Sandra Ammitzboll & Charlotte Hall


I’m lucky aren’t I getting to be on radio with all these cute young Scandanavian girls!? But, would you like to know what was the best thing about last Sunday’s Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George da Soulchild, our regular Sunday night radio show which I co-host with these two great DJ’s? Well, apart from our two delightful Guests pictured above, Sandra and Charlotte from Sweden, it was the fact that after several months the lift was working to the studios located on the 6th floor of Livingstone’s tallest building. Funny though, I think I rather missed the climb! Or did!??!

On with the show! As mentioned our guests were Sandra and Charlotte, two students from Lund University in Sweden in their 3rd year of a degree course in social studies. They were taking a week off, staying at Chanters Lodge, having spent seven weeks in Chingola on the Copperbelt assessing the implementation of the UN Charter for Human Rights for Children. They had been interviewing grade 11 and 12 children and on the whole found that their rights were well looked after in Zambia. The girls talked of the rights to protection and participation amongst the 64 or so human rights for children mentioned in the charter. Awesome stuff!

Sandra and Charlotte told listeners they’d undertaken several activities since they’d been in Livingstone and raved about their breakfast visit to Livingstone Island, where they’d swum in Devil’s Pool and dangled over the edge of Victoria Falls. “Weren’t you scared”? We wanted to know. Terrified! They agreed, but they’d loved it! They’d also been to the new Arts Cafe in Livingstone where they’d watched dancing from around Zambia and had been roped into drumming and dancing themselves too! This wasn’t the only dancing they’d done since coming to town – on Friday night they’d hit the clubs and had a great time, they said! During their last few days of their visit they were toying with the idea of bungee jumping and/or a game drive – as you do!

The music was good as usual. ‘Christmas Lights’ by Coldplay was topical, and we dropped it back to back with ‘Love Letter’ by R Kelly. George featured his own music with two tracks by Kafuela ‘Your Smile’ and ‘Sky Is The Limit’. Great stuff George we all agreed! Milli Jam featured Justin Bieber’s ‘Latin Girl’ and the heavily censored ‘Run Away’ from the new Kanye West album. Rihanna’s ‘Man Down’ made our Swedish guests sit up and take notice and coupled with ‘Count On Me’ by Bruno Mars these were two of my ‘tracks of the moment’.

Did the girls have boyfriends back in Sweden? The guys wanted to know. Hesitation…..’not really’ seemed to be the answer. I, for one, didn’t believe that, or perhaps Swedish blokes are really slow! Ambitions? Sandra would like to work for an international outfit such as Save The Children, Charlotte seemed more interested in family therapy as a future career. Where would the girls like to be and what would they like to be doing 10 years from now? Married with loads of children they agreed!

What sports were the girls interested in? Dancing!

As usual we gave chart news, including the current top three singles in Sweden – all unpronouncable, as well as the top three in UK and USA. We greeted guests and staff alike and gave away our usual dinner for 2 to the first person to tell us where these lovely girls came from. Sweden of course was the sharp answer from Mohammed, who told us their names and what they were doing here too! Some people really want to come for dinner at Chanters Lodge!!

0

New Airport For Kasaba Bay


Having spent many wonderful holidays at Kasaba Bay in the 80’s this, from Lusaka Times is excellent news!

“The tarring of an International Airport at Kasaba Bay in the Northern Province is set to be completed in the first quarter of next year. This came to light when Northern Province Minister John Chinyanta visited the tourist resort to check on the progress of the construction works at the Airport site. According to engineers working on the project, about 85 per cent of the works on the runaway have been done.

However, the engineers told the Minister that works on the Airport project may be derailed if the rain pattern continues to be unpredictable in the area. And Mr. Chinyanta has expressed satisfaction with the quality of workmanship by the contractors working on the International Airport at Kasaba Bay. He said it is Government’s desire to see to it that the project is completed on time in order to open up the tourist resort to other investment opportunities.

Mr. Chinyanta further urged the contractors to speed up the construction works of the Airport in order to meet the deadline set for completing the project. So far, the compacting and leveling of the ground at the Airport site is in progress.

Meanwhile, Poweng Construction Company, contracted by Government to electrify Kasaba Bay, has made steady progress in putting up the power-lines. The firm has erected power poles from Mbala to Kasaba Bay in readiness for the electrification of the tourist resort. Once construction works are completed, Kasaby Bay will boost tourism investment in the Northern Tourism Circuit, which includes Northern and Luapula provinces respectively.

Currently, Government is implementing the Kasaba Bay integrated programme involving infrastructure development such as the construction of an International Airport, the grading of access roads and electrification of the tourist resort.”

0

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!

0

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.

2

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!

0

Eirin Ravndal, Zlata Sovinskaya & Turid Nilsen play 107.7 fm


Meet, from left to right in the above photo, Eirin, Zlata and Turid, three of the five Norwegian student teachers currently staying at Chanters Lodge, Livingstone while they gain teacher experience at Rainbow School just across the road from Chanters. The girls were guesting on The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George The Soulchild last Sunday. The show airs every Sunday on Zambezi Radio
107.7 fm, live from 20.30 – 21.30 hrs and features music and chat.

Having only been in Zambia for a week the girls were worried about speaking in English on the show and to add to their concern none of them had ever been on radio before! They had no need to be nervous, they were very happy and funny and there was a great audience response. How do I know? Well, every Sunday we give away a dinner for 2 at Chanters Lodge for the first person to text us the answer to a simple question – in this case which country did our Guests hail from. I judge the audience response from the number of text messages we get answering the question, and on this show there were plenty! Was Zambia what the girls had expected? They hadn’t known what to expect!

“What grades are you teaching”? Milli Jam asked the girls, and they explained that they were teaching pre-school. Little ones. “Is there a big difference between teaching methods in Norway and here” I wanted to know, and the girls commented that in Norway there was much more play teaching than here where the pre-school was more serious. Which was the better method? A combination would be best the girls agreed. They told listeners they were teaching in the mornings, and in the afternoons were enjoying the sun by the pool at Chanters Lodge. Had they had time to do any of the wide range of activities available for visitors to Livingstone? The girls informed us that they’d just spent two days and one night in Chobe National Park. Had they seen lots of animals – they had – and loads of insects as well! “Were you scared”? I wanted to know. “Of the insects, yes”! They shrieked, and then roared with laughter!

“Have you got boyfriends back in Norway”? Milli Jam and George inevitably asked fairly early on in the show. Eirina and Turid had, Zlata had not. “Zlata” I pointed out enquiringly “you don’t sound Norwegian”. Zlata explained that she was in fact Russian, although she’d lived in Norway for about 10 years. “I think I’d like to learn Russian” George said quickly!!

The girls enjoyed the music on the show. As usual we opened with Candy by Aggro Santos then this week followed up quickly with ‘S&M’ by Rihanna (sticks and stones may break my bones but chains and whips excite me!) And Nelly’s ‘Just A Dream’. The two Zambian tracks George chose this week were ‘Naya’ by Judy (meaning ‘I’m leaving’) and ‘Wilala’ by Masi. (‘Don’t sleep before you resolve the problem’). Milli Jam selected Soulja Boy’s massive hit ‘Kiss Me Thru The Phone’ and Bow-Wow featuring Chris Brown with ‘Ain’t Thinking About You’. We also played ‘Happiness’ by Alexis Jordan and Rihanna’s ‘Love The Way You Lie (Part 2).

The guys wanted to know if the girls had been dancing at any of Livingstone’s night clubs and yes they had, the first weekend they were in town. Milli Jam quickly followed up with an invitation for them to visit Steprite, the club he manages in Livingstone when he’s not being a DJ on 107.7 fm. This coming weekend the girls intend to visit Victoria Falls which they haven’t yet seen.

Were they missing home? Yes, but not the -15C temperatures, or for that matter the dark days when the sun barely makes it over the horizon in Northern Norway. Pretty, intelligent, talkative and happy, these Nordic lasses were great Guests on the Chanters Lodge Experience.

0

Hendrik Segers & Emily Thigs Rock 107.7 fm


Meet Hendrik and Emily from Ghent in Belgium, pictured above in the studios of Zambezi Radio 107.7 fm in Livingstone on Sunday night 7th November, as they guested on our weekly radio show – The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George Soulchild. Emily and Hendrik, staying at Chanters Lodge for their holiday, have been an item for about 3 years. “How did you meet”? Milli Jam wanted to know. “At a party”, they explained. “Was it love at first sight”? I asked. They paused for thought. “Well yes it was really!” Sweet! “Marriage”? I continued. Emily roared with laughter, Hendrik looked shy and started muttering something about a ring! They look happy in the picture, don’t they?

“What made you choose Zambia and Chanters Lodge for your holiday”? Milimo asked, and Hendrik explained that he and Edward Chanter (my son) were friends on the internet through a mutual enjoyment of World Of Warcraft. Hendrik had seen Edward’s pictures of Zambia on his Facebook page, liked the look of it, and made a booking. Makes a change from TripAdvisor doesn’t it?! “World Of Warcraft”? Milli Jam enquired. World of Warcraft, often referred to as WoW, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment, a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft Universe, Hendrik explained. “Is it addictive”? I asked and Hendrik said that it certainly could be – there had been family crises when parents stopped children from playing. “Do you play”? We asked Emily. “Occasionally” she said.

Emily is a carer at De Beweging and Hendrik is in ICT with Eandis, one of Belgium’s largest energy companies. We didn’t talk so much about their work. Milli Jam wanted to know what activities this lively couple had undertaken while they’d been in Livingstone, and they explained that they’d been on the Chobe 1 day safari, the sunset cruise and horse riding, so far. They’d had to stop horse riding before the scheduled time due to the heat. Understandable given the recent searing 40+ temperatures in Livingstone.

The music on the show was good as usual. We featured the current number 1 in UK ‘Only Girl In The World’ by Rihanna as well as the number 1 from the previous week ‘Promise This’ by Cheryl Cole. There were local tracks from B-Flow with ‘No More Kawilo’ as well as Judy & Ston – ‘Doubting’. More on this from George on the blog later this week I’m sure. Milli Jam chose ‘Strike It Up’ by Black Box and CJ Lewis with ‘Calm Waters’. (At this point we received an sms from the Lodge reporting that the stand by generator was not working well, so the waters were far from calm!). We turned it up with Ciara featuring Usher and turned it on with Iyaz. We featured ‘Your Love’ by the awesome Nicki Minaj with Jay Sean and closed with ‘Night Nurse’ – a tribute to the late Gregory Isaacs.

Soccer? George was jubilant – a Liverpool supporter, as his team had beaten Chelsea that afternoon. Milli Jam and I – Arsenal – were fed up that the Gunners had surprisingly lost a home game to Newcastle United. Milli Jam went on to remind our Belgian guests that Charles Musonda, one of Zambia’s best ever footballers, made his career with Anderlecht in Belgium in the 80’s, and that two of his sons were currently playing for the club.

“Where would you like to be and what would you like to be doing 10 years from now”? Milli Jam summarised our popular show with the usual question. They answered at the same time “travelling” said Emily “married with children” said Hendrik – and then they both burst out laughing – again!

0
Page 6 of 10 «...45678...»