wildlife – Chanters Lodge Livingstone

Whale Sharks, Ras Mbisi & Barefoot Luxury!

I love the blog from RasMbisi and @RasMbisi on Twitter too for that matter. Michelle, her husband and young family emigrated from UK a few years’ ago to set up their fabulous lodge on Mafia Island off the coast of Tanzania. Just how exciting and adventurous is that?

To prove my point, check Michelle’s latest blog about her Guests swimming with whale sharks:

“Kaskasi (northern trade monsoon) finally dropped slightly today, the sea looks like a mill pond this morning. Wageni (guests) off first thing to swim with whale sharks, armed with Bacon rolls, homemade pastries and strong coffee. Ibra our Dhow skipper spent 3 years working with a marine research programme and therefore has an extremely strong code of conduct regarding the Whale sharks, all guests get a lecture before he will allow them in the water. He and Johnson then swim with the guests watching out for the weaker swimmers whilst Bakari looks after the boat and gets the coffee and snacks ready for everyone when they get out. Hot coffee is always welcome after snorkeling even in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.”

If, like me, you’re ignorant about whale sharks (whales or sharks? I asked myself) here’s about them:

“The whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is a slow moving filter feeding shark, the largest living fish species. The largest confirmed individual had a length of 12.65 metres (41.50 ft) and a weight of more than 21.5 tonnes (47,000 lb), but unconfirmed claims report considerably larger whale sharks. This distinctively-marked fish is the only member of its genus Rhincodon and its family, Rhincodontidae (called Rhinodontes before 1984), which belongs to the subclass Elasmobranchii in the class Chondrichthyes. The shark is found in tropical and warm oceans, lives in the open sea with a lifespan of about 70 years. The species originated about 60 million years ago. Although whale sharks have very large mouths, they feed mainly, though not exclusively, on plankton, microscopic plants and animals, although the BBC program Planet Earth filmed a whale shark feeding on a school of small fish.”

Michelle blogs her menus too, and sometimes Tweets them – don’t blame me if they have you drooling and already checking flights to Mafia Island. “Barefoot luxury” they call it “omg, smh” as they say on Twitter!

Awesome!

16
JAN

Africa, guests, hotels, Tanzania, tourism, travel, uk, wildlife

Ganesh The Elephant

From Zambezi Elephant Trails: (provider for the elephant encounter/ride for Guests at Chanters Lodge):

“It is with great regret and a lot of sadness that I’m writing to let you know that Ganesh, our youngest elephant calf died on Saturday night.

Ganesh had been with us for 12 weeks after being found alone along Nakatindi Road on October 12, 2009. He had taken to the complex calf formula very well and had bonded with our elephants, notably 5 year old female Chavaruka and 2 year old Nandi. We had also provided three human ‘nannies’ for round the clock feeding and emotional support. In his time with us he had thrived, growing 6 cm in height and adding 15 cm to his girth.

Up until Saturday evening Ganesh had shown no signs of illness, he was carefully charted for feeding, sleeping and bodily functions. When well rested he would join the other elephants in the bush, would engage in play with the smaller elephants and he started learning how to swim with the herd a few weeks ago.

Due to the rapid onset of symptoms of shock and apparent respiratory paralysis that is consistent with snake bite (most probably mamba) we are led to believe this may have been fatal for an otherwise healthy young elephant.

Ganesh was treasured by all the staff and elephant herd up at ZET and we are all devastated by his loss.”

Deepest sympathies to all concerned

15
JAN

activities, Chanters, guests, wildlife, Zambia

Gorgeous Giraffe!

Yesterday I wrote about how easy it is to undervalue the beautiful area in which I’m lucky enough to work and live, and how, sometimes, problems of infrastructure – internet, electricity, roads, water, as well as supplies and services etc can blot out that beauty from one’s mind!

Strange then that early this morning this natural beauty should present itself so clearly when I was dropping off Guests, staying with us at Chanters Lodge, at the Royal Livingstone for them to take the early morning breezer to Livingstone Island so they could swim in Devil’s Pool.

Isn’t that just the most wonderful creature I met having it’s breakfast?!

22
NOV

accommodation, activities, Africa, Chanters, guests, hotels, wildlife, Zambia

Snakes And Things….

There’s a great crocodile park in Livingstone popular with Guests staying at Chanters Lodge. Apart from seeing various different sizes of crocodiles in lovely manicured garden surroundings, you can, if you so wish, play with snakes – as indeed Linda Webb is doing – a recent guest of ours from the Netherlands. One of my Facebook friends tells me it’s a harmless brown house snake – I’ll take his word for it!

Nice one Linda!

27
OCT

activities, Africa, Chanters, guests, livingstone, wildlife, Zambia

Frogging Safaris…..Yes, Frogging Safaris!

I’ve been battling African Bullfrogs and Tree Frogs and goodness knows what other kind of frogs at Chanters Lodge Livingstone for years now – at certain times of the year they make a terrible racket in our garden in the evenings, such that you can hardly hear yourself think! Now, shock! Horror! People are advertising FROGGING SAFARIS! Yes! And to make matters worse, there’s my friends at Hills Of Africa pushing it for all they’re worth! Oh well, each to his own I suppose! Not for me thanks a lot! Here’s all about it…

“Impressionable mediums such as Hollywood and novels have positioned Africa as a continent synonymous with fierce game, adventurous safaris, and stunning wildlife. But Africa embodies much more than its traditional stereotype as a game-viewing safari destination. Although game-drives are the perfect way to observe the Big Five and other large African animals, it’s impossible to immerse yourself in the minute details of the African bush, where vehicles are forbidden.

Teeming with some of the world’s most intriguing flora, peculiar insects, stunning nocturnal creatures, and mysterious wilderness, Africa is abundant with hidden treasures and unspoiled terrain that make walking safaris a must. There are a variety of walking safaris to choose from, depending on your personal preference. Many travelers enjoy the niche-oriented walking safaris such as those that focus specifically on birding, plants, or lions. But one of those most interesting niche-oriented walking safaris is a frogging safari.

It may sound odd, but a frogging safari is a unique way to observe some of Africa’s endangered amphibian species, and is highly adventurous as it does encourage some detective work on your part. One of South Africa’s most reputable places to enjoy a frogging safari is the Dunes Country House in St. Francis Bay, South Africa. Here, extremely knowledgeable safari guide, Warren, who specializes in frogs, educates you on the unique lifestyle, behavior, and habits of frogs and opens your eyes to peculiar frog species that are endemic to the area.

With nearly 100 species of frog found throughout Southern Africa, approximately 47% of which are only found in the South African region, a frogging safari in St. Francis Bay opens your eyes to some of the world’s most rare and mesmerizing amphibians. The decrease in the African frog population can be correlated with indirect human influences such as pollution and deforestation.

On the Dunes Country House frogging safari with Warren, you’ll . . .

* Begin your excursion at sunset and will be equipped with headlamps, nets, and gum boots.
* Take a Land Rover to Dunes Country House’s private nature reserve, Thula Moya, where you will find a variety of frog species.
* Hear the beautiful whistles and songs of the resident male frogs. Each male frog looking for a female mate works hard at their music to be the loudest, because in the end, the loudest frog gets the girl.
* Learn about the frog species in the area and discover what makes these frogs unique creatures. From the soothing sounds to the vibrant colors and hues of these frogs, you’ll discover the purpose of each frog characteristic.
* Need to keep an eye open in search of colorful frogs. Frogs range in color to bright reds, yellows, and greens, to brown hues with intricate detailed skin.
* See a variety of frog species including the painted reed frog, cape sand frog, raucous toad, eastern leopard toad, clicking stream frog, bronze caco, and striped stream frog–to name a few.

When you arrive back at the Dunes Country House, you have the opportunity to purchase a hand-beaded frog statue as a souvenir from local crafters. The proceeds from this purchase will further go to the preservation efforts of the area.

Experience the beauty of Africa on a South African family safari or honeymoon safari vacation. Let Hills of Africa Travel create for you a detailed itinerary that is tailored to your every individual preference. Contact us today at 800.940.9344. We’re looking forward to making your dreams come true.

Would you enjoy a frogging safari in Southern Africa? Well stop off at Chanters Lodge Livingstone if you haven’t had enough frogging!

3
OCT

Chanters, frogs, livingstone, rsa, tourism, wildlife, Zambia

Beware! Elephant!

Guess what we saw when I was taking some Chanters Lodge Guests to visit the Victoria Falls on Tuesday morning? That’s right! This herd of elephant! Weren’t we lucky!?

The Guests were busy with their cameras and really it never occurred to me to take a photo. I guess we take things like this too much for granted because we live here, but it really is an awesome sight! Isn’t it?

So I did take a photo, and there it is!

1
OCT

accommodation, Africa, Chanters, victoriafalls, wildlife

Hills Of Africa Travel

I found Hills of Africa first on Twitter where they are very active, informative, interesting and fun too! This is what they offer:

“For many people, bringing the whole family on vacation can sometimes mean fewer destination choices and conflicting desires on where to travel. Since there are so many family-oriented accommodations to choose from, it almost seems less stressful to choose a popular family vacation destination than to have to research unique places to take your family that are both safe and exciting.

Perhaps you stress about the safety and convenience factors of traveling internationally. Maybe you only feel safe going to trusted places you have heard about from friends or family. All of these reasons that lead to your stress are justifiable concerns. But what if there were a place you could bring the entire family that would introduce them to . . .

• An exotic world of adventure.
• Inspirational cultures.
• Unspoiled wildernesses.
• A safe traveling experience.
• Exceptional cuisine.
• Highly-acclaimed accommodations with superior service, and comfortable ambiances.
• A place less frequented by tourists, allowing you to get a real taste for the culture of the particular destination without having an overly westernized experience.

If all the above reasons provide solutions and ease to your concerns, then an African family safari is the perfect trip for you and your family. As one of the very few places in the world where you can experience unspoiled wilderness as it was from the beginning, Africa is an eye-opening continent that educates, inspires, and leaves a lasting impression on you and your family for the rest of your life.

An African safari vacation isn’t just for couples or retirees who are looking to travel the world. A trip to Africa can be a very unique and rewarding family experience. As a native of Zimbabwe, I have traveled throughout Africa as well as a wide spectrum of destinations around the world, and nothing compares to Africa’s unique and friendly spirit. Visiting and researching dozens upon dozens of accommodations across the southern countries of Africa, my team and I provide clients with only the best accommodations in Africa.

Now a resident of the United States, I frequently travel to Africa with my family and believe that the next best thing to living in Africa is sharing it with your family. Experience the magic of Africa with your family. Let Hills of Africa Travel create a detailed itinerary, tailored around your every individual preference. Contact us today at 1.800.940.9344. We’re looking forward to making your dreams come true . . .”

There you are then, and don’t forget to stay at Chanters Lodge in Livingstone while you’re about it!

28
SEP

Africa, Chanters, tourism, travel, victoriafalls, wildlife, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Anyone For Pimms?

Check this cheeky monkey at the Royal Livingstone! While Mary Schmidt, a Guest of ours staying at Chanters Lodge Livingstone, was visiting the hotel, sipping a lovely Pimms and preparing to watch the sunset, matey here decides he’ll have the fruit out of her glass! Husband Torr was fast enough to snap it!

The Royal Livingstone replaced the Pimms – of course – and Mary and Torr had another great African story!

19
SEP

Africa, Chanters, hotels, livingstone, victoriafalls, wildlife, Zambia

Varndean College play 107.7 fm

Not so much an experience more of a party, is what I’d say about this week’s edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the DJMJ Ingredient ft Soulchild! The show airs at 20.00 hrs every Sunday evening on
107.7 fm Zambezi Radio, Livingstone’s best loved local radio station. Why? Well the two young ladies pictured above, Dorothy Spencer (right) and Maddy Rayner from Varndean College in Brighton, Sussex, UK made it seem like a party, bright, talkative, pretty and vivacious as they were! Also in the picture is Alrik Green a lecturer from Varndean. Not in the photo, but very much in the studio was Cerys Green, Alrik’s young daughter – “it’s pronounced Kerris Richard it’s Welsh”, she told me after I’d repeatedly mispronounced it! Sorry Cerys!

Alrik and wife Jane, as well as Cerys and her young brother Jake (the latter was very cheesed off not being allowed to come to the studio) were staying in accommodation reserved at Chanters Lodge for their week long visit to Livingstone, the Varndean students were accommodated at Jolly Boys, the best of Livingstone’s two back packer lodges. “Do you have messages for any listeners?” I asked Maddy and Dorothy early on in the show “we’ll do it together” they laughed and proceeded to alternately read out a long list of names. “Are they all staying at Jolly Boys?” I asked surprised, “then maybe it should be The Jolly Boys Experience with the Chanters Lodge Ingredient this week!” “They’re not all staying there” laughed the girls “but some are and others are people we’ve met since we’ve been in Zambia”.

“What are you doing in Zambia?” DJMJ Milli Jam wanted to know. The girls and Alrik explained they’d been involved in a Kaloko Trust (a Brighton based trust) project near Luansobe, south of Ndola on the Copperbelt, building toilets at Kwesha Primary School as well as making chairs and tables for the same school. Had they enjoyed it? Yes! Had they thought the trip worthwhile? Yes! “And how were you received by the Zambian population and the students at the school?” I asked “wonderfully well!” They all agreed! “And what have you been doing since you came to Livingstone?” George Soulchild asked “You should know” they said to him “we’ve been partying and we’ve seen you at one of the clubs we went to!” Fits of laughter! “Did you enjoy your safari to Chobe National Park?” Milli Jam asked the girls – they had and had been lucky to see both lion and leopard. “We went to the crocodile park and I held a crocodile” chipped in little Cerys. “Great stuff!” We said!

The music was good. Two local tracks, actually the same two as we’d played last week. “Why?” I wanted to know. “They’re hot!” I was told. ‘Nafuti Nafuti’ by Baska Baska (‘again and again’) and Mampi’s ‘High on Me’. As usual we played the UK number one of the week – ‘I Gotta Feeling’ by the Black Eyed Peas, back to back with ‘Candy’ by Paolo Nutini, my track of the moment! ‘Remedy’ from ‘Little Boots’ is high in the charts right now but it was new to the girls, so too was ‘Thinkin’ & Linkin” by Liquid Danger, a Zambian rap artist. Now that did surprise the assembled company – more about that next week! DJMJ loves Ne-Yo so it was no great surprise to hear ‘Round and Round’ and when we featured ‘The Climb’ by Miley Cyrus, Maddy looked at me shocked! “But I love this track!” She exclaimed! Yes Maddy! “Sport, football?” DJMJ wanted to know but disappointingly there wasn’t a Gunner amongst ’em “Liverpool, Man U and Chelsea” only George Soulchild(Liverpool) looked slightly happy. “Why don’t you support Brighton’s local team?” I wanted to know. “Ooooh! They’re our second favourites” they all said looking sheepish, as opposed to gullish! (geddit?)

We ended with the usual questions about future plans. Maddy wanted to travel and intended to start soon. Dorothy wasn’t quite sure but thought she might go straight to University. They both said they’d like to be married 10 years from now and actually named names of young British celebrities as potential partners, not famous enough for me to have heard of or to remember for that matter! Alrik still hoped to be married to Jane, but said he wasn’t sure where he’d be in 10 years time, but he was sure that if you’d asked him that question 10 years ago, he wouldn’t have answered that he’d be appearing live on local radio in Livingstone, Zambia. Nice one!

What about Cerys, would she like to be married 10 years from now? ‘DEFINITELY NOT!’ was her emphatic reply. Right on Cerys!

11
AUG

accommodation, Chanters, guests, livingstone, music, radioshow, wildlife

Lufupa River Camp

Here’s something different from Wilderness Safaris: The camp is 350 kms from Lusaka on a newly tarred road:

“The well-known Lufupa area of Zambia’s Kafue National Park is recognised as a focal point for prolific animal and bird life. Situated at the confluence of the Lufupa and Kafue Rivers, this site offers access to productive game viewing areas in the dambos (open grassy clearings) and woodlands of the northern Kafue. Puku, impala, and Defassa waterbuck are common while more unusual species include Lichtenstein’s hartebeest. The area is renowned for its leopard viewing and elephant and lion sightings are regular.

The newly-built Lufupa River Camp features nine comfortable en-suite tents (two of which are family rooms) on the banks of the Kafue River offered on a bed-and-breakfast basis. The vibrant social hub is the whimsically named Kafue River Café with a bar and restaurant; a la carte meals and drinks are served during the day and early evening to guests of Lufupa River Camp and the nearby campsite.

Activities (at extra cost) include day and night nature drives exploring prime game viewing areas adjoining the Kafue River and Lufupa Channel. Boat trips reveal the incredible hippo population of the area complemented by a constant array of colourful waterbirds, reptiles and other life amongst the riverine vegetation. Guided nature walks and fishing excursions are also on offer.”

3
AUG

accommodation, activities, Kafue, tourism, wildlife, Zambia

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