Hills Of Africa Travel

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!

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

Blogging Mistakes

Blogging Mistakes


I first started blogging from Chanters Lodge in June 2006 and have found it challenging but rewarding. I loved this excellent article in Mashable which really says it all! The photo? The fabulous Victoria Falls, just 10 kms from Chanters Lodge.

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

Business blogging can be exceptionally rewarding. When done correctly, a successful blog can bring attention to your business, can attract new customers, and can turn your current customer base into the type of fans that companies like Apple, Netflix, and Ben and Jerry’s have: people who will not only buy your product or service, but evangelize it to their peers. Of course, like anything, there is a right way to go about starting a business blog and a wrong way.
Creating a blog for your small business isn’t easy; it requires hard work and the ability to think creatively about your work. But if you avoid the five big mistakes laid out in this post, your chances of building a successful business blog will be much better.

Mistake #1: Treating Your Blog Like a Press Center

The number one mistake that business bloggers make is to treat their blog as an extension of their current press center. Blogging is a conversation and it offers a way for your customers to connect with your business on a completely new level. If you use your blog to republish press releases your customers will have no reason to keep reading and they’ll also likely not trust your content. Don’t ever put out a press release on your blog. You can use your blog to make product or other business announcements, but do so with original writing and in a more casual voice. Use your blog to write about things other than your core business. Share your thoughts on your industry, share insights into the day-to-day work life and processes at your company, and provide tips and tricks you have learned during your time in business.

Mistake #2: Not Blogging Regularly

Think about the blogs you read on a regular basis — how many of them publish only sporadically? Most successful blogs put out new content at least a couple of times per week and try to stick to a regular schedule. Consistently putting out quality content will keep readers returning and over time it will help you build a community and turn your customers into fans.
Remember that anything can provide fodder for a good blog post, so pay attention to the things you read or see on other blogs, newspapers, magazines, or television. Have blogs prepared ahead of time.

Mistake #3: Not Enabling Conversation

As I already said, blogging is a conversation, and not allowing it to occur on your blog is a mistake. It’s true that blog comments can open you up to criticism, but blogging is an unparalleled opportunity to connect with your customers. You’ll get a lot more out of blogging if you enable — and even encourage — your customers to respond to what you write.

Mistake #4: Making New Content Hard to Discover

Your blog won’t be very helpful to readers if they aren’t able to easily find new content. You need to make your blog discoverable and you need to make sure that when you add new content, your regular readers will be able to find it. Make your blog easy to find by linking to it prominently from your company’s web site and including your blog’s URL in your email signature, on your business cards, and in sales and marketing collateral. Use a full RSS feed (because the goal with most business blogs should be to get read, not boost page views) and make it easy for your readers to find and subscribe to. Embrace social media technologies like Twitter and Facebook as a way to notify your fans and followers of new blog content, and make it easy for your readers to share content with each other through social media channels and via email.

Mistake #5: Expecting Too Much, Too Soon

Blogging isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. Your blog won’t be an overnight success, and for the first few months it might feel like you’re writing for no one. It can take time to build up your readership and have a regular community of people who participate on your blog. Don’t expect immediate returns from your blog and do expect to put in a lot of hard work. Set attainable goals and realize that you’re in it for the long haul. Don’t cancel your blogging efforts after three months — give it at least a year of regularly putting out quality, original content. And make sure that your blog is easy to find, and that your readers are able to easily comment and share posts with others.

There you are then – get blogging!

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Africa, blog, Chanters, livingstone, management, victoriafalls, Zambia

The Gregersens And Those Strawberries!

The Gregersens And Those Strawberries!


One of the things people say they miss most when they leave Africa to settle back wherever they first came from, is friendship – I’ve never left but I believe it’s true. I’ve met and become friends with so many people in my 40 odd years as an ‘expatriate’. People leave and leave a void. Luckily these days you can still keep in close touch on sites like Facebook and Twitter. Anyway I digress!

See that picture? That’s me holding up a packet of strawberries – did I buy them from Spar in Livingstone? Did I h*ll! They were brought to Chanters Lodge for me by David Gregersen after he’d Twittered about his fabulous strawberries & I begged for some! David is @DavGreger on Twitter if you’re interested and is a great follow! Shortly after this picture was taken I scoffed the lot in secret, in one sitting!

David and Linda Gregersen live in Kalomo, Southern Province, Zambia – they have a great blog Gregersenblog – David says “This is my (Linda’s) account of our life at Namwianga Mission in Kalomo, Zambia. We teach at George Benson Christian College preparing students to become secondary teachers. We frequently travel to area villages and churches to tell the story of Jesus Christ. We are supported by our home congregation of 20 years, Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ in Austin, Texas.”

The Gregersens have been great supporters of Chanters Lodge since I’ve known them and continue to be so, recommending us to everyone who passes through their fantastic mission. Sometimes a phone call “we’re on our way overseas Richard, can we come for one last bream fillets and chips before we go?” They’ve coped with the hardships and problems that come your way in Africa in amazingly good spirits – very tough times in Linda’s case. I believe they’re currently deciding whether next year will be the time for them to return home, which brings me back to where I started – if they do decide ‘time’s up!’ I for one will miss them like H*ll! (They’re Christians so I can’t spell it out!)

Thanks again Dave and Linda!

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accommodation, Chanters, charities, food, guests, Zambia

Chanters Lodge – Restaurant Terrace

Chanters Lodge – Restaurant Terrace


Yesterday I posted a Guest review from Louisa Chanda, together with a photo of our pool. Louisa works in Customer Relations with Proflight, Zambia’s leading domestic airline and stayed with us recently at Chanters Lodge with her family – here’s the second great photo showing our restaurant terrace.

Louisa’s dad Chris Thackray and I first met in Malawi in 1976! It was great to see him again after a long time and to catch up on all his news. He and his charming wife Birgitta now live in Sweden, fairly near Stockholm.

Louisa was also busy hunting down new office premises for Proflight in Livingstone city centre – when they’re open I’ll let you know when and where!

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Africa, airlines, Chanters, guests, restaurants, victoriafalls, Zambia

“Much More Than A Guest House”

“Much More Than A Guest House”


I just love it when Guests send me photos after they’ve left for home, and they’re always better than anything I’ve ever managed myself! Louisa Chanda, husband Michael, and her dad Chris and his wife Birgitta recently stayed at Chanters Lodge, Livingstone for a long weekend, to celebrate Louisa and Mike’s 3rd wedding anniversary. I received this e mail after their visit:

“Thanks so much for the warm and friendly environment that we received from both you and your girls. The food was lovely and it was much more than a guest house…it was like going to stay at a friend’s house.

We will definitely be back!! I know that Dad and Birgitta really enjoyed their time there. I have attached a couple of photos that you might want to use for your lodge website…I like the one of the pool and the one of the verandah taken from the garden. You probably have loads like it but just in case :)”

And there’s the first of the photos above, showing better than I could, the quality of our swimming pool and the progress on Rooms 11 and 12! Thanks Louisa, I’ll post the other photo tomorrow!

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accommodation, Africa, Chanters, extension, guests, livingstone, victoriafalls, Zambia

Power Of Love Foundation

Power Of Love Foundation


Recently Alka Subramanian was a Guest at Chanters Lodge in Livingstone. Alka is a Director of the Power of Love Foundation in Lusaka, and this is what they do!

Power of Love develops smart, effective methods to strengthen the community response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Currently, though 99% of the work to counter the spread of HIV is being done at the grassroots level, little funding is going to these community-based organizations. The money that does reach them is used to fulfill immediate on-the-ground needs.

Program funding is often based on meeting performance goals that measure success only by how many people the program reaches, not how effectively the program reaches them. There are few resources and little time in grassroots organizations to explore new, potentially more effective responses to counter the spread of HIV.

Power of Love believes that by utilizing technology and business processes appropriately, we can build creative response models that increase the output of care for each dollar donated.
We design, develop, and test innovative response models to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As the models prove successful, Power of Love shares them with existing grassroots organizations and communities interested in starting new programs for themselves.
We certainly wish them all the best with their wonderful project!

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accommodation, Africa, Chanters, charities, Lusaka, Zambia

Activities – Kijubi.com

Activities – Kijubi.com


There are so many different activities available for visitors staying at Chanters Lodge, Livingstone, to a certain extent depending on the time of year – right now the most popular are white water rafting (pictured above), visits to Livingstone Island and the Sunset Cruise. We spend a lot of time trying to guide Guests in the right direction in terms of what they’d like to do. For this reason the following article in the New York Times caught my attention:

“You picked the place, found the perfect hotel, and secured your flights. Now what are you actually going to do on your vacation? Kijubi.com, a new vacation activity site that went live today, hopes to answer that question for you. The site, which is meant to sound like “Could You Be” — as in, “Kijubi surfing?” — allows travelers to easily search and book more than 70 categories of experiences from sea kayaking to skydiving to theme parks, by theme, activity or location. A recent search for activities in Newport Beach, for example, shot back a list of 109 options including surfing lessons, whale watching, theme park tickets, horseback riding and paintball.

“The online travel agencies do a terrific job of getting you to your destination but don’t address what to do when you get there,” said Brian Fried, Kijubi’s chief executive. “No one comes home and says, ‘Man, I had a great rental car experience.’ They say ‘I went shark diving.’”

But the site, which currently lists about 250 vendors and roughly 1,000 activities, still has a long way to go to fill this niche. Only a few states, including California, Florida, and Nevada, are listed and many of the activities are obvious, like rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park. Videos, user ratings and reviews are still to come. “We think we’ve just scratched the surface of reaching a critical mass of recreation vendors,” said Mr. Fried. Other destinations, he said, will include Hawaii, Colorado, and New York.”

Let’s hope Africa, Zambia and Livingstone soon feature on their site too! Or maybe someone needs to start a site like this for Southern Africa?

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accommodation, activities, Africa, Chanters, livingstone, rafting, usa, victoriafalls, Zambia

Anyone For Pimms?

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!

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

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