The Chinese Back Zambia Safari

A ten-man Chinese group from the Federation of African and Middle East Merchants (FAMEM) were in Zambia. They were invited to sample Zambia safari...and decisions were made...

"We want to invest in the Zambian tourism industry," Ronald Lam chairman of FAMEM and delegation leader announced. The Chinese were visiting Livingstone, which by the way is the hometown of the Victoria Falls. Now the Chinese have also joined the Zambian safari song!

No doubt the populous China and its galloping economy will have an impact on Zambia safari. Accommodation problems will be a thing of the past. Just visualize it. Chinese architecture at the Victoria Falls!

"We are here for tourism purposes, we want to help Zambia improve the tourism sector. We will try our best to bring in our investors, especially the small and medium scale investors, because they are the ones who matter most. Most of the Chinese tourists had been going to Egypt, Kenya and other places, but we want to try and divert their attention to Zambia," said Lam. Wow!

Chairman of commerce in the ruling MMD party in Zambia Sebastian Kopulande said, "Zambia needs to improve its tourism facilities in order for the country to accommodate large numbers of Chinese tourists that would soon start visiting Zambia."

...And our advice? Come’n in before they trample all the pristine wilderness or, ...wait for the palate of Chinese cuisine soon to come...

Zambian Airway’s Cheap Flights to Dubai

Zambian Airways recently launched the Lusaka-Dubai flight ie (Zambia to United Arab Emirates) on June 17. This new route is so popular that the air tickets are already sold out for July. Zambian Airways has introduced three flights a week to Dubai. The ticket only costs about 200 US dollars one-way. That’s Zambia safari connecting you to the Middle East.

Zambian Airways chief executive officer Don MacDonald said there was a huge public response to the newly introduced Lusaka-Dubai flight dubbed 'Dufly'. MacDonald advises that people wishing to fly to Dubai should make early bookings.

Dubai is both a tourist destination and a commercial center. The city is built for tourism and has excellent hotels, resorts, shops and sports facilities throughout the year. And remember, Dubai has the world’s most luxurious hotels such as the 7 star Burj Al Arab Hotel.

At 400 US dollars round trip the air ticket, excluding taxes, is the lowest rate for getting out of Lusaka to Dubai …and at this low cost you’ll be back to resume your Zambia safari as if nothing interrupted it.

Barclays Miles Ahead and Zambia Safari

Barclays Bank Zambia Plc adds fuel to the Zambia safari campaign. On June 23, 05 the bank launched the Barclays Miles Ahead (BMA), a soccer project that will help youths develop soccer skills. The project started in London two weeks ago and its team is expected in Zambia in October.

The project is expected to raise money from charities and participants in the development of communities in which the bank operates in Europe, Africa and Middle East. Barclays hopes to raise at least 200,000 pounds sterling.

Andy Rigg managing director for Barclays said, "locally, we shall hold a tiger fishing expedition in the Lower Zambezi National Park (LZNP) in September. From this and other activities, we hope to raise an additional 100,000 pounds."

The LZNP is Zambia’s newest game park that hosts canoe safaris and a good spot of angling. And, of course, Zambia safari is the host.

Mr Rigg said the project would also be used as a platform in driving HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention among youths. In this first phase of this initiative the partnership is between Barclays Bank (BB), Grassroot Soccer Foundation (GSF) and the Kalusha Bwalya Foundation (KBF). Oh …Kalusha Bwalya is Zambia’s football icon! He’s vice president of the Football Association of Zambia and its technical director (meaning the head coach, you know.)

The project will train youths’ coaches in soccer and its main focus will be HIV/AIDS. The target is to reach 9,000 youths in the first phase. The Miles Ahead project initiative will enable the bank contribute to enhancing access to education, fight malaria and HIV/AIDS through sport.

One Bullet Visa for SADC and Zambia Safari

Patrick Kalifungwa, Zambian minister of tourism has revealed that Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries are pursuing the concept of "borderless tourism", to establishing a single visa system. "The instrument for this is the establishment of a regional visa whose objective is to increase mobility within the SADC region and boost tourism. This document will serve as a visa for all SADC countries," he said.

Well, this is not EU but the idea is parallel. Imagine a "one bullet" visa for SADC and at the centre is Zambia Safari.

The 12 SADC member states are; Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. All are Zambia’s neighbours apart from Lesotho, Mauritius, South Africa and Swaziland.

So from Zambia you can get on a plane and ‘hop’ into any direction and it’s all SADC. Just think what that Univisa will do. Make everyone’s life easy. What’s more Zambia safari will be at the centre, a real launch pad for southern Africa safaris.

And if business investment is your interest SADC will soon establish a common market. But Zambia is also a member of another; the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) which established a common market in 2000. Its headquarters is in Zambia.

Tourism Council launches “Destination Lusaka.”

TheTourism Council of Zambia (TCZ) is to launch "Destination Lusaka," a tourism promotion initiative to showcase facilities Lusaka offers to local, regional and international travellers. Lusaka's new shopping complex, Arcades, was the venue for the launch.

The aim of the initiative is to increase awareness of some of the excellent facilities in Lusaka. These venues include a range of hotels and lodges, comprehensive conference venues, modern shopping and entertainment complexes, and spectacular cultural and artistic attractions.

Adam Lethbridge, a committee member for the organizers, said marketing Zambia as a destination extends beyond tourism. He said Lusaka deserved to be recognized as a major hub in Central Africa for conferences, international meetings and as an attraction in its own right. …And Lusaka centrally located in Zambia is at the hub of Central Africa. Zambia has eight neighbouring countries and is a short ‘shuttle’ to South Africa.

Lethbridge said Arcades and other leading hospitality and entertainment organisations had partnered with the Tourism Council of Zambia for this purpose. Among those involved are Voyagers, Chaminuka, Holiday Inn, Taj Pamodzi Hotel, Lusaka Hotel, Zambian Airways and South African Airways.

Others are Protea Hotel, Hotel Intercontinental, Garden Group of Hotels, Lilayi Lodge and Cresta Golfview.

South African Airways Passengers for Zambia Safari

South African Airways (SAA) will soon start direct flights between Johannesburg in South Africa and the safari capital of Zambia Livingstone. That’s a safari boost for both Zambia and South African tourism.

SAA president and CEO, Khaya Ngqula, said the service will start in July and operate three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The SA 048 flight, a new A319 aircraft, will serve the route that takes 1hour and 50 minutes.

The Livingstone route will open at the same time as the new Zanzibar route. Says Ngqula," ...adding exquisite destinations like Livingstone and Zanzibar to our African route network fulfils our aim to expand into Africa, our primary market."

The new African fairytale route will serve corporate and business travellers who will see the Victoria Falls from the Zambian side. Leisure travellers can now view the nature and magnificence of Victoria Falls .

Zambia Safari to Reintroduce Elephant Hunting

Zambia is to re-introduce elephant hunting which was suspended over twenty years ago Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has announced. It’s a new dimension to Zambia safari.

However, it’s not a hunting extravaganza! Only two areas have been designated for elephant sport hunting where elephant numbers have been monitored and data is available. Zambia's elephant population currently stands about 25,000 strong.

The two areas chosen for big game hunting are:

• the Lower Zambezi Area Management Unit (Chiawa and Rufunsa game management areas) in the southern part of the country,
  
• and the South Luangwa Area Management Unit (Lupande game management area) in the eastern province.

Management areas are buffers to national parks and there are 34 of them in Zambia. So elephants as one of the Big Figure (elephants, lion, leopard, hippo, and buffalo) will still remain protected in the national parks.

ZAWA the wildlife authority argues that elephants in arid and semi-arid areas such as the Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa Protected Area Management Units compete for resources with humans. Poor beasts!

ZAWA add that it is wise to utilize a small portion of the population, through sport hunting, in areas where elephant populations have increased. That’s because the poacher, that scam of low class businessperson who kills wild game for profit is being kept at bay.

ZAWA is a member of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). So each tusk will be marked according to the CITES convention. Hunters will be allowed to export back to their countries only the items cleared through this process.

Zambia now has the capacity to harvest a maximum quota of 40 tusks (20 elephants) from sport hunting of the Zambian African elephant populations in Lower Zambezi Area Management Unit (LZAMU) and South Luangwa Area Management Unit (SLAMU). For big game safari hunters Zambia safari will soon provide for your enjoyment.

British Airways Writes a Zambia Safari Book

Now British Airways (BA) has joined the "Visit Zambia Campaign." To add to the three weekly flights to Zambia BA has launched a book "Zambia - Safari in Style" to market Zambia as a most sought after tourist destination in Europe and the United States. The British Airways country commercial manager Nilanthi Manatunga has announced.

Manatunga said, "The 10,000 copies in print will be distributed through selected tour operators and book stores in the UK, the rest of Europe and the United States." She said the book was not just articles on wildlife, game parks and lodges.

It also reveals Zambia safari " ..the real Africa".

Manatunga said the British Airways direct flights three times a week from London's Heathrow Airport to Lusaka make Zambia a relatively easy long-haul destination for tourists from the US, the UK and the rest of Europe.

And the reason? A few safari awards… Africa's No 1 emerging tourist destination by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) and No 10 ranking in the "best long-haul destinations" by the UK 2004 Trends and Spends Survey. At No 10 Zambia is the only other African country in the top ten ranking in the world.

Charity Lumpa the Zambia National Tourist Board (ZNTB) managing director said the title, "Zambia - Safari in Style", was inspiring and appropriate. She commended British Airways for the confidence it had shown in Zambian tourism .

Airlines Connect Zambia Safari to Dubai

Zambian Airways and Air Malawi are to establish joint flights to Dubai (United Arab Emirates) through Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) effective June 17, 2005. Speaking at the launch of the flights, Zambian Airways chief executive officer Don MacDonald said, "The flights will be competitively priced in keeping with the airline's philosophy of delivering low fares."

And Air Malawi chief executive officer Esther Chioko said the partnership made economic sense. "We have taken courage as airlines. We have decided, we are determined we will do it on June 17," she said.

Initially the two airlines will operate three times a week from Lusaka, departing Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and returning to Lusaka on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.

This deal increases the choices of air carriers for Zambia safari travelers. So connecting to the Middle East and even the Far East will be easy. But also the return trip to Zambia will be easy too. How delightful! Two airlines of two neighbourly countries; one "the warm heart of Africa" and the other "the ..real Africa." That’s what Malawi and Zambia safaris are famously known respectively.

Zambia Safari and the World Cup Soccer

The Zambian no 1 sport is soccer…otherwise known as football. Up until now Livingstone has only been known for safaris because it’s the home of the Victoria Falls and the Adventure Centre of Southern Africa.

But now behold. In seizing a rare opportunity the civic fathers of Livingstone City Council have happily granted the ministry of sport 20 hectares of land for the construction of a 30,000-seater ultra modern soccer stadium. George Kalenga, the Livingstone Town Clerk, disclosed recently. In one stroke the municipal has married Zambia safari with soccer!

The Livingsrone Stadium complex with a shopping mall will be constructed in readiness for the 2010 World Cup Soccer finals billed for South Africa. The stadium will take about three years to build and will be on offer for camping of qualifying teams the World Cup final.

Rev. Gladys Nyirongo, the Zambian Minister of Sports announced that the Zambian government plans to build two more stadia complexes that will cater for other sports as well. Both will have shopping malls too!

One stadium will be built in Lusaka next to the present Independence Stadium and will seat 65,000 spectators. The other stadium will be located in Ndola about 300 kilometres north of Lusaka. This stadium will be built on the site of the demolished Dag Hammerskjoeld Stadium. It was named after the late Secretary General of United Nations who died in a plane crash near Ndola on September 18, 1961. Hammerskjeold was on his way to resolve the DR Congo’s civil war.

Now don’t laugh at this! In 1988, Zambia was to host the African football showpiece, the Cup of African Nations tournament. In their wisdom, and governments do think they’re wise, planned to demolish the old Dag Hammerskjeold Stadium in order to replace it with an ultra modern spots complex. The demolition happened but the sports stadium did not materialize…

But happily Zambia the African safari and tourism keep getting better.

ZSIC Joins in the Zambia Safari Race

The Zambia National Tourist Board (ZNTB) on Friday June 3 hosted a stakeholder’s workshop at the New Fairmount Hotel in Livingstone. The workshop was sponsored by the Zambia State Insurance Corporation (ZSIC) who launched their recently introduced product the “Tour Pack.”

The tour pack is an insurance policy designed for Zambian tourism. So everyone, operators and tourist alike, may enjoy their safaris without any worries. It’s a neat treat really!

In attendance during the workshop were the Zambia Police Service, Immigration Department and Customs. They were invited to formulate, advise and assist ZNTB improve tourism, its marketing, its promotion and its development. Charity Lumpa, the managing director of ZNTB announced recently.

Don MacDonald, one of Zambia’s great entrepreneurs presented a paper on the Public-Private Sector Partnership. The Role of the Police Service was presented by the Police spokesperson, Brenda Muntemba while the Promotion of Tourism through Immigration and Customs was defined by their spokesperson, Mulako Mbangweta.

And what did the workshop achieve? It got all the important links in tourism together and more importantly to support Zambia safari… So it’s safe and good!

South African Vp Samples Zambia Safari

Last weekend, Jacob Zuma, the South African Vice President (Veep) landed at Livingstone International Airport, in Zambia for a three-day state visit. That was no ordinary visit… and Zambia safari played host to this respected dignitary. He was accompanied by a 32-man delegation. Among his entourage was the deputy minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Rejoice Mabudafhasi.

On hand to welcome the South Africans was the Zambian Veep, Lupando Mwape with his entourage. Here was an epitome of what only the friendly people of Zambia know best. A warm African welcome! Clearly noticeable among the Zambian contingent was Patrick Kalifungwa, the Zambian minister of tourism. He lives and breathes Zambian safari and tourism.

In the even Zambia played host to the South African delegation at a dinner held at the posh and luxurious Royal Livingstone, a Sun International resort at Victoria Falls.

Jacob Zuma the South African Veep’s programme focused on Livingstone, Zambia’s tourism capital and Southern Africa adventure centre .

His itinary included meeting the South African business community at the Zambezi Sun, a twin Sun Hotel resort, then a visit to the Victoria Falls, locally known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the smoke that thunders.” Later he visited the Livingstone Museum and finally enjoyed a cruise on the mighty and wild Zambezi River. That’s two days of Zambia safari at his berk and call.

Then the Zambian Veep took him to Lusaka for his last leg of the visit. There the South Afican Veep paid a courteous call at the graves of fallen South African liberation heroes buried in Lusaka. He also saw the heritage sites and the former houses for ANC leaders in exile while in Zambia. During the South African independence struggle ANC leaders such the late President Oliver Tambo, the current President Thabo Mbeki and many others lived in Lusaka.

That’s why Zambia is a haven of peace…a haven for wildlife and great safari country too!

Now the BBC Supports Zambia Safari

A four-member crew of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is in Zambia. BBC has jumped onto the bandwagon to support the “Visit Zambia 2005” campaign. You see, even the BBC could not avoid noticing this special offer. That Zambia safari and tourism are now recognized as Africa’s best kept secret.

The BBC crew is in Livingstone for two days. On the third day they’ll travel to South Laungwa National Park, Zambia’s premier game reserve. Doris Kofi the Zambia National Tourist Board (ZNTB) public relations manager has confirmed.

Experts have described the South Luangwa National Park as having probably the largest variety and concentration of game in Africa and perhaps in the world too. It’s a vast wildlife sanctuary located in the southern end of the great East African Rift Valley. The park has also been pronounced as one of the finest viewing areas.

The footage that BBC will film of the park’s beautiful scenery and those of the fairytale awe of the Victoria Falls will be made into a documentary. This will be beamed on BBC Channels 1 & 2. So the British …and of course the rest of the world are in for a treat. Look out!

The mystic waterfall, the Victoria Falls , on the wild Zambezi River is the seventh wonder of the world. Because of its attraction to man since time immemorial it has remained shrouded in myth, awe, folklore and many rituals. It continues to amaze humans today as it did during the time of Dr David Livingstone on November 18, 1855, that’s 150 years ago.

Zambia safari go go go!

National Heritage Powers Zambia Safari

The National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) has developed four heritage site for Zambia safari. Donald Chikumbi, the Director of National Museum Board of Zambia announced recently. These sites are little known waterfalls in Zambia. By the way, there are eight waterfalls besides the Victoria Falls. The sites have been improved to ensure visitors’ comfort. You see, the comfort was non-existent before.

Remember Zambia still remains pristine in many places, what with a population density of only 13 people per square kilometre. The bush has remained unspoiled.

1. At Chishimba Falls; paved walking trails have been made. One can keep the grass out of their eyes as they walk about enjoying the scenic view.
   
2. Lumangwe Falls on Kalungwishi River is a miniature Victoria Falls complete with thunder, the ever present smoke (mist), a small rainy forest with evergreen vegetation and a sandy beach where the water drops thirty metres below. When you visit you’ll no doubt be reminded of the Victoria Falls. Up stream of the same river is another waterfalls. It’s called
   
3. “Kabwelume Falls.” Here a road and walking trails have been made to connect the two falls. A curio shop has been constructed and stone walkways and viewing points have been erected at the falls.
   
4. At Kilubwa Falls near Solwezi town in northwestern Zambia, another curio shop has been erected. The walkway has also been paved.

But NHCC has new plans for Zambia safari. They are developing a museum at Lundazi town in eastern Zambia. It will be called “Ntembwe” Community Museum.

But Lundazi is rather an interesting place. It has Zambia’s only castle…yes a castle as in a fortress. The Germany architecture is very evident here. And perhaps the castle will constitute part of the museum?