Introducing Zambia’s unparalleled Safari Lodges – The Chinzombo Story

With abundant wildlife, unspoilt wilderness, a circuit of simple yet stylish Safari camps and river lodges, insightful tour guides, Zambia undoubtedly is an up-the-hill top class safari destination for quibblers.

Among the many luxury safaris lodges for the affluent tourists to Zambia, Chinzombo is the place to stay. This camp is located in one of Zambia’s kept secret safari destination the South Luangwa National Park. The game park is one of the last great wildlife wonders of the world. This nine thousand square kilometres (3,475 square miles) pristine wilderness is a home to 60 different animal species, and over 400 different bird species including 39 birds of prey and 47 migrant species, definitely there is plenty for the birdwatcher to spot, whatever the season.

Internationally famous for the abundance of ‘leopards’ hence the parks nickname as “the valley of the leopard”. The only notable exception is the rhino, sadly poached to extinction.  The South Luangwa has been visited by wildlife safari enthusiasts from all over the world since its creation as a National Park in 1972. The park offers a safari experience unmatched by any other destination, allowing year around access, open game viewing vehicles, walking safaris and night game drives.

The Chinzombo Safari Camp is wildly luxurious, designed by award winning architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens. Chinzombo brings levels of comfort, style and elegance previously unseen to the Luangwa Valley in Zambia.

The old Chinzombo Camp was for years the green season base for Norman Carr way back in the 1970’s. Norman Carr was a young game ranger who came to this part of Zambia way back in 1950. His dream was to share his passion for this unique wilderness and secure its future by ensuring that the local population benefit through conserving the wildlife and infinitely varied habitat of the Luangwa Valley.

To realise his dream Norman Carr initiated a far-reaching and visionary conservation concept which was to pave the way for modern conservation and tourism in the South Luangwa operating under the Norman Carr Safaris (NCS). Most importantly Norman Carr initiated the renowned guided walking safaris in the game park, which became known as wilderness trails. These were very popular and have since been emulated throughout southern Africa.

The new Chinzombo safari camp is super-luxurious but retains its bush feel with grass and canvas walls and spacious living areas that melt into the exquisite surroundings of the beautiful, tranquil of the famous South Luangwa National Park.

Gigantic, ancient shade trees offer peace and tranquillity for guests staying in any one of the six stunning villas, one of which is a family suite with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, perfect for families or small groups. Each villa will have its private pool, cooled sleeping areas, and massive bathroom.

This wildly luxury camp is set out within 60 acres of private land with Luangwa River frontage; the views from its riverside location which teems with wildlife, plus the private, direct access into one of the most game rich areas of the National Park all combine to make this a truly unique place.

Throughout its history, NCS has always innovated. The first camps, the first walking safaris, the first community projects, the first bush camps, the first all Zambian expert guiding team, the list of firsts is a long one!  Chinzombo owners are proud to continue that tradition and be the first to bring this level of design and luxury innovation to the Luangwa allowing us to create unique and exclusive adventures for the most discerning of guests.

Chinzombo Camp is the perfect place from which to explore the majestic wilds of the Africa’s acclaimed South Luangwa in style, luxury and exclusivity – all year around.

Contributed by the Zambia Embassy in Paris and Permanent Mission to UNWTO.

Explore Zambia the real Africa - South Luangwa National Park

Zambia is African continent’s great unacknowledged safari destination, and indisputably its best value. The safari tours in Zambia are unfailingly excellent; the Zambian game parks offer a diversity of experiences hardly blended somewhere else.  The quality of accommodation and service provided in the safari lodges is incomparable added to this is the quality of local guides which is discerning.

Zambia offers a more natural and authentic bush experience than its better-known competitors. One of Zambia’s kept secret safaris destination is the South Luangwa National Park.

Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park is among the most vastly, well stocked and wildly, internationally recognised game parks on the African continent. Experts have dubbed as one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, and not without reason. The concentration of animals around the Luangwa River and its oxbow lagoons is among the most intense in Africa.

The Luangwa River is the most intact major river system in Africa and is the life-blood of this 9059 km2 Park. The Park hosts a wide variety of wildlife, birds and vegetation. The now famous ‘walking safari’ originated in this Park and is still one of the finest ways to experience Africa’s pristine wilderness first-hand. The changing seasons add to the Park’s richness, ranging from; dry, bare bushveld in the winter, to a lush, green wonderland in the summer months.

There are 60 different animal species and over 400 different bird species in South Luangwa National Park and internationally famous for the leopard hence nickname “the valley of the leopard”. The only notable exception is the rhino, sadly poached to extinction. With about 400 of Zambia’s 732 species of birds appearing in the Park, including 39 birds of prey and 47 migrant species, there is plenty for the birdwatcher to spot, whatever the season.

An interest in the vegetation of Zambia will enhance your experience of the bush. Some magnificent trees and plants grow in the Luangwa Valley, and it certainly adds to the richness of one’s experience to be able to recognise the different tree species and to discover exotic wildflowers.

Among the more common trees in the valley are the mopane, leadwood, winterthorn, the tall vegetable ivory palm, the marula and the magnificent tamarind tree. There are some magnificent Baobab specimens and a few large ebony forests to admire.

A must be on the list of any tourist to Southern part of Africa

Contributed by the Zambia Embassy in Paris and Permanent Mission to UNWTO.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ethiopia are jointly organizing the UNWTO Regional Workshop for Africa: ‘Keys to Success in Tourism Product Development’, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the kind invitation of the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

The 2-day regional workshop on keys to success in tourism product development is open to the local tourism stakeholders in Ethiopia and participants from the region. Sustainable and competitive tourism product portfolios require an adequate policy and effective institutional framework which must enable an integrated approach and public private partnerships all through the tourism value chain. 

The regional workshop aims at:

·         Establishing the key factors that determine the success of Tourism Product Development;

·         Diversification of opportunities;

·          Empowerment of the policymakers to have the capacity, knowledge and skills to develop and implement an effective tourism product development.

At the end of the workshop, participants will have a rich foundation to create a platform for dialogue amongst African destinations and stakeholders, improve performance of the tourism sector and further enable them to explore key principles of sustainable tourism product development in Africa whilst taking into consideration the main objectives of the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

The NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 19 April 2016, in Abidjan, Cote d I’voire. The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the 58th UNWTO Commission for Africa (CAF) and the 10YFP Sustainable Tourism Conference and Symposium.

The Memorandum of Understanding aims to enhance cooperation between the NEPAD Agency and UNWTO in identified areas of mutual interest with a view to: promote tourism as a tool for development in Africa in line with UNWTO´s priorities and Africa’s Agenda 2063 aspirations and goals on sustainable economic growth and inclusive development. as well as build strong partnerships to support the development of the tourism sector in Africa.

The areas of cooperation include support to the implementation of the NEPAD Tourism Action Plan as the core strategy of the African Union on tourism, taking into account the current continental and global challenges and within the context of the NEPAD’s vision and Agenda 2063 aspirations and goals.

In his speech, Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, CEO of the NEPAD Agency, said “Africa’s Heads of States and Governments have adopted Agenda 2063 as the structural transformation framework of the continent. This Agenda integrated tourism as a critical driver of inclusive growth, job opportunities and wealth creation, through industry and service”. According to Dr. Mayaki, the role of the NEPAD Agency - as the technical arm of the African Union - is to ensure that the mechanisms to facilitate regional integration, such as visa facilitation, air access and transport are effectively implemented. Therefore, the signing of the MoU is a very important step for the NEPAD Agency for mainstreaming sustained and competitive tourism, he added.

UNWTO was represented by its Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai who underscored the importance of giving more attention to the tourism sector, given the role that tourism has in economic growth and development. According to Mr. Rifai, “travel and tourism represent ten percent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and one out of every 11 jobs.”

Source: NEPAD 

Depuis 2012, l’Organisation mondiale du tourisme (OMT) et l’Organisation touristique de la région d’Afrique australe (RETOSA) collaborent aux fins de l’organisation d’une série d’ateliers de renforcement des capacités dans 15 pays de l’Afrique australe, à savoir : Afrique du Sud, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Maurice, Mozambique, Namibie, République démocratique du Congo, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzanie, Zambie et  Zimbabwe. Le programme vise à renforcer les systèmes de statistiques du tourisme de ces pays, dans l’optique de la mise au point de comptes satellites du tourisme (CST). 

Le programme permet d’aider les États membres de RETOSA à développer leurs systèmes de statistiques du tourisme dans le but d’améliorer la mesure, l’analyse, la compréhension et la gestion stratégique du secteur du tourisme. Le programme s’appuie sur une méthode systématique et transparente pour renforcer les capacités d’experts nationaux de référence et resserrer la coopération interinstitutionnelle aux échelons national et international.

Les sept ateliers précédents ont été caractérisés par un fort engagement de tous les pays participants membres de RETOSA et ont donné des résultats évidents, à savoir une meilleure connaissance et une meilleure compréhension, de la part des participants, de la mise en place et de l’application des procédures statistiques et du compte satellite du tourisme.

Le septième atelier de cette série s’est déroulé à Nyanga (Zimbabwe), du 4 au 8 avril 2016. Y ont assisté plus de 50 participants venus de 10 pays.

Un atelier final est programmé pour avoir lieu la première semaine de juillet 2016. Pas moins de neuf pays de l’Afrique australe devraient y présenter les progrès accomplis en ce qui concerne le compte satellite du tourisme. 

Within the framework of the Cooperation Agreement signed in January 2016, the Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) and the ST-EP Foundation will support projects in eight countries, five of which in Africa: Ghana, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The project in Ghana aims to improve visitor facilities and services in the Nzulezu stilt village (Western Region), conserve the natural and cultural heritage of the site, and build capacities of local people providing goods and services to tourists with a view to attracting more visitors and creating job and income opportunities for the local people.

In Tunisia, the project will support Tunisia’s tourism recovery and thus employment in the sector, in particular for poorer groups of the society, by strengthening the image of the country as a preferred tourism destination through an innovative international image campaign.

Developing accommodation facilities, a local museum and excursions at the Kisizi falls to enhance opportunities for local people from tourism development is the objective of the project being implemented in Uganda.

In Zambia and Zimbabwe, a tourism resource centre will be built and a community swimming pool refurbished in Livingstone and in Victoria Falls, respectively, as part of the ST-EP Initiative and as a way of commemorating the UNWTO General Assembly held in the two cities in August 2013. 

Arrangements to launch the projects have been made in the first months of 2016, and it is the intention to successfully complete project activities by the second semester of 2016

 

The strong growth of Africa as a tourism destination, combined with many governments of UNWTO African Member States placing tourism as a priority in their national development agenda, has led to a significant increase in requests for UNWTO technical assistance in quality standards - particularly the development and implementation of hotel classification schemes.

A well-structured and smoothly operated hotel classification scheme is very beneficial to a tourism destination in that it creates a true culture of quality among the accommodation industry; increases the competitiveness of the hotel industry in line with international practices; and can be used as a tool for marketing and promotion of the destination. 

UNWTO technical assistance in hotel classification focuses on three areas:

•           Formulating the hotel classification criteria according to international best practices;

•           Training of national assessors to conduct inspections; and

•           Implementing the hotel classification system.

UNWTO is implementing several projects on hotel classification in Africa: Morocco (with UNDP funding) and Ethiopia (with World Bank funding). In May 2016, UNWTO launched another hotel classification project in the Seychelles – funded entirely by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, and, an agreement is currently being signed with UNDP to fund an hotel classification project in the Republic of Congo, scheduled to commence later this year. Finally, also in May 2016, at the request of the Government of Tunisia, through the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts, UNWTO conducted a needs assessment mission to guide the Government on improvements to be made to their hotel classification system.

The UNWTO.TedQual Certification is a certification issued by the World Tourism Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, to support the quality of tourism education and training programmes. Quality of education should be seen as an integral process that embodies the degree to which the perception of the beneficiaries (students, employers, civil society) meet their prior expectations regarding the programme, as well as a professional approach for all actors involved in the tourism sector to do things right at all times and meet legitimate expectations of consumers/tourists, thus helping to implement the principles contained in the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.

Subsequently, all Institutions/Programmes willing to obtain the UNWTO.TedQual Certification will be part of a continuous quality improvement process that integrates the UN purposes and principles as a transversal aspect - with the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism when it comes to tourism, the student learning outcomes as a core issue to be evaluated during the entire process, and the connection and response of the tourism programme to the needs of future employers (public and private) and worldwide reality as a need to be present in the definition and implementation of the curriculum and pedagogical system with Faculty and Management playing a key role in its materialization. All of these aspects will be the Institution’s mark of distinction when being compared to other tourism education and training programmes around the world.