Well, hello there. I hope that you are splendidly well after a wonderful weekend. Here in the Luangwa, we are certainly going through a cold snap which for those of us used to warmer climates certainly packs a punch. But that is certainly not going to stop us from showing the best of what the bush has to offer. This week however we are heading over to Zimbabwe with a hop skip and a jump as we hear about an exciting guest who visited John’s Camp recently.
“John’s Camp in Mana Pools, Zimbabwe recently had the pleasure of hosting some very special visitors, including Sir Richard Branson and a small group of his friends and family. Guided by John Stevens, renowned safari guide and for whom the camp is named, the Zambezi Elephant Fund’s (ZEF) Trans-Zambezi Walk for Wild Expedition had reached its penultimate stage when it arrived at John’s Camp. It had started a few weeks previously in Matusadona National Park.
John, who is also a co-founder of ZEF, believes strongly in the power of immersing oneself in nature to understand and appreciate the depth of a conservation story and there’s nowhere better to do it than in Mana Pools.
“… from a vehicle you see Africa. On foot you feel, hear and smell Africa.”
What an extraordinary privilege it was for this group to walk with John, listen to his stories of adventures past and take the time to notice nature’s smaller details.
The Expedition took place over a month in June and July; participants from ZEF’s conservation partners, including African Parks Network, My Trees Trust and Natural Capital, along with invited ZEF supporters at different stages, covered a total of 330km on foot and by canoe through the middle Zambezi Valley, encompassing Matusadona and Mana Pools National Parks and ending at Kanyemba on the border with Mozambique.
ZEF’s ambition for the Expedition was to increase collaboration between conservation stakeholders and raise awareness of the successes and challenges. As the Expedition passed through many of the major concessions and National Parks of the mid/lower Zambezi region, and with the conservation of the Zambezi landscape foremost as a conversation topic, the ZEF team enjoyed some wonderful discussions on the subject with stakeholders and participants, benefitting greatly from fresh eyes and opinions from some extraordinary minds.
A highlight for John’s Camp staff was when Sir Richard demanded to “meet the chefs!” – a true testimony to the delicious meals that are produced in the camp’s impeccable kitchen.
This special group could not have wished for a more perfect setting, one that must rank amongst the world’s most spectacular, from which to begin their section of the Expedition.
And as they walked out of camp – staff cheerily waving them goodbye, an elephant chewing quietly on a tree, the sun dazzling on the river – we detected more than one perfectly happy smile.”
Wow! Amazing and what an incredible privilege. Let’s face it, there is nothing that we can offer up this week to top that story! So instead, I shall get going with my day and let you do the same and bid you a very fond farewell and hope that you have a wonderful week ahead with plenty of smiles and laughter and don’t forget to look after one another.
