I hope you’re well and had a great weekend. While the sun continues to shine here in the South Luangwa, the mornings have turned crisp as winter settles in.
This week, we’re taking a little break from our usual tales of the bush to share something a bit different. While leopard, lion, and all the usual wildlife sightings are still going strong (trust me, there’s been no shortage!), today we’re hearing from Kanga Banda, who travelled to Europe for the very first time this April. It was his first trip out of Africa, and he’s shared a heartwarming account of the adventure — from navigating airports to discovering Dutch delicacies.
Over to you, Kanga:
‘’Last year, I won the Chairman’s Award at the Zambia Tourism Agency awards (READ: Celebrating the Stars) and up to now I still don’t have the right words to describe how that felt. I can only thank God, it was such a proud moment – for me, my team, and my family. I’ve been guiding for 17 years, and even though guests often tell me I’m good, I never thought it would go that far. When my daughter came from school and held the trophy in her hands, she looked at me and asked, “How many guides have won this before?” I told her, “I had to be the first of course!”.
This year, as recognition for the award, I was given an opportunity to travel to the Netherlands by the De Rooy & Slager Family, the owners of Robin Pope Safaris. My very first time out of Africa can you believe it. When I heard the news, I was so happy and excited. Even as I was on the flight, I still couldn’t believe it. The journey itself was already something special. I flew from Lusaka to Dubai (6 and a half hours) and then from Dubai to Amsterdam, which took about 7 hours. I had never been in such a big plane before, so even just sitting on it felt like a reward in itself. I couldn’t stop smiling.
When we landed in the Netherlands, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves. It felt too good to be true. While getting ready to clear immigration I even thought, “What if they send me back?” But I also told myself, “Even if they do, I’ve already touched European soil.” That alone felt like a dream come true. Immigration was strict, they checked all my paperwork properly, but the officer was nice. That was my first interaction, and after that, I started to notice how organised the people were. Everything runs on time, and they really value efficiency.
One of the best parts for me was the train. Can you believe that I had never been on a train before? It was so clean, fast, and well planned. Compared to how we move around in Zambia, it’s very different – more structured. And the same goes for the bicycles. So many people riding bikes everywhere! I even cycled myself from Haarlem (the capital city of North Holland) to the beach, about 10 kilometres through a park. That was fun! But biking in Amsterdam? No way! It’s too busy and too fast with all the bicycles, I wouldn’t manage.
I arrived just in time for King’s Day, a big celebration in the Netherlands. Everyone was dressed in orange – the whole city had this festive mood. I was very happy to experience such a big event with Cees & Margriet Slager.
The weather was interesting too. On my first day, it rained and I thought maybe that’s how it is every day, but the next day was sunny and cold but okay. The last two days were really cold for me – I’m used to warmer weather, so I had to wear more layers than usual.
I really enjoyed the food! I liked most of the dishes and tried many new things. My favourite was the famous Dutch sausage I had with Bwana Ton. But the traditional raw fish (haring in Dutch) or herring in English)? No thanks, I don’t think I’ll try that again haha!
Being someone who loves nature and birds, I was so happy to see about 35 new bird species during the trip. I even saw a small deer in the wild. The park by the sea, Molecaten Park Waterdunen really stood out – the views, the walking paths, the clean air – everything was so peaceful. The Dutch really know how to bring nature into their cities and keep it well managed.
Some moments were really new for me – like seeing a windmill for the first time, using a train, or tasting shrimp. And yet, some things reminded me of home, like spotting familiar birds: the Egyptian goose, white stork, and European bee-eater. Those small connections brought a little bit of Zambia to the Netherlands.
This trip changed me. It gave me new ideas, new perspectives. I saw how people in the western world live and think, and what guests from those places might expect when they visit us in Zambia. It was educational – not just for guiding but for life.
If I ever get another chance, I would love to see more countries in Europe. But this trip will stay with me forever. Being awarded and getting to travel like that… I’ll be telling that story to guests for many years.
Now, I’m back and ready for a new season of Mobile Walking Safaris. I feel fresh, motivated, and more ready than ever. I want this year to be even better than before – to make guests feel welcome, comfortable, and happy when they walk with us in the bush.
To everyone who made this trip possible – Thank you: zikomo kwambiri. I’ll carry those memories with me for life.’’
Thanks so much Kanga for sharing your Dutch adventure with all of us! This week, Kanga will be lacing up his walking boots and heading up north to the Mupamadzi as our Mobile Walking Safaris season officially start on Thursday. We look forward to updating you as the season progresses.
That’s all for today. Have a great week and take care.
