Hello. I hope you have had a fabulous weekend and are ready for the week ahead. The past week has been incredibly eventful!
As you may already know, 2026 marks a very special milestone for us as we are celebrating 40 years of operation. Looking back on the past four decades originating in South Luangwa, Zambia then expanding into Malawi & Zimbabwe fills us with immense pride – last week gave us the perfect opportunity to celebrate. The Slager and De Rooij family, who have owned the company for half of those 40 years, travelled to South Luangwa to see the newly refurbished Tena Tena Camp and join the team in marking the occasion.
Luangwa Safari House manager Jonna and his team created a truly memorable sundowner, bringing everyone together to raise a glass.
This occasion was also to bid farewell to one of our most treasured team members, Daudi Njobvu. Known affectionately as “The President,” Daudi has been a guiding legend in South Luangwa for over three decades and has spent nearly 30 years with Robin Pope Safaris. Having grown up in the Valley, wildlife and conservation have always been part of his life. Since joining RPS in 1999, he has guided countless guests through the bush, led walking safaris, managed camps, and, perhaps most importantly, mentored a generation of young guides. As he steps away from his role at Nsefu Camp, he leaves it in the capable hands of Kanga Banda and John Mphasi, both of whom have benefited from his years of guidance and support. Daudi’s contribution to RPS and the Luangwa Valley is immeasurable, and while he will be greatly missed, his legacy will continue to be felt for many years to come.
Back to the subject of Tena Tena, we welcomed back photographer Dana Allen to do the honours of photographing the new camp. Dana is no stranger to Robin Pope Safaris – far from it. Having photographed our camps since the late 1990s, he has documented nearly three decades of our story and has seen Tena Tena evolve through many different chapters. With camera in hand, he spent time capturing the camp’s refreshed look before making a quick stop at Luangwa River Camp, which also received a facelift earlier this year.
Here is a sneak peek of what’s to come…
And on the wildlife front, it seemed the animals were determined not to be left out of the celebrations. The season is only just getting underway, but the sightings have already been superb. Guests and guides enjoyed wonderful elephant encounters, as well as sightings of wild dogs, lions and leopards throughout the week. It really felt like South Luangwa was putting on a show for us all – a fitting backdrop to a week of celebrations, farewells and new beginnings. All systems go for the season ahead!
On that note, all I can really say is have a fantastic week ahead with plenty of smiles and laughter and don’t forget to look after one-another.
