Zambia luxury safari camp

Grant Cumings (owner of the camp) was personally responsible for implementing a safari guide training program on a scholarship basis for local guides under the auspices of Conservation Lower Zambezi; the camp is the organization’s largest private sponsor and raises significant funds for its Environmental Education Program; and through Swiss charity Sid Ecole provides education materials and uniforms for 72 Aids orphans; and provides sports uniforms for school football and netball teams.

The lodge works closely with the Zambia Wildlife Authority and the Environmental Council of Zambia to ensure all regulations are adhered to. It blends in with the environment instead of makes a statement against it; it is made of renewable materials and NOT of hardwood from dwindling indigenous forests. Strict trash in trash out policy; all non biodegradable waste (glass, metal and plastic) is removed from the camp and Park and transported 90km by truck to a town dump whereas many other operations simply bury this waste rather than go to trouble of removing it from the Park, unfortunately. This waste is stored in typical black bin bags within a wire mesh enclosure that prevents creatures like honey badgers, hyenas and civets from access whilst awaiting the weekly supply truck which after delivering supplies removes the trash.

Energy is supplied by silenced generator and supplemented by 12v rechargeable battery system and solar. As the generator is not 100% quiet it is run usually when guests are not in camp and whilst doing so chills our custom built bank of energy efficient fridges and freezers which have "hold over plates" - these plates get covered with ice when power is supplied to them so that when the generator is not running the holdover plates keep the fridges and freezers cold until the next time the generator runs. This allows us to only run the generators 8 hours per 24 hours which saves on fuel, emissions and noise. Additionally when the generator is running it charges up a bank of 12 large automotive batteries with a 12vac/220vdc power inverter meaning that when the generator is not running the battery/inverter system provides light and power for all tents, the office and camp communications network which again saves on fuel, emissions and noise. There is also a back-up solar system to ensure additional power and lighting to the office is available.

Water usage is minimised; grey water goes into French drains and is filtered away from the main river (biodegradable soaps and detergents used); sewage is filtered through septic tanks and into the environment once degraded into non-polluting outflow, cooking and heating is all done by propane gas and electricity – firewood is used only for the campfire for aesthetic purposes.

The dozens of cardboard cartons that contain our supplies which we receive every week are flattened and sent back on our supply trucks meaning we can often get 3 or 4 journeys out of the boxes before they are unserviceable after which time they are torn and cut into small pieces and placed in a pit with other biodegradable waste such as old veggies and food scraps. This pit has a wire mesh fence around it to keep monkeys and baboons out. We try to minimize waste of all things (especially food and fuel) but also timber - for instance virtually no timber is wasted on our construction or renovation work but any off cuts are used for firewood and kindling for the camp fire. Even used tea bags make excellent fire lighters - we dry these in the sun and then dip them briefly in paraffin or kerosene when we need firelighters to burn hot and slow to get our camp fires going.

Grant Cumings also implemented the Lower Zambezi’s Safari code of conduct – combined with the guide training and examinations program which he oversees, this has led to more competent and sensitised guiding which benefits the environment. Added to this the camp’s fundraising efforts on behalf of CLZ which provides outreach and Environmental Education Programs by way of a mobile education unit and an education facility on the banks of the Zambezi River; as well as support to anti-poaching teams and treating injured animals makes for a comprehensive and sound environmentally sound operation.

We hire locally where possible and pay fair wages. We train in-house and professionally, promotion is common so local people employed by the business certainly benefit financially. We also purchase local fruit and veg as available.