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The
Zambia Success Story
... We
made so many lasting friendships during
our month-long stay in Zambia, we've
become lifetime ambassadors, eager to
spread the good news at every opportunity.
Example: Africa Travel Magazine's Zambia
Congress edition, with Victoria Falls on
the front cover, is getting prime
circulation in North America, Africa and
beyond. A huge opportunity occurred in
August, when the Zambia Edition was
inserted as part of Africa Travel
Magazine's "SADC 14-Nation Heads of State
Summit" Issue -- the official magazine for
all delegates at
Zambia's
President active at ATA 28th
Congress.
Photo:
The
event was opened by President H.E. Levy P.
Mwanawasa, who later welcomed delegates at
the State House in Lusaka. Photo (left to
right) H.E. Martin Brennan, U.S.
Ambassador to Zambia; Ms. Mira Berman,
Executive Director, ATA; Hon. Zakia
Hamdani Meghji, Minister of Natural
Resources
and Tourism, Tanzania, and ATA President;
H.E. Levy P. Mwanawasa, President,
Republic of Zambia.
From SADC 14 Nation Heads of State
Edition. The ATA
28th International Congress was a Double
Header - or what American humorist Al Capp
would have called a "Double Whammy" in
terms of excitement, anticipation,
enthusiasm, networking opportunities and
the magic of serendipity!
Zambia's
outstanding success as a host country has
laid a firm foundation for future
marketing achievements across North
America and beyond.
Both
Lusaka and Livingstone lived up to their
advance billing as host cities by way of
hospitality, attractions, location and
guest facilities.
The
Zambia National Tourist Office operated as
true professionals, from their pre event
tour of the USA, to the day we said
good-bye at Lusaka International
Airport. This
week's mail included a "good news" letter
from Alexis and Maria at Alendo Travel
Tours
and Car Hire in Lusaka. Following our trip
throughout Zambia, by coincidence we left
the Lusaka International Airport on the
same aircraft, as they were off for a trip
to Australia. We just received news about
a new baby girl in their
household. More
late news: Chris Wood of Maplanga,
the Wilderness Camp Operators, has
just relaunched his company's website
http://www.maplanga.co.za
. Their new e-mail address is
mapad@cybertrade.co.za
.
webTel/Fax: 011 794
1446. Photo
(above): Some of the many animals
encountered on a typical wildlife drive at
Chiawa camp on the Lower Zambezi.
We enjoyed similar game drives at
Kanyemba on the Lower Zambezi,
and Mfuwe in South Luangwa National
Park. Game was plentiful where we stayed
at Protea Lodge and
Cheminuka near Lusaka. The sequence
below is from Mfuwe Lodge, a Bushcamps
Company. Capturing
Zambia's Colorful
History:
We spent several hours of quality time
with the management at the Lusaka
Museum, which has a major development
financing, expansion and enhancement
program underway. On the spacious grounds
surrounding the building and on its
display floors, this site will be
transformed into a true "people place" -
one of Southern Africa's prime
attractions. This impressive museum
building is part of a modern complex
that's indicative of what's happening in
this progressive city. Recent history,
when Zambia was known as Northern Rhodesia
is carefully documented, ethnic artifacts
and paintings abound, and a variety of
local arts and crafts are displayed to
attract visitors. Other facilities we plan
to visit next time are the Livingstone
Monument, the Von Lettow Vorbeck Memorial
and the Railway Museum in the town of
Livingstone On
the Road Again
...
In summary, our memorable, month-long,
marathon tour into the heart of Southern
Africa was filled with moments to
remember. We flew
via Cathay Pacific Airlines from
Vancouver, Canada to JFK International,
New York City. ... via
South African Airlines to Johannesburg, SA
and Lusaka, Zambia. ... via
Airlink Charter to Livingstone- Victoria
Falls. ... via
Airwaves Cessna to South Luangwa National
Park, Zambia. ... and
return via SAA, with business stopovers in
Johannesburg and New York. In
between, we participated in one of the
most spirited, productive and fruitful
(ATA) Congresses to date - where the focus
was on "Ethno Tourism- and its role in Job
Creation." This was the first ATA event to
be held at two separate venues, which kept
us all on the go. We made more great
friends this trip than any time in the
past (the local people are terrific) and
we will enjoy telling their stories in
words and pictures in our coming editions
of Africa Travel Magazine in print, on
radio and on this web site. Bring on
the encore! The Editors Read
highlights of the ATA Congress in
Zambia
I am aware
of you tight program. However, your visit
to Zambia will not be complete if you did
not visit the Victoria Falls (locally
known as Mosi-O-Tunya " the smoke that
thunders"), participate in Livingstone's
adventure activities (white water-rafting,
elephant Back-ride tours, micro-light,
abseiling, river-boarding, bungi-jumping
etc.), walk the wilderness and experience
the abundance of wildlife of South Luangwa
National Park, canoeing in the
Lower-Zambezi National Park etc. Let this
visit be the most memorable of your
lifetime. Welcome." Read
highlights of the ATA Congress in
Zambia For more
information on the Africa Travel
Association, (212) 447-1926, fax (212)
725-8253, e-mail africatravelasso@aol.com Photos on
this page by Robert Eilets, Karen Hoffman
and Muguette Goufrani |
|||||||||||
What
an amazing country! 
the
SADC Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In
November 2003, it is official magazine for
the African Wildlife Foundation Symposium
in Washington, DC sponsored by the
Mighty
Mosi-O-Tunya, " the smoke that
thunders," was an awesome sight, and our
travels on the Zambezi river beyond
Victoria Falls by canoe safari, motor
launch, car ferries and the African Queen,
left an impression we will remember
vividly and talk about for years. Our ATA
delegates experienced two great
destinations in one country, many enjoying
post congress tours and safaris. One
factor that stood out in my mind
immediately, was the wide selection of
quality operators, representing wilderness
camps, lodges and game reserves throughout
the land, once known as Northern Rhodesia.
Thanks to the Zambia National Tourism
Office, we had the opportunity of visiting
several camps and game lodges, with such
musical names as Chaminuka, Protea, Mfuwe,
Kanyemba and Chiawa.
Game
drives were a key part of the action at
the lodges we visited, and that made each
stay a true learning experience. Guides
and drivers were well schooled in the
seemingly endless variety of flora and
fauna and knew each name, every footprint
in the sand. Yes, we had anxious moments
for several days running, with our vehicle
stopped in the midst of a herd of
elephants. We expected at least one of
them to charge, but managed to luck out.
More than once our safari vehicle was
parked within twenty feet of a (seemingly)
sleeping lion. Here in Zambia, safari
guests can view most of the Big Five up
close, along with a wide variety of game
animals, impalas and their cousins being
the most prolific. 
The
Lusaka InterContinental Hotel
proved to be an ideal congress
headquarters, as did Livingstone's
Zambezi Sun Resort. The food at
Lusaka's Holiday Inn earned well
deserved praise. As a touch of Zambia
hospitality the manager welcomes guests
from the hotel, plus local and visiting
business community, with a cocktail party.
On two Wednesdays in a row, we won the
lucky draw. I am pleased to say, the Real
Africa and its people won our hearts
completely. Dev Malhotra, General
Manager of Lusaka's Taj Pamodzi Hotel and
his team, including Sales Manager
Martha N. Namwinga, (above right)
hosted a " bon voyage" dinner in our
honor.
