RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Responsible tourism must come from a real desire to make a difference. Our passion for conservation is deeply ingrained in our culture and ethos and implemented through our various projects and initiatives. Sustainability is something shared and encouraged, from our guests, to our staff and the local community. We aim to tread gently on the earth and continuously explore new ways of reducing our footprint for a future of sustainable tourism.
Use of Renewable Energy
We are proud to say that all our camps run on 100% renewable solar energy. Mukambi Safari Lodge was also the first in Zambia to install the most environmentally-friendly battery technology We prioritize both sustainability and safety by using Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries. These are a unique variant of the lithium-ion rechargeable battery family. Compared to the conventional cobalt-based Li-Ion batteries, LiFePO4 batteries boast several advantages. Firstly, they provide a higher power output, ensuring that our lodge always has the energy it needs. They also charge more swiftly, weigh less, and promise an extended lifespan. A notable highlight of these batteries is their enhanced safety features; they are designed to remain stable and won’t explode even in extreme conditions.
Furthermore, by adopting LiFePO4 batteries, we are also making an environmentally conscious choice. Once these batteries reach the end of their life cycle, their disposal won’t result in harmful cobalt byproducts entering our environment. Rest assured, by staying with us, you are supporting a facility that champions both technological advancement and environmental responsibility.
Plastic Free
Mukambi strives to be plastic-free. We have exclusive reusable water bottles for our guests which also serve as a great keepsake. We have introduced biodegradable straws, glass refillable amenities and biodegradable packaging on all our goods from Lusaka. Plus, we use eco-friendly cleaning products. We have a flourishing vegetable garden which supplies many of our herbs and vegetables, which not only reduces packaging and transport but also adds a delicious homegrown flavour to your meals.
Conservation
Conservation is key for responsible tourism and is a huge part of what we do in Kafue National Park. At Mukambi we work closely with several NGOs, including Panthera and Zambia Carnivore Programme (ZCP), and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and African Parks where we support anti-poaching and other conservation goals. The Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) is a non-profit Zambian registered organization dedicated to the protection of Zambia’s large carnivores and their ecosystems.
Together with the Zambia Department of National Parks and Wildlife ZCP we have a three-pronged approach to their work:
1. Conservation Science: aimed at identifying and evaluating the primary threats to Zambia’s large carnivores and their ecosystems through long-term, field-based work.
2. Conservation Action: Guided by science, our actions are aimed at addressing both immediate and future threats such as snaring, habitat loss, disease, wildlife trafficking, and other factors.
3. Conservation Empowerment: To ensure sustainability, we endeavour to make our efforts as Zambian-led as possible. We develop conservation leadership through training, employing and educating aspiring conservationists in all aspects of the work. We also conduct an array of educational programmes at both primary and secondary school levels. From there students are encouraged and offered full support to enrol for international graduate degree programmes. We also run intensive training programmes tailored for women in conservation, conservation biologists and wildlife vets.
ZCP currently work with the country’s largest remaining populations of wild dog, cheetah, lion, leopard and spotted hyena, primarily through three field-based projects: the Luangwa Valley, the Greater Liuwa Ecosystem, and the Greater Kafue Ecosystem. Their collaborative work provides the only scientific data on large carnivores and their prey throughout much of Zambia, and they are proud that their findings are utilized extensively in guiding conservation policy in the country.
African Parks
African Parks is a non-profit NGO founded on conserving Africa’s wildlife and remaining wild areas, with an added focus on socio-economic development for the surrounding local communities. The Zambian government invited the organization into a long-term management partnership to manage the Kafue National Park; the official sign-up took place in June 2022. We already see positive changes in the area, the biggest being the road grading program and tsetse trap/blankets. The future looks bright for Kafue National Park as further initiatives are being implemented.
“ African Parks’ core focus is on strengthening law enforcement and securing Kafue National Park against the most immediate threats to its wildlife populations. Infrastructure development, conservation monitoring and skills-based training to provide local employment are also a top priority. Our vision is to establish Kafue as a globally significant wildlife sanctuary and a premiere tourism destination.” African Parks
Support of Local Communities
Long-term conservation can only be accomplished by working closely with the local communities. Some of our community projects have included digging a borehole for clean drinking water, giving the Mukambi Women’s Group an outlet for their handmade crafts in our curio shop, and a Women’s group who produce honey in the South of the park. We also have a job training programme which has given 50 members of the local community permanent employment. Guests at Mukambi can visit the projects to learn more about our conservation efforts and the local communities.
The Azimai Women’s Group
We are proud to support The Azimai Women’s Group, made up mainly of our staff members’ wives. They get together on a Saturday afternoon to make various crafts that they then sell to several lodges throughout the Kafue National Park. Their wares include bags, clothing (dresses, shirts, headbands) made from local chitenge material, baskets (made of recycled plastic bags), beaded bracelets and other travel-friendly trinkets. This initiative allows a creative outlet for the women and creates an extra source of income for their families.
Community School
The Mukambi Community School was founded in 2006 to provide a good standard of education to our staff’s children and the local community. The results have been fantastic and the well-equipped school now provides 80 local children with a high standard of education, as well as permanent employment for 5 community teachers and 5 government teachers. The school received generous funding from a donor a couple of years ago which meant that they could invest in iSchool Tablets. The high-tech devices allow the pupils to engage in active learning as well as developing key IT skills for later in life. And of course, it goes without say that conservation is an important subject at the school with our ever responsible tourism goal in mind. Every year all the grade 7 pupils graduate with flying colours and go on to attain places at secondary schools and universities throughout Zambia. Two former students have been sponsored in their tertiary education at leading universities in Lusaka, these 2 students are now doing their masters degrees, and Chicoko and the lodge are now sponsoring 5 new students in their further uni and hospitality studies. The school is supported by a charity called Cikoko, which you can read more about below.
Staff Development
- Guide Training: For the guides to train and write their guiding exams
- First Aid Training
- Mukambi sends a chef and either a waiter/room attendant to do a 2-week placement at a lodge/hotel in Lusaka. This offers great exposure to other work environments other than Mukambi.
- Chef’s training at a leading Hospitality College Fairview in Lusaka.
- Masseuse training at a reputable Spa Relax Destination Parlour in Lusaka.
- Food & Beverage courses training at a leading Hospitality College ZICTHA in Lusaka.
Art for a Cause
Heinrich Filter is a South African sculptor whose keen eye for nature is accurately reproduced in his detailed works. His love for the African bush has been an enduring hallmark of his life – from his early days spent walking Southern Africa’s game trails through to adulthood working as a professional safari guide.
Heinrich creates many splendid African wildlife beauties and through his art we can drive awareness about conservation & communities and the challenges each are facing during these difficult times. Sales of each sculpture through the Mukambi platforms will generate a donation towards the Mukambi Community School. An exciting collaboration that is the essence of our story… together we are stronger.
Enquiries: info@mukambi.com Ref: Mukambi Art
Mulberry Mongoose
The Mulberry Mongoose workshop is located on a well-trodden elephant path in Mfuwe, in the remote Zambian bush.
They love to show people how they make things, how the sale of each piece supports local conservation work, and how they deal with the occasional elephant mischief.
The jewellery is inspired by life in the Zambian bush. So it’s only fitting that with every piece of jewellery sold they make a donation to antipoaching patrols to help remove the snare wire traps that kill and injure many of the area’s iconic wildlife.
By buying their accessories, you’re helping raise thousands of dollars for this vital work to save elephants, big cats and antelope.
Umtha jewelry
We’re ecstatic to introduce our new range of Mukambi Safaris Jewellery, made especially for us by Umtha. A Xhosa word, Umtha means “a ray of light”.! Carefully selected to match the colors of our wildlife and wild spaces, each piece is a harmonious blend of elegance and love for the Zambian wilderness, serving as the perfect memento of your unforgettable experience with us. Umtha designs innovative Africa-inspired jewelry, weaving in the essential characteristics of high quality and affordable pricing.
They are an excellent team of jewelry producers that highlight empowerment, community, and kindness. The team consists of marginalized women from both Xhosa and French-speaking-refugee communities who are trained to creatively craft each piece to tell a story.
Positive Impact Travel
The sustainability of the lodge allows the continuation of community and conservation projects in the Kafue National Park. As a safari company we work closely with the local community and conservation programmes for a sustainable future and the protection of a vital ecosystem – not only the wildlife but the livelihoods of the people.