Superb Southern African safari experiences depend on more than luxury travel experiences and outstanding game viewing opportunities. Immerse yourself in the joys of community cooperation while staying at Royal Chundu, Zambia.
Both the Island and River Lodges of Royal Chundu are found on a secluded, unspoiled stretch of river, about 30km/20 miles upstream from Victoria Falls. A sense of harmony pervades here, with the local communities of Mushekwa and Muluka actively involved in bringing you the ultimate southern African adventure.
All the employees of these lodges hail from these villages, eager to share the local knowledge, folklore and cheerfulness which embodies the spirit of Zambia.
Royal Chundu encourages guests to get the full benefit of these ancient values on trips to the local villages, school and market, all motivated and supported by the lodge.
Visit the village greens
Take a short boat trip to Mushekwa, to walk with Edith Mushekwa, matriarch and daughter of the village founder, among the thriving organic vegetable gardens. The plants are all grown from seed supplied by Royal Chundu.
These vegetables are a source of sustenance and income for the villagers and are the same delicious greens you will find on your plate at Royal Chundu’s lodges. Among the maize, eggplant, tomatoes and cabbage, medicinal herbs, such as Moringa, are also grown and used for soothing a variety of ailments.
Meander with the mothers
After checking out the gardens, you amble through the neat arrangement of huts and fat clucking chickens, to the simple reed canopy of the market. Here you can purchase colorful chitenga cloths, wooden animal carvings, mats, baskets or blankets from the handmade bounty on display.
The bream team
You will also get to see the fishermen at work catching dinner. The large lily pond at the entrance to Royal Chundu serves as a nursery for scores of bream fish, which are then released into the Zambezi River. Once mature, these fish are caught by local fishermen and sold to the lodge to reappear, pan-fried, doused with aniseed broth and nestled on a bed of sautéed cabbage.
Firm Foundations
The village school is filled with the bright smiling faces of children aged 4 to 6 years old. Royal Chundu’s Foundation School provides these youngsters with their first years of education according to the Zambian curriculum. All the work is learned on tablets, giving them a head start in today’s technological society.
A true Southern Africa safari experience is not just about the luxury and the animals, it’s also about how the lodges and local communities integrate and work together, to bring authenticity to your experience.
Get in touch to book a luxury southern African safari filled with culture, cheerfulness and inspiration at Royal Chundu.
