Text and Photos : Jo Pope
The Luangwa Valley is well known for it’s unique wildlife and the excellent standard of safaris. To date, village trips have been short excursions undertaken between game drives. Kawaza Village gives the guest a rare chance to meet with the local people on their terms.
The Valley is the home of the Kunda tribe who migrated from the Luba area in Congo in the first half of the 19th century. The Kundas form a small tribe of about 35,000 people. Traditionally the Kundas were hunters but today the majority live as subsistence farmers. The conditions are tough, with extreme seasons and crop raiding animals. The villagers in the Nsefu area are still living in the very traditional way.
In 1997 teachers of Kawaza School and members of the community, along with Robin Pope Safaris, took the exceptional step of introducing cultural tourism. They believe that modern tourists are not only interested in wildlife but also have an interest in meeting with and learning from the local people. And they certainly feel that the school children will gain from interacting with guests from different cultures.
A committee of 7 villagers and 3 teachers have developed a unique opportunity for the guests, who will stay in traditional huts in a village, sleeping on raised mats (with mattresses) and eating local dishes prepared on an open fire.
Upon arrival, a detailed program based on the wishes of the guest is drawn up
The options include :
– a walk in the bush to hear about the different trees and plants and their traditional uses
– visit to the palace of the Senior Kunda Chief
– visiting local institutions (the local church, the clinic)
– spending time with the traditional healer
– interacting with the school children at Kawaza School.
However, probably the best way of getting close contact with the people is to take part in the daily life activities. Guests are invited to join the villagers in drawing water, hoeing the field, grinding maize, brewing the local beer or whatever the villagers will be planning for the day.
In the evenings the villagers entertain with dances, drumming and drama. And the finest story tellers will recount the old, dramatic Kunda stories with everyone around the fire.
Throughout the stay there will be hosts allocated to you who speak excellent English and who understand the needs of tourists. In the village, the guest will experience the traditional way of living. However, the toilet facility has been built as an English style long drop with a thunderbox and the beds have a mattress with sheets and a mosquito net.
Kawaza Village has not been ’set up’ as a profit making scheme by a tourist company. It is a community who wish to exchange ideas and culture with guests from outside the area. They feel that they and their children will benefit from this exchange. They also wish to raise money for the community development projects and for the school.
For over 15 years Robin Pope Safaris has supported a school in the Nsefu Village area. Kawaza School now has the reputation in Zambia of being a great example of how help from tourism can improve a community. A number of the guests that visited the school said that they would be interested in learning more about the local way of life. Robin Pope Safaris now offer the opportunity to stay at Kawaza Village for a day visit or a night.
The Kawaza Village Project is self-run by a committee of villages with Robin Pope Safaris now playing only a marketing and advisory role. The income from the project not only supports the village and the project members, but also helps run the school.
Kawaza is the winner of the prestigious Silver Otter Award 2000, given for the Best Overseas Tourism Project by the British Guild of Travel Writers.
Contact
Jo Pope, Robin Pope Safaris
PO Box 80 Mfuwe Zambia
Tel. : 260 62 46090
Fax : 260 62 46094
Email : info@robinpopesafaris.net
Internet : www.robinpopesafaris.net
School project : http://www.kawaza.org
Language : English
Other contact
Sunvil Africa, Royaume Uni
Email : info@sunvil.com
Internet :http://www.robinpopesafaris.net/experience/kawaza.php
Code of ethics
Responsible Tourism policy
http://www.robinpopesafaris.net/responsible/index.php
Development project
http://www.kawaza.org