TRAVELANDLEISUREASIA.COM / SEPTEMBER 2019 101
coucals took over and I was summoned to breakfast. In
the camp’s open dining area, Craig and Lindy Reiche,
Mwamba’s young managers, doled out coffee and
muffins and told tales of their neighbors.
“We have an elephant who loves the gardenia by our
hut,” Craig said.
“He makes so much noise with his chewing,” Lindy
added with a laugh.
It felt like I was entering a drama in which humans had
decent parts, but not necessarily leading roles. The
Reiches’ employers, Derek and Juliet Shenton, are two
important characters. Derek founded Shenton Safaris
back in 1992 w it h t he goa l of br ing ing g uests as close to
nat ure as possible. He g rew up in Za mbia. “I was
fa r m ing w it h my fat her when I ca me here,” he sa id.
“Twenty-six years later, I’m still around.” Derek is
passionate about the power of tourism—and community
involvement—to protect wildlife. “Local children must
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A herd of red lechwe in the
Bangweulu Wetlands; the Numbu Star Bed at
Mwamba Bush Camp, in South Luangwa National
Park; a leopard hiding from a group of lionesses in
South Luangwa National Park.see the park and be amazed by it—because
protecting it is going to be up to t hem.”
Because South Luangwa is popular with
visitors, it is one of the few parks in Zambia
that pays its way. Park fees generate upwards of
US$3.5 million for the government each year.
“Not much of that comes back into the park,”
Derek observed. But Shenton Safaris gives a
percentage of its profits to local schools. “We
also fund park rangers and work to mitigate
conflict between villagers and elephants.”
Humans and animals have found an easy
cohabitation—a testament to Carr’s vision.