Newsletter - Kayilacamp

We have had a truly phenomenal season, with more than spectacular wildlife and game: on average we have had at least two sightings of leopard every day, with a record number of five different individuals on one afternoon game in the first week of November. The Chakwenga pride has now doubled in size with the advent of seven little cubs – whose antics and general playfulness have of course been a huge hit with our guests!

Smaller game such as honey badgers, porcupine, civet, genet, and mongooses of all descriptions, abound, relaxed and comfortable in the presence of our safari vehicles. The resident camp elephant are busy as ever, delighting in the winter-thorn pods dropped or shaken from the trees in and around our tented suites.

The fishing too has been the best ever, with a whale of a Tiger landed at 22.5lbs, shattering last season’s record of 18! The birdlife too has been absolutely epic, with avid birders spotting close to 175 species over the course of their stay, flabbergasted by the completely habituated Eastern Nicators and Red Throated Twin-spots which dart in and out of the sprinklers by Zambezi Deck.

Guests have enjoyed magical bush dinners, lit by the moon and resplendent stars; breakfast shaded by Amarula tree or sundowners on an island in the middle of the Zambezi, watching the sun sink behind the blue escarpment to the west, setting the sky and river reflection aflame with a palette of colour almost unbelievable, and complemented by the roaring of lion on the bank.

The year has been difficult for the game (although our guests have had some astonishing sightings). With poor rains, the waterholes dried up sooner than usual, driving the game from the escarpment towards the river. We are now waiting for the clouds to roll in from Mozambique, bringing the much needed rains and our emerald season.

In case you haven’t had chance to look yet, here is the link to our weekly blog www.anabezi.com/blog

We have also added a newsletter portal to our website and an option to subscribe for more information.

News for 2019

Kayila Camp

This season we officially opened kayilacamp.com. Situated in the vast 8,000 acre private conservancy of the game management area outside Lower Zambezi National Park, Kayila is the perfect first stop of the exceptional Zambezi Experience. With outstanding views of the majestically towering escarpment and the tranquil river below and across to the stunning vista of Mana Pools, Kayila has it all: beautiful game in private luxury. Led by experienced and passionate guides, guests can enjoy walks through the property from “River to Ridge” or sleep out under the stars above a watering hole to fully experience the nocturnal magic of Kayila. In addition to the safari and wildlife activities, guests have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of the surrounding communities and people. Your stay at Kayila links up with Anabezi and Amanzi camps, with a boat trip down river, stopping for an island lunch and followed by an optional canoe trip for the last few kilometres to encounter the Zambezi at its best.

Fishing Permit Fees

In 2019 ZAWA increased the fishing permit fee to $30 per person per day (for international guests and Zambian residents) and $5 per person per day for Zambian citizens, a fee that will remain in effect for next season. Of course, as we want to keep all activities and options accessible to our guests.

Zambezi Wildlife Trust

Founded in 2017, the Zambezi Wildlife Trust is an organisation working in partnership with Anabezi, Amanzi and Kayila. With a number of objectives, the trust works to enable and encourage development in the local community, from land usage and management – finding sustainable solutions to human-wildlife conflict; anti-poaching – working with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to reduce and prevent poaching; to moderating the rate of deforestation through reducing charcoal production and finding alternative sustainable fuel sources for local people. Look out for our projects – http://zambeziwildlifetrust.org/

New for 2020

There are several projects in the pipeline for 2020. We now have a company aircraft for transfers (more information on that at a later date), and are planning on remodelling the family unit at Anabezi, in addition to building a massage spa. We believe our service and quality of guiding is of paramount importance, so over the course of the green season, all our staff including guides, kitchen and front of house will all receive supplementary training.

Rates for 2020

We have a unbelievable 3 night special which provides fantastic value for anyone looking to spend three memorable nights in the Lower Zambezi National Park. For a slightly longer stay, keep in mind our upcoming specials “Pay 3, Stay 4” and the “Zambezi Experience”; in addition to “Pay 6, Stay 8” in conjunction with Lion Camp, South Luangwa. If you would like more information about our rates and specials for 2020 please contact reservations@anabezi.com

Animography Awards

We are exceptionally proud to be sponsoring one of the Overall Winner’s prizes for the prestigious Animography Photographic Awards. The global competition opens in January 2020, aiming to draw attention to the beauty of animals through creative photography, and at the same time highlight the global conservation issues that face our planet.

Follow the link below to read more and submit your entries to the competition and stand a chance of winning 3 nights at Anabezi!

https://www.animographyawards.com/

Message from the GM

On a more personal note and as we approach the end of this year, I want to thank each one of you for being part of this family. I appreciate your great work, commitment and dedication which have been integral to progress and success of our properties. I am proud of my team, who have done their utmost this season to make the team-work dream work. We look forward to 2020 and furthering our development work in the Mugurameno community, working with local people in the Chiawa Game Management Area to encourage conservation at a grass-roots level.