To celebrate David Livingstone’s birth 200 years ago next year, a host of events are taking place in Livingstone under the banner of Livingstone 2013.  

From motor cross to fishing competitions, from canoe challenges to cultural dancing competitions, concerts on the banks of the Zambezi, ultra marathons and gala events, there is something for everyone. Just take a look at the events below (and for more details go to www.livingstone2013.com): 

In March 2013 there will be a Motor Cross Enduro Rally, an International Visual Arts and Crafts Exhibition and an International Cultural Festival as well as the Gala Evening on March 19^th (David Livingstone’s birthday) that kicks off the Livingstone 2013 celebrations. 

From 19-21 April an International Academic Conference takes place. “Imperial Obsessions: David Livingstone, Africa and world history: a life and legacy reconsidered” is jointly hosted by The London School of Economics, UK; The Livingstone Museum, Zambia and The David Livingstone Bicentenary. 

On 27 April runners get their sporting chance with the 60km Zambezi Gorge Ultra Marathon Trail Run. An Ultra Marathon trail run with a spectacular finish in view of the Falls. Perfect timing for training for The Comrades. 

May sees the Livingstone Memorial Day on 1^st, a Mountain Bike Cross Country Race on 4 and 5^th May as well as a performance by the amazingly talented Zambian-Scottish songstress Namvula Rennie with her lyrical sounds of jazz, folk and African music. The concert takes place on the banks of theZambezi, under the full moon… 

June and July bring traditional cultural and contemporary dancing and music performances as well as a Fishing Competition from 29 June to 2 July.   

A feast of music takes place during the first weekend in August, featuring artists such as Maureen Lilanda and the Barefoot Theatre and a host of others.

Maureen Lilanda, one of Zambia’s best female artistes

A challenging 4×4 Rally will also take place in August.  

A 2-day K1 Canoe Challenge takes place on upperZambezi on 15 and 16 November.  

Finally, on the day Dr Livingstone first viewed the Falls, the Livingstone 2013 Grand Finale takes place on 16^th November to round off the festivities. It will be an unforgettable day of river events on the Zambezi as well as a memorial on Livingstone Island. 

So, whatever your interest, plan your stay in Livingstone around the event you’d most enjoy. For accommodation options and enquiries go to www.victoriafallszambia.travel.

A beautiful new picture of ‘the Mama Out Of Africa’, taken by Andie K. Amend. ‘The Mama’ , with its unusual history (the ‘bus’ was once used on the film set of Out of Africa – hence its name!) is perfect for a romantic getaway. The cost is US$100 per night for two. Book for four nights and you only pay for three! Visit http://www.mama-out-of-africa.com for more info.

Livingstone

If you are planning a trip to Livingstone, try and go around the full moon so you can have a good chance of seeing the amazing and unique phenomenon of a ‘Moonbow’ arching over the world famous Victoria Falls.This mesmeric rainbow shines in the moonlight creating a nocturnal light show.  This photo was captured under the gaze of a full moon over ‘The Devils Cataract’ section of the falls.

UK photographer and television presenter Charlie Hamilton James travelled to Cataract Island on the Zambezi River between Zimbabwe and Zambia, where he managed to observe this rarely witnessed event. It was published in the Daily News and in the Livingstone Weekly.

This unique event is visible the day before, the day of and the day after the full moon, when the light of the moon is refracted through the mists that rise up from the base of the Victoria Falls. The park remains open until late for these three days to allow visitors to witness this amazing mystical happening. It is an awesome sight and only occurs in few places elsewhere in the world (the Cumberland Falls in Kentucky; in Durham, North Carolina and Waimea on Hawaii’s Kauai Island).

Because of its sheer height (107m high) and the massive volume of water the moonbow over Vic Falls is undoubtedly the most spectacular. The moonbows are best seen in the clear skies and high water levels between February and August when the spray is at its highest.

For accommodation check www.victoriafallszambia.travel or email info@victoriafallszambia.travel.

At sixty seven, adventurer David Lemon has reached the age where he should be putting his feet up and enjoying a contented old age, but after a lifetime of adventure, he finds it difficult to settle down to what others would regard as a ‘normal’ lifestyle.

So, like his namesake David Livingstone did so many times in the middle of the nineteenth century, Lemon is embarking on a new adventure: walking the entire length of the 3,540-kilometre-long Zambezi, starting at the source near the Zambian settlement of Mwinilunga and ending where the river empties into the Indian Ocean in the tiny village of Chinde in Mozambique. The ‘Zambezi Trek’ starts on 21^st April.

David Lemon, enjoying home comforts before his 10 month Zambezi Trek

Brought up in some of the remoter parts of Southern and Central Africa, Lemon is hugely experienced in bush survival and over the past three decades, has tackled the wilder parts of Central Africa in a variety of ways. In his middle forties, he rowed the length of Lake Kariba in both directions, using a ten foot, open dinghy for the purpose. His book Hobo describes that adventure and in it he writes about being driven ashore on rocky islands, holing his boat in a number of places and facing the enormous storms that Kariba continually throws at its boatmen. He also had adventures with hippopotami, crocodile and elephant, while at one stage he was forced to operate on his big toe with a razor blade, following a bite from a night adder.

In his fifties, Lemon cycled alone from Nairobi to Cape Town, taking four and a half months over the journey and on the way he was arrested twice, beaten up by armed soldiers and suffered a severe attack of amoebic dysentery. He also had a number of accidents, but in his book Two Wheels and a Tokoloshe, Lemon cheerfully tells his readers that he had a wonderful time.

At the age of sixty one, David Lemon decided to walk around the southern shoreline of Lake Kariba, a distance of some 1200 kilometres. Setting out in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, he completed the journey in 76 days and on the way, was arrested again, this time for being in the area without a permit, had a number of close encounters with dangerous wild life, lost 20 kilograms in body weight and was forced to stitch up his own leg when the calf was ripped open by a branch. The book resulting from this particular adventure was Blood Sweat and Lions – a truly riveting read.

In 2010, Lemon decided to kayak the perimeter of Lake Kariba but was prevented from doing so by the authorities, who refused to allow him into Zambian waters. Undaunted by this setback, he explored the lake in his 12 foot vessel and yet again, met up with a number of adventures that might well have killed a lesser man.

In the African bush

But David Lemon feels that he has at least one major adventure left before he might – perhaps – be too old.

He will travel alone and survive off what food he can carry, including Cowbell, a high quality milk powder made inZambia and one of the sponsors of David’s Trek. Otherwise he will be living off the countryside and the river whenever possible.

We will keep you posted as to when he arrives in Livingstone, with the mighty Victoria Falls the first milestone of his trip…

Karien had this map done years ago, by the late artist Peter Jones, in the days that famous ‘Bus That Thunders’ used to shuttle guests from their accommodation to the Falls and various attractions in town as well as local shops, restaurants and markets.

Detail of the fun map of Livingstone

The map has been updated and is being reprinted. It will be available from Wild Side Tour’s offices on 131 Mosi O’ Tunya Rd in Livingstone, and various other places throughout town. It’s fun, and the good news is: it’s free!

Following a sad event in the family group who had booked the Kayube River House, they have had to cancel their Easter sojourn there.

So if you have not made any plans, but would like to escape for a few days over Easter to the banks of the Zambezi River, please log on to

http://www.kayubezambeziriverhouse.com  and  http:www.mama-out-of-africa.com

Because of the late notice we will throw in an extra day, so you pay for three days, but stay for four.

Kayube River House, about 30 minutes outside Livingstone, is situated right on the Zambezi River opposite the Zambezi National Park.

The rates are:Kayube for four people 350-00 and for every extra person USD 25-00 per day.

The Mama Out of Africa, within walking distance of the house, is also available, at USD 100-00 for two and USD 15-00 for every extra person.

A safari boat is available for guided boat trips on the river.

Amidst all the horrific news about rhino poaching which confronts us almost daily, here is some good news!

The first glimpse of Mosi O'Tunya's newest arrival, 3 weeks old

A healthy female baby was born to Inonge, who lost her last calf some time in 2010. Hence mother and baby are treated with the utmost care by staff and visitors in the park by keeping a safe distance so as not to put any stress on them.

Because of the incredible, tragically misinformed demand from the east for rhino horn, the rhinos in the Mosi O’Tunya National Park are protected around the clock. So this new little baby girl, along with her mum, has a very good chance of survival!

We will keep you updated!

It’s all happening in Livingstone at the moment! After last month’s opening of the One Stop Shop, housing all tourism-related government departments under one roof, Livingstone 2013 was officially opened last week.

Livingstone’s Bi-Centenary 2013, commorating the 200 years since David Livingstone’s birth, was officially launched to top government officials, including Peter Kasanda, Permanent Secretary, Foreign Affairs & Tourism, James Thornton, British High Commissioner in Zambia, any many prominent members of the tourism industry.

High profile guests attended the celebratory lunch at the David Livingstone Safari Lodge. F.l.t.r. Keith Rissik, General Manager of the David Livingstone Safari Lodge; Kennedy Chaile, Trail Blazers; Fred Mwendepole, Thunderbird Car Hire and former Mayor of Livingstone; British High Commissioner James Thornton, LACSEDO Chairperson Belinda Hodge and Sarah McKenzie of Safpar, main sponsors of the event.

Livingstone is hosting a series of arts, cultural and sporting events between 19 March (Livingstone’s birthday) through to 16 November, (the date Dr Livingstone first viewed the Falls back in 1855). The Official Launch was held in the quadrangle of the Livingstone Museum,  – a fitting place to hold the inaugural event to mark the bicentenary of the birth of the renowed Victorian explorer, missionary and doctor, who was born on 19 March 1813 in Scotland.

Activities that are being planned for 2013 include….

•  A medical exchange between Livingstone Hospital and Scotland.
• An International Academic Conference on Livingstone in April 2013 in Livingstone, Zambia.
• The Bicentenary initiative is supporting the Anglican Street Children’s Project, Zambia, through schools and churches in the UK. Already one of the leading British independent girls’ schools has announced that it will bring a group of senior pupils out to Zambia each year to build a school in stages for the project up in Chama, near where Livingstone died. 
• Cultural and business links between Livingstone Zambia and Blantyre in Scotland, where David Livingstone was born. 
• An international photographic /art competition of the Falls.  It is hpoed that the top 50 entries will be exhibited in the foyer of the UNWTO conference hall next August. It would certainly add visual interest and a colour backdrop to the proceedings.
• The recent African Cup of Nations winner Zambian football team will be invited to play – and give children from local schools a chance to meet their heroes.
• Many more sports events, including various water sports competitions on the Zambezi

Belinda Hodge, Chairman of The Livingstone Arts, Cultural & Sporting Events Development Organisation (LACSEDO), encouraged local role players to become involved in the planning of events and sponsorships.

For more information go to http://www.Livingstone2013.com. Everything about the Bicentenary can be found there. The site is connected to Wildside Tours & WHL’s online booking system for accommodation and activities.

 On Sunday Karien Kermer attended the colourful opening of  the new One-Stop-Shop, officially opened by Ban Ki Moon.

 

Livingstone's distinguished visitor, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon

The ceremony started with the ZAF brass band playing the National Anthem and speeches by The MP of the Southern Province Miles Sampa, The minister of Commerce Trade and Industry, Robert Sichinga , the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Given Lubinda and guest of honour, The Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-Moon

The Minister of Commerce and Industry talked about the importance of the new centre where all 15 ministries are represented, as well as the revenue authorities, and the registrar of Companies. Companies can now be registered in Livingstone and have all paperwork done in 24 hours. This would otherwise have taken many months with numerous trips to the capital Lusaka. He talked about not just making foreign investment easier but also making trade between our neighboring countries a lot  simpler – afterall Zambia is a land-linked county with 8 neighboring countries.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Given Lubinda, already very popular in Livingstone as he bungi – jumped from the Victoria Falls Bridge in an earlier visit in January (see earlier blog) He mentioned that whenever he is in Livingstone he wants to be addressed as the Minister of Tourism and Foreign affairs. He welcomed the very first ever Secretary General of the UN to visit Zambia. He talked about Zambia as being a nation of peace and tranquility and one of the few nations in Africa transferring power from one party to another without any incident. He also talked about the many tourist attractions in Livingstone, as well as the country, the culture and the friendly people – all this being an attraction for safe foreign investment, now made easier by the new tourism and licensing centre.

Given Lubinda - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, welcomes his distinguished guests

Ban Ki-Moon mentioned in his speech that he was not brave enough to join Lubinda in jumping of the bridge but was very happy with the invitation to Livingstone to open the new one stop shop where the 15 ministries were represented. He talked about tourism being very important as it will develop the country through support and sustainable development. Simplifying licensing for investment is very important.

He compared Zambia with Korea who also invited foreign investment but Korea went through a complete financial crisis in 1997 failing to get the investment they had expected. The problem was that it was cumbersome to invest in Korea – it took too long, 2 to 4 years and the investor would invest somewhere else more cooperative. Korea also introduced a one stop centre and Korea now enjoys prosperity through this and is now the 15th commercial power in the world.

Good governance and transparency will bring a lot of foreign interest. He suggested putting all information online on a website which will reduce the possibility for bribery. He emphasized that sustainable development is good for jobs and a healthy environment and Livingstone should add the word one stop ‘green’ shop to the new centre.

Given Lubinda and Ban Ki-Moon

After the speeches the plaque was unveiled

The official plaque commemorating the opening is unveiled. (all photos by Karien Kermer)

Wild Side Tours, situated in the heart of Livingstone in a beautiful little historic railway cottage dating back to 1931 , is offering a wonderful 3-month opportunity to an international tourism student who would like to learn more about running a tour company – and discover Zambia at the same time!

Wild Side Tours are leading tour, safari and hospitality experts in Zambia, specialising in personalised tours and linked to the international WHL group. We make use of all the modern online and social networks in marketing Livingstone all over the world.

There will be ample opportunities to sample what Livingstone has to offer and it is the perfect base to explore the rest of Zambia and southern Africa. It would be ideal for a student planning to come to this part of the world who would like to gain experience in the safari industry in Africa. And become an ambassador for Zambia in your home country – and elsewhere!

The position would be available from mid to late May for three months.

In exchange for four hours a day at our small but busy office you will be accommodated for free in the lovely Mama Out Of Africa on Kayube Estate, overlooking the Zambezi River (www.mama-out-of-africa.com). Transport to and from town will be provided.

To learn more about the company visit www.victoriafallszambia.travel and our Facebook page I love Zambia. For more information or to apply email Karien on wild@iconnect.zm