Norman Carr Safaris’ first “wildly luxurious” lodge in Luangwa Valley

Norman Carr Safaris (NCS) has revealed details of the first “wildly luxurious” sustainable bush camp in Zambia’s game-rich Luangwa. Scheduled to open in March 2013, the Chinzombo camp is being designed by acclaimed architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, the visionaries behind North Island in the Seychelles and Little Vumbura Camp, an eco-luxe lodge in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The architects’ signature style is low-impact eco design, using sustainably sourced materials as well as local building methods and craftspeople.

Chinzombo represents another step in the evolution of the Rech and Carsten luxury bush camp design philosophy. For the first time, modernist architectural forms are being combined with the organic geometry and regional materials of indigenous Zambian building methods to create a new, groundbreaking type of bush camp.

Built on the site of one of Norman’s original camps, Chinzombo comprises six WiFi-equipped spacious villas, one with capacity to accommodate a family of five. The villas, which appear to float over the landscape, are nestled within the shade of ancient trees on a ridge which follows a loop in the Luangwa River. Minimalist in design, the villas’ modern steel-framed structures contrast with the natural materials used in the décor and interiors.

The villas contain large, cooled bedrooms, luxurious bathrooms and private plunge pools on shady decks overlooking the Luangwa River. Materials are natural, including locally-produced leather, reed-work and canvas while floors are made of recycled composite timber. There is little concrete or brick, and the décor features raw linen, timber, copper and hand-made crockery. Local weavers, pottery makers and carvers have been commissioned to create many of the interiors.

A winding foot path shaded by mahogany trees connects the accommodation and lounge/dining area. Fitness fanatics will find a yoga and exercise area and spa facilities; nature lovers will appreciate a place where both wildlife and natural vegetation flourish, unhindered by vast tracts of landscaping, game fences, roads or other man-made installations.

Chinzombo honours its history: conservationist Norman Carr promulgated experiencing the African bush while respecting both the natural landscape and local traditions. Today his philosophy is called “sustainable tourism.”


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Norman Carr Safaris Offers “Elephants Never Forget” Discount

Norman Carr Safaris (NCS) is offering past guests an “Elephants Never Forget” discount of 15 percent on a seven-night safari to Zambia. Accommodations are at NCS’ flagship Kapani Lodge and at Kakuli. From March 1 accommodations will switch from Kapani to Chinzombo, a new, luxurious, sustainable safari accommodation in the Luangwa Valley.

To qualify for the discount, at least one member of the party must have stayed with NCS sometime in the past. Just submit names and dates of prior visit, so NCS can verify. The offer only applies to the seven-night Rivers and Rainbows safari, which runs from Jan. 15 to April 5, 2013, subject to availability. Once new guests have stayed with NCS, they will also qualify for the 15 percent discount on future Rivers and Rainbows safaris.

The green or emerald season of the South Luangwa is known for magnificent sunsets and skies, many migratory birds, clear night skies and occasional dramatic tropical downpours. South Luangwa National Park is considered one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, with a tremendous concentration of game around the Luangwa River and its oxbow lagoons.

Original post:
http://www.travelpulse.com/norman-carr-safaris-offers-elephants-never-forget-discount.html

Norman Carr Safaris Offers Discount to Zambia’s South Luangwa Valley

In order to promote travel to Zambia’s South Luangwa Valley in the green season, Norman Carr Safaris (NCS) is offering “Elephants Never Forget” to all past guests. The promotion features a discount of 15 percent on a seven-night safari. Guests will stay at NCS’ flagship Kapani Lodge (or, from March 1, at Chinzombo, the first wildly luxurious, sustainable safari accommodation in the Luangwa Valley), and at Kakuli, the only true bush camp open in the green season.

  To qualify for the discount, at least one member of the party must have stayed with NCS sometime in the past. When booking, you must submit names and dates of prior visit, so NCS can verify. The offer only applies to the seven-night Rivers and Rainbows safari, which runs from Jan. 15 to April 5 and is subject to availability. Once new guests have stayed with NCS, they will also qualify for the 15 percent discount on future Rivers and Rainbows safaris.

The green or emerald season of the South Luangwa is characterized by magnificent sunsets and skyscapes, a myriad of migratory birds, crystal-clear night skies and occasional dramatic tropical downpours, making it a dream for photographers, birders, wildlife lovers and adventurers. South Luangwa National Park is considered one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world:

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Kapani and history of the company

Kapani and history of the company

Norman Carr established Luangwa's first safari camp in 1950. Back in the days when an African safari was a hunting experience, Norman developed the pioneering idea of taking people to look at animals and photograph them rather than to shoot them.

This first safari camp was set up in partnership with the then Paramount Chief Nsefu and his people. This idea of involving the local people in the management of the wildlife was way ahead of its time. It was almost 50 years later that conservationists started developing the principles of "Community Based Natural Resource Management", in other words encouraging the traditional owners of the natural resource to take responsibility for its usage. Norman Carr's pioneering approach proved to be the forerunner to a cornerstone of modern day conservation policy.

The first 35 years of the company saw Norman set up and establish a number of safari camps across the Luangwa Valley, some of which are still in existence – Nsefu, Lion Camp, Chibembe and Chinzombo to name a few. In 1985 whilst running his safaris out of the old Mfuwe Lodge, Norman started construction on what would be his final safari camp, Kapani Lodge. He selected an elevated site overlooking the Kapani Lagoon. He knew the unpredictability of the Luangwa River well, and that this site would never flood and would never fall into the river.

Everyone associated with Norman Carr Safaris (NCS) is immensely proud of the heritage of the company. The principles of conservation and community responsibility established by Norman over half a century ago still run strongly through the company. We have been leading the way in responsible tourism in Zambia for over 60 years and we intend for that to continue.

In early 2012 we announced our new partners – the Dalais family and Chongwe Safaris in the Lower Zambezi – who along with co-owners and Directors Dave Wilson and Christina & Adrian Carr are pleased to share the next chapter of the Norman Carr Safaris adventure.

Throughout its history, NCS has always innovated; the first community based tourism, the first camps, the first walking safaris, the first community projects, the first luxury bush camps, the first all Zambian expert guiding team, the first Zambian female guide, the first majority Zambian Operations Board - the list of firsts is long!

We’re proud to continue this tradition and will continue to lead the way in innovation, the use of new ‘green’ technology, staff training and development and community involvement.

For Norman Carr Safaris, it has always been and continues to be all about CONSERVATION THROUGH TOURISM.

Original: http://www.normancarrsafaris.com

And a picture gallery: http://www.normancarrsafaris.com/#!/gallery/Camps/Kapani

Norman Carr Safaris receives recognition

Norman Carr Safaris receives recognition at the first SATOA Travel Awards

13 Sep 2012 by Philly Denlegh-Maxwell

Many congratulations to Norman Carr Safaris, whose family friendly Kapani Lodge received recognition at the inaugural SATOA Travel Awards. Kapani received the ‘Best Accommodation in Africa’ award at the event, which took place at the Zimbabwe Embassy on Wednesday 12 September.
Honour Schram de Jong accepted the award on behalf of the team at Norman Carr Safaris.


Kapani Lodge is a comfortable family lodge situated on the banks of one of the Luangwa River’s many ox-bow lagoons. It is located close to the main Mfuwe area of the South Luangwa, one of the finest National Parks in Zambia. Its location ensures an excellent safari experience year-round as well as access to numerous community activities. The lodge can accommodate up to 18 guests across its rooms, suites and ‘Lagoon House’, offers al fresco dining options and has a large, secluded swimming pool.
Norman Carr, the father of Zambian conservation and tourism built Kapani in 1986 and made it his home until his death in 1997. He earned the reputation as a tireless conservationist and was the founding father of photographic walking safaris and the concept of “eco-tourism” in Zambia. His legacy continues to live through his family and dedicated staff – Kapani is still the home of the Carr.
SATOA is a non-profit travel and tourism association which promotes travel to Africa and the Indian Ocean. Members include hotels, game reserves, lodges, tour operators, ground handlers, car hire companies, tourism boards, airlines and representation companies among others. This was the organisation’s inaugural annual Travel Awards.

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http://www.prco.com/uk/property-pr/norman-carr-safaris-receives-recognition-at-the-first-satoa-travel-awards/

Norman Carr Safaris to Open Luxury Lodge in Zambia’s Luangwa

Norman Carr Safaris is planning a new luxurious and sustainable camp in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley. Christina Carr, director of Norman Carr Safaris, characterized the new property as a “wildly luxurious,” sustainable bush camp in Zambia’s game-rich Luangwa, valley of the leopard. The new camp is called Chinzombo. It is being designed by South African architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, designers of North Island Resort in the Seychelles and Little Vumbura Camp in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The architects are known for low-impact eco design incorporating the work of local craftspeople.

Carr said that Chinzombo represents “another step in the evolution of the Rech and Carsten luxury bush camp design philosophy,” with modernist architectural forms combined with organic geometry, regional materials and indigenous Zambian building methods. The property is being built where Norman Carr stayed during Luangwa’s Emerald Season,

Chinzombo will have six villas, one that can accommodate a family of five or more. Villas are Wi-Fi-equipped. The villas stand under shade trees on a ridge over a loop in the Luangwa River. The villas have large, air-conditioned bedrooms, luxurious bathrooms and private plunge pools on shady decks overlooking the Luangwa River. Materials are natural, and includes locally produced leather, reed-work and canvas. Floors are made of recycled composite timber. There is no concrete or brick. Décor utilizes raw linen, timber, copper and hand-made crockery. The property will open for business March 1, 2013.

Original article here

Norman Carr Safaris

Luangwa Valley Walking Safaris

Situated far from all the major cities, the Luangwa Valley has been spared from masses of tourists, leaving it unspoilt and undiscovered. This area consists of 9,000 sq Km of lush reverine vegetation, with arguably the most diverse range of wildlife in Africa, and fantastic for bird watchers. Walking safaris were pioneered in the Luangwa Valley. The Luangwa Valley is the southern extension of the Great Rift Valley that streches from North Africa down to the Zambezi River.

The Luangwa Valley has a long history of game protection and the safari operators in the Luangwa Valley since the 1960’s have been largely responsible for the ongoing conservation efforts.

The Luangwa Valley contains four National Parks. The South and North Luangwa National Parks, and the Laumbe and Lukusuzi National Parks. The latter two however have no safari facilities and poaching in these National Parks is an ever present threat.

The South Luangwa National Park is the Luangwa Valley’s most accessible and popular Park. The country side in the South Luangwa National Park is spectacular in its rugged beauty, and the conditions are idea for the thriving wildlife as well as bird species for which there are over 400 different types. This is also one of the best places in the world to see leopard. The Thornicroft’s giraffe and Cookson’s wildebeest are also two animals that are unique to this region and are found nowhere else in the world.

Walking Safaris were pioneered in the Luangwa Valley in the 1950’s. The Walking Safari ranges from casual nature walks in the vicinity of the camp to intense tracking of lion in the heart of the African bush. A walking safari is one of the finest ways to experience the natural and pristine wilderness of the South Luangwa National Park. The excitement of tracking lions and seeing them in a pride of up to 30 strong whilst on a walking safari is unparalleled.

The North Luangwa National Park is a secluded bush paradise. It shares the same wildlife and vegetation as the South Luangwa National Park, however, it is renowned for its great buffalo herds and huge lion prides. Few places in Africa can compete with the North Luangwa National Park when it comes to exclusivity and remoteness.

Most of Zambia’s best safaris are found in the eastern section of the South Luangwa National Park. Permanent Safari Lodges are the main basis for Safari activities, however, there are numerous seasonal bush camps situated in remote areas that offer an unrivalled safari experience, although it is strongly recommended that only experienced safari goers consider these camps as they are not for the faint hearted.

Luangwa Walking Safari: Africa Uncovered