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

Walking Safaris

Norman Carr pioneered walking safaris back in the 1950’s and the Luangwa Valley today is still one of the best places to explore on foot. Game drives are also on offer but as Norman always maintained, to view the bush from a vehicle is simply to be an observer, but to get out on foot was to become a part of your surroundings. To stand in silence and see the flick of a lion's tail as he disappears into the bush acutely aware of your presence as another apex predator is infinitely more exciting than sitting in a jeep somehow apart from the real wilderness.

The Luangwa Valley is the home of the walking safari and in recent years many private reserves and National Parks across Africa have tried to recreate the experience but nowhere yet comes close to the Luangwa. The level of training required before qualifying as a walking guide and the guide’s partnership with highly trained armed scout means we can enable guests to get close to big game on foot, like the safari hunters of old, but in safety and also without impacting negatively on the wildlife in any way.

All walking safaris in Zambia are led by an armed wildlife ranger – they’re called Scouts in Zambia; he is followed by the professional safari guide. In other countries walks are often led by one armed scout. The idea of having two fully trained experts at the head of each walk was conceived by Norman and has been tried and tested for decades with an unparalleled safety record and we firmly believe that it is the safest way to conduct a walking safari.

The bush is a potentially dangerous place and in an emergency situation – the Scout handles the wildlife potential hazard while the Guide concentrates on guests getting out of any danger zone.

It’s true - in a vehicle you cover more ground and are likely to see greater volumes of game, but as soon as you get out of the vehicle on foot in the bush you become a part of it, you can hear, smell and feel the bush as well as see it. It's infinitely exciting in a different way; many of our guests have called it a life changing experience. The smaller mysteries of the wilderness start to reveal themselves, how every aspect of the bush is inextricably linked.

Together with the skill of the guide and scout team guests are able to have a far deeper and more intimate experience. It’s no longer an exercise in ticking off sightings but the start of what for many people becomes a lifelong and ever growing passion.

Over many decades this way of walking has proved extremely safe both for guests – and as importantly, the wildlife.

Although young children are not allowed in the Park on foot (lower age limit of 12 years to walk), there is no upper age limit and one doesn't need a high level of fitness. Walks are conducted at a slow pace. We usually have a tea bearer walking with us and plan a break or two in the shade of a tree or watching the river flow past.

When Norman Carr first started exploring the Luangwa Valley with guests, he was usually accompanied by porters laden with the supplies and kit needed to make camp. Life is a little easier today and we like to provide our guests with a few more creature comforts than could easily be carried on foot.

We have not, however lost sight of the excitement of the raw and real experience of camping out in temporary bush camps. The pioneering sense of adventure and closeness to the wild when walking from camp to camp is still at the heart of what we do. Now we do it in real comfort and style but, most importantly – still with some of the best guides in Africa.

Our four bush camps have been carefully sited in areas close to waterholes or rivers, sites which have been chosen for their special beauty and wildlife importance. The camps are very different from each other and have been placed strategically so that guests can walk between in a circuit.

A safari including a combination of bush camps gives you the best of the varied and diverse habitats of the Luangwa Valley and an experience of ‘safari’ in the true sense of the word.

Luwi and Nsolo Bush Camps are both deep in the middle of the South Luangwa National Park, the only camps on the course of the Luwi River, a tributary of the Luangwa. Often the real safari starts in these camps – exploring the Luwi River valley and heading down river to the Luangwa – they find Kakuli placed on the confluence of the Luwi and Luangwa Rivers built on a high bank overlooking huge hippo pods and productive grazing lawns. Just up river is Mchenja, our most luxurious and sophisticated bush camp and a wonderful place to end your safari adventure.

The distance between each camp can be covered in 3 – 5 hours depending upon the wildlife along the way and levels of fitness of the guests. One can never tell what you will see. You may divert to sit and watch a herd of elephants or be attracted by the alarm calls of a troop of baboons as they sound out the presence of a predator.

Either way, when you arrive at your next camp your bags will be in your room and you will be welcomed with a warm smile and a cold drink. If you prefer to walk some of the way then rest your legs and game drive the rest - we can of course arrange that.

Original can be found here

Walking holidays in Zambia

Exhilarating to the point of addiction... that’s what walking with big game feels like if you’ve only ever seen animals from a safari vehicle.

Expert Africa offers a safari experience in the South Luangwa - Zambia’s premier park - whereby the second person essentially safaris for free.

Staying in at least two of Norman Carr Safari’s five well-established camps (Kapani, Kakuli and Mchenja, which offer a mixture of driving and walking activities; and Luwi and Nsolo, focusing almost solely on walking safaris), you’ll enjoy top-notch guiding, learn to sniff out elephants and to follow the tracks of hyenas.

You don’t need to be especially fit to walk in Zambia – the walks are about taking time to spot the signs of the wildlife and to learn how the ecosystems work.

And you’ll be accompanied not only by a professional guide, but also an armed game scout, and often a tea-bearer carrying refreshments. Walks cater for a maximum of six guests, but between two and five is the norm.

Originally appeared here

South Luangwa National Park

Luangwa Luxury Adventures

Chinzombo (opening 2013) - Norman Carr Safaris innovative, elegant and exclusive camp will offer a level of luxury and service new to the Luangwa Valley.

Six spacious and sophisticated suites situated in a magnificent Luangwa riverside location with direct river access to the National Park - all suites will have private plunge pool, cooled sleeping areas and internet connection. Combined with our remote bush camps this safari provides the perfect balance of extreme luxury and wild adventure

Four nights at Chinzombo exploring the 60 acres around camp which teems with wildlife, crossing the river by boat in to the heart of the national park and luxuriating in the elegance and comfort of the huge suites can be followed by four nights at Mchenja Camp or, for the more adventurous and wild at heart, spend two of the nights at one of our bush camps – Luwi, Nsolo or Kakuli for a taste of traditional safari.

Guests can opt for spa treatments and visits to local community projects at Chinzombo and privately guided safari from the bush camps for an extra supplement.

Norman Carr Safaris