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Kasanka Newsletter March 2005
Since the last newsletter the amazing fruit bat colony has been and gone but not before receiving attention from several professional photographers. David Rogers took shots for his upcoming “Safari in Style” Zambia book (due to be published in May 05) and Franz Lanting spent some days collecting material for a special Africa edition of National Geographic.
Despite the rains, work has continued on the Kasanka Conservation Centre at the park entrance. To date 2 double guest blocks, 2 staff houses, a dormitory and office block are complete with 2 more staff houses and 2 storerooms rising. This construction work is being funded by a generous grant from the Beit Trust. When complete the centre will provide a base for our community project, an education and interpretive center, research base and facilities, and a base for expeditions and volunteer groups. Work is also commencing to install solar electricity and water reticulation.
The Darwin Initiative/Holly Hill Trust funded project “Conservation of wetlands and associated biodiversity in Northern Zambia” was kick-started by an inaugural workshop at Wasa in December. In attendance were Prof. Paul Racey project leader from Aberdeen University, Martin Stanley from Holly Hill Trust, Gershom Chilukusha and Isaac Longwe directors from ZAWA, and representatives of all local stakeholders and government departments. The meeting was very successful and all parties in attendance agreed to support implementation of the project as far as they could. Since the meeting, the project has appointed a post doctorate expert to lead the research activities and he is expected to arrive around July 05.
The
Darwin project has meanwhile been sponsoring Patricia Mupeta on a
MSc course in Tourism and Conservation at The Durrell institute of
Conservation and Ecology (DICE) in Kent UK. She is doing very well
in the course and will be visiting Kasanka to carry our studies
towards her research dissertation in May and June before returning
to complete the course in
Work has continued at Shoebill Island to improve the accommodation. 3 new reed chalets are near completion to complement the safari tents. All the tents and chalets will have ensuite bathrooms for the coming season. Report from the camp speak of plenty of Shoebills nearby, so we should have a another good season for these amazing birds. Over the past 3 years almost all visitors between March and July have seen Shoebills without any trouble.
The Trust is advertising for staff members in tourism and Community Relations whilst Sky Trails is looking to employ a pilot, so if you are interested check out the vacancies page.
More news soon as the tourism season gets under way…..
Ed Farmer 18 March 2005
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After
a torrential start of nearly 500mm by the New Year, the 04/05rainy
season looks set to finish around only 1000 in Kasanka. That’s
enough to keep the rivers and lakes in good shape, but means access
around the park and use of the airstrips shouldn’t be a problem.
Meanwhile
2 of Zambia’s finest photographers Francois D’Elbee and Steven
Robinson found time to visit and both generously offered the Trust
use of their photographs. 
September.
She plans to study tourism development potential of Kasanka in
particular regarding educational tourism and conservation education.
This work will involve assessing the needs of schools and other
educational groups and developing a plan for interpretive facilities
at the new Conservation Centre and in the park.