I must start with an apology for the delay since the last newsletter. The reason for this is that we have been waiting to bring you the news that our management agreement has been renewed. And now I am delighted to report that on 29th May 2002 The Kasanka Trust and the Zambian Wildlife Authority signed a new Memorandum of Understanding to continue their fruitful partnership for the next 5 years. After that it will automatically renew for a further 5 unless either party has served 6 months notice to renegotiate. The agreement gives the Trust  the exclusive rights to develop, promote, and manage Kasanka national Park and adjacent areas...." The Trust initially continues to have exclusive rights to tourism although there is also provision for joint ventures or other investors to develop facilities in future. The Trust will continue to employ it's own anti-poaching scouts to work closely alongside ZAWA officers; this was considered to be a vital (if unusual) aspect of the previous agreement which has now been strengthened. The big challenge for the Trust now will be to develop tourism and raise the funds necessary to fully exploits the possibilities opened!

Wasa and Luwombwa each have three new en suite chalets finished and proving very popular with visitors. Work has now concentrated on a new main complex at Wasa with a dining room, Bar, reception are and Verandah. The structure is complete and the thatchers are now working on the roof whilst bricklayers are plastering and laying a stone floor below. It is hoped that the building will be in use by the end of June as the tourism season starts!

The Clinic building at Chalilo is finally complete and is being painted. The equipment which has been in store in Lusaka will be transported up this weekend ready for an opening ceremony. All the work has been done by members of the local community with technical support from Kasanka Trust. Materials have been provided by the German Embassy in Lusaka and the States of Guernsey who also paid for the equipment.The most important thing now is to build three houses nearby so that a full compliment of staff can be put in place. The Trust will be speaking to donors on behalf of the community to try to get that work done this year.

Thanks to the contributions from our supporters we have been able to continue with the employment of 3 full-time school teachers and one part-time helper. The Trust is also paying school fees, transport and other assistance for 20 secondary school pupils from the villages around Kasanka. At the time of writing pupils are just starting their second term having returned on 27th May. We would welcome any offers of support for our growing education project whether for teachers, students or school infrastructure. Mpelembe school renovation was finished in February and the school re-opened with 4 classrooms and 5 teachers houses extensively repaired. This work was funded by FIDES, a Dutch charity with some help from some private supported in Germany, and has been well received by the community.

As the floodwaters receded, this is the very time of year to visit the Bangweulu wetlands. Shoebills are often seen from within the camp and visitors have regularly been seeing 10 of these rare birds during an hour's outing on the Lukulu river. The Lechwe are there in as great a numbers as ever and make an amazing spectacle not to be missed. There have been some improvements in the camp at Shoebill Island and all the safari tents now have en suite showers under their thatch roofs and private toilets just nearby. A new dining room is nearing completion near the boat harbour and this will offer some great views across the water pools popular with birds and animals.

Now that the management agreement is signed it is hoped that we will be able to carry out the animal translocation planned for last year. Discussions have started with ZAWA officials to plan the operation and there should be more news on it soon.

Edmund Farmer,
Park Manager
15 December, 2001