Conservation
Zambia’s South Luangwa is the country’s premiere destination for wildlife-based tourism yet, like many areas on the planet, it is threatened by a multitude of problems.
Despite being one of the most wildlife-rich areas in Africa, its natural heritage is under threat from poaching and other illegal activities. Other areas of concern include a rapidly growing human population, lack of adequate information on wildlife species, and a lack of training, education, and employment opportunities in the local communities who are ultimately responsible for conserving their wildlife resources.
In this time of pressing environmental and social problems, responsible wildlife-based tourism is of paramount importance for the ecosystems, wildlife, and local communities that depend on them.
To help combat these serious threats to the Luangwa’s wildlife, The Bushcamp Company, through Charity Begins at Home, is a proud supporter of three local wildlife organisations – Conservation South Luangwa (CSL), the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife- that work together on various conservation efforts to address these issues and conserve the Valley’s wildlife.
Conservation South Luangwa (CSL)
Conservation South Luangwa (CSL) is a non-profit organisation that is committed to the conservation of the wildlife and natural resources of the South Luangwa National Park and surrounding Game Management.
CSL is partly sponsored by the safari operators in Luangwa, but it relies heavily on individual donations to cover most of its costs. Through Charity Begins at Home, The Bushcamp Company helps fundraise for CSL, primarily through the Luangwa Conservation & Community Fund. The company also pays for scouts to conduct anti-poaching patrols in the areas around its camps during the rains, as well as ensuring that guides and camp staff report any signs of poaching.
In 2011, Charity Begins at Home sourced funds to buy CSL a Cessna 180 light aircraft (to share with the Zambian Carnivore Programme), to help them with law enforcement, research, monitoring, and anti-poaching work. Over the years, the Luangwa Conservation Community Fund has raised enough year-on-year to cover almost one third of CSL’s operating budget, as well as provided substantial funding to increase anti-poaching and anti-snaring activities in the park and surrounding Game Management Areas.
Zambian Carnivore Project (ZCP)
The Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) is a non-profit Zambian registered trust dedicated to conserving large carnivore species and their habitat in Zambia.
Through Charity Begins at Home, the Bushcamp Company helps fundraise for ZCP, with guides working alongside the ZCP researchers to report carnivore sightings as part of the ongoing Luangwa Valley Carnivore Monitoring Programme.
Charity Begins at Home’s support of ZCP ranges from direct field support of camera trap surveys, providing daily sightings and photographic data from around the Bushcamp Company camps, and assisting with and supporting lion collaring and de-snaring. We also help fund-raising by contributing auction prizes. In 2011, Charity Begins at Home sourced funds to buy ZCP a Cessna 180 light aircraft (to share with Conservation South Luangwa) to help them conduct surveillance, wildlife research and monitoring flights over the park.
Get involved
All guests of the Bushcamp Company contribute to the Luangwa Community & Conservation Fund through the nightly conservation and community levy. If however, you would like to get involved in other ways or offer further support, there are many opportunities.