On June 2, Sanctuary Zebra Plains opened for business in South Luangwa, Zambia. Zebra Plains promises the ultimate bush expedition for adventure seekers—a walking safari combined with fine dining and high-end tented accommodations.

Respected guide Garth Hovell leads two walks each day at Sanctuary Zebra Plains and it’s common for guests to see hippos, hundreds of species of birds, zebra, elephant, antelope, buffalo, puku, lion, leopard, and wild dog. In addition to Hovell, safari-goers are accompanied by armed game scouts and a tea bearer. Departures are set on Monday and Thursday, with a three-night stay minimum.

The intimacy of this safari experience is maintained with just four tents—two doubles and two twins. Each tent has a bed, comfortable furniture, mosquito nets, en suite facilities and a flush toilet. Water for al fresco showers is mixed to your preferred temperature by a tent attendant. Meals are taken in the main mess tent with a full dining area, library, and bar.

This seasonal camp is open from June to October each year and is designed to leave the lowest possible carbon footprint. In fact, in between seasons the camp is packed up leaving no trace…as if it were never there.

Zebra Plains is offering an opening special: book a stay for two at Zebra Plains and the second guest’s stay is half price (a savings up to $825). This deal is valid for new bookings for travel that takes place between June 1 and October 31, 2011.

Consider combining the walking safari with a stay at Sanctuary’s permanent lodges in South Luangwa: Sanctuary Puku Ridge Camp and Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge, where they are currently offering three nights for the price of two.

For more information, contact your travel agent or Sanctuary Retreats.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

Photo courtesy of Sanctuary Resorts

Sanctuary Retreats reached out to me today to let me know about a change to the yellow fever vaccination recommendations in Africa.

According to Sanctuary, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently revised its yellow fever vaccination recommendations for the continent. As a result, the South African Department of Health issued a statement that all travelers from South Africa to Zambia and travelers from Zambia to South Africa will now require proof of a yellow fever vaccination. This was not previously required.

All in-transit passengers between the two destinations, irrespective of the time period in transit, will also require proof of yellow fever vaccination.

Consult your doctor about this change or find a physician specializing in travel medicine at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene or the International Society of Travel Medicine. Also, don’t miss the CDC’s Health Information for Travelers to Zambia.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

NEWS FROM SANCTUARY CHICHELE PRESIDENTIAL LODGE, ZAMBIA—On April 13, His Excellency Dr. Kenneth Kaunda visited Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge to officially re-open the property after an extensive refurbishment. The lodge was originally built in the 1970s for Dr. Kaunda, the first Republican president of Zambia, as his private retreat in the South Luangwa National Park.

The opening ceremony was also attended by other dignitaries including former First Lady and now Deputy Minister of Tourism Vera Tembo, The Honourable Minister of Eastern Province Isaac Banda, His Royal Highness Chief Makumbi and Timothy Mushibwe, Chairman of the Zambian Tourism Board, along with members of the local media.

During his speech, former president Dr. Kaunda thanked Sanctuary Retreats for the significant investment made in Zambia and the role they are playing in promoting tourism in the country. He emphasised that tourism is critical for the development of the local economy in Zambia as it provides employment for local people and assists in the fight against HIV and Aids.

His Excellency also had time for a game drive in the valley where he spotted plenty of wildlife including the notorious Chichele pride of lions on a buffalo kill with their three small cubs, before ending the day with celebratory sundowner drinks on the magnificent Chichele Hill.

His Excellency stayed over at Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge and left the next morning with these kind words: “How wonderful to come back here to Chichele. The reception was as outstanding as always with wonderful and meaningful smiles.”

For more information about Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge, talk with your travel agent or contact Sanctuary Retreats.

Photo courtesy of Sanctuary Retreats

This page will be continually updated to archive a list of the luxury accommodations on the Zambia side of Victoria Falls. If you know of an option that’s not listed, please let us know!

Islands of Siankaba
Postnet 621, Private Bag E891, Lusaka
Tel: 260 211 260 279

The Royal Livingstone
Mosi-oa-Tunya Road, Livingstone
Tel: 260 213 321 122

Tongabezi Lodge & Sindabezi Island
Private Bag 31, Livingstone
Tel: 260 213 327 450
Rates: from $450 per person per night

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

Photo of Sindabezi courtesy of Tongabezi Lodge

This page will be continually updated to archive a list of the game lodges in Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park. If you know of a luxury lodge that’s not listed, please let us know!

Ana Tree Lodge
P.O. Box 32661, Lusaka
Tel: 260 211 250 730
Rates: $575 per person per night (doesn’t include the bar)

Chiawa Camp
P.O. Box 30972, Lusaka
Tel: 260 211 261 588

Chongwe River Camp
P.O. Box CA 102, Lusaka
Tel: 260 211 278 248

Kasaka River Lodge
Tel: 260 211 256 201
Rates: from $395 per person per night

Royal Zambezi Lodge
P/Bag CH42, Lusaka
Tel: 260 211 840 682
Rates: from $380 per person per night

Sanctuary Zambezi Kulefu Camp
Rates: from $400 per person per night

Sausage Tree Camp
P.O. Box 35139, Lusaka 10101
Tel: 260 211 845 204

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

Photo courtesy of Sausage Tree Camp

Project in Zambia with Plan Australia

Do you remember the 1999 movie Office Space with Jennifer Aniston and Ron Livingston? It’s a favorite of mine and if you haven’t seen it, I’ll need to explain one of the plot lines in order to set up this blog post.

Do you remember the 1999 movie Office Space with Jennifer Aniston and Ron Livingston? It’s a favorite of mine and if you haven’t seen it, I’ll need to explain one of the plot lines in order to set up this blog post.

Livingston plays Peter Gibbons, who works in an administrative role at a computer company called Initech. When his friends are laid off, they conspire to devise a way to skim fractions of pennies off all financial transactions being handled by Initech. Consider it micro-embezzling.

Think about it… fractions of a dollar seem like chump change on its own, but combine all those fractions together and we’re talking big money.

That’s sort of the concept that The Footprints Network, based in Australia, has embraced to fight poverty across the globe. They believe that micro donations—between $1 and $5—made by consumers during online transactions can help fund community development projects.

The network funds programs that upgrade farming, education, access to clean water, and sight restoration—all in an effort to eliminate poverty. One of the current projects on the docket focuses on improving farming in Zambia. This will, in turn, increase access to food for the poorest families in the region. Plan Australia is overseeing the training program.

Founded in 2004 by WorldNomads.com after the Asian tsunami, 302,278 individuals have raised more than $785,383 for 53 projects around the world.

“Alleviating the extreme cycle of poverty and the ills that accompany it is everyone’s moral responsibility,” said Chris Novel, general manager of WorldNomads.com. “Yet the extent of world poverty can seem so overwhelming that many of us are left feeling helpless and that the problems are just too big for any one person to make a difference.”

In just five years, WorldNomads.com has developed an independent network of e-commerce businesses that share the same ethics and values and, through technology, seek to change the world by asking customers spending money online to make a small donation to charity at the same time.

WorldNomads.com supports all administrative costs of the program so 100 percent of donations go directly to the projects.

While the network is small, it is growing. “We’re looking for more online e-commerce business partners to integrate the Footprints mechanism into their shopping carts and, transaction by transaction, help make a difference,” said Noble.

This is definitely a program worth watching. For more information, visit The Footprints Network.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

Okay, British Airways won’t take you to Africa for free, but with a new promotion they’ve announced with partner credit card Chase Visa, they will give you 100,000 bonus miles that can be used to travel to many amazing African  gateways, including:

Egypt (Cairo, Hurghada, and Sharm el Sheikh)
Kenya (Nairobi)
Mauritius
Morocco (Marrakech)
Namibia (Windhoek)
South Africa (Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth)
Tanzania (Dar Es Salaam)
Uganda (Entebbe)
Zambia (Livingstone, Lusaka)
Zimbabwe (Harare)

So how do you get this practically free trip to Africa? By signing up for an unprecedented bonus mile deal: earn 100,000 miles with a new British Airways Visa Signature Card from Chase.

Card Benefits

• receive 50,000 miles after your first purchase
• spend $2,000 within three months of opening your card and receive an additional 50,000 miles
• earn 1.25 miles for each $1 spent
• earn 2.5 miles for money spent on BA purchases
• spend $30,000 in a calendar year and you’ll receive a 2-for-1 companion award certificate
• $50 off a British Airways flight if booked before December 31, 2009 (for travel before the end of 2010)

This promo is especially enticing since British Airways offers what they call “Household Accounts.” This means you can combine miles with anyone living at the same address. That makes managing miles SO much easier! You’ll retain your own Executive Club membership but your mileage balances will be combined.

You may use British Airways miles on any OneWorld airline, including:

American Airlines
Cathay Pacific
Finnair
Iberia
Japan Airlines
LAN
Malev
Quantas
Royal Jordanian

Other British Airways partners also include:

Aer Lingus
Alaskan Airlines
Brussels Airlines
Caribbean Airlines
Mexicana

This British Airways/Chase Visa promo is definitely something to look into, especially if you’ll be traveling to Africa in the coming years. I know that’s how I’ll spend my miles! Apply for the card now.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

Sanctuary Lodges & Camps—founded by Abercrombie & Kent as environmentally sustainable lodgings—has expanded into Zambia with five new properties:

Sussi & Chuma is built among huge ebony trees, just upstream from Victoria Falls in the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park. The 10 luxury tree houses have private views of the Zambezi River. Chuma House is an exclusive two-bedroom villa located near the lodge.

Lechwe Plains Tented Camp in the Lochinvar National Park, north of Lusaka, is a photographer’s paradise. Located on the Chunga Lagoon, this World Heritage Wetland offers incredible birdlife and tens of thousands of Kafue Lechwe (antelope), an aquatic antelope of exceptional grace.

Kulefu Tented Camp in the Lower Zambezi National Park is on the wildest stretch of the Zambezi. Eight spacious tents are set on platforms at the river’s edge.

Puku Ridge Tented Camp in the South Luangwa National Park is a real wilderness experience under canvas with exciting wildlife opportunities. This superb property is located on a ridge overlooking game rich floodplains.

Chichele Presidential Lodge was originally built by President Kaunda and refurbished as an early colonial “Gentleman’s Lodge”. The hilltop setting in South Luangwa National Park overlooks plains teeming with wildlife.

“Though relatively unknown outside Africa, Zambia offers a diverse range of environments with prolific wildlife,” said Abercrombie & Kent Group Chairman and CEO Geoffrey Kent. “Walking safaris were pioneered in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley; if you have only seen animals from inside a vehicle, you will find walking with big game a thrilling experience. Night drives are also a specialty and the best means of seeing some of the more elusive nocturnal species, including leopard.”

The company also operates Olonana in Kenya’s Masai Mara; Swala in Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park and Kusini in the Serengeti; Gorilla Forest Camp in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest; and four properties in Botswana (Sanctuary Chief’s Camp, Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero, Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp, and Sanctuary Baines’ Camp).

For more information, visit Abercrombie & Kent or call 1-(800) 554‑7094.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxurySafariExperts.com

Photo of Zambezi Kulefu Camp by Yolandi Scanes, courtesy of Abercrombie & Kent