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Zambian Heritage | Kabwata Cultural Village

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If you are heading over to Zambia don’t
just head straight to Livingstone thinking that is all there is to see of the country.
Zambia’s capital is beaming with culture and activities to part take in. There are day trips available to Kafue’s river side or
exploring the local markets like Soweto market or seeing the bustling in Cairo road. A great tip for Cairo road is to go there on the weekend as the weekdays
there is traffic like no other! If you are a lover of retail therapy then head
to the malls. What you should not miss out on though, is Kabwata’s Cultural
Village. Home to some 70 woodcarvers, basket weavers and artists who showcase
their creative spirit in the products they make. This place is not just for
tourists, locals in and around Zambia know about this little national treasure. If
you are visiting Livingstone many other towns, you will find that you cannot haggle too much with
the prices as a lot of those wooden carvings are made here, the buy
from here and resell in Livingstone and many other areas on the country.

Kabwata Cultural Village was established in
1974, ten years after independence when Zambia became independent from British
rule. Coincidentally we are celebrating our independence today! Today, 24th
October, marks 50 years of independence hence why some of you may have spotted
a lot of flags in my resent post on our stay at Intercontinental hotel. The
month of October is a month of celebration so Zambians are even jollier than
usual, as they get ready for national celebrations through out the country.
Visiting Kabwata gives you an opportunity
to see a glimpse of what some of the traditional buildings looked like in the
1950s and 1960s. Unfortunately some of them were torn down as they were going
to rebuild on this site but with people uniting to keep this national
treasure, you can now witness the beautiful carvings as well as meet the woodcarvers, craftsmen and women who come from all nine provinces of Zambia in keeping with
Zambia’s traditional and cultural heritage of the country. There are tours
running in the city that will also take you through the city centre, the home
of the first president of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda and other local museums.
Below are some of the shots from the
Kabwata, where you can find carvings of animals, home utensils; spoons,  salad bowls, you can find wooden tables,
stools, toys drums and even jewellery and handbags all made from wood and the
Chitenge – Zambia/African print material.

Intercontinental | Capital Pleasures In Lusaka

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There is a certain allure to the notion of traveling in Africa with many associating Africa with just safaris,  but there is more to this continent than just exploring national parks in search of the big five.  While a safari was certainly on our itinerary, we were going to be exploring the capital’s hot spots first before the big 5. To really experience a destination you have to meet the locals, check out their hangouts and that was the main plan for the first few days in the country.  Thats exactly what I had in mind for my travel partner.

 
Arriving right in the middle of the hot Zambian summer(and month of independence day celebrations – hence the flags) we were immediately welcomed with a cool breeze from the whispers of water flowing from the fountains as we stepped out of the car onto the entrance of Intercontinental.  I planned a 17-day trip around Southern Africa which would cover Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia and involving several modes of transportation. This was also going to be the first time my boyfriend was visiting my home country as the first part of this year was dedicated to introducing me to his home country in Israel, which we explored in much of April.  With our journey through southern African starting in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital I opted to book us into Intercontinental Hotel. 

For me Intercontinental equals an understated luxury, comfort and excellent service. First opened in Brazil in 1946 by Panama Airways and quickly launched an international brand spanning the globe with an impressive guest list such as Louis Armstrong to Princess Grace. As we entered the light-filled lobby and beautifully decorated with a mix of African and European decor we were met with drinks at check-in. What better way to welcome guest in this hot and dry season. We planned on doing a round trip through southern Africa and returning to Zambia before heading back to London, so the hotel was going to be our base for the round trip. It’s located close enough to the Manda Hill and Arcades shopping malls if you are in need of a little retail therapy and want to venture out for food outside the comforts of the hotel’s 2 restaurants, cafe and bars.
 
The main airport is also not to far, which came in handy when we opted for a local Flight to Livingstone to check out the Victoria Falls, instead of the coach or self-drive(four hours drive vs one hour flight). The hotel staff were always attentive and on hand in arranging transportation and anything else to we needed to make our stay comfortable – when my brothers were not available to chauffeur us around town. During the day we escaped the confines of air conditioning and ventured out into some 30 plus degrees Celsius in order introducing my boyfriend to the art of haggling in true African style at Kabwata Cultural Village(post to come), as well as visiting some of the schools I went to as a kid, meeting some of my extended family who still live in the capital before heading into the malls to cool off  at the countless cafes on offer.
 
The idea of ticking off several must sees and do’s  on a travel wish list is what I do best as I love the planning and coordination that comes with planning such an adventure, introducing the mister to the city and immersing him in Lusaka’s capital pleasures that more accessible from a centrally located hotel. Look out for a post on a the visit to Kabwata Cultural Village and the sunset cruise on Kafue River which is close enough to do as a day trip.  With a packed itinerary and the sheer convenience of being able to lounge by the poolside and plan the remaining of our African adventure one could certainly get used to this!… 
 
This is a first of many posts to come on the exploration of Southern Africa. Below are some of the shots from our stay at Intercontinental Hotel. For a full list of hotels and budget options in Lusaka, check out this list of hotels in the capital.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Exploring Zambia – African Trip Planning

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This was featured on the Late rooms Near and Far writting competition.

It’s that time of the year in London when you look outside your window and wonder why summer has decided to take a vacation when you could really use a bit of sunlight. It’s moments like these my memories of Zambia come to the rescue. Even our winter temperatures seem higher than the British summer. So let me take you on a little journey to my home country.

The word summer for me conjures up memories of trips to the market on sunny bright days, where the road leading up to it would have stalls lined up with summer fruits in all their colourful galore. Little round mangos in various shades of yellow to red, soft and ripe that a small bite releases the sweet nectar juice nothing like you have tasted before, and so filling you won’t want for nothing more.
 
A walk through Lusaka’s Kabwata Cultural Village reveals Zambia’s craftsmanship inspired by the many wild life that grace the game parks around this landlocked country. The people who live and work here produce some of the most beautiful carvings, baskets, drums, jewellery and fabrics and all handmade. If you are lucky you may even catch some of the local performers doing the traditional dances.
 
In Zambia we are so laid back, if you want an easy life you are in the right place.
If you are after adventure then you don’t have to go too far from the capital. Victoria Falls; one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, with the largest sheet of falling water in the world. It’s also part of the UNESCO world heritage site. Found in Livingstone; a city named after Glaswegian’s David Livingstone. If you are brave enough you may also venture into its natural rock pool, sometimes referred to as the Devil’s Pool. This is quite an experience!
 
You are right on the edges of the falls. Zambezi and Victoria falls also ranks as one of the best places in the world for white water rafting while the thunders that roars(another name for Victoria Falls) offers a scenic backdrop. Most of my travels I try to incorporate an element of adventure, so trips back home offer so much choice that it’s hard for me to choose an activity.
 
You also cannot come to Zambia without experiencing the safaris around the country. You will come in close contact with elephants, giraffes, lions, endangered cheetahs and other wild life. These animals are nothing like the ones you see in the zoo so approach with caution. Make no mistake our animals have right of way in traffic when driving through country side roads. You can spot the beautiful elephants or giraffes gracefully and leisurely crossing the road a mile away.
 
From a young age my family would go on family trips to the lakes. Now that I am living in London and 5000 miles away I wish I could visit the beautiful lakes as much as I could. It’s a little unknown but Lake Kariba is our little hidden secret. It’s like a Riviera. It’s usually sunny most of the year with perfect spots for watching the sun rise and set. Perfect for relaxing and watching the time pass by as you enjoy water sports or just lounge back and relax with a cold drink.
 
I supposed our country is landlocked for a reason; so all that rich wild life, beautiful gorges, water falls, valleys, lakes, national heritage does not sip out into another territories. So make sure you close the gates after your visit!

So have you been to Zambia yet?