The unique status of "Sustainable Wildlife Park" has been bestowed upon South Luangwa NP by Dr. Taleb Rifai - the Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation UNWTO.
Zambia’s President Edward Lungu announced the award as he officially opened the UNWTO International Conference on Sustainable Tourism in Lusaka stating that the momentous declaration will ensure that the national park remains a natural wildlife sanctuary, managed in a sustainable manner for generations to come.
South Luangwa National Park already has numerous examples of socially responsible development, but the announcement means more support to the sector and the park itself.
One of these developments is Project Luangwa, a charity set up by Robin Pope Safaris, Kafunta Safaris, Flat Dogs, Shentons Safaris and Croc Valley Camp. Project Luangwa enables the building of schools, sponsorship of children, running of girls clubs, teaching women skills that earn them a living and much more. In the last 7 years since Project Luangwa was set up, Flatdogs along
has generated around $400,000 of funding for these projects that give a significant benefit to the communities.
Flatdogs also fund Conservation South Luangwa and pay the Community Resource Boards to employ forest guards to monitor behaviour in the fragile environments they work in to protect the habitats they rely on.
They employ a teacher at the local pre school, have funded the work of Human Animal Conflict officers who protect local peoples crops, with the use of non-lethal method of deterrent such as chilli blasting.
Ade Coley, owner of Flatdogs believes "one of the most important aspects of sustainability is the relationships and involvement of the local communities", so they employ 78 local people who all support many more dependents and give them transferable skills to take with them in life. At all levels Flatdogs have motivated and skilled local Zambians involved in the running of the company -
even down to supporting local producers at their famous restaurant, cooked by Zambian chefs.
For every guest staying 5 nights or more between April 1st and May 15th, 2018, Kafunta Safaris will donate an extra $20 per night to Project Luangwa to help the remote Malama community. Owner, Anke Cowan stated, "by coming on safari and enjoying the sublime wilderness of South Luangwa, guests of Kafunta can do good and support the local community by giving its children access to better education and providing more growth opportunities for the Malama people."
President Lungu also highlighted that tourism in Zambia is a critical tool for sustainable development "This is why tourism has been designated among the top three economic sectors to drive the national economic diversification programme. We will be increasing investment in the tourism industry".
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