Lise-Marie, Stefan, Lésa, Kate, Jason and cameraman, Dylan – a contingent from Peace Parks Foundation – are on a road trip, Africa-style. It is the first time many of them will be visiting Zambia so, despite the many hours of travelling including this 6 to 7 hour road trip today from Livingstone to Sioma Ngwezi, the crew is very excited.
Working as they go, the team will be meeting with field staff, visiting communities and exploring the conservation areas here, all in an effort to better understand the work being done on the ground. In each of their roles, they support the Peace Parks Foundation field staff, ensuring they have what they need so they can achieve real and lasting impact.
A highlight for the group was meeting Simalaha Community Conservancy scouts who have been collecting footage for Peace Parks TV – they are in many ways the backbone of this video channel that aims to spread the word about work being done in southern Africa.
They will also spend time meeting local tourism operators, putting faces to the names of people who have been creating employment opportunities for those living in Simalaha and around Sioma Ngwezi.
Tackling roads full of potholes is all part of the adventure of travelling in a place where Gordon – Kavango Zambezi Project Coordinator for Peace Parks – has made his home. As it is pretty slow going, how do you fill a long road trip? Why, with stories of course. Gordon has plenty to share, whether it is telling tales about cuckoos or pointing out how one can tell that the Simalaha Conservation Conservancy is on a flood plain. A fence post holds the clue. Gordon points out the height to which the plains here last flooded. Every year, sometime between February and June, the floodwaters arrive and the only way to get around is by boat. For 3 to 4 months, migrating birds, aquatic animals and plants like lilies reign over the watery landscape. Meanwhile, herds of plains animals move away to higher ground to stop their feet from getting wet!
Telling stories like these is vital to helping others connect with this vast continent. Through stories the importance of protecting and restoring these landscapes is conveyed, so that generations to come can enjoy them.
Keep watching Peace Parks TV to see what else the team gets up to on their Zambian road trip.
