Zambia
Discovering Africa's Wild & Wonderful Heartland
July 21-25, 2019
5 Days/4 Nights; Trip cost $3,750pp
Welcome to Zambia...a safari paradise! This southern African nation is one of the only places in the world where visitors can see some of Africa’s Big 5 animals and one of the natural 7 Wonders of the World, all in the same day. From Victoria Falls to South Luangwa National Park, the beauty of this peaceful nation and the generosity of her people will leave you inspired.
CARE Journeys Zambia focuses on the expansion of CARE’s successful SOAR Initiative. SOAR, which stands for Strengthening Opportunities for Adolescent Resilience, is a proven and trusted program providing an intensive, high-quality accelerated curriculum for adolescent girls who were unable to either start or finish primary school. Moreover, the program builds confidence the girls need to overcome the social and economic factors that keep them from school, prepares parents to embrace educational opportunities for their daughters, and directly engages men and boys to be part of the support system.
Day One- Sunday, July 21
Arrive in Lusaka where you will be greeted at the airport by a CARE or hotel representative for a smooth transition to the hotel. After some rest, we will make our way to the Lilayi Elephant Nursery. Located on the outskirts of Lusaka, the orphanage is home to several baby elephants watched over round-the-clock by caretakers doing all they can to help these elephants return to the wild. During the visit, the Lilayi staff will share information about each elephant as well as the greatest threats facing these magnificent animals and how we can all do our part to keep these animals safe. After our time with the elephants, we will continue on deeper into Lilayi Park for a relaxing lunch before enjoying a short game drive with a chance to see more than 25 mammal species and 300 species of birds. Keep your eyes open for zebras, giraffes, antelopes and hartebeests! Zambia is well known as one of the world’s premier safari destinations and our short game drive will offer a taste of all the country has to offer. We will then make our way back to the hotel for some rest before capping off our evening with a Welcome Dinner with the CARE Zambia team.
Day Two- Monday, July 22
Before making our way to the eastern province of Chipata, we have a busy day planned in Lusaka, one of the world’s most relaxed capitals. Starting with a visit to the CARE offices, we will take a deep dive into the SOAR Initiative, learning directly from the experts responsible for the success of the project. From working with Zambia’s Ministry of General Education at the national, district and local levels to SOAR implementation in the communities, the team will guide you through the strategy that you will soon see first-hand upon arrival in the field. Making our way from the CARE Zambia national offices, we will spend time meeting with the Ministry of General Education. A critical and invested partner, the Ministry’s staff will speak to the country’s commitment to education and what it means to have CARE’s support in this endeavor. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a discussion with the Curriculum Development Center, a key stakeholder in the process of making education accessible to youth throughout Zambia. In a country where 72 indigenous languages are spoken, it is the job of the Curriculum Development Center to create educational materials that are accessible to all students. We will finish up the day with a trip to a local market where you will find colorful, locally made textiles and artwork that will make a perfect gift for friends and family back home.
Day Three- Tuesday, July 23
In the morning, we pack our bags for a short flight to Mfuwe, the gateway to South Luangwa National Park, known as one of the African continent’s most spectacular game parks. Bordering this wildlife refuge, we will make our way to the rural community of Mambwe where we will first visit with the District Education Board Supervisor, affectionately nicknamed DEBS. After introductions and insight into local SOAR implementation, we will stop in at a local school where the principal and teachers have embraced the SOAR initiative. We will visit with administrators and students hearing first-hand accounts of how SOAR is directly impacting the lives of hundreds of youth and families in Mambwe. We will then spend some time at the home of a young mother who has returned to school thanks to the support provided through the SOAR initiative, and at a local community center where hundreds of children spend the day receiving nutritious meals and early childhood development programming in a safe environment while their mothers are attending classes. We will finish the day with lunch at a lodge near South Luangwa National Park before making the drive to the regional hub of Chipata.
Day Four- Wednesday, July 24
We start our day with a visit to the Regional Ministry of General Education staff in Chipata. A committed team, they will share their insights as to how they are working to bring about positive change in the region of Zambia that has presented the greatest barriers to education. We then head southwest hugging the Mozambique border as we make our way to the town of Katete. First paying a visit to the local DEBS supervisor, we then set out into the countryside for an afternoon in a rural community. This visit will include a conversation with men who are actively involved in supporting their wives, daughters and other female family members to return to school and complete their education. We will also walk through a traditional rural village visiting the homes of girls who are both in and out of school, hearing their stories. It is a humbling contrast to speak with out-of-school girls while groups of girls in their school uniforms walk to their homes in the same village, sometimes living right next door. Departing Katete we will return to Chipata for a Closing Dinner to reflect on all we have seen and learned, and to share ideas on the future of the SOAR Initiative.
Day Five- Thursday, July 25
For those guests wanting to extend their stay, we have planned a game drive and overnight in South Luangwa National Park, a world-renowned park for experiencing some of the African continents’ most awe-inspiring wildlife. We will spend the day exploring the park and wrap up the day with dinner watching the wildlife as the savannah goes dark.
*Itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions. Guests will be informed of any itinerary changes.
