Walking safaris in The Valley of the Leopard - with Shenton Safaris
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Derek Shenton is the Head of Operations at Shenton Safaris) in Zambia. He’s a third-generation conservationist and safari guide who helped to establish Kaingo Camp in 1992 and Mwamba Bush Camp in 2000 and nowadays is involved in everything from camp building, to guide training, to road maintenance. He’s also on the board of Conservation South Luangwa (CSL)), an organisation established to protect the ecosystem of South Luangwa, also known as The Valley of the Leopard. 

Derek shares the story of how his grandfather, who was actually born in Leicester in the UK, moved to Johannesburg to 'chase the dream' before moving to Zululand before his father Barry was born in 1929. He tells host Si Willmore about them working in the game department in Northern Rhodesia, operating side-by-side with local Chief Nsefu -- perhaps the first community-based project of its kind.

Derek also reminisces about building Kaingo Camp in South Luangwa National Park, known by some as the birthplace of Walking Safaris, with his father. This included felling a massive leadwood tree to build a bar, long before the days of power tools -- with the appropriate approval from the local authorities, of course.

He shares some of the experiences available at Mwamba Bush Camp, including the abundant wildlife -- 400 bird species such as Pel's fishing owl and 60 different mammals including elephants, lions and impalas. At Mwamba, the wildlife hides are Derek's own creation; he has chosen each location after years of observation working with his wildlife photographer wife Jules.

In the JRNY Podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy) for more information.