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expatsEEK! express kuwait! Kuwait’s first and only e-magazine for the Western minded expat september #1, 2011 Fair weather is around the corner and its time to move outside. EEK! wishes all our readers Eid Mubarak expatsEEK! express kuwait! Kuwait’s first and only e-newsletter for the Western minded expat Subscribe: [email protected] Issue #1 9/2011 Glam Zam Safari Zambia close up by Ondine Chadwick Originally inhabited by Khoisan peo- ples, the region of what is now Zambia was reached by the Bantu expansion by ca. the 12th century. After visits by European explorers starting in the 18th century, Zam- bia became the British colony of Northern Rhodesia towards the end of the nineteenth century. On 24 October 1964, the country declared independence from the United King- dom and prime minister Kenneth Kaunda became the first head of state. The World Bank in 2010 named Zambia as one of the world's fastest economically reform- ing countries. Ondine Chadwick recently visited Zambia with her family and spoke to EEK! about their experience in Africa. PTO... expatsEEK! express kuwait! Kuwait’s first and only e-newsletter for the Western minded expat Subscribe: [email protected] Issue #1 9/2011 Glam Zam Safari Excited to arrive, and sad to leave Zambia close up by Ondine Chadwick Our latest Zambian safari is hard to believe! Spotting Elliott, the one-eyed leopard, in the sun, started 12 days of amazing game viewing to stun Lions and hyenas we could not ignore, passing through the camp, heard over the snore 10 leopards in all, some up the tree, made baboons bark and flee, one took flight to the ground - an unforgettable sight and sound. The daily Ele parade on display crossing the river around midday A limping lion with a sore paw, a new born Puku and a bleeding Chameleon we saw! Watched the Mwamba pride of twenty, all the BIG cats were a-plenty There was more to see, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Wild Dog and Serval, others heard with envy! A rewarding day with the kids we had, singing and dancing – they must have thought we were mad! Smiling faces looked after us well, too much good food, the mirror did tell! Spots, stripes and memories galore, more – we could not ask for! leopards, night drives (to improve our sit just meters away from wild animals. chances) and also for its variety of game The park is so renowned for it concentration of game that and birds. multiple film crews have visited the park for documentaries The park (and especially the camp we on the yellow baboons, crocodiles and lions. The Holly- stayed with) is a wildlife photographer’s wood Pride and its three males Metro, Goldwyn and Mayer dream come true with a variety of are nick named from such visits. ways to get very up close and personal with Where to stay? animals. We gave ourselves every opportu- There is something for all budgets in the area. We stayed nity to see game from the vehicle, on foot, again at Shenton Safaris two sites: Mwamba Bush Camp in the hides, on the plains, in the forests, and Kaingo Camp. Both a 2-3 hour drive from the closest along the river and at the lagoons. Sadly, airport town of Mfwue, well within the National Park and poaching still happens but wildlife protection away from neighbouring camps. This is a very special and anti-poaching initiatives have enabled place that is inaccessible in the wet season and teaming the populations of big game to improve. So why Zambia and why was it so great? with game in the winter. Don’t be fooled by ‘bush’ camp – The guides (mostly Zambian) have uncanny eyesight and it’s just more remote and within a wildlife corridor. So many reasons but the main one is the exceptional impressive knowledge. Each outing unfolds with informa- This is luxury safari folks (no pitching of tents, cold show- game viewing without the crowds found at the more popu- tion about the resident game, birds and flora. Our guide ers or flapping of plates) and a small price to pay for the 5 lar East African game parks. Meyhan did so much to ensure we got great sightings and star chalets, location, exceptional guides, service and se- Having done a few African safaris we are now addicted and incredible photos. It was exciting to look and listen for clusion. The tariff is all inclusive with a portion given to have become BIG cat junkies. We chose the South signs to track predators, inch closer to beautiful birds and Project Luangwa to manage community aid. ...PTO Luangwa National Park primarily for its concentration of expatsEEK! express kuwait! Kuwait’s first and only e-newsletter for the Western minded expat Subscribe: [email protected] Issue #1 9/2011 Glam Zam Safari Tips for an African safari holiday: Zambia close up by Ondine Chadwick * Decide on your budget, what you want to see and do - there is something for everyone. * Do your research and choose your season carefully for game and your diary, read or have a nanna nap. bird viewing. There can be small windows during the year to see certain things. For example, there is a better chance of seeing a 3.30pm leopard during the day in the winter months but kills and large Drums sound for afternoon cuppa and game at rivers are more likely as water holes dry up. cake on the deck overlooking the river. * Take insect repellent, hat, old clothes, binoculars and a camera. 4.00pm * Check specific vaccinations for each country. Afternoon game drive. Stop along the way * If you can’t live without your mobile phone, TV, hair dryer or an for sundowners. internet connection a bush camp is not for you. 7.30pm Do it at least once - you won’t regret it! Return to camp for a three course dinner, open bar and stories. What do you do on safari? Here’s a typical safari day: How to get there? 5.30am You need to get to the Wake to drums for a quick cuppa and cake. Zambian capital Lusaka 6.00am and then take a regional Morning Game drive with up to six people in an open, carrier to Mfuwe. It took tiered 4X4. Stop along the way for another cuppa around us about 24 hours and four 8am. (Instead of a drive you could do a walk, we decided flights from Kuwait. There to do the 3hour walk from Mwamba to Kaingo when we are a number of options; it moved across and saw a leopard leap from a tree on the just depends on your time way.) and budget. 9.30am Return to camp for a full cooked breakfast before a hot shower and some free time. Ondine and Peter are Aus- 12.00pm tralians and lived in Kuwait Midday day activity: drive to nearby lagoon to watch the for 3 years. Ondine has animals/birds come into drink and wash or visit one of the been fund raising for many ‘hides’ to watch hippos play, birds roost or an ele- Hanada Orphanage and phant family cross the river. now Project Luangwa for 1.30pm the past four years. Light lunch and drinks before some quiet time to write expatsEEK! express kuwait! Kuwait’s first and only e-newsletter for the Western minded expat Subscribe: [email protected] Issue #1 9/2011 Kuwait plans to build highways costing from a “number of structural imbalances” Viva Kuwait scores sponsorship about 1.7 billion dinars ($6.2 billion) that require the “correction” of the state’s over the next three and a half years as budget position and measures to promote agreement with Manchester United it seeks to become a commercial and the private sector’s contribution to growth, VIVA Manchester United FC financial hub in the region. the state’s ruler Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al- “Ministry of Public Works is currently de- Jaber Al-Sabah said on Aug. 15, according signing highways that will be tendered in to state run news agency KUNA. the coming three and a half years, one af- Kuwait was the fourth-biggest producer, ter the other, for a cost of 1.7 billion dinars along with the United Arab Emirates, in the and a total length of 550 kilometres (340 Organization of Petroleum Exporting Coun- miles),” Minister of Public Works Fadhel tries in July. The country produced 2.52 Safar said in a telephone interview today in million barrels of oil a day on average, ac- Kuwait City. cording to Bloomberg data. Parliament in February 2010 approved a To contact the reporter on this story: Dahlia 30.8 billion-dinar, four-year development Kholaif in Kuwait at plan that aims to lure international inves- [email protected]. tors and includes projects to increase oil and gas production and construction of a We have no idea if this a hoax, but as Kuwait Telecommunications Company Viva, ties and surprises for Viva customers, foot- railway network, cities and a port on they say, its better said than not. Copied announced late July this year, its official ball fans, and most importantly, Manchester Boubyan Island. from a FB post, here goes: five season sponsorship agreement with the United fans." In October last year, the state’s Central 2011 Premier League Champions, Manches- Tenders Committee said a group led by ter United Football Club, bringing local Red Referring to the surprises, Al-Badran hinted Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. Devil fans closer to Old Trafford.