An Ending...

It is hard to believe that our time at Chipembele has come to an end. The finish was not a perfect '10'. 

The mammalian vertebrae are a marvel of natural selection, that human primates evolved to be bi-pedal and all the attendant adaption over geological time that this entailed is a luminous fact. That each vertebrae is cushioned and connected to the next and working in vertical unison sees us fit to walk, climb, sit, run and recline - all whilst still using our hands at the same time. Amazing! Yet if one or two vertebrae malfunction through stressors, pressure or injury one can only succumb to a state of pain and lameness. Unfortunately, Jude's lumbar spine has paid the price of bumpy roads, uneven ground and "Africa". A prolapsed disc, a conversion event that saw her hit the floor with some heavy duty pain and an aftermath of loss of feeling below the knee and ongoing pain at the prolapsed joint and nerve entrapment, as well as some nasty sciatic issues from a Sacroiliac joint entrapment has seen her have to leave Chipembele early, leave the planned month long Safari and return to Australia for treatment and rehabilitation.

Such is bi-pedal life.

How lucky are we that our Western World income, our insurance, our means – allows treatment and hope for recovery. Having just now worked in a community where the average woman would not see in a lifetime what we earn in wages in a month – who would be hard pressed to afford the malarial medication for her sick child… We are fortunate indeed to have a retreat to the “first” world medicine, treatment and help and the means to procure it.

Kaye is staying on in South Luangwa with Anna and Steve for  few more days and her lovely Mum, Evelyn is joining her on Monday 4^th July for her own “Trip of a Lifetime” at 76 years old – her long held desire to visit the beautiful continent that we have waxed lyrical about each time we have returned from our many journeys. Their imminent trip consists of: Six days in the South Luangwa to show her the wonders of the South Luangwa National Park – this beautiful, diverse and unique habitat full of wildlife – “Lions under every bush, leopards in every tree…” Well, almost! On to Livingstone to visit Mosi-ao-Tunya – The Smoke the Thunders (Vic Falls), across into Botswana to visit the Chobe National Park… Elephants! Elephants! Elephants! Into the Okavngo Delta to mokoro (canoe) across her serene waters. Also in the Okavango so Kaye can revisit and Evelyn meet for the first time Elephants - Jabu, Thembi and Morula the little herd headed by Douglas Groves from Living With Elephants. To Johannesburg to pick up a car and drive for a short 4 day stay in the South of the Kruger National Park, in the hope to seeing Rhino (if there are any left…). Then a week in the most beautiful city on earth… Cape Town.

Kaye and Evelyn’s travels have been arranged by Leanne Wild of the Africa Safari Co. If you are planning a trip to Africa we recommend Leanne’s expertise, good care and thorough knowledge of African safari travel.

So, being at Chipembele has been the most amazing experience – two months of bush living. Of thrilling and awe inspiring daily wildlife encounters. Of giraffe, lion, elephant, puku, impala, baboon, warthog, hippo. Of Bateleur and Fish eagle, vulture, bee-eaters, green whopoes, kingfishers, red waxbills, saddle or yellow billed storks. Of crocodile, lizards, geckos, snakes, scorpions. Of bush-babies, Betty baboon and scrub-hare! Wow! What and amazing parade of natural wonder outside our door every day… We will miss their natural shy company. Everyday was a wildlife wonder.

Living alongside and working with our friends Anna and Steve Tolan, Founders and Directors of Chipembele wildlife Education Trust has been such a privilege, These two amazing individuals are strong, committed, focused and above all do what they do for the love of the wild. The mission is in the best hands possible – and if you are yet to investigate their work please visit our website at:

‘What We Do’

Working with hundreds of children in the Conservation Clubs in preparation for the World Environment Day Event was a great challenge – we had never worked with children before and certainly not in a cross-cultural setting! It was an amazing experience. The hope for the future for the few remaining truly wild places on this finite earth of ours rests in the hands/hearts/minds of the children and young people. May they find the wherewithal in employment, their farming practices and lives to both sustain themselves and their natural heritage for its own sake, for their sake for their children’s sake. Chipembele gives children hope and wildlife a chance…

 Thank you to each one of the 250 children and young people and the Club Patrons from the 6 schools – Kawaza, Kakumbi, Chiwawtala, Mfuwe Basic and Mfuwe Secondary and Yosefe for your participation, energy and enthusiasm for the  World Environment Day Event. 

May your commitment to the stewardship of your beautiful land continue to grow.

Working with Rochelle James – The Chipembele Conservation outreach in Schools Manager and her friend Brooke Mundey over the weeks leading up to the Open Day and World Environment Day events was a joy. Rochelle so generously fitted us in an otherwise already hectic schedule of her teaching, club activities and her own personal Masters studies. To have a couple of Australian gals to share the work, the commitment and to see the job done was of great value. Thanks Rochelle and Brooke!

Meeting and working alongside Eunice Nakachinda – the Chipembele Administration Assistant – getting to know her, her easy and effervescent friendliness and support of us was a real joy! We look forward to working with Eunice on the newly formed Chipembele Girls Clubs activities from afar…Thank you Eunice, your warmth, hand in friendship and genuine engagement made our time there very special.

The final chapter of “Jude and Kaye’s Going for Good” is a little different from how we might have liked it, but we achieved what we set out to do. To Live Life Large, to celebrate the 10 years of solid achievements of Chipembele’s Conservation Education in the heart of the rural Zambian area adjacent to the South Luangwa National Park. To live up close and personal with the wonderful wildlife we love and above all to see survive and thrive in the South Luangwa.

Warm and weary waves from a Jude newly arrived after a 24 hour marathon flight schedule in her own home in chilly Semaphore. And from Kaye – ensconced still in our beautiful little Bushhouse on the banks of the Luangwa.

Thanks all for reading our blog along the way and sharing our adventures…

Jude and Kaye

XXX

PS: If you would like to be part of protecting and conserving the iconic wildlife of the South Luangwa a dedicated work of generational change – please visit our special (secure) ‘10 for 10’ Chipembele cheer squad page here and spread the love around…

http://www.justgiving.com/10-for-10-Cheer-Squad-2011