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DAVID WILSON
Managing Director

I was born and bred in Zimbabwe and have always had a strong affinity for the bush, spending many hours immersed in the boyhood pursuits of hunting and fishing. After finishing school and doing a gap year in Central America, I completed a BSc (Hons) in Wildlife and Agribusiness from the University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

After university I attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and commissioned as a British Army officer serving as an Infantry Officer in both the Parachute and Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. I resigned my commission as a Captain in 2006, my desire to return to Africa called and it was time to return home and finally work in the industry about which I have always been so passionate.

The Luangwa Valley in Zambia had always held a huge appeal for me since being told about it as a boy; stories about the beauty of the place, the teeming wildlife and the fact that it was still very much undiscovered. When the opportunity presented itself, I jumped at the prospect of finally working in the Valley and experiencing it for myself. I have been involved with Norman Carr Safaris for four years now. I was initially brought in to run our four small exclusive bush camps before being promoted to General Manager in 2008 and in 2009 I was fortunate enough to be offered the role of Managing Director, which I wholeheartedly accepted.

Luckily I still manage to find time to pursue my passion for the bush; I have a Grade 1 Professional Walking Guides License for the South Luangwa and I am an Honoury Ranger, appointed by the Zambian Wildlife Authority to help conserve this unique part of Africa. I also sit on the board of trustees of the South Luangwa Conservation Society which is an incredible NGO responsible for snare removal, education and anti poaching operations in the South Luangwa National Park.

Read my account below of an overnight safari between bushcamps:

• Bush Camping - "Return to the Wild"

CHRISTINA CARR
Also known as Gid - Marketing Director

I arrived in Zambia in 2000 for what was supposed to be a six-month spell in the bush before returning to "real life" in the UK.

I never went back and am still at Kapani with Adrian (Norman Carr's son).

I have spent many years managing our reservations department but am now the company Marketing Director working alongside Dave Wilson. Although I like to maintain contact with guests and agents at the bookings stage, my time is mostly taken up in other areas these days. I remain heavily involved in many local community projects including the Kapani School Project, the Kakumbi Clinic Project, another local school charity and raising HIV/AIDS awareness.

ABRAHAM BANDA
Kapani Lodge Manager and Senior Guide 

It is an honour and a great privilege to be able to work in one of Africa's best National Parks. Trained by the legendary Norman Carr I have over 20 years bush experience. Many a time, guests will ask if I still enjoy guiding; I still do! For one, the book of nature is so vast. There is always something new to see if one is observant enough. Meeting people from all walks of life, sharing with them what the bush can offer and catering to their varied interest is a lot of fun. One of the things guests love about me is my genuine enthusiasm about nature. The love I have for the bush goes way beyond just doing a job. It is like a bushman's holiday. In my spare I take my wife and kids into the Park.

I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel overseas, once to California USA and three times to England. My travel experience has tremendously enhanced the love of what I do. Though I love everything nature has to offer, I have an intense passion for birdlife.

I was fortunate enough to win the prestigious Zambian Guide of the Year Award at the Zambian Tourism Awards 2009. I have also won silver in the Wanderlust and Daily Telegraph World’s Best Guide 2010.

Besides guiding I am also co-director for the Kapani School Project and the Abraham Banda Student Scholarship Fund, Board Chairperson at Mfuwe Day Secondary School and Chairperson for the South Luangwa Guides Association.

WILLIE SHUMA
Safari Manager

In 1995, whilst working for Savannah Trails I started training to be a guide and by April 1996 I obtained my guiding certificate.  A year later I joined Norman Carr Safaris and lead a lot of walking safaris. Over the years I have had the privilege to work at the four bush camps though I have been mostly based at Kapani. Norman Carr Safaris has got a very rich history and I am so proud to be part of the family. Through guiding I have made long lasting friends with people from all over the world. Furthermore, guiding has accorded me the chance to be a member of the Board of Examiners for South Luangwa.

SHADDY NKHOMA
Senior Guide and Nsolo Bush Camp Manager

I was first trained at Chinzombo Camp as a guide under the supervision of Phil Berry.  In 1993 I got my guiding license and guided at Chinzombo and its Bush Camps until 1997 when I joined Wilderness Trails. While there I did a lot of mobile safaris. I have been with Norman Carr Safaris since 1998. I am based at Nsolo Bush Camp which over the years has become my second home. Apart from guiding I also render my services to the South Luangwa Guides Examination Board.  During my career I have helped so many guides with their training but the highlight for me has to be when I helped to train Rose Jere who is now the first female Zambian guide.

AUBREY NJOBVU
Senior Guide and Kakuli Bush Camp Manager

I joined the world of tourism through the National Hotels in 1980 where I worked as a spotter for the Guides. Ten years later I moved to Savannah Trails where I continued spotting. In 1994 I joined Wild Zambia Safaris, a mobile safari company and it was while I was here that I finally got my Grade 2 guiding certificate in 1996. I had done enough of spotting and I felt I needed to climb the ladder a little higher. I have been with Norman Carr Safaris since 1999 - over a decade....time really flies! I started off as a Walking Guide and for the past three years I have been managing Kakuli.

I have been chosen to go to Canada on a Guide’s Exchange Program in 2010 to develop my skills, broaden my horizons and also see more of the world where our guests come from. I consider myself fortunate and blessed to be a Guide. Through guiding I meet people from all parts of the world and still continue learning a great deal from them. The entire world basically comes to me. What a blessing! Being a Guide is such a rewarding and spectacular experience.

In 2007 I had a sequence of the most amazing lion sightings whilst guiding from Kakuli, I have written about it here.

Aubrey's Lion Week

BRIAN MUKUMBUTA
Senior Guide and Luwi Bush Camp Manager

I started working as a Guide at Mfuwe Lodge in 1998. I worked there till 2001 when I joined Savannah Trails and was based at Mchenja Bush Camp. I began working for Norman Carr Safaris in 2005 and guided from all four Bush Camps (Luwi, Nsolo, Kakuli and Mchenja) as well as from Kapani lodge. In 2009 I was promoted to Luwi Bush Camp Manager.

I feel very privileged to be in this industry because I’ve always loved nature and in particular with Norman Carr Safaris who has a tremendous amount of history and a very good international reputation.

MINDY ROBERTS
Sales Manager

Being from Australia, I’ve always loved the wide open spaces of the bush. However it took me many years before I found a role which allowed me to combine career and the great outdoors. After completing a Bachelor of Commerce (International Finance and Marketing) at Melbourne University in 1999, I spent my first five working years involved in running and marketing strategic human resources programs mainly focused on graduate and internal development and recruitment.

I moved to London in 2004 and worked for two different consultancy firms advising on assessment and development of both graduates and middle level management. It was in London that I met our Managing Director, Dave and his wife Kate. They were married in the South Luangwa in 2008 and I came out for the wedding ceremony and my first safari holiday. I went home to London, decided there was more to life than the corporate rat race, packed up my life and six months later in May 2009 I landed back in Zambia ready to work.

In my first season I worked hosting guests at Mchenja Bush Camp before moving into the Sales and Marketing Team based at Kapani, where I’ve been ever since. I still pinch myself every now and again, especially when elephants walk past my bedroom window and think, ‘Wow, I’m living in Africa – who would have thought I’d end up here’.

LEVY BANDA
Senior Guide

I was trained by Norman Carr from 1995 - 1996, I started guiding as a grade 2 guide in 1996 at Kapani Lodge. I got my grade 1 certificate in 1999 and since then I have been conducting walking safaris in all the Norman Carr Safaris bushcamps. I became the camp manager for Mchenja in 2005.

In April 2005 I was sent to Canada for more guiding exposure.

I take myself to be very lucky to have the chance of speaking about the nature around me. I like to meet guests of any nationality, and to learn about them.

ENOCH MTONGA (right) here with Abraham Banda and Receptionist Judy Chirwa
Kapani Lodge Reception

I began working in the Valley back in 1984 where I started as a crocodile handler at the Luangwa Crocodile Farm, I was later promoted to stores clerk and worked here until 1990. After moving to other Lodges in the Valley and gaining experience as a kitchen porter and waiter I finally started with Norman Carr Safaris in 2004. I worked at Luwi Bush Camp as a chef, waiter and camp foreman for 6 years before being promoted to Front of House Manager at Kapani Lodge this year. I’m really enjoying my new role with NCS and look forward to greeting guests for years to come.

COLLINS LUNGU
Reservations

I joined Norman Carr Safaris in August 2009. This was after successfully completing my full time course in Tourism and Travel Operations the previous year, where I came out Best Student in my course and Overall Best Student in all the full time courses offered by the Hotel and Tourism Training Institute Trust (HTTI). I work alongside Christina and Mindy in Reservations, Sales and Marketing with my major role being in reservations. I find the aspect of maintaining contact with guests and agents at the booking stage really great fun.

Born and raised in the Luangwa Valley, I started developing the interest in Zambia’s Tourism from my childhood and thought I should one day take part in selling and promoting the industry to the global world. What a better place from which to fulfil my long-life dream than Norman Carr Safaris!! I joined the company as a trainee reservations consultant but what has been most interesting is seeing my skills and responsibilities rapidly grow over a short period of time. In fact, I am now overseeing NCS reservations, an achievement with which I am very proud. I greatly enjoy my job and my great passion for Zambia and its surrounding nature enhances the love of every task involved in my role.

Besides looking after NCS reservations, I am also Secretary for Luangwa Safari Association.

EMMANUEL NJOBVU
Reservations

Emmanuel Njobvu joined the Reservations team in December 2011 – many of you will remember Emmanuel as the ever smiling and highly efficient waiter at Mchenja and Kakuli. He joined NCS as a builder in 2007 helping to build the dining room on the deck at Kapani. His potential shone brightly and he was selected for waiter training and invited to join the staff permanently. His work at bushcamps, where he always went the extra mile, marked him out as a great candidate for further training and he completed a Certificate in Travel and Tourism. If you'd like to drop him a line to say hello - he is on reservations@normancarsafaris.com