The Bushcamp Company

Company History

The Bushcamp Company was formed in 1999 when four camps – the well-established Kuyenda and Chamilandu, and the younger Chindeni and Bilimungwe – came together under one parent company. Our fifth bushcamp, Kapamba, was built on the banks of the Kapamba River in 2005, and in 2008 a sixth camp, Zungulila, was built upstream on the same river. Founded by Andy Hogg and Andrea Bizzaro, the company is still run from its headquarters at Mfuwe Lodge by Andy – a Zambian who used to work at Save the Rhino Trust’s Chinzombo Lodge in Luangwa.

The Bushcamp Company is fortunate enough to be the only safari operator in this southern section of the park. As a result, we pride ourselves on the intimate nature of our small, exclusive bushcamps, each one situated in breathtaking and remote locations, far from other camps and tourists.

Meet the Team

• Andy Hogg
  
  Andy Hogg founded The Bushcamp Company in 1999, having grown up in Zambia’s Copperbelt he developed a relationship with the Luangwa while still at school. After studying in South Africa and having gained experience in the hospitality industry there, Andy returned to the Luangwa to work alongside Phil Berry at Chinzombo Lodge, where he eventually became General Manager. Having set up The Bushcamp Company Andy took over Chinzombo’s two bushcamps – Kuyenda & Chamilandu – (which are today still part of our portfolio) and built the company up to the six bushcamps and Mfuwe Lodge it operates today. Andy helped design and develop each of our camps and runs The Bushcamp Company with a loyal team of staff he has built up over the past decade. A qualified guide and very keen photographer, Andy is also responsible for our marketing and spends several months a year travelling the globe visiting tour operators and enjoying a few quieter moments fishing.
  
   
• Phil Berry
  
  Phil Berry is one of Zambia' s most prominent naturalists & guides. Having grown up in remote areas of Southern Africa, he always planned to spend his life involved with wildlife. He started working in the South Luangwa in 1960 and in 1973 he started to establish the Zambia National Tourist Board's walking safari camps in Luangwa. He then went on to run the anti-poaching field operations for Save the Rhino Trust and later ran Chinzonbo Lodge for them. Phil, along with his partner, Babette Alfieri, now runs the beautiful Kuyenda bushcamp (which Phil founded in 1991) from where he leads walking safaris. For the last 40 years Phil has been at the forefront of various aspects of conservation in Luangwa; having been documenting the behaviour of leopard and the endemic Thornicroft's giraffe for the past 35 years he is a recognised authority and has published scientific papers on the giraffe.
  
   
• Babette Alflieri
  
  Babette Alflieri has been living half-yearly in Zambia’s magnificent Luangwa Valley since 1986, where she runs Kuyenda bushcamp, with partner Phil Berry. Babette grew up in the USA and began working in the travel industry in 1971 for international airlines in New York, until she left to join the prestigious tour operator, Abercrombie and Kent where she specialized in tailoring travel programmes to Southern Africa for American Zoos and Museums. In 1989 she founded Africa Calls, a small boutique travel company specialising in tailor-made safaris to Southern and East African countries. The company is now run by her daughter Christina with its permanent base of operation in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Babette also co-founded the WISDOM Foundation (originally the Foundation to Save African Endangered Wildlife) to raise funds for conservation in Africa.
  
   
• Oli Dreike
  
  Oli Dreike has been working in the safari industry for the past decade. Having grown up in London, he moved to Africa after studying Zoology. He started off his career working on a game ranch in Kenya, then worked at Jack’s Camp in Botswana, and now splits his time between the gorilla parks of Rwanda & Uganda with Volcanoes Safaris and The Bushcamp Company. He has spent one season managing Chamilandu and three seasons at Kapamba and over the past 5 years has managed all of our camps and played a role in building some of them. Oli is now based at Mfuwe Lodge where he helps with operations, marketing, trains staff, works on our community and conservation projects and maintains the website. A keen photographer he is also a qualified safari guide in Botswana & Zambia and also holds a BSc in Zoology and an MSc in Conservation & Tourism.
  
   
• Manda Chisanga
  
  Manda Chisanga spent his formative years following his construction-worker grandfather as he travelled round Zambia. This fuelled Manda’s interest in his own country and, after a brief spell working in a bank and as a veterinary assistant, he became a safari guide. Manda mainly guides at Bilimungwe bushcamp and has spent most of his guiding career in the southern area of South Luangwa National Park. Although he currently lives with his wife in Mfuwe, he has lived in all Zambian provinces and his compassionate nature means he is not afraid to address sensitive issues such as HIV/AIDS and is as comfortable discussing world politics as he is sharing amusing anecdotes about his time as a guide. His knowledge, respect and compassion earned him Wanderlust magazine’s inaugural Paul Morrison Guide Award in 2006; Manda used the bursary money he received from the award to set up the Mfuwe Solar Cooker Project.
  
   
• Gilbert Njobvu
  
  Gilbert Njobvu grew up in the Malama Chiefdom outside the park on the other side of the river to our camps. He went to school in Mfuwe and Lusaka and worked for a mechanic before becoming a safari guide. Gilbert’s father was a ranger and he still remembers when there were rhino in the Luangwa Valley and accompanying Norman Carr and Phil Berry on patrols. Having guided in most parts of the park and at many of its camps over the years Gilbert’s favourite camp is the one where he currently guides – Chamilandu – where he says “the winds and wildlife always keep safaris exciting”. Gilbert lives in Mfuwe with his wife and 4 kids.
  
   
• Peter Milanzi
  
  Peter Milanzi grew up in Lochinvar National Park, where his father worked for the Park Authorities, so his interest in wildlife began at an early age. He moved to Mfuwe, with his father and twin brother, Misheck - who is also a guide for The Bushcamp Company - in 1994, but completed his schooling in Lusaka, where he enjoyed Maths and science. Upon graduating he worked as a bartender at several safari camps in the Luangwa Valley. Inspired by his father and spurred on by his twin brother, he became a guide in 2003 and passed his grade 1 walking exam in 2006. Peter mainly guides at Chindeni, which he describes as being “great for aquatic birds and brilliant for leopard”! Having travelled to the UK in 2009 Peter would love to further his knowledge and explore some of Africa’s other parks. Peter’s wife and 3 year old daughter, Chimwemwe, live in Chipata, where his wife is a teacher.
  
   
• Misheck Milanzi
  
  Misheck Milanzi grew up in Lochinvar National Park, near Livingstone and having lived in all the game parks in Zambia he naturally developed an interest in wildlife. He moved to Mfuwe, with his father and twin brother, Peter - who is also a guide for The Bushcamp Company - in 1994, and completed his schooling in Chipata, where he enjoyed maths and biology. Before becoming a guide he worked as a voluntary teacher and became a guide in 2002, later passing his grade 1 walking exam in 2005. Fortunately, being one of the relief guides Mishek likes all the camps saying “they are each unique in themselves”…. his most memorable walk being one morning safari when he and the guests saw two prides of lions, a leopard and a huge herd of buffalo! In 2008 Misheck visited the UK and was shocked by how well it preserves its art and culture. He lives in Mfuwe with his wife Alice and their young daughter, Grace.
  
   
• James Chabuka
  
  James Chabuka grew up in Sinazongwe District in Zambia’s Southern Province, he came to Mfuwe in 1991 and completed high school in Kafue. Before becoming a safari guide in 2000 James worked as a game scout for the Zambia Wildlife Authority, where he gained enormous experience of the bush and its wildlife. James was the guide at Chindeni for many years, but is now one of the relief guides and also guides at Mfuwe Lodge. He enjoys animals and birds and has aspirations of becoming an ecologist. James visited the UK in 2006 and has fond memories of the London Eye and West Midlands Safari Park. James has five sons who live with him and his wife in Mfuwe.
  
   
• Steve Mvula
  
  Steve Mvula spent the first half of his life on the Copperbelt before moving to Mfuwe in 1980. He completed his schooling at Mambwe High School – half way between Mfuwe & Chipata. Steve developed his love of nature when he was a teenager and worked for several other safari companies before joining The Bushcamp Company in 2006. Steve is one of our relief guides, mainly guiding at Kuyenda and Kapamba. In the future Steve hopes to have the chance to explore the World and also to pursue further studies in conservation. His wife, Idah, and son, Keith, live with him in Milliot Village in Mfuwe.
  
   
• Fannuel Banda
  
  Fannuel Banda was brought up in Mfuwe by his grandparents. His passion for wildlife developed early in life and he was encouraged to pursue his interest by none other than Phil Berry, amongst others. Fannuel gained experience in the safari industry by working for several other safari companies in the area – he even appeared on the BBC programme “No Going Back” when working as a foreman for a lodge that was being built. Fannuel started working as a transfer driver, but soon passed his guide’s exam and the following year qualified as a walking guide. Currently he mainly guides at Kapamba and Zungulila, but you may well find him at any of our camps. He lives with his wife and two young sons in Mfuwe.
  
   
• Peter Zulu
  
  Peter Zulu is the Head Guide at Mfuwe Lodge, he is from Mfuwe where he studied at Chiwawatala School. Peter briefly worked for the Roads Department before joining the safari industry in 1975 after being encouraged by the late Norman Carr. His uncanny knack of finding big cats and making every guest smile, must come from his years of experience. Peter has travelled to both the UK and Italy, where he was so impressed by the beauty of their old buildings he decided to build a traditional Kunda village at Mambwe Village in Mfuwe , where he is Head-man and lives with his wife and six children. The village is about a 20 minute drive from the Lodge and can be visited by guests.
  
   
• Patson Phiri
  
  Patson Phiri was born and grew up in Mfuwe and went to school in Chipata, but was not able to complete his studies, as his family were unable to afford it. He started working in the Game and Wildlife Department as a firebreaker and later moved into the tourism industry, where he worked at Chinzombo and Kapani Lodges with Norman Carr and Phil Berry. Since becoming a guide in 1991 his proudest moment was guiding wildlife artist David Shepherd, and in 2009 he had the chance to see Amur leopard at the zoo, on a visit to the UK. Patson is keen to use his 20 years of guiding experience to help our spotters to move up the ranks and become guides. He is married, with four children; one who lives in Mazabuka, one in Chipata and two in Mfuwe.
  
   
• Onacious Kamwendo
  
  Onacious Kamwendo grew up in Lusaka and came to Mfuwe in 1987, where his father inspired him to pursue his interest in wildlife. Onacious worked at Chinzombo Lodge with Phil Berry, as a tea porter and house keeper, and later worked for him at Kuyenda Bushcamp. He passed his grade 2 guide exam in 1999 and now mainly guides at Mfuwe Lodge, which he enjoys as it is inside the park. Onacious has travelled widely in Southern Africa to Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Malawi. He says the most memorable sighting he has had as a guide was when he watched a lioness, that was swimming across the Luangwa, get taken by crocodiles. Onacious is married to Pondani, they have four children, who attend Chiwawatala School, and live in Mfuwe.
  
   
• Charles Nkhoma
  
  Charles Nkhoma was born in Kabwe, Central Zambia, but grew up in Chipata and came to Mfuwe when he was ten. At school Charles was a member of the school Wildlife Club, and with his favourite subjects being biology and geography, and encouragement from friends who were already guides, he passed his grade two guide exam in 2005 and grade one exam in 2008. After working for a few other safari companies, Charles came to work for The Bushcamp Company in 2010, where he guides at Mfuwe Lodge and as a relief guide at our Bushcamps. He says “working for one of the biggest companies in the valley means he is always busy, but he still hopes to find the time to study more and expand his knowledge in wildlife management” and “enjoys the fact that, as a guide you never stop learning”. Charles lives in Mfuwe with his wife and two children.
  
   
• Jason Kalimi
  
  Jason Kalimi grew up in Mfuwe and attended secondary school in Mambwe. After finishing grade 12 Jason became a primary school teacher, and vice chairman of the Kakumbi Community Resource Board, working in the tourism sector. With a keen interest in wildlife, developed during school trips into the park, and as chairman of the school Wildlife Club, the Bushcamp Company sponsored him through his guide training and he passed his grade 2 guiding exam in 2006. He spent two years as a transfer guide, before working full time at Mfuwe Lodge; his most memorable experience was when he spotted six different leopard on a night drive down to one of our Bushcamps from the Lodge. Jason is married to Monica, who is one of our receptionists, and live in Mfuwe with their son, Jason Jnr, and daughter, Veronica.
  
   
• Alick Kakumbi
  
  Alick Kakumbi grew up in the Copper Belt, and moved to Mfuwe when he was 15. After finishing school, Alick worked as a waiter and spotter at Chinzombo Lodge from 1996 to 2003, with Andy Hogg & Phil Berry, and later at Mfuwe Lodge, where with help and encouragement from senior guides, he passed his grade 2 guide exam in 2008, and joined The Bushcamp Company guiding team as a transfer guide, he is now based at Mfuwe Lodge. Since working as a guide, his favourite memory was when he watched an impala giving birth and says it was “a great privilege to meet Jonathan Scott” when he first visited Mfuwe Lodge in 2007. Alick is keen to learn more about the bush and hopes to become a walking guide in the future. He is married to Wendy and they live in Mfuwe.
  
   
• Kelvin Zulu
  
  Kelvin Zulu was born in Mfuwe, where he attended Chiwawatala Primary School and Mfuwe Day Secondary School. With a fondness for wildlife Kelvin started working as spotter at Mfuwe Lodge in 2008 and with help from his guide Steve and sponsorship and support from Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust Kelvin passed his grade 2 guide exam in 2010; after two years as a transfer guide, Kelvin is now based at Mfuwe Lodge. Having once been told by a guest on a transfer drive “you are very lucky living in a beautiful country, with plenty of wildlife… but do not take it for granted”, Kelvin one days hopes that he will be able to study Botany at university. He is married to Josephine, and lives in Mfuwe, close to Chiwawatala School.