|
Lodge Position and Overview
The Islands of Siankaba is a small and highly exclusive lodge
accommodating only twelve guests. Located on two Islands in the Zambezi
River near Livingstone, Zambia, it is positioned just 30 miles upstream
from Victoria Falls and 40 miles downstream from Chobe National Park in
Botswana. It has been developed as a true retreat for discerning
travelers who wish to distance themselves from the ‘hustle and bustle’
of the tourist activity in and around Victoria Falls, yet be close
enough to explore the falls at their leisure.
The lodge opened in June 2002 and has been extremely successful with superb feedback from guests.
History and Development
Mr. Laurie Smart, is a
long standing Zambian resident who first discovered the islands on a
fishing trip in 1997. He was completely enthralled by the natural beauty
of the setting and set out to encourage international visitors to share
their experience by developing a lodge on the site. To this end Laurie
started talks with the local people to find out their feelings on
development within their area.
All the local headmen
were called for a meeting where some interesting facts emerged. The
local tribe (Toka-Leya) were actually starved of any commercial
enterprises locally and relied totally on a subsistence way of life.
They felt that they were being left behind by their neighbours both
upstream and downstream, where other lodges had been operating and the
local people were benefiting from the upsurge in international tourism.
It emerged that they were very keen for some form of employment
opportunities and the chance to interact with the outside world showing
off their rich culture and beautiful lands. Once the support of the
local villages was established Laurie approached the local paramount
chief (His Royal Highness Sekuti) who was also extremely keen for
development within his area. He was most insistent that the local people
should benefit directly and that all employment should take place from
the immediate area. After those assurances were agreed the chief gave
his written permission for the government to grant a lease on the land.
After exhaustive market research into traveler's needs and current
market trends, architect's plans were drawn up. It was established from
the outset of the project that environmental awareness would be a key
factor of the lodge. It was decided that a ‘non permanent’ feel to the
camp would be important, therefore a combination of wood and canvas was
decided upon for all the lodge structures.
Commercially grown non-indigenous pine was used for all structural
construction as well as all walkways and decking. Hard wood was only
used where aesthetically needed and then located from sustainable
commercial forests, the lodge would also replant hardwoods within the
area to compensate for this (Community
Development). To alleviate the difficult subject of
thatching, it was decided that even the roofs of the chalets would be of
canvas, once again adding to the non-permanent feel. It was decided that
there would be no compromise on the cutting down of trees on the islands
and indeed, this was maintained throughout, even to the point of
changing original plans to accommodate indigenous trees.
Some of the
chalets in fact had to be altered to actually fit around a tree or two!
Indeed, only a few tree branches had to be trimmed throughout the entire
project, a fact that the directors are extremely proud of. The two
islands are linked by a rope bridge, with the smaller of the two islands
housing the accommodation chalets. Once guests cross this bridge they do
not actually set foot on the island, as they walk upon a raised walkway
in the tree canopy, this ensures the delicate riverside environment is
completely protected. In fact, the tree theme follows right through the
lodge, the chalets all being named after a local indigenous tree. The
islands nature trail also promotes tree protection with a superbly
detailed description of all the trees and their local medicinal and
traditional uses. Once the lodge construction was near an end and it was
clear that all of the directors wishes were complied with, the lodge was
awarded with its Environmental Certificate by the Environmental Council
of Zambia.
Electricity and Water Supply
Even though the lodge is located on true islands within the river, it
has been connected to the National Grid for its electricity supply. The
directors felt that as the electricity supply is generated at the
hydro/electro station at Victoria Falls, this was the most effective way
to power the lodge. Low wattage geysers have been used throughout the
lodge along with low wattage long life light bulbs to ensure cost saving
and lack of wastage.
The lodge’s water is drawn directly from the river, filtered and treated
on site, thus ensuring there is no effect upon the local water table. As
with current hotel policies, guests are given the option as to how often
their towels and linen are washed. Locally produced bottled mineral
water is available for guests drinking requirements in every room.
Conclusion
As the directors of the company are proud Zambian residents they feel
that ‘green washing’ of the product serves little or no purpose. They
are committed to the sustainability of tourism in their area. This
requires a very honest attitude to both community development and
environmental issues as the two most definitely go hand in hand. The
local communities were very uninformed when it came to tourism issues
and so the directors are extremely keen to promote a responsible
attitude towards correct development for those people. Headman Siankaba,
(the village headman responsible for the immediate area of the lodge,
and from whom the lodge took its name) and his people are extremely
proud of their way of life and the area they live in, and the directors
are not interested in changing or tarnishing this attitude, but rather
nourishing it as a tangible demonstration of local life and culture.
Small groups of interested guests, accompanied by a local guide, may
visit the villages on foot to get to know the people and their
traditions as they really are, unaltered by commercialism so often seen
elsewhere. The aim of the company is to develop a long running
successful business with the help and support of the local people,
mutually beneficial to both parties and the environment as a whole. |
