By HELEN ZULU –

CONSTRUCTION of the first luxury lodge at a cost of US$1.6 million in Liuwa Plains National Park in Western Province has commenced.
The lodge, which will be called Mambeti Camp, is being funded by African Parks with the design and construction being implemented by the award-winning Norman Carr Safaris Group that will also manage and market the new facility.
African Parks communications manager Cynthia Walley said the clearing of the construction site had been done with minimal impact on trees.
Ms Walley said the construction team on site had laid out building guidelines for the main lodge guest area, villa accommodation and back of the house.
She said the guidelines incorporated not only the footprint and dimensions but also details of structures like walkways, corners, columns and steps.
Ms Walley said this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
“The lodge will employ about 40 people during construction stage and is expected to be officially opened in early 2017,” she said.
Ms Walley said the construction and operation of the lodge would benefit communities living in and around Liuwa, as well as help conserve its fauna and flora, both features that form the cornerstone of the African Parks model.
The camp would comprise six luxury villas and a two-bedroomed family villa with the capacity to accommodate a total of 15 guests.
She said the lodge would help unlock the tourism potential and economic growth in the area.
African Parks is a non-profit organisation that takes total responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities.
It manages 10 national parks and protected areas in seven countries namely, Zambia, Malawi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Chad.
Norman Carr Safaris operates six award-winning camps in Zambia which include Chinzombo, Luwi, Nsolo, Kakuli, Mchenja Bush camps and Matamanene in the Liuwa Plains.