In a place where the river winds through ancient forests and elephants roam freely, stories of hope and courage quietly unfold. At Time + Tide Chongwe, we are honoured to share this magical corner of the world and its remarkable stories with our guests.
From the very beginning of Time + Tide’s journey, we’ve been deeply aware of the privilege that comes with exploring Africa’s most pristine wilderness alongside our guests. We’ve always known that these wild places can only thrive with passionate protection. One of our core guiding principles is ensuring that our presence helps safeguard these precious environments while creating measurable social value, both within our Time + Tide family and in the communities that surround us.
Every guest who travels with us contributes to conservation initiatives that make a real difference.
Through park fees and conservation levies, our guests help ensure that projects protecting wildlife, empowering women, and uplifting communities continue to thrive. Through the work of the Time + Tide Foundation, and in collaboration with dedicated NGOs, we are proud to support the success of the regions we call home.
Among these efforts, one story shines especially bright: the all-female anti-poaching unit, Kufadza, formed by Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ). CLZ was founded in 1994 by local safari lodge owners determined to tackle poaching in the Lower Zambezi. Today, they not only support the Department of National Parks and Wildlife in combating poaching and other illegal activities, but they also work closely with local communities to manage human-wildlife conflict. Kufadza, which aptly means “Inspire”, has become a beacon of hope and change.
These women, drawn from the very communities surrounding the park, patrol the wild on foot, sometimes walking up to 30 kilometres a day with heavy packs and rifles. But they are so much more than scouts; they are role models and ambassadors. Like most parks in Zambia, the Lower Zambezi is unfenced, meaning animals are free to roam into local villages, eating crops and generally causing havoc. When this happens, Kufadza’s team steps in to calm tensions and foster understanding about the importance of protecting wildlife.
At dawn, as you sip your coffee by the riverbank at Chongwe, you may well be watching the same elephants these women protect. Their impact reaches far beyond the wilderness, each scout supports extended families, educates her children, and inspires other women and girls who, for too long, have been overlooked.
We are especially proud to tell their story this month, following Women’s Day celebrations. It’s a poignant reminder that protecting these remarkable landscapes and the creatures who inhabit them is a responsibility shared by us all. Organisations like Kufadza are showing us that conservation can be reimagined, and that strength and leadership knows no gender.
Your safari experience doesn’t end with remarkable wildlife sightings; it resonates in the lives of these women and the landscapes they protect for generations to come. And as you leave the soft glow of Chongwe’s fireside and the gentle flow of the Zambezi, we hope you feel part of something bigger, something lasting, and something truly inspiring.
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