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Sundowners in Zambia – Team Buckley blog

Our passion and love of Africa has grown continued to grow since our first encounter back in 1997. Over the years we have experienced Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius including climbing Mt Kilimanjaro and shark cage diving in South Africa.

In February 2016 Jamie my husband and I flew out to Zambia to commence our roles as Camp Managers at Flatdogs Camp a remote safari camp for the next 2 years. We left behind our cherished family including our 4 gorgeous grandchildren, many friends and our amazing neighbours in Ingleside.

So why do we want to say goodbye to our family, friends, our favourite cafes, the northern beaches lifestyle, sell up and resign from our long term jobs and rent our home?

The challenge, to learn new skills, to strengthen our relationship, to immerse ourselves in a different culture for an extended period, the physical challenge, view amazing African wildlife, immerse ourselves in a rural Zambian community, keep active mentally and physically, not sit in Sydney traffic, share our love of South and East Africa with the world and give back to a country that has given so much to us over many years.

Why Zambia?

We first visited Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa National Park back in 2007 and we loved the Zambian people and in particular the South Luangwa is truly an untouched stunning national park. It offers sensational safari drives and has 80 animals with good sightings of African wild dogs, leopards, lions, elephants and over 400 birds.

How did we prepare? The months leading up to the adventure Jamie and Wendy participated and passed in a number of courses including a four wheel drive course, Game Lodge Management course and a Trauma and First Aid course for remote places.

Team Buckley, Jamie and Wendy Buckley invite you to join us on this journey via our blog www.powerofthepositive/zambia

“Africa entered my soul, it became my passion and it’s our turn to give back”

Team Buckley Blog

Student celebration and goodbye party

Student celebration and goodbye party

So proud of these young people and it has been a highlight of our 2 years here in Mfuwe "Contributing to the Community" I will support and have these kids as friends for years into the future. Thursday 4 January 2018 finally arrived I WAS SOOOOO EXCITED Prosper 6 year Medical degree university degree at Mulungushi University thanks to our wonderful sponsors back in Oz Yvonne full time contract and trainee massage therapist at The Bush Spa thanks to Natalie Shadreck full time contract at Artnera Building company as builder thanks Rafael Alick 2 year automotive mechanic apprenticeship at Chikowa thanks to Rodger and Fiona Buckley for their sponsorship Richard 2 year agriculture apprenticeship at Chikowa thanks to Rodger and Fiona Buckley for their sponsorship Ariston our gem of a jeweller...

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Wild dog pups a safari highlight

Wild dog pups a safari highlight

The wild dogs are one of the most sought after animals for the guests along with the lions and leopards. With less than 5500 left in the world they are highly endangered with the major impacts on...

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Garden of Eden for Elephants

Garden of Eden for Elephants

Journey of life Our experiences over the past 2 years (1 Mar 2016 - 17 Jan 2018) in Zambia have been quite magical and majestic for both Jamie and I. We have immersed ourselves in the community of...

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Flatdogs Christmas 2017

Flatdogs Christmas 2017

It's that time of year again, time to spend with family and friends, time to chill out a bit, time to reconnect, time to reflect, a time for a little indulging, time to say goodbye to past year and...

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Small world

Small world

A group of Australians arrived in camp which of course Jamie and I are always excited to greet. They were a group of Doctors mostly head of Emergency Departments from various hospitals over Sydney...

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Oh wow you saw Ginger

Oh wow you saw Ginger

Meet Ginger and Garlic the legendary male lions in the main game viewing area of the South Luangwa National Park. They are renowned for protecting the Big Mfuwe Pride and fathering many cubs. Both...

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Exceeding our Expectations WHY?

Exceeding our Expectations WHY?

Over the past 2 years Feb 28, 2016 through to January 17 2018 of working and living in Zambia the most asked 2 questions from our guests and friends of Jamie and I have been “So how did you end up...

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A blog on blogging

A blog on blogging

Launching Sundowners in Zambia - The suggestion of doing a blog came from our son Tim when we were making plans for our move to Zambia. I was discussing how we could communicate to all our friends...

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Health – Expect the Unexpected

Health – Expect the Unexpected

Preparing for our 2 years in Zambia Jamie and I spent time with our local GP to ensure we had the right inoculations and confirmed what medication to bring including basic things like paracetamol,...

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Prosper is off to University

Prosper is off to University

Jamie and I are thrilled to confirm Prosper has successfully registered at the Mulungushi University September 2, 2017 Mulungushi University info, confirmed accommodation and meals at the university...

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What do we miss the most?

What do we miss the most?

1. Sorrento crockery 2. the beach and the Pacific ocean 3. The Esplanade and north head at Manly 4. kids, kids in law, grand kids 5. family and friends 6. privacy 7. Thai food - Oh I miss this so...

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Dilla and Poppy our camp dogs

Dilla and Poppy our camp dogs

Meet Dilla and Poppy the camp dogs, as you can see they have a really tough life at Flatdogs well not really! The dogs are Jess and Ade's babies and have grown up living with pukus, baboons,...

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Flatdogs glorious food

Flatdogs glorious food

Generally safari camps throughout Africa have set times for meals around the safari activities and offer smorgasbords. The high end camps do offer table service though still offer a limited...

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Church Alley

Church Alley

I love to run and Church Alley is my sanctuary of safety. Located in the village there are no elephants, few cars and very few village people. It is soft sand and great in the wet season as the...

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Sweet Harold Shuumbwamuntu

Sweet Harold Shuumbwamuntu

Harold our wonderful Harold, it is hard to put into words what Harold has contributed to Jamie and I over the past 18 months of our time here at Flatdogs. Harold is the head of HR which is a massive...

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Our beautiful Zambia – stats

Our beautiful Zambia – stats

Zambia Stats - The below statistics are from various resources as of July 2017 • The population of Zambia is 13,475,000 • The medium age of the population of Zambia is 17 years • 46% of Zambians are...

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Meet the Temminck ground Pangolin

Meet the Temminck ground Pangolin

Today I took Cathy and Carlos who are from Los Angeles on a CSL Base tour. Cathy has been in childcare for the past 10 years and when she returns from her Africa trip is commencing a 2 year degree...

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Flatdogs Camp great team effort

Flatdogs Camp great team effort

1. Ade MD and Finance controller 2. Jess Reservations and marketing Operations Manager 3. Paolo Director of Human Recourses, Hospitality and Community Projects 4. Harold Shuumbwamuntu 5. Lydia Camp...

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Pod casts – a life saver

Pod casts – a life saver

Nothing new though they are a life saver. I am committed to learning something new everyday during our time in Zambia and the pod casts are truly amazing. ABC, Dr Karl, Health one, Food one and the...

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A day in the life of Wendy at Flatdogs

A day in the life of Wendy at Flatdogs

General daily routine: • Arrive work 645am • Check 3 white boards – guest accommodation, safaris and activities • Check emails • Staff arrive 7am – manager goes through the movements of guests...

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