Luangwa Valley Team
Based in South Luangwa’s Lupande Game Management Areas (GMAs) the Luangwa Valley team works on an array of conservation, research and educational activities throughout the country’s largest carnivore stronghold.
Henry Mwape
Henry is the Project Manager and Senior Ecologist for the Luangwa Project. He was raised in Mfuwe and is a former Conservation Club member. Henry joined ZCP in 2010 as an intern while he was still at the University of Zambia, before working full-time as an Ecologist and Education Coordinator. He also founded Mimbulu Boys Football Academy, a local team of conservation ambassadors through football. In 2018 Henry was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study spatial dynamics of Luangwa lions with Dr. David Christianson. He graduated with his master’s degree from the University of Wyoming in 2020, returning home to continue his conservation career.
Bridget Mayani
Bridget Mayani grew up in the Copperbelt Province of central Zambia. With a passion for nature, she pursued a Bachelor’s of Science in wildlife management at Copperbelt University. In 2018, she worked as a Ph.D. research assistant through the university. In August 2019, after graduating with her B.S., Bridget joined the ZCP Liuwa team as a Field Ecologist with our Women in Wildlife Conservation Training Programme and became the site’s Conservation Education Coordinator. In 2021 she began working with our Luangwa Valley team, and in 2023 she was promoted to Assistant Project Manager. She has a keen interest in wildlife conservation and conservation education because she believes it has the power to inspire and empower future ambassadors for the conservation of nature. Bridget one day hopes to pursue a master’s degree in conservation biology, and then after, a doctoral degree in her field of specialization. Her long-term aspiration is to help raise awareness and public support for conservation efforts in her country and across the world at large.
Kachama Banda
Kachama has worked as Kafue’s Assistant Site Manager and is now applying her knowledge, skills and abilities to her work with the Luangwa Team in the same capacity. She was born and raised in Mfuwe, in Zambia’s Eastern Province. Inspired by the wildlife she grew up around, she joined a Conservation Club in her high school and became an active and engaged member. This experience, and the works of ZCP’s local inspiration Thandiwe Mweetwa, inspired her to join ZCP as an intern through the Women in Wildlife Conservation Training Programme. Kachama finished her B.S. in wildlife management at the Copperbelt University in 2019. Kachama is now a senior member of the Kafue team, serving as a senior field ecologist and the site’s education coordinator. In 2021, Kachama was selected to be part of the African Conservation Leadership Network (ACLN), a program that works to strengthen and develop African conservation leaders and their organizations. Outside of work, Kachama is a lover of music, sunsets, and her new hobby Vlogging.
Dr. Mwamba Sichande
Dr. Sichande received his veterinary education at the University of Zambia before working as a vet with domestic animals. In 2013 he joined ZCP and Conservation South Luangwa (CSL) as a wildlife veterinarian. He now is one of the most experienced wildlife vets in the country and has been vital in de-snaring efforts in particular, darting an array of herbivores and carnivores in addition to his research support, and overseeing a domestic animal clinic, vaccination, spaying/neutering and poison response efforts. While he is employed through CSL his key position is co-financed by ZCP.
Reuben Kabungo
Reuben is a Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) Police Officer. He was assigned to ZCP in 2014 to work as an Assisting Ecologist. After receiving intensive field-based training, he has become a core member of the DNPW-ZCP team for all aspects of the work. Reuben is also currently a student at Mulungushi University studying for a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental studies.
Benny Mwila Beza
Originally from Mwanya, Benny was sponsored during his secondary school education by ZCP and is a graduate of the ZCP-CWET Conservation Club programme. He now is a full-time member of the research team for ZCP's Luangwa project, having gone through the extensive Conservation Biologist Training Programme. He also assists with the Conservation Club Outreach Programme and with the Mimbulu Boys Academy and other community conservation initiatives.
Gibson Banda
Gibson Banda is a DNPW Wildlife Police Officer who initially joined the team in 2009 and is instrumental in all aspects of the field work, utilizing his extensive experience in the bush to help teams stay safe and effective.
Dennis Zimba
Dennis was born and raised in Mumbwa, a small town in southwestern Zambia. He completed a B.S. in wildlife management from Copperbelt University in 2017 and joined the Department of National Parks and Wildlife in Zambia as a Conservation Officer. Since 2019, Dennis has served as ZCP’s Human-Carnivore Conflict Mitigation/Research Officer. Having lived with wildlife all his life, he understands the complexities of balancing conservation goals and human wellbeing and he is committed to working with our partners to create an environment where both people and large carnivores thrive.
Dominic Cluskey Changa
Dominic was born in Lusaka, and in 1999 he moved to the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. He grew up and attended junior and secondary education there. He graduated from the Copperbelt University with a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management in 2019. He joined us in 2022 as Luangwa’s Camp Administration Assistant. He currently serves as Camp Coordinator at the Luangwa basecamp. His day to day tasks include assisting the finance team in expense tracking and recording petty cash expenses. He also oversees camp operations, equipment, manages camp staff and logistics. Dominic’s dream is to become a well-groomed field researcher and at some point, join the academic world in conservation to share his experiences and knowledge.
Mwango Mulenga
Mwango is the newest member of our Human Carnivore Coexistence team. She was first introduced to the organization through ZCP’s Integrated Field Conservation Course training programme in 2023. During this opportunity she fell in love with the ongoing carnivore conservation work that ZCP does in the Luangwa Valley. She holds a B.A of Education with an emphasis in Geography and English from the University of Zambia which she obtained in 2021. Mwango is an environment and education enthusiast who is keen to apply her skills to research and resolving environmental issues. She joined the team in 2023 as the Human Carnivore Coexistence Officer in the Luangwa Valley project.
Nomsa Kamanga
Nomsa joined ZCP as a trainee under the Women in Wildlife Conservation Training Programme in 2018. She fell in love with Mfuwe and wildlife while visiting her sister. Nomsa studied nature conservation and transfrontier conservation management at the Southern African Wildlife College. During her time in the field she took part in all aspects of ZCP’s research, education and community engagement work. In 2021, Nomsa began a new chapter in her career at Catawba College in North Carolina as a university student. She is studying for a bachelor’s degree in environment and sustainability.
Margret Mwale
Margret joined ZCP under the Women in Wildlife Conservation Programme in 2018. Her role includes assisting in the organization’s research and conservation work, and tutoring conservation club students. Margret is now pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife management at the Copperbelt University.
Francis Mwanza
Francis is a Mfuwe resident from Nsefu Chiefdom. He is part of the mechanics team after joining ZCP as a volunteer in 2018. He studied Automotive Mechanics at Chipata Trades Training Institute and hopes to study Auto Electrical Mechanics in the future. Francis enjoys watching the different species of wildlife that pass through the ZCP camp daily.
Japhet Nyau
Japhet was born and raised in Mfuwe. He worked for Flatdogs Camp and Robin Pope Safaris as a general worker before joining ZCP in 2016. He worked as a watchman before becoming a trainee mechanic helping to keep the ZCP fleet on the road. When he is not at the workshop, Japhet assists with general camp construction and maintenance.
Doris Banda
Doris has been with ZCP since 2007 and is from the local Kakumbi chiefdom. Her duties include cooking, general housekeeping and laundry. She also ensures that the camp is well-stocked with freshly baked bread and muffins.
Keshious Kunda
Originally from the Northern Province, Keshious moved to Mfuwe in 2005 in search of job opportunities. He was hired by ZCP as a night watchman in 2014 and is also responsible for general grounds maintenance.
Tabu Milanzi
Tabu joined ZCP in 2013 and is responsible for managing all the stores and vehicle parts as well as general camp maintenance. Essentially he keeps it all up and running for us!
Johnathan Reyes de Merkle
Johnathan joined ZCP in 2012 after a two year stint with Peace Corps as a rural aquaculture instructor. With a degree in Zoology from the University of Florida, Johnathan has participated in a range of field research projects including bonobos in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), wolves in Minnesota and as a volunteer in a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Namibia. Johnathan is now pursuing his master’s degree with Dr. Scott Creel at Montana State University, studying the dynamics of the Luangwa wild dog population.
Gareth Broekhuizen
Gareth joined ZCP and CSL as our pilot in 2022. He is South African born but has spent more than 12 years in the skies and in the wild places of southern and eastern Africa. Zambia, in particular, has been his home for 7 years. Bush flying has been Gareth's calling and as such it has brought him close to tourism and conservation, both of which he has shown interest in, spending a couple of years safari guiding and managing camps along the way. It is however the draw of contributing to the preservation of wildlife and the environment that has held his passion and he is now throwing himself into anything and everything that we do.
Kabwe Chanda
Kabwe was born and raised in Mfuwe. As a former member of his school’s Chongololo and Conservation clubs, he developed a passion for conservation at an early age. In 2015, he was awarded the ZCP-Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust (CWET) scholarship to pursue a bridging course in nature conservation and environmental education at the Southern African Wildlife College. In 2020, Kabwe completed his Bachelor’s of Education in Environmental Education (B.ED.EE) from the University of Zambia. Kabwe currently serves as a Community Outreach Officer for the ZCP Luangwa Valley Project team. His role involves coordinating conservation club activities and outreach and education programs with various stakeholders. With full knowledge of his home community and his conservation club background, he is eager to inspire old and young people to take part in conserving natural resources for the future generations.
Felidah Mwale
Felidah joined the team in 2022 as an intern in our Women in Wildlife Conservation Training Programme. She graduated from the University of Zambia with a bachelor's degree in environmental and natural resources management and is currently serving as a Field Ecologist with ZCP’s Luangwa Valley Project. Apart from participating in different aspects of the organization’s research, education and conservation work, Felidah also assists with administration work and communication with research partners to facilitate smooth operations. She looks forward to a future in conservation where both men and women have an equal representation in decision making.
Frederike Otten
Frederike joined ZCP in 2022 as the Luangwa Giraffe Project Coordinator supported by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Born and raised in the Netherlands, she found that her heart was in the African bush. She volunteered with ZCP for a few months in 2009. She came back to Mfuwe in 2020 to pursue a career in conservation after completing training and certificates in wildlife management, conservation, grant writing and project management. Outside of work she loves ball sports, skiing, the mountains, photography and chocolate!
Frazer Zulu
Frazer is a Junior Field Research Officer. He was born and raised in Mfuwe and is a graduate of the Field Ecology Club program jointly run with Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust. Frazer joined ZCP in 2020 as an intern and his future plans include one day studying wildlife biology at university.
Eric Njobvu
Eric was born in Chipata but grew up in Mfuwe. Throughout his school days, he was a dedicated member of the conservation and photography clubs. Eric was also a member of the Field Ecology Club and because of his passion for photography, he is currently working as a field assistant and team photographer.
Franklin Sakala
Franklin grew up in Masumba, Chief Mnkhanya’s area. He joined ZCP in 2022 as an intern for Field Research and Human Carnivore Conflict (HCC) Mitigation. He developed the passion for conservation and engaging with people while working with Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO) and BioCarbon Partners (BCP) as a Lead Farmer for Conservation Agriculture. His role involves conducting research in and around South Luangwa National Park as well as working with livestock owners to reduce HCC. His dream is to one day study wildlife management.
Tikambenji Mando
Tikambenji (Tika) was born in Mbala District in Northern Zambia. She quickly fell in love with wildlife when she moved to the Luangwa Valley. She joined us in 2022 as an intern in our Women in Wildlife Conservation Training Programme. She hopes to one day become a wildlife veterinarian.
Titus Banda
Titus was born and raised in Mfuwe, just outside South Luangwa National Park. He joined ZCP in 2022 as an intern under the Conservation Biologist Training Programme. He is very passionate about conservation of wildlife and ecosystems and is an integral part of the research team. In the future, Titus hopes to pursue tertiary education to further his career in wildlife conservation.
Fanely Mbao
Fanely was born and raised in the Luangwa Valley. She joined ZCP as a trainee under the Women in Wildlife Conservation Training Programme in 2022. Her role at ZCP includes assisting in the organization's research and conservation work. She hopes to study veterinary medicine at university in the future.