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Norman Carr, legend of the Luangwa

Other than a Saturday job working in a local sports shop, my first ‘proper’ job was being trained as a walking safari guide in South Luangwa National Park having recently left college. I was incredibly lucky and landed on my feet as I went to work for what was then called Savannah Trails and was run in close conjunction with Norman Carr Safaris. The camps that Savannah Trails ran were Kakuli and Mchenja which of course are now completely integrated into the Norman Carr Safaris portfolio.

My luck didn’t stop there, since over the time that I was based in the Luangwa at Kakuli and Mchenja I regularly met Norman and enjoyed lunch or afternoon tea with him and we got on extremely well. I spent many hours chatting to him about the wildlife of the park, about the lodges and how the pace of life in the Valley was quite different, and so much more attractive, than anything else I had ever experienced.

When I used to return to the Luangwa with wildlife groups (first of all in the late 1980s) Norman would always make a point of meeting the group and we would all sit on the deck at Kapani overlooking the lagoon and Norman would talk to us about his amazing life. His time in the army, then working as a professional hunter, his ideas about photographic safaris and how the local people at the time thought he was quite bonkers, and then about the vision that turned into a reality.

Norman was a font of all information but never referred to himself as an expert. As far as Norman was concerned an expert was someone who knew “more and more about less and less until he knew everything about nothing” – a phrase I love!

Even though Norman was a font of knowledge, he was exceptionally humble and always sought the ideas of others and always listened with interest never dismissing anyone or anything. And, without a doubt, it was Norman and his approach to wildlife tourism that instilled in me the depth of passion that I have for wildlife, Africa and most particularly the Luangwa Valley.

Take a little time to look at this wonderful Norman Carr Safaris video - it conjures up the essence of Norman perfectly, and the essence of a Luangwa safari. And if you would like us to tailor an itinerary for you why not, as a starting point, have a look at our most popular Zambian safari ‘Leopards of Luangwa’.

You are very welcome to give me a call personally if you would like to chat about you next safari, or of course speak to any of our highly skilled and knowledgeable team.

Images courtesy of Bernard Lucas and Patrick Bentley.

We offer a wide selection of group and tailor made trips in South Luangwa and throughout Zambia.