The sandy-colored golden jackal shown here prefers open, grassy plains, while the side-striped jackal lives along water courses with dense undergrowth.

Chiawa Cultural Village Opens for Business
Oct 14, 2008

Residents of the Chiawa region will benefit from the recently opened cultural village, which celebrates the Goba people and their deep connection to the natural world. © Mohamed Hashim.

KAFUE, ZAMBIA–Chiawa Cultural Village, an AWF-supported enterprise located on the banks of the Lower Zambezi River, held its official opening ceremony last week. A unique tourist destination that integrates historical attractions with conservation initiatives, the village celebrates the heritage of the Goba people and their deep connection to the natural environment.

Presiding over the opening ceremonies was an official representative of Her Royal Highness Chieftainess Chiyaba, head of the Chiawa Chiefdom, along with Mr. Soda White Nyatsanga from the Tsika Development Company, the community organization that runs the center.

Dennis Keller, the Chair of AWF’s Board of Trustees, was on hand to witness the ‘cutting of the ribbon’, marking the village’s official opening by Ms. Justina Wake, Zambia’s Director of Tourism. "It is an honor for AWF to witness the fruition of hard work that we and the community have so proudly enjoyed doing with guidance from the traditional leadership and the Government of Zambia," said Mr. Keller.

The cultural village features a heritage museum, grain store, and traditional demonstrations. Visitors to Chiawa can also enjoy performances by traditional dancers and purchase crafts made by local artisans.

”Today marks a very proud day in the history of the Chiawa Chiefdom, where we are witnessing the realization of a cherished dream for the people of Chiawa – that of owning their own heritage tourism enterprise,” said Chieftainess Chiyaba.

Located close to such tourism destinations as Lower Zambezi National Park, the Cultural Village is expected to net approximately $25,000 a year in profits for the surrounding community. It will also generate much-needed jobs while providing tourists with an opportunity to learn about a vibrant and conservation-minded culture.

To plan your visit to Chiawa Cultural Village, contact:

Chiawa Cultural Village
P.O. Box 360330, Kafue, Zambia
Cell: +260-97-9343419
Fax: 263-61-3507
Email: chiawaculturalvillage@yahoo.co.uk.

To learn more about AWF’s work in the Zambezi region, click here.



RSS