Episode 5, Part 1: Behind the Scenes

Episode 5, Part 1 (Livingstone, Zambia)

The lawns of the magnificent David Livingstone Safari Lodge made the perfect location for the cooking sequence in this episode, with the Zambezi River meandering quietly and majestically behind us. And it was really tough to hop on board the beautiful Lady Livingstone and head upstream for sundowners and icy, delicious, Whiskey, Lime & Mint Popsicles.

A ginormous and sincere thank you must go to the amazing, endlessly hospitable team at the David Livingstone Safari Lodge in Livingstone, Zambia. We received such a heartwarming welcome, and loved our few days with you.

Although you’re seeing this as Episode 5, it was only the second full day of shooting (the first was our episode on Chundu Island, which airs as the second part of this episode).

The day begins with one of my very favourite things to do in the whole world – a sunrise lion walk in the nearby Zambezi National Park. Just on the outskirts of the park you find the Zambian headquarters for my parent’s lion conservation project, and the headquarters for our research base, managed by ALERT. And it’s here that we arrived with our whole crew (many shaking at the knees, giggling nervously, cracking funny-not-funny jokes), ready to explore the bush with beautiful sub-adult lions for companions. I could go on and on, but you can read more about ALERT here, and about volunteering on our Lion Conservation projects here.

Pre-lion walk catch up with David Youldon.

David has been a figurehead of the ALERT team for about 10 years now, and I first met him as a volunteer back home at Antelope Park in 2004. He’d come out to volunteer with our lion project there, and I remember a conversation with him soon before he was due to leave and head back to the UK; it ended with Dave saying something like ‘you’d be stupid not to hire me’. And he was right. He has added so much bulk and weight and value to ALERT since his time with the organization, he achieves more in one day that most of us do in a month, he’s indomitable and he has my endless admiration. I have rather a soft spot for you Dave! Thanks for your time in this episode.

Technically, David’s bio reads as follows, and it’s quite a read:
David joined ALERT in October 2006, at which time nothing more existed of the charity except the name and a broad concept. Since then David has overseen the growth of ALERT year on year in terms of; the breadth and depth of our programs, our funding levels, support within the conservation ‘industry’, and global reach in raising awareness of the need for urgent action to ensure a secure future for Africa’s lions. In 2009 and 2010 David presented and co-produced two series about our work for ITV in the UK; Lion Country continues to broadcast worldwide to huge audiences. David has also filmed for other TV networks about our work, including the BBC.  In 2010 David was awarded the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Personality of the Year Award for conservation and environmental contributions to the industry. David is a graduate of Ealing and Warnborough Colleges, has studied with Oxford University, and is currently affiliated with Edinburgh University whilst completing his Masters.  He is a member of both the IUCN SSC Conservation Breeding & Reintroduction Specialist Groups. In 2015 David requested to step down as Chief Operating Officer to refocus his attention on field research.

Off we go on a sunrise lion walk.

It’s not often Ricardo is in front of the camera. Here he is all ballsy before our lion walk.

Gearing up. Goofing around?

Luisa, definitely not goofing around.

Chris, thinking genius thoughts. Me, just thinking (and even that’s a maybe).

Where on earth would I be without honey?

Willie and Zahir, shooting the breeze

View over the deck of the David Livingstone Safari Lodge, Livingstone, Zambia

Heading off for Zambezi River sundowners

When the sun went down, it was this cold.

Dining peacefully. You know, as you do.

Cephas Maingaila.
‘Cephas has been with Wildlife Encounter for 7 years. He began as
a handler and has 4 years experience at that position.
Since being a handler, Cephas has become a guide. Before coming to Wildlife
Encounter, Chepas was employed with a security company. Cephas was inspired
to work for Lion Encounter when he heard the alarming news about the rapidly
declining population of wild lions in Africa. Cephas’s favorite part about
his job is that he can give something back to African wildlife and educate
people about what is happening to lions across the continent. Cephas is 32
years old and is married with 2 children. On his days off Cephas can be
found at his church, exploring the national parks, or working out as Cephas
is a fitness enthusiast. One of Cephas’s favorite things to do is to watch
competitive cycling.’

Darryl Black.
‘I was born and raised in Zimbabwe where I spent much of my time
discovering the amazing wilderness the country has to offer. After my
studies in marketing and later wildlife management I travelled to various
countries around the world before settling in Kenya. I then trained as a
professional safari guide and worked as a manager and guide in safari camps
in the Maasai Mara and Samburu areas for the next ten years. Having enjoyed
these spectacular wild areas and knowing the challenges and hardships they
face I decided to turn my energies towards more proactive conservation
initiatives. For this reason I chose to work with Wildlife Encounter and
ALERT.’

Boys being boys while I cook.

Barefoot again!

Voice overs in the conference room at 11pm.

That sunset. And THAT river.

The beautiful Lady Livingstone.

I said to every hotel or venue that we filmed at ‘you’ll be happy to see us arrive, but believe me, you’ll be even happier to see us leave’ – we’re not the ‘small footprint’ kind.

Who knows.

We loved our Suzuki Sx4.

Photo’s from ‘Sarah Graham’s Food Safari’ by Ricardo de Leça.