nchila wildlife
reserve - africa's biggest secret
Home to some of Africa's most
beautiful animals and birds in a nature reserve
of stunning natural beauty, in the remote North
West Province of Zambia. Nchila is a reserve where
antelope and game, originally indigenous to the
area, have been carefully reintroduced, and are
managed with conservation foremost in mind.
The bush camp of chalets is in
virgin African bush, camouflaged by riverine and
miombo woodland overlooking dambos and streams.
Ornithologists, herpetologists, zoologists, and
many other observers and lovers of the natural
world are among its appreciative visitors.
Nchila Wildlife Reserve is privately
owned and is part of Hillwood Farm situated in
the remote North West Province of Zambia near
the source of the Zambezi. With over 40km square
of virgin African bush, fenced with local materials
using local labour, Nchila is a reserve of stunning
natural beauty.
By design, the local population
are much involved at all levels, for Nchila is
an attempt to "farm" Africa for Africans
in an African way. The animals are all indigenous
to the area, but have disappeared from the wild
in recent years. The older generation have been
thrilled to see their return.
Local footpaths go through the
reserve area and these have been respected and
maintained. Fencing started about 9 years ago
and the area given over to game has steadily increased
over the years. It now contains wooded, plain
and swamp and riverine areas, all hosting different
flora and fauna.
The Kalahari Sand which covers
much of the western part of Africa south of the
Equator has been eroded in the Mwinilunga district
on the slopes. The underlying rock, once exposed,
mixes finer material with the sand. Some areas
are waterlogged over an impervious substrate.
These areas support a suffrutex savanna vegetation
and provide areas of great natural beauty in the
reserve.
Over 400 species of bird have
been recorded in the area, many of which are found
in the reserve. Because of Nchila's unique selection
of bird species, it has been declared an IBA (Important
Bird Area) by Birdlife International.
Nchila has gained a reputation
for rare antelope particularly. The animals are
in superb condition at all times of the year.
You will never want to see a zoo animal again
once you have seen the coats of these animals!
|
