MANAGEMENT FAMILY

MWAKA

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Born, raised and still residing in Lusaka, Mwaka is a true ambassador for the warm-hearted and sunny nation of Zambia. Having always had a penchant for the hospitality industry, Mwaka has nearly 20 years of experience under his belt. Starting out at a family run hotel in Lusaka where he worked for 5 years, the wilderness called and Mwaka made the exciting move to the Lower Zambezi in 2010 where he worked in various safari lodge management positions for 11 years. Being the people person that he is, the safari industry is right up Mwaka’s street where he has the opportunity to engage and interact with both guests and work colleagues. With a core foundation in marketing, nothing makes Mwaka happier than giving his clients an unforgettable experience through exceptional service with his dedicated team. Speaking of teamwork, Mwaka is a passionate basketball player and has enjoyed slam dunking since his childhood. Clearly one for the outdoors and fresh air, sports and exercise are extremely important to Mwaka and have become a routine part of his lifestyle.

RICHARD

ASSISTANT OPERATIONS MANAGER

Richard’s roots started in Livingstone, Zambia, right through to completing his schooling. Then, in 2003, Richard hit the ground running in the working world and joined Sun International Hotels in diverse positions from room attendant, public area cleaner and laundry manager. He swiftly got promoted to the Guest Relations Office, a position he held proudly for five years. Richard gained further experience across the industry, enhancing his career in posts from Barmen to Food & Beverage Manager. All whilst studying a Diploma in Business Administration through the University Of Zambia. His love for the safari industry solidified when he got the opportunity as a Relief and Camp Manager across various camps in Zambia. Gaining invaluable experience in diverse environments across the industry, Richards love for the wild shines through the moment you meet him. He takes immense joy and pride in sharing his memorable moments on Safari across Zambia and is an enthusiastic storyteller. Richard will be your travel liason at Lusaka Airport (KKIA) to assist you with a smooth and convenient transfer to your safari destination. If you have time to spare, ask him about his experience with the pride of lions visiting his room in Kafue National Park! Outside the wild world of safari, Richard loves watching soccer (an avid Man-U supporter!) and hanging out with friends and family.

AGNESS

LODGE SERVICES MANAGER

Agness, better known as Aggie, is a welcome addition to the Royal family. Residing in southern Zambia for most of her life, Aggie was never far from the Zambezi River. After finishing school in Mazabuka, she ventured to the Victoria Falls town of Livingstone where she found herself climbing the hospitality ladder. Starting out as a waitress and working her way up through multiple positions, Aggie was exposed to various industry roles. She received invaluable training covering a number of different operations and honed her hospitality skills in high-end luxury establishments. She became a Peer Educator, helping others to deal with health issues in a positive manner. Aggie had a thriving career and was a proud ‘Livingstonian’ until she was offered an incredible opportunity to ‘meet the wild’ at Royal Zambezi, which she now happily calls home. Aggie has a big smile and an even bigger heart, and loves to share her knowledge and experiences from one end of the Zambezi to the other.

FAITH

GUEST RELATIONS MANAGER & HOSTESS

You can’t help but be drawn to Faith, who’s infectious nature and vibrant smile make you feel at home right away. A woman of many talents, Faith has proved herself in various roles across the tourism industry. She has hosted a number of programs in the sector, covering topics such as online marketing, operations of tourism entities and the hospitality model. Communication is one of her strong points and she has engaged with key players in the tourism industry including government agencies/departments, traditional establishments and international diplomatic bodies. She has also been a speaker and presenter at a number of business and social events. Her aspiration to make a positive contribution to society is marked by her personal qualities of being open-minded, curious, willing to share experiences and seek new perspectives. Faith is a child of Africa and her passion for the continent shines through with her distinct fashion sense, her love of local hangouts, food and music. Faith is a family-oriented person and it’s evident in her approach to hospitality and guest relations.

VANESSA

RESERVATIONS MANAGER

Vanessa grew up across the river in Zimbabwe and has called Zambia home since 2003. Her earlier years were spent competing in outdoor sports, and after marrying a farmer and living on a farm, she naturally moved into administration type roles that could fit in with the remote freedom of farm life. Vanessa joined the Royal Zambezi team in 2008 and has proudly managed all aspects of the reservations function single-handedly for ten years. She puts every effort into efficient responses and enjoys building relationships with both agents and guests and ensuring all expectations are met. Being a valued and integral part of Royal Zambezi Lodge, Vanessa loves being a part of the Royal family and getting positive feedback from happy guests.

GARY

RESERVATIONS MANAGER

Born and raised on the Copperbelt in Northern Zambia, Gary spent most of his childhood in Ndola and Lusaka. Gary’s parents were later transferred to the tourist capital of Zambia, Livingstone. This move saw Gary’s tourism career take root where he worked with two of Zambia’s most prestigious adventure and accommodation brands. Being the efficient multitasker that he is, Gary pursued a Diploma in International Tourism and Travel with the University of Zambia, whilst gaining invaluable experience in the industry at the same time. Gary’s career has gone from strength to strength accumulating 21 years of experience in tourism, and specialising in Reservations and Sales for the last 17 of those. Football is his passion outside of hospitality, and he is an avid Manchester United fan. In his spare time, Gary enjoys spending quality time with his family.

LAUREN

HEAD OF SALES & MARKETING

Originally from Zimbabwe, Lauren grew up as a farmer’s daughter on a cattle ranch, where she discovered her love for the African bush at a young age. Playtime consisted of being outside in nature with her brothers and cousins – building forts in trees, riding horses, playing hide n seek in the maize crops, lawn cricket, swimming in dams and generally spending most days outdoors. In her next chapter, Lauren spent a brief period of 3 years in London, where she worked in recruitment and cultivated her love for people. Finally, her undeniable love and passion for Africa made her move back to Zimbabwe, where she established her Marketing career in tourism. She learned that promoting something that truly inspired her makes all the difference – and Africa was it! Privileged to have worked with some of the best across the industry in Zimbabwe, Lauren was curious to learn more about neighbouring Zambia, a country with which Zimbabwe shares so much history. Having joined the “Royal” family in 2016, she immersed herself in Zambia’s diverse landscapes and rich cultures and has been captivated by the incredible people, unpredictable wildlife encounters and the essence of ‘space’ that Zambia is still able to offer.

CHILEYA

MARKETING MANAGER

Chileya was born and raised in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. Some of her fondest memories are of family holidays in the most remote areas of the country, where she turned a curiosity about wildlife into a genuine appreciation of nature and the great outdoors. At boarding school in rural Zambia, Chileya cultivated passions for camping, hiking, exploring, rock-climbing and bird-watching. She went on to spend her university years abroad and following this her early career was spent in Media and Advertising until a golden opportunity to swap the big city life for the wilds of Lower Zambezi presented itself. Chileya jumped at the chance with open arms and hasn’t looked back since. She derives an enormous amount of joy from inspiring local and international travellers to explore one of Africa’s most magnificent wilderness frontiers while spoiling themselves to the safari luxury at Royal Zambezi Lodge. A country with vast beauty and diverse culture, Chileya intends to continue on her quest to motivate more and more people to fall in love with this part of the world, just as it has stolen a piece of her heart.

RZL Flights Team

COLLINS

FLIGHT RESERVATIONS MANAGER

Born and bred in Zambia’s beautiful and wild Luangwa Valley, Collins grew up surrounded by nature and has forged his career on his passion for the bush. He completed his Tourism and Travel course at the Hotel & Tourism Training Institute Trust in Lusaka in 2008, where he graduated as Overall Best Student. From there, in August 2009, he joined one of the first established safari companies in Zambia as a Junior Reservations Consultant. Here he found his calling in Sales and Reservations and in the following two years he rose through the ranks to Reservations Manager. Collins then moved closer to his childhood home where he held a new role as Reservations and Marketing Manager for a luxury safari lodge in South Luangwa. It wasn’t until January 2019 that Collins joined the Royal family when an opportunity arose to set up a reservations office for the Royal Zambezi flights in and out of the Lower Zambezi. And he hasn’t looked back… “I am happy to be part of the Royal family helping our agents, tour operators and clients with their bookings for flights between Lusaka and Royal Airstrip, which is the easiest and fastest way to access the magnificent Lower Zambezi, a responsibility I enjoy daily.”

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