For several years, Chachacha Safaris conducted tours to the South Luangwa National Park from their hostel in Chipata. Unfortunately, the ChaChaCha hostel in Chipata closed in 2005, but the company continued offering safaris, and from 2007 they were led by Gavin Opie. In 2008, under Gavin's watchful eye, Jackalberry Safaris proudly began operating as a separate safari company, retaining the ChaChaCha mission to provide independent travellers with quality safaris at affordable prices. At Jackalberry Safaris we have also worked hard to preserve the original ChaChaCha itineraries, which are different to any other packages currently available in the South Luangwa National Park and offer truly unique safari experiences. We continue to use Chipata as the start-point for our safaris, but we have also diversified to include Lilongwe and Katete as additional pick-up points. We hope you'll join us on safari and help us to write the next chapter of our safari journal!

Because Jackalberry Safaris is a small business it's easy to get to know our intrepid team! Here's a brief intoduction.

Gavin Opie - Tour Leader

Gavin is originally from Johannesburg, but has been living in Zambia for 14 years. He began his career as the manager of a crocodile farm in the Southern Province, a job which instilled him with a heathy respect for large reptiles! In 2002 Gavin built his own backpacker hostel on the banks of Lake Kariba, which he ran until 2006. While at Kariba, Gavin's passion for wildlife led him to initiate tours of the islands and surrounding game management areas as well as to develop fishing safaris of the lake itself. In 2007 Gavin moved to the South Luangwa to pursue his dream of running his own safari company, and he has since made the Valley his permanent home. Although he misses the fishing, the experience of leading safaris more than makes up for leaving the balmy waters of the lake. Gavin is a Grade 2 listed guide and is extremely knowledgeable about both the wildlife around him, and about Zambia in general, and he is passionate about providing his clients with the most memorable safaris possible.

Issac Banda - Safari Guide

Issac, or IB to his many friends, was born in the Luangwa Valley and has grown up surrounded by its incredible wildlife. IB passed his Grade 2 guiding course in 2007 and has been leading safaris ever since. He is a mine of information about all the animals and plants of the National Park and makes every safari a fascinating insight into the natural history of the Valley. IB also has a fantastic sense of humour and an infectious smile, and he'll keep you giggling as he fills your brain with information. IB's wife and children live in nearby Mfuwe.

Godfrey Daka - Safari Chef

Godfrey is our chef, although it sometimes seems more accurate to call him a magician. As the creator of delicious meals and innovator of brilliant new recipes, Godfrey is a favourite around camp. He manages to make cooking and baking look effortless, despite the occassional (and unhelpful!) interference of monkeys. His favourite food is nshima.