Our MICE team hosted a large corporate group in Zambia last month at the distinguished Anantara Royal Livingstone Hotel. Delegates enjoyed three days of conferencing, thrilling safari, exquisite dining and traditional Makishi entertainment.
Day 1 in Zambia: Arrival
It was a hot and humid Monday afternoon when our group arrived in Livingstone, Zambia. We were welcomed with cool towels and homemade iced tea under the shady trees of the Royal Livingstone Hotel.
After collecting their name badges and welcome packs, the group enjoyed a quick canapé before taking a short walk or shuttle drive to the Avani Victoria Falls Hotel for an afternoon of conferencing.
Bedouin-Tent Dinner & Zambezi River
That evening the group attended a relaxed awards dinner under a fairy-lit Bedouin tent on the lawns of the Royal Livingstone. Local country flags adorned each table and a classical trio provided light background music as delegates were recognised for their achievements.
The day in Zambia ended after a busy start with delegates retiring to bed as hippos grunted along the riverbank of the Zambezi.
Day 2 in Zambia: Victoria Falls
We were up at sunrise the next day to get across to neighbouring Zimbabwe before the immigration queues started. Delegates were divided into animal-themed groups (lion, elephant, zebra etc.) to encourage bonding through team-building.
They enjoyed a 2-hour guided tour of the magnificent Victoria Falls referred to locally as Mosi oa Tunya which means ‘The Smoke that Thunders’.
One can truly see why wilderness explorer, David Livingstone remarked upon seeing the Falls that they were not only the most wonderful sight he had witnessed in Africa, but the scenes were so lovely that they must have been “gazed upon by angels in their flight”.
A slight delay at immigration returning to Zambia meant a later start to the conference but delegates took this in their stride. Time seems to matter less in Africa.
Boma Dinner & Makishi Dancers
The rest of the day was spent conferencing with outdoor tea breaks and a poolside lunch. The evening was a truly African affair, hosted in the hotel’s Mukuni Boma. Guests were welcomed by the sounds of beating drums, loud foot stamping, dancing and voices singing out warm greetings.
Brightly coloured table décor complemented the vibrant theme and delicious barbeque dinner. Entertainment included local Shangaan acrobats and energetic Makishi dancers. Some guests joined in on the dancing and learnt some local moves.
Day 3 in Zambia: Game drive
Delegates were off to another early start on Day 3, boarding safari vehicles at dawn with coffee cups in-hand. A light morning breeze kept them cool as they watched the sunrise on the way to Zambia’s Mosi oa Tunya National Park.
The game drive led to many incredible sightings. From their open-sided safari jeeps, guests spotted monkeys, a rhino, various antelope and many bird species, ending their drive with a wonderful riverside breakfast on the banks of the Zambezi River.
The group returned to the hotel for the final day of conferencing, wrapping up a very successful few days of meetings.
Their farewell dinner – despite a huge downpour just hours before the start – was a great success, with guests dancing the night away until 1:00 am to the sounds of a local band and DJ.
The Avani and Anantara properties in Livingstone are the perfect destination for both meetings and incentives and are highly recommended by us.
Ready to book?
We just scratched the surface of what Zambia has to offer in this blog. If you’d like us to organise a conference or group event for you, just pop us a message.