CHICHELE PRESIDENTIAL’S HISTORY

Originally constructed for Zambian president, Doctor Kenneth Kaunda in 1972 as his personal holiday home / safari lodge. Chichele was another large and decaying lodge, once owned by the parastatal ‘National Hotels’, which was put out to private management. It opened in September 2001, standing in a hilly area where the Luangwa River starts to come much closer to the escarpment. Around it is a variety of environments including Miombo woodland and Mopane glades, on soil that varies from patches of gravel/sand to patches of black-cotton soil. The lodge itself is high up, atop a hill named President Hill, as Chichele was the president’s private lodge in the Luangwa during KK’s reign. It’s got a great view!

It was owned by a company who completely rebuilt it, and also built its sister-camp, Puku Ridge, from scratch.
Chichele Presidential Lodge retained the colonial style while offering the utmost luxury experience. Accommodation at the lodge consisted of ten Victorian-style suites. Each elegantly decorated suite featured large French windows, air-conditioning, plush furnishings, a small siting area with cosy armchairs, and a comfortable four-poster bed dressed in white linens.

The large en-suite bathrooms featured a ball-and-claw roll-top bath as well as a separate shower cubicle, with twin washbasins set into a wooden top beneath wood-framed mirrors, and toilets with old-fashioned cisterns set up on the wall with a pull chain. The suites opened up onto a private terrace overlooking the valley and providing the ideal spot to relax and take in the beauty of nature and the sounds of the bush.

The property enjoys a magnificent hilltop location in the South Luangwa National Park. The park is a world-famous wildlife haven, centred around the Luangwa river.

This historic property had a magnificent arched entryway that lead into a spacious lounge area with plenty of inviting colonial furniture and a cosy fireplace and bar. Outside the grand dining room, a long veranda overlooked the valley to the Luangwa river.

Here’s a report on the re-opening in 2014 by the previous owners of the lodge from the Lusaka Times:

First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda says Tourism has the greatest potential to address poverty. Dr Kaunda says unlike mining; the tourism industry impacts directly on poverty reduction in rural communities by providing job opportunities. The former President said this at the re-opening of the Chichele Presidential lodge in Mfuwe on Wednesday.

He urged government, tourism board and traditional leaders to support sustainable conservation of wildlife by involving local people in tourism activities. Dr Kaunda said, the new owner of Chichele have the capacity to promote Zambian tourism through its global tourism network and Tourism Deputy Minister Vera Tembo said government is determined to promote Zambia as a major tourist destination.

Meanwhile, Eastern Province Minister, Isaac Banda said government has invested millions of dollars in tourism by constructing roads and airports. Tourism Board Chairman Timothy Mushibwe challenged the media to help promote Zambia as a tourist destination both locally and abroad.

He said the sanctuary will invest more at the lodge and other tourist spots in the country.

16th April 2014- Extract from chanters-livingstone.com