I’ve been running art safaris for a number of years now, leading or co-leading trips to Zambia, Borneo and India. Next year I’m returning to South Luangwa National Park for a Zambia Sculpture Safari running 16-25 November 2019.
As with my previous art safaris, my 2019 Zambia Sculpture Safari will be run through Wildlife Worldwide, a highly regarded tour operator which has been running wildlife holidays all over the world for more than 25 years. They specialise in small group holidays with like-minded wildlife enthusiasts.
South Luangwa is one of Africa’s finest national parks and offers incredible wildlife viewing, including leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, hippo and wild dog. This trip combines early morning and late afternoon game derives with animal sculpture workshops, providing demonstrations, tutorials and plenty of practical advice.
Our Zambia Sculpture Safari will be based at the award-winning Mfuwe Lodge, situated just five minutes’ drive from the park main gate. At the lodge you can lounge on the open deck or take a dip in the pool overlooking the lagoons visited by giraffe, buffalo, antelope and crocodile. There is even a family of elephants, led by their matriarch Wonky Tusk, which regularly walks through the reception area to feed on wild mango trees in the grounds.
Animal sculpture inspires a new appreciation of wildlife, as it relies on careful observation and interpretation of the animals and their behaviour in the wild. Joining an extended workshop like this allows you to immerse yourself in your art and really develop your skills. I never fail to be impressed by the quality of the work our clients are able to produce.
No prior experience is required. Modelling tools and locally sourced Zambian clay will be provided for your use during the workshop. And, of course, I will be on hand throughout, with the support of our expert local guides, to ensure you get the most from the game drives, help you develop your observational skills and translate your experiences into clay.
During our stay in the South Luangwa, we will visit some of the local artists in Mfuwe to get a better understanding of the art being created in this part of Zambia. We will get to visit Tribal Textiles and enjoy a tour of their workshop before we head over to Mulberry Mongoose Jewellery where they use local materials, such as snare wire, in their unique and intricate work. Lastly, we make time to visit the craft shop at Project Luangwa and the aim of these visits is not just to see the fantastic local art, but also to find some more inspiration.
For full details and booking information please visit the Wildlife Worldwide website. You can also read on my blog about the safari experience, my 2017 Borneo Art Safari, my 2016 India Art Safari and my last Zambia Art Safari.