It is now the middle of the peak season and the camp is full almost every night, about 30 – 38 guests in camp. It is our job to welcome them into camp, show them around the camp along with the wildlife safety talk and show them into their accommodation. We both work long hours anywhere from 5am start through to 4pm and then a quick break from 4-7pm and back up for dinner and then meet all the game drives back at 8pm. We then stay till the last guest goes to bed around 930pm on average. It is exhausting some days though in the words of Ade when we applied for this job “it is long hours though rewarding” well Ade you summarised it perfectly. The highlight and surprise Jamie and I receive is from our guests; learning about where they live, what they do for work, hearing about their travels and comparing life stories and so many generous invites to come and stay with them in the future including Miama!
This fun family who insured the wildlife would not see them in the bush
We consistently have the most appreciative and well mannered guests and they openly appreciate our commitment to exceeding their expectation of their stay with us at Flatdogs including their wildlife experiences in the South Luangwa National Park, surrounding villages and local charity organisations including CSL, Chipembele and Project Luangwa.
I love escorting the village visits and Jamie loves meeting the guests upon arrival and doing the show ins so we have both found our niche (don’t worry that’s not all we do!). The famous “just one more question” is the most common line Jamie and I hear from our guests though I assure you they always have one more…which of course we don’t mind.
Victor, Baldwyn and Ben who keeps the show the on road
How do we remember 38 guest names that on average stay between 3 – 5 nights? Jess loves to test us when meeting safaris though we carry a secret piece of paper around and I’m always associating them with people we know in the past and they say it keeps our dementia away!
Thanks to 76 Flatdogs staff which include 10 nightwatchmen, 11 chefs, 3 talented workshop boys, 6 housekeeping ladies, 2 world famous receptionists, 4 in the management team, 12 guides and spotters and the various other gardeners, butlers from Crocs Nest and Treehouse and more…..our guests have the ultimate stay which we acknowledge is a reflection of the great management from Ade the BIG BOSS of the camp.
Ngalande and his team of chefs June 2016
In the words of our guests the camp is relaxing, has the best food ever, the wildlife is amazing and the management team ensures they all have the best safari ever. Jamie and I are so proud to be part of the Flatdogs hard working team.