On the northern banks of the Zambezi River, a landlocked country is all too familiar with the threat of poaching. Zambia's wildlife has suffered greatly in past years, especially from the use of decoys, but thanks to the concerted efforts of local organizations such as Mulberry Mongoose, you are now more likely to spot beauty than savagery in Zambia's national parks.
At Intrepid, we firmly believe that wild animals should be seen doing what they do best: living in the wild. That's why we all have it Wildlife themed excursions Giving travelers an opportunity to contribute to conservation and local communities that protect wildlife. And if you travel to South Luangwa in eastern Zambia, you will be able to spend an unforgettable afternoon with artisans in Raspberry ferretA workshop that transforms traps set by hunters into beautiful pieces of jewelry inspired by the African landscape.
Founded in 2013 by British expat Kate Wilson, Mulberry Mongoose was born out of the belief that in order to feel good, everyone - including animals - must benefit. The work helps fund anti-poaching initiatives, provides employment for local Zambians and grants to those traveling through the eastern region Africa An opportunity to buy a souvenir that not only looks good, but is also good.
“Boobs are a huge problem and the biggest killer of our famous wildlife,” says Kate, “and you really have all this barbed wire stockpiled all over Zambia, across Africa, really. It's a liability because it can get stolen and reused, so the idea of repurposing something like this was important.” Really. It's also hard to turn barbed wire into jewelry, but rural Zambians have incredible ingenuity and ingenuity with their hands. The work plays with and celebrates their strengths."
She mentions Kate Grace, one of ten artisans currently employed by the Mulberry Mongoose Company, as an example of the impact the company has had. "she [Grace] She has 12 people in her house and is the only one on a salary. She came to me six years ago in need of a job and we were very touched by her. Back then we used to use men to turn our pottery wire into beads because it's really hard and you need a lot of strength, but men came and went because they often found work elsewhere. Grace told us that if she could turn wire into beads, we could hire her, so she walked in every day, with blisters on her hands, until she found out. Her perseverance was extraordinary. She pushed to make it work and is now one of our top jewelers. I also came up with one of our slogans: There is no sweet without sweat.
By turning something ugly into something people want, Mulberry Mongoose has already raised $130,000 for wildlife conservation. "The ferret survives in the bush by taking care of each other and we are the same," says Kate. “We add value on so many levels, whether it's donations to conservation, rural employment or encouraging people to buy from local artisans. And berries, it's in our name because we make something beautiful and provide great service. We don't compromise on quality because we're so far away and our team comes from rural Zambia It's a beautiful workshop and we focus on providing really great service to our customers.”
The team at Mulberry Mongoose prides itself on being a less ordinary shop. Kate says it's like a creative oasis and travelers will be greeted with the best smiles in the business. "You'll get a full tour and learn what decoy wire is, and then you'll have the chance to work with the wire yourself by hammering it on the anvil. The team likes to show travelers that and their warmth and energy in tangible form. There's an odd blackout, given the remote location, but other than However, visiting here is a truly special experience.”
Visit Mulberry Mongoose at Intrepid's Vic Falls trip to Stone Townor reverse itinerary, Stone Town to Vic Falls.
And if you like the work Mulberry Mongoose does but you won't have the chance to visit Zambia anytime soon? Their jewelry can be shipped worldwide, which means you can share the story of rangers, artisans, and wildlife wherever you are, and best of all, look cool while doing it.
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