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After visiting Luangwa Wilderness Lodge many times a year since he was a young teenager, Bjoern Behlert has finally achieved a long-held ambition, and has taken over the management of the lodge, along with his girlfriend, Jessie Begg. Whilst the opportunity has come along a little earlier than might ever have been planned, Bjoern and Jessie both leapt at the chance to run our special camp in the unspoilt Luambe National Park.

Bjoern, is the son of Olaf and Claudia Behlert, and like them is a founding member of Conservation Luambe, a predominantly German-run NGO which has been working on conservation and community projects in the park since 1999. The NGO also runs Luangwa Wilderness Lodge.

Whilst this will be a first management post for Bjoern, he has been playing an active role at the lodge for many years and used this invaluable experience to help him through his recently achieved a B.Sc in Wildlife Conservation, which also included long-term postings at Chester Zoo (UK), with the WWF in Fiji, and on a project for Germany's Cologne Zoo in Vietnam. In the past five years, Bjoern has travelled extensively in Africa, combining his love of the continent and nature with his passions for adventure and driving his trusty Land Rover. He's recently travelled through Botswana and throughout Zambia.

Jessie Begg, recently graduated with an honours degree in business management and believes combining these skills with Bjoern's knowledge of Africa will ensure the successful running of the lodge.

They invite operators and agents to visit them in 2009. Meantime they'll be hard at work ensuring the camp is well prepared for the rains ahead and is in perfect condition to welcome your guests next season. They'll be keeping you up to date with their progress!

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