As we walked the tarmac from our last plane to the airport, each of us buzzing with equal part excitement and nervousness, we entered the airport and were somewhat dumbfounded as the huge group of people we were told would be waiting for us…were not.

A few phone calls later and we found ourselves out the front of the airport in the warm evening air just as the sun began to set.

“It’s a test!” one of us proclaimed, one of Emma’s famous tests to prove we are prepared for anything and ready. It was gradually sounding more and more convincing when we heard it. As the lights of the vehicle came into view and the sound became clearer, what we had thought was a riot was in fact Emma, along with a whole truck load, a literal truckload, the tray all kitted out with seats, filled with singing people. As they pulled up, our jaws still on the ground, the group of people, which we then realised were the conservation club students, flooded out of the truck and we were instantly greeted by a wave of unfamiliar shadowy figures. From out of the night they came with hugs, handshakes and what seemed like an endless stream of introductions and names. It was all so overwhelming, we didn’t know what to do with ourselves, especially after flying for a total of around 22 hours.

After a short introduction, where the most fantastic banner was produced, welcoming us to Zambia, with the intro involving more singing, dancing and I do believe backflips, we were all piled into the back of the truck for our drive back to the Chipembele offices. Let me just say this, there is close to nothing in this world that could have prepared me for what was to come. For the entire 30 minute drive back to the offices, each and every one of the students wholeheartedly chanted and danced in the back of this truck. The level of excitement never dropped. The chants were mostly in Nyanja, their local language, but we quickly learnt that when our names were said within a certain chant, that it was our time to dance. And boy did we dance. Surrounded by warm, amazing, smiling people, with a level of enthusiasm that I don’t believe I will ever see topped, we danced all the way to the offices.

Although we were, and I’ll be honest, pretty terrified to begin with, we quickly began to know these wonderous people as friend and family. The warmth in their hearts and in their smiles, as well as their enthusiasm for conservation and their love of a good ol’ performance will never leave me, till the day I die.

Paul (MATZ Member)