Tikondane Community Centre

Zambia


This grassroots initiative does wonderful work in assisting to empower local communities. It's a great place to hang around and help out as a volunteer. Otherwise you can spend the night at its Tiko Lodge, which offers camping, dorms and basic rooms in various configurations. The food here is another reason to stop by, with intriguing local dishes on offer.

The centre, set up by its passionate and committed director Elke-Kroeger Radcliffe, runs a number of initiatives, but its main focus is on adult and child education, sustainable agricultural and training of home-based carers for AIDS victims.

It's located on the main road 4km from Katete, next to St Francis Hospital. Katete is just south of the Great East Rd some 80km west from Chipata and 500km from Lusaka. Of the buses and minibuses that ply this well-travelled stretch of highway, Johabie is probably the best bet to get to Lusaka (ZMW160, 6½ hours) or Chipata (ZMW35, 1½ hours). For Mfuwe (ZMW90, four hours) you can flag down the Jonda bus that departs Lusaka at 5.30am, arriving in Katete 'around' 11am.