Back in 1998 when Steve and Anna first arrived in Zambia they were fortunate enough to be given some land by the late Chief Kakumbi on which to build the Centre. They established a Zambian charitable trust and used all their personal savings to finance it. Chipembele Wildlife Education Centre opened in May 2001.

In 2005 a charity was established in the UK called Chipembele Trust which helps raise funds for the running of the Centre and supports the other Chipembele projects, particularly the improvement of local schools and pupil sponsorship.

About Steve and Anna Tolan - Trust Directors

Steve and Anna Tolan were married in 1983 and lived in Oxford, England until they emigrated in 1998.

Before moving to Zambia they were both Police Officers with the Thames Valley Police but in their private lives Africa was their passion. They went on African safaris, bought old African tribal artifacts, read African wildlife and travel books and watched and recorded every African wildlife video that appeared on the television.

Their video collection amounted to over 300 hours of African wildlife and is now used to show the children during their day at the Centre. Their book collection (a mixture of modern and antiquarian) went to form the basis of the impressive Africana library.

Steve retired from the Police in 1998 after 27 years service and Anna resigned after 17 years service. Steve's Police pension is used to help run the Centre and other Chipembele projects as well to support his and Anna's living costs.

Steve is now actively involved in anti-poaching work in the area working with both the Zambian Wildlife Authority and the South Luangwa Conservation Society (SLCS). He is an Honorary Wildlife Police Officer and an Honorary Forestry Officer. Chipembele holds a seat on the Board of Trustees of SLCS and Anna is Secretary. Steve and Anna are also Consular Wardens for the British High Commission.

Anna has a B.Sc. in Environmental Science from the 1970s and is pleased to be at long last able to put her life long interest to good use. She has developed her interest in and love of animals by rearing orphaned wild animals that are brought to her from all over the area. She runs a Pupil Sponsorship Scheme for orphaned and otherwise vulnerable children who are unable to find the fees and uniform necessary to attend school. She has also managed a large number of school improvement projects using donated funds.

Together Steve and Anna have also developed a new interest… discovering fossils, old pottery, stone tools etc. They have made a number of important finds in the area.

The Luangwa Valley is their permanent home and all the projects they now run have become an integral part of their lives.