Echoes of Nature: A Musical Journey in Upemba National Park

A digest with Joseph Kalume

Surrounded by wildlife, whispering winds, rustling leaves, and flowing rivers, the Upemba landscape offers more than just scenic beauty – it sings.

My name is Joseph Kalume, and I work as an Administrative Assistant with Forgotten Parks ASBL, contributing to biodiversity conservation in Upemba National Park. But beyond my professional role, I’m also a passionate music enthusiast – a beginner pianist and violinist.

From a young age, I was drawn to instruments. I received my first toy piano as a child and later joined the church choir, where I began learning music and the keyboard. In adulthood, I discovered the violin and have been playing since 2018 – learning part-time while balancing studies and now work.

When I arrived at Upemba on May 15, 2023, I was immediately struck by the park’s natural beauty and soundscape. Each morning, I was greeted by a unique orchestra of birdsong, rustling grasses, and distant animal calls. This harmony of wild sounds felt like a living symphony – so much so that I picked up my violin once again.

At first, I simply practiced exercises. But soon, I found myself drawn to quiet corners of the park, near the abandoned house or the tents with panoramic views, where I could play and record familiar pieces, inspired by the rhythms of nature. Interestingly, scientists have begun to study these very soundscapes through a field called ecoacoustics – which explores how natural sounds support the life and survival of species.

Whether it’s the mating calls of frogs, the communication of elephants, or the duels between predators and prey, every note in nature has a function. These studies are helping us understand and protect ecosystems in new ways.

Playing music in Upemba has deepened my appreciation for these sonic connections. It’s a reminder that we are not just observers of nature – but participants in its ongoing symphony.