Shiwa Safaris was the first operator to take safaris into North Luangwa, a National Park which was predominantly established as a scientific game control site for South Luangwa. 

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It all began in 1979, when John Harvey traveled with young Mark into the Luangwa Valley. In this period over a thousand elephants were being slaughtered each year. In fact, while driving the 17km long route they encountered 34 dead carcasses, all stripped of their tusks, highlighting the extent of the poaching.

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John himself was a gazetted Honorary Wildlife Ranger, responsible for preventing human - animal conflicts. He was deeply influenced by what he had seen in Luangwa and took it upon himself to organize anti-poaching patrols. The locals would call these patrols 'Johny's army' and today are known as the village scouts. John spent most of his own money looking after North Luangwa. As a thank you gesture, the park authorities permitted him to organize and run safaris in the park.

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By 1980, John and Lorna Harvey had turned their weekend cottage into a small lodge known as Kapishya Hot Springs. Here would also become head quarters for operating Buffalo Camp - an authentic seasonal camp in the heart of Luangwa Valley. They kept running both until their untimely death in 1992.