Well hello there. I do hope that you are fabulously well and have had a wonderful weekend. As I write from the Luangwa, I can hear some distant rumbles of thunder in the distance, we hope that the dry is coming to an end. For this week we are going to hear from regular guests Chris and Vaughan Williams who have recently spent several weeks with us in the driest Luangwa that any of us can remember.
Chris and Vaughan over to you:
“Returning to the Luangwa is always a joy. Meeting old friends and making new ones. We have been in the Valley during the wet, the middle of the year and now during what has been described as the driest season seen.
As a result, we saw more buffalo in herds than ever seen before. One group about 350 strong down at the river, while out at the springs a herd we estimated at around 600. The three lions at the springs looked and realised they were well outnumbered.
We were also privileged to be at the buffalo kill reported recently. A quite surreal moment. We described it as something out of National Geographic.
However no more surreal than watching as about 8 guinea fowl chased a genet! The genet kept looking back but was surprised to see the fowls still chasing with murder in their eyes. Another interesting sighting was two monitor lizards courting. Licking, nuzzling one another but he obviously didn’t provide enough chocolates to finish the business.
The most amusing came at sundowners as we watched a pod of hippos, solidly stuck together when there was a degree of thrashing about only to see a crocodile caught in the middle and racing across the back of several hippos to escape. Not quick enough with the camera the best shot was just the tail amongst a sea of hippo backs.
The closeness of the hippos was beginning to have an effect and scuffles along with full on fights began to break out in the river.
The dry obviously had an effect on the fishing parties as well. Normally seen in the lagoons, on this occasion it was in the river. We have never seen the number of Marabou storks as we saw in the river, fishing, squabbling and fighting off the fish eagles for some of the biggest fish we have seen.
Despite how low the river was the baboons were taking no chances as they crossed what was left of the river at Nsefu. Contemplating, then leaping wildly in an attempt to cover the distance to the other bank.
The final rare sighting was two side striped jackal, unfortunately dark and therefore no suitable photos.
Another wonderful trip to our favourite place in the world and look further to future trips.”
Wow, what a wonderful bunch of sightings! Thank you so much Chris & Vaughan for sharing with us and we so look forward to your next visit.
For now, though my job is done and all that is left is for me to say have a fabulous week ahead with lots of smiles and laughter and don’t forget to look after one another.
