Well, hello there. I hope that you are marvelously well and ready for another exciting week ahead. Here at Nkwali Camp, South Luangwa we have had everything in camp from crocodiles on the edge of the lagoon, elephants squelching into the lagoon to take a lovely long drink of water and even 2 large male lions coming down one lunch time for a drink. The latter causing quite a hum of excitement for guests and staff as well as ensuring that everyone stayed put and there was no wandering between camp and the workshop as they lions sloped off to a nice shady spot somewhere close by but as the bush was so thick no one could see them, but we all knew they were there so absolutely no one was walking anywhere!!!
In terms of in the park activity, it has been nonstop, and Kiki was back out stretching his legs with some guests last week who were so happy just being in the bush. The incredibly compliant weather allowed them to take a very short in distance but long in time wander through the bush looking at all the trees and flowers. On one such walk though; things took a slight turn for the sad but interesting. In the distance was a giraffe who was obviously in distress. Getting closer they found that she was trying to give birth but sadly the baby was still born halfway out, and they have no idea how long she had been struggling for, but it must have been quite some time as she was exhausted. The question then comes, what to do.
A quick call to the wonderful Conservation South Luangwa vet and he advised that they had helped in such a situation once before and in all honesty chances for the mum’s survival were 50/50 but it seemed better odds than leaving her to what could only be a terrible demise. So, the team came out and leapt into action. The anaesthetising of a giraffe is something that is incredibly difficult, and everyone needs to work very very quickly. She was darted and soon the team were there with ropes getting her to the ground. As soon as they had her down, they then needed to remove the baby. Incredible as it sounds this is not something that could be done by hand, they had to tie a rope around the body and tie the rope to the car and in 4WD slowly pull the last half out. With vultures already circling the baby was taken off to the side and the anaesthetic was reversed and the female giraffe was up and about in no time, obviously sore and distressed but alive. A rather gruesome tale but one that had a pretty good outcome considering the alternative. Whilst we can argue that we shouldn’t be interfering with nature there are occasions that just seem too brutal to dismiss when we are able to do something to help save a life.
In other tales from the bush, well just in the nick of time for our last week of River Journeys the river and is gloriously high which also means we have been able to explore gullies and flood plains that we wouldn’t usually get to this time of the year.
Up at Nsefu the high water means that the guests have been able to access the stork colony to enjoy the incredible sight of the hundreds of yellow billed storks building their nests. The lions have been heard roaring but not yet glimpsed and the elephants are squelching around in the thick black cotton soil making enormous holes in what we later in the season need to turn into a road!
Other than that, there have been copious amounts of wild dog sightings and the guests have also been treated to a few sightings of a lioness with cubs this past week. Sticking their heads out of the green bush the little bundles have been such a pleasure to watch but after a very wet weekend they seem to have retreated into some nice thick bush, so we wait to see them again soon once things dry out again.
So, there you have it for this week. Next week hopefully an update from Daudi and his team as Luangwa River Camp opens its doors for the season and we look forward to hearing all about how things are going over there. So, between now and then I shall bid you a very fond farewell and hope that you have the most marvellous week ahead with plenty of smiles and laughter and don’t forget to look after one another.
