Well hello there. I hope that you are well and are ready and raring for an exciting week ahead. Can you believe that suddenly after a quick blink of the eye it’s mid-September and we are now down to the last few weeks of our Mobile Walking Safaris. Seems that it has gone far too quickly so I felt that we needed another little update from the team up there.
As you may be aware the rains in the Luangwa were pretty poor this year and the inland lagoons have mostly dried up and the Luangwa River is exceptionally low for this time of the year. The same goes for the Mupamadzi River which has now stopped flowing in some areas and it looks like there will be small pools developing which will become hot spots for animals to come through to drink. This also means the predators will have a field day as they can just be super lazy and camp out waiting for an opportunity to present itself.
Jason’s last trip was a perfect example of this with a pride of lion just chilling on the plains in front of camp 4. It was more a case of wanting to get past them to carry on with the walk than anything else as they were kind of doing what lions do best during the day and then certainly making their presence known at night.
The common toads are calling incessantly which usually doesn’t start until much later on in the season primarily when humidity levels start to rise. This year, they have got to it early and there are even tadpoles in some of the pools. It’s all a little topsy turvy but we are not complaining as lots of fab sightings as a result.
The wildebeest have really started coming down from the hills and heading towards the river and a wonderful herd of 20 plus roan antelope on lundu plain have been spotted a few times. Elephants around camps 2 and 3 are simply gorging themselves on the pods that are falling from the trees there whereas the group of big bulls just seem to be very happy keeping a little distance in the camp 4 area minding their own business.
Mobile Walking Safaris are usually a 5-night affair however a few years back we introduced a 7-night option which usually crops up twice a season and this involves a pretty special sleep out night. Walking a little further afield to be met by a reduced version of the team who have set up star tents for you in an open plain area up on a slight ridge with a 360 degree view and spending a night camping in a dome tent with only shade net so you have the most incredible view of the stars as you lie in bed. This camp out experience is not necessarily about the wildlife but the absolute peace and quiet and views of the stars as let’s face it in this day and age there are very few places where you can be completely away from habitation and the noise and light pollution that comes along with it.
So, on that romantic and starry note, I feel that that is the perfect end to this week’s Its Monday. I shall bid you a very very fond farewell and hope that you have a fabulous week ahead with lots of smiles and laughter and don’t forget to look after one another.
