Well, hello there. I hope that you are fabulously well and have had a lovely weekend. Here in the Luangwa as we are plunged into winter all of us who are slightly wimpier can be seen donning big heavy fleeces and hats or as they are known here ‘head socks’ whilst everyone looks on at us like we are slightly strange. But then as the game drive begins everyone is very aware of just how cold the morning breeze can be.
That however has certainly not stopped the animals and even if the impala are slightly more puffed up in the morning than how we are accustomed to seeing them and the baboons are hugging the patches of early morning sunlight the activity is not slowing down.
Where do I begin…??
How about showing off to the guests just as they arrive! Something that has happened on a few occasions at both Nkwali and Luangwa River Camp as both have been fortunate on several occasions in this last week to be able to nonchalantly pass the lions on the transfer from the airport to camp. Show offs!!
Up at Tena Tena there is a new male leopard on the block who has been seen in pursuit of a local female (watch here). And the lion that has been keeping everyone awake at night has finally been spotted as he got a little frustrated with some hyena trying to steal his dinner and kept on chasing them away. The team have been making the most of the lovely cool days and on more days than not the guests have been out all-day taking morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea with them and exploring further afield than on a usual morning or afternoon game drive.
There have been so many buffalo scattered in the back country as well as zebra and giraffe, its just been a super big treat for everyone and also finally some elephants. Let us not also forget the birds and the magnificent array of raptors that patrol the skies. A beautiful juvenile Martial Eagle is often being spotted as well as some resident Bateleurs and Fish Eagles. The smaller birds are also just as glorious, and the Paradise Wydahs are still in breeding plumage with the males supporting their rather long tail feathers and competing for the attentions of the sadly slightly less noticeable females.
In a slight change Luangwa Safari House has had a quiet week and not ones to kick back and put our feet up, we took the opportunity to dig a super big hole in the ground and dragged the container hide into position (watch here). All the while with the elephants watching. The guests are now able to sneak into the hide and be at elephant toe height with these magnificent animals as they come in for a drink. With a lot of the inland lagoons already pretty low we are hopeful that it will become quite a hotspot.
Other than that well the big truck is up on the Mupamadzi getting the roads and the camps cleared and open ready for a very busy Mobile Walking Safaris season ahead. Word that we receive from the team is that its still pretty wet up there so we look forward to going up there and exploring soon. Before that though the team needs to come in and we have to embark on getting the entire camp unpacked, cleaned, aired, counted, restocked and ready to go.
So, there we have it for this week, as you can see lots and lots happening so I must run. But don’t worry, I will be back next week with more tales from the bush. Between now and then have a fantastic week ahead with plenty of smiles and laughter and don’t forget to look after one another.
