Hello there. I do hope that you are splendidly well after another lovely weekend. Here in the Luangwa as the bug life blossoms along with the humidity and the incredible green, we are all good. Well, except for the rather ironic tune of “Frosty the Snowman” which Jack is furiously practicing at home for the school play simply on repeat in my brain!
The river has scooted up and scooted down, the Kawaluzi has done the same. The clouds have built and dumped their rain and then the sun has come out. And with each time this happens the flowers bloom then wilt while they wait for the next rain. Some foam nest frogs have been rather ambitious and already built their nests over puddles which appeared and are starting to dry out, so we hope that they fill up again before it’s too late. The red chested cuckoos and woodland kingfishers are in full song reminding us that it is the rainy season as we wait for our first really big storm. And this year there seems to be the most incredible hatching of cicadas and in some areas the noise is almost intolerable.
Driving along the road up to Nsefu Camp last week turned into a game of dodge the dung beetle as there seemed to be an insane amount of them rolling their precious dung balls across the road (watch this clip). Once we made it into the Park, we enjoyed seeing the usually parched and brown Mtanda Plain with the beginnings of grass peeking through as well as some zebra trotting across the broken soil.
Crossing into the park and eyes peeled we seemed to see giraffe everywhere we looked, as they just magically appear and then once you see one suddenly there are more that you hadn’t noticed before.
The entire area has transformed completely, with elephants relaxed and spread out, the occasional hippo making the most of a big muddy puddle but getting a little upset at the car bumbling past and making off into some thicker bush. Not to mention the warthogs who are also enormous fans of a puddle.
The birdlife should never be overlooked as they never disappoint and after spending time with a glorious Bateleur and later a Martial Eagle swooping past we then with much excitement had a fleeting glimpse of a Narina Trogan. All ears and eyes are peeled for the first sighting of an Angola Pitta but so far none yet this season.
Down at Nkwali Camp well the sightings continue, and our nightly leopard visitor is finding it harder to sneak through without leaving her tracks in the soft earth. And in the evening when the lights are on all the bugs gather and the bush babies leap down and start feasting. Then during the day much to the frustration of the groundsmen the baboons and monkeys come and dig up all the remnants from around the lights making a right mess of the paths.
Other than that, you will need to wait for next week for more updates from me as time has run away with me. So, I shall bid you a very fond farewell for this week and hope that you have a fabulous week ahead with plenty of smiles and laughter and don’t forget to look after one another.
