Well, hello there! I do hope that you are fabulously well and have had a great weekend. Here in the Luangwa, it has been nonstop with lions walking through both Nkwali and Nsefu at night making sure that the watchmen were kept on their toes as well as making the occasional deep bellow which certainly woke everyone up. The wild dogs have also been constant at Nsefu and Tena Tena as well as at Nkwali, but it’s the honey badgers this week that really stole the show.
Before we get into details of that, we have some exciting news to share. Tena Tena has received a nomination for Zambia’s Leading Tented Safari Camp, in the World Travel Awards! Please vote for us by registering here (please verify your email for your vote to count), select Africa, then select Zambia to find our category. Thank you for your vote!
On his first game drive of the season Jason leapt into the game viewer with his guests, excited but also filled with a certain amount of trepidation. However, he has not lost his magic knowledge of the bush and soon slipped into the rhythm of the game drive with the guests being inundated with an abundance of information and Jasonisms! The first drive found a pair of honey badgers which are unusual enough on their own, and then combined with a somewhat foolhardy leopard who decided to give them a challenge. Well… the honey badgers were simply having none of it, and the leopard went running off into the bush feeling slightly embarrassed.
Up at Mobile Walking, the sightings continued but it is of course a very different experience up there. One morning as the mist rose over the Mupamadzi River and the baboons started barking, the temptation to remove socks and shoes was too great… so, off everyone went in search of what was happening. Then in the far distance, a pack of wild dogs hunting. What a sight! But as many will know, when dogs hunt, they move at such a pace there is no keeping up with them, but an exhilarating start to the day all the same.
In other news, Nkwali bar has been the place to hang out this week. We have had all sorts of sightings from the deck. The sightings have been incredible including crowned eagle flying high in the sky with its enormous wingspan drowning out any other bird of prey that we have here in terms of size. Down on the ground we have had lions crossing the island in front of camp, wild dogs chasing puku into the river and leopard warming up in the first rays of sun as they hit the riverbank. And lastly, in the water, mating hippo – not something I have ever seen and must admit I am not sure would want to but quite a sighting all the same.
And lastly a little update from a wonderful group that just took over Luangwa River Camp for a few days.
“It was the second visit to Zambia with Robin Pope Safaris. This time we were a group of 10, which filled this amazing Camp! Daudi, John, Kim and the rest of the Team fulfilled this fun-loving Canadian group with an experience we will never forget!
Lots of babies, including baby elephants, hippos, zebra, and giraffe delighted us! We witnessed fighting between giraffe, elephant, and impala. The abundance of hippo and crocodile made for exciting River crossings to and from the Camp, both morning and evenings. We felt so lucky to see leopard on two night drives!
All of the group were, shall I say “over the moon” with the fabulous food and service, whether prepared over the campfire, in the bush or within this beautiful property, all so delicious!
I for one can’t wait to return! With thanks, Jane Purdie.”
Perfect! Thanks so much Jane for sharing with us and we are so pleased you and your group enjoyed your stay and cannot wait to welcome you all back again sometime soon. And on what better note could I possibly end this week’s newsletter? So, I shall bid you a very fond farewell with plenty of smiles and laughter and don’t forget to look after one another.
