Well, hello there. I hope that you have had a wonderful weekend with lots of exciting happenings. This week here in the Luangwa it’s all about getting our team up to the Mupumadzi to start the Mobile Walking Safaris’ season and we are super excited about the season ahead. Alfred the chef is also super excited about his modified kitchen. However, I shall hold fire on all updates on that front for now… lets get the first couple of trips under our belt first and then we will give you a full run down of happenings up there. In the meantime, we are scooting over to Malawi with news from Kuthengo Camp, of their new status quo of rising and falling water levels! Mike and Jenn, over to you:
“It’s Monday and it has been a busy couple of weeks here in camp. It has been very interesting watching the Shire River drop and rise daily. This has been the highest the river has been in Malawi’s history and with that being said, we have some new challenges that we did not have to face last year, nevertheless, it has been a fun time. Here is what has been happening…at Kuthengo Camp!!!
Planning and re-construction of tent 3 is in full swing after its flooding damage. We have decided to lift the tent frame without having to move the whole structure. So we have the team fully engaged in cutting pipes, cementing new underwater support beams and lifting the tent roof. Not only do we have to do work on the tent, but we have also had to implement a new septic tank system made from a water container. With the water table being so high, we have found that no matter where in camp we dig, we will find ground water 40cm down. It has been great to see the whole team, from the chefs in the kitchen to the guides, helping out and getting tent 3 back on its feet.
It has truly been magical with the water in camp, now that we have it under control, all the tents are islands, floating above the water’s surface and emersed in nature even more with the hippos, elephants and kingfishers right off the decks swimming and playing in the river.
The highlight of course is getting out into the park with guests and seeing the beautiful wildlife that Liwonde has to offer. Our guests were barely out of the camp the other day when they came across this young male lion lazing about. Cheetahs have also been sighted on a couple of game drives along with the usual suspects: kudu, impala, waterbuck etc.
We have had a lot of fun out in the park, and even our chefs Dickson and Luka got to join in, cooking up a storm for breakfast, in the middle of the Liwonde wilderness.
We look so forward to welcoming you to Kuthengo. Until next time…”
Fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing with us Mike & Jenn. It sounds like from the slight chaos of the water levels has come a wonderful magical change to camp. Well done for making so many adaptations.
Here in the Luangwa though, no such rising of water, just the dropping of the Luangwa River levels. The bush remains incredibly thick and the guys up at Tena Tena have really had their work cut out for them finding the animals but that being said spotting a huge python in the undergrowth as well as Leopard killing a baboon in a tree and mating leopard all in the first week, I would say was a pretty good start to the season. I certainly cannot wait to hear what the season ahead has to bring. For now, it’s that time of the day for me to bid you a very fond farewell and look forward to updating you with more news next week. So, between now and then have a fabulous week with plenty of smiles and laughter and don’t forget to look after one another.
