Hello there. I hope that you are fabulously well and are ready and raring for the week ahead. Here in the Luangwa, we are really experiencing some very strange weather… its been super-hot then overcast with some slight attempts of drizzle then clear and hot again so we are not entirely sure what is happening. The impala who are usually looking ready to pop don’t even look uncomfortably pregnant yet and we have had no sightings of piglets either, so we are all keeping our eyes peeled for our first sightings of babies. But besides all of this, over the last few weeks we have had a series of extraordinary sightings which I simply have to share.
Lets first beetle on down to Mkulumadzi in Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi where guests on a drive were shocked to see an unusual shape on the side of the road and stopping to investigate further, they watched mouths ajar as a Pangolin walked on its hind legs across the road in front of the car. Yes, you heard me right – a Pangolin! I can assure you this has got us all exceptionally envious.
Then back here in the Luangwa… on Jason’s last Mobile Walking Safari on the way back from Sundowners, guests had not 1, not 2 but 3 separate Aardvark sightings. And as if that was not enough, the very same guests even saw an aardvark during their time at Nkwali… so when they heard that they were really rather rare they sort of didn’t really believe us.
Up at Nsefu the guests didn’t have to go far at all these last few weeks with leopard drinking from the lagoon at camp on a couple of occasions whilst the guests have been having dinner and then the lions have been doing what lions do at this time of the year – hunting buffalo.
In one extraordinary sighting the guests were heading to the croc river crossing but stopped immediately in their tracks as total pandemonium unfolded in front of them and right there in one fail swoop the lions took down 2 buffalo. An incredible sighting that is for sure and one which also pretty much guaranteed either lion or hyena over the next few days for all the guests to enjoy.
Down at Nkwali, there have been some incredibly cute leopard cubs in the main area which a few of the guides have caught a glimpse of being very careful not to bump them. And on a few days off, Sarel went to see if he could catch a glimpse of them. So, leaving before the sun came up and any cars were around, he went on out to where he had heard that they were and was lucky to spend time alone with the little cuties and got these amazing images – needless to say, once again some extreme jealousy.
Then lastly from Tena Tena on the last few days of the season as a big group were just finishing off their breakfast on their last morning in camp, a pack of wild dogs appeared right in front of them chasing an impala and killing it right there and then. I mean what a glorious way to finish off the trip.
Needless to say, this crowns off this week’s Its Monday beautifully. So, on that note I shall bid you a very fond farewell and hope that you have a wonderful week ahead with plenty of smiles and laughter and don’t forget to look after one another.
