Friday, August 11, 2017
Lucky birds
During the breeding season, Carmine Bee-eaters live in huge breeding colonies, and form smaller flocks when the season ends. One colony in Zimbabwe contained approximately 1 500 Carmine Bee-eaters, according to documented research.
Colonies on flat ground can contain up to 10 000 nests.
The birds emerge from their nesting holes after dawn and perch nearby, preening in the morning sun before flying out to feeding areas.
Bush bar
We've never been treated to a bar in the bush like this though.
In the middle of nowhere a full bar had been set up - with a glass of bubbly to start off with.
Sheer bliss!
Luwi bush camp
Luwi Bush Camp overlooks a large lagoon offering an abundance of hippo and crocodile. This permanent water source attracts wildlife from all over the South Luangwa National park and offers superb game viewing.
Luwi Camp epitomizes the legacy of Norman Carr. The camp barely has an impact on the environment being built with natural materials and dismantled at the end of each season.
Tena Tena
Our tent was at the far end of the camp, the last before you are into the bush.
We had a lovely dinner one evening in the middle of the camp, a lively and "liquid" affair swapping stories and laughing with our new friends from Germany and Hull.
When we walked back at 10pm to our tent, there were fresh Leopard tracks in the sand outside!
Red spells danger
The guides use a red filter on the spotlight so the lights don't interrupt the hunt. The cardinal sin is to interfere, giving either the hunter or prey an advantage.
The animals can't see the red light so for them it is dark as usual., but for the camera a striking image earie in its colour cast.
I'm watching you!
Baboons are very inquisitive creatures and will stare at you intently given half a chance.
As a fellow traveller from Hull in the UK found out they can also be quite defensive.
He had been stood under a tree in which there was a pack of Baboons getting his photograph taken. He said the first he felt was something hitting his hat then, as he looked at the poop that had just hit it, another dollop landed on his arm. The smell was horrendous apparently!
Who pays the Ferryman?
Crowned Cranes
These cranes are omnivores, eating plants, seeds, grain, insects, frogs, worms, snakes, small fish and the eggs of aquatic animals. Stamping their feet as they walk, they flush out insects which are quickly caught and eaten.
Sunset in South Luangwa
Lion eating
He went for a drink and we drove down to see where he went back to.
It turned out to be two brothers eating a baby hippo. Sadly the one pictured looked pretty old and his teeth were broken meaning he was licking the carcass rather than biting pieces off.
Gennet at night
This Gennet was taken using only the light from the tracker's spotlight.
Lilian's Lovebirds
Their colours are incredible painting the drab brown of the bush with flashes of bright green and red.
Leopard in a tree - but this is no pussy cat
This plant is an epiphyte, which means that the whole plant, roots and all, grow above ground, attached to the branches of trees. The roots, which anchor the plant to the tree, are specially adapted to absorb water and nutrients very quickly.
Wild Dogs come to say hello
Here we saw a pack of around 20 dogs hunting, running through the bush trying to find breakfast.
South Luangwa - Heaven on Earth and home from home
This huge area of more than 9000 square kilometers, known for its abundant wildlife, is simply referred to as "The Valley" by those in the know. Inside the Mfuwe Gate entrance, the river is often crowded with hippos. The woodland savannah is home to hundreds of bird species and herds of elephants and rare Thornicroft’s giraffes.
This trip started out with a few days at Flat Dogs, a camp just outside the park, but perfect for trips into the Southern area. It's a really friendly camp with some wonderful guides who we know from previous trips to the valley.
From there we went North to a bush camp called Tena Tena, a wonderful tented camp on the banks of the Luangwa River owned by the Robin Pope safari company. Here we met safari enthusiasts from Australia, Germany and Hull and had some amazing bush experiences.
After Tena Tena we crossed over to the Western bank of the River and went deeper into the park to stay at Luwi and Kakuli, two bush camps run by Norman Carr Safaris. Truly fabulous places to stay for the full on African experience.
We've been to all of these camps before and this was our fifth or sixth trip to the Valley. It really is starting to become a home from home.
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