Views of Three Rivers Bush Camp

Cute Chameleon

This little fella had no problem whatsoever with climbing onto the hand of our guide during a night drive.

More to the point our guide had no problem with the Chameleon which is an animal rich in folklore and shunned by many in Africa.

Perhaps because it is predominantly seen at night, perhaps because of its ability to change colour the Chameleon is surrounded by myths and folktales many of which present it as an evil spirit.

Not a great deal of evil in this little one I suggest.

Safari silhouette

Sundowners overlooking the Luangwa River

Lazy evening Leopard

The classic image of Leopard is a cat dangling over a tree branch. Here we were lucky to find a Leopard near Three Rivers Camp who was one of the most photogenic we've ever come across - so placid and relaxed.

Across the river

A quick ferry they said.

Nothing to worry about they said.


And they were right - but only after a protective mother Hippo had been scared off.

From Three Rivers we crossed the Luangwa to take a bush walk.

Pel's Fishing Owl

Not the best photograph I'll be the first to admit, but included in the blog as this was a first sighting for us of Pel's Fishing Owl.

The Pel's Fishing Owl is the second largest owl in Africa. It feeds almost exclusively on fish and lives in dense forests near rivers. They are shy and are therefore seldom seen, so seeing one is always a thrilling event.

The Pel's Fishing Owl for many birders (we are not particularly birders by the way) is like the Holy Grail and it appears on many birding enthusiasts "top 10 to seek before I die lists". 

The birds are uncommon and often evasive, avoiding disturbance. They live in riverine forest and prefer to perch high among the thick foliage. They often hunt at night and are most active and vocal in the hour before dawn. The one we saw was in just this type of habitat - not that we would have seen it without the help of the sharp eyes of our guide at Three Rivers Bush Camp, Jebbez.

It is the second largest owl that occurs in Africa. They are a lovely ginger brown to russet colour and have black spots on both their wings and bellies. They have a rounded head and large black eyes like deep pools of pitch. They lack the soft flight feathers of other owls as stealth is not necessary for snatching their underwater prey.

They also lack the characteristic facial disks of many owls. This disc is believed to help with hearing, and as the owl's prey lives underwater, the owls seem to have evolved without this feature. They have a haunting, chilling call, which has been likened to someone calling up from the bottom of a well. Their cries can be heard over a kilometre away.

Gone fishing

This trip was certainly the Yellow Billed Stork holiday. 

Here, near the Three rivers Bush Camp, they gathered in their hundreds to fish out the numerous channels.

Every now and again one would catch a cat fish prompting an outburst of flapping as others tried to get the catch of it.

Sunset colour

One giant leap ...

A Puku jumps one of the many channels near the Three Rivers Bush Camp

Three Rivers Bush Camp

Our third camp for this holiday was Three rivers Bush Camp, run by Kafunta Safaris.

With rustic rondelles featuring decks overlooking wildlife viewing and "star beds where you can sleep on a platform with nothing above you but a mosquito net this certainly packs in the style.

Fifteen nights in the Valley

After a disastrous trip to South Luangwa in 2018, which had to be abandoned after just two days because of an accident, we returned with some trepidation this year.

We need have feared nothing - the trip went without a hitch and replaced the unhappy memories of 2018 with a new gallery of experiences.

Our itinerary was one night at Flat Dogs , followed by four at Nkonzi,  three at the Three Rivers Camp, then four at Tena Tena, and a final three back at our old favourite Flat Dogs.