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 | Game viewing Diary | |
| Date: | 02 July 2008 07:00 | | Guide: | Isaac Zulu | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | First we saw a Giant Eagle Owl with a Guineafowl, than a Martial Eagle eating a Monitor lizard. Then a nice female Leopard crossing the road. A big herd of Buffalo. 30 Elephant. | | | | | Date: | 02 July 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Chikoko Walking Trail | | Camp: | Chikoko Walking Trails | | Blog: | Having stayed at Tafika for few days it was time I went back to the walking camp. We left on the 28th of June 2008. We started with Chikoko camp. We crossed the Luangwa river at about 0730 hours on the banana boat. I had 5 guests from America. It was a family of 5. Since it was their first time to Zambia they loved everything, and it was much easy for me. After crossing the river I decided to take the river side to avoid another walk which was already there. On the way we had brilliant Lilac breasted roller perched on the small twig eating an insect which he had caught as we got there. Near the Chikoko river loads of Puku, Impala, Water bucks, Zebras and Baboons. That afternoon we saw an elephant not far from the camp without a tail. The next morning we tried to check on the lions we heard the previous night in front of camp eating something. We saw their foot prints and followed them for sometime but we could not find them. That afternoon we walked along the chikoko river and saw two Giraffes eating on the natal mahogany. Day 3 we moved to the next camp Crocodile. On the way hundred lilian’s love birds on the caparis bush, red billed queleas, giant king fisher and many other birds. That afternoon approaching the lagoon 4 male hippos came out of the lagoon running into the grass away from us. The 4th day of our safari at break fast we heard the buffalos behind the camp and we went to look for them. They were only males drinking on the lagoon. Further on the walk we saw beautiful male kudu with three females and one young. Then we stopped for tea and the place we stopped were some baboons, impalas, zebras, kudus, water bucks and velvet monkeys. As George was making fire, two giant eagle owls flew away from the ebony tree near by. Carmine bee eaters flying above mixed with little bee eaters and white fronted bee eaters also there. Our last walk in the afternoon was a short one. We saw a lot near camp. That is 4 giraffes, elephants, water bucks, zebras, baboons and a giant eagle owl with a kill which he killed before we got there. When we saw the giraffes, we went behind the bush but as we were going, I took a long step forward and I stepped into the hippo hole that I landed down on my left arm. Thank God I didn’t break my arm. This morning we had to leave so early because my guests were catching the 0945 hrs flight. | | | | | Date: | 01 July 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Bryan Jackson | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | This morning’s drive was a transfer to another camp, we saw a small herd of Buffalo, several groups of Kudu, and heads of Giraffe walking along a gulley, eventually six whole giraffe appeared. | | | | | Date: | 30 June 2008 16:00 | | Guide: | Bryan Jackson | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | We had just gone through the gate and small herd of Elephant walked toward us, stopped, pulled up small herbs and grass and generally posed for us. One young bull thought he would have some fun and mock charge, I shouted at him and he continued to eat. They moved on and so did we down to Chimbwe where we stopped for sundowners. We unfortunately parked right in the path of a couple of hundred Buffalo wanting to go down to drink, we didn’t offer them any wine or G&T and they waited until we had finished.
The rest of the drive was fairly quiet.
| | | | | Date: | 27 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | On 25th of June 2008 we started our game drive at usual time that is 1600hrs. Since the guests have been to river side road for many times, I decided to go to the hot springs. I took John’s road and to the lagoon where we saw two hippos. One of them ran away before we got near them but the other one stayed there for few minutes. He was not happy with us and did a mock charge three times and stopped. I went further towards the spring but I didn’t stop at the spring because I wanted to check the other place before our sundown. As I was approaching the kakonje stream, a leopard walked away from the stream and went into the bush. I said let us atop for a drink we will check later. I was right because as we were drinking we heard the impalas making lots of noises, we put the spot light on and it was there near the impalas. We watched him for about 20 minutes, and then I crossed the stream to have a better view of him. We stayed with him for another 10 minutes. After that I started driving back home slowly. We also saw a baby scrub hare, two civets and few genets. | | | | | Date: | 27 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Morning Walk | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Yesterday morning I took walk with two guests. Since they don’t walk fast we had a very slow walk After crossing the river we had a close encounter with a buffalo, and we had to walk back for few meters. Then we went on to the other side of the stream and walked along it to the lagoon where we saw a herd of buffalos drinking. We sat there for an hour and the other herd of buffalos came from a different direction of the lagoon. A bush buck came to the lagoon.African jacanas, fish eagles, spoonbills, yellow billed storks and saddle billed storks were also at the same lagoon. After our tea break we walked back to camp and at the crossing we saw 19 elephants with young ones. 7 of them went to drink while 12 were still eating reeds. We walked between them and got to camp in time lunch. | | | | | Date: | 24 June 2008 18:00 | | Guide: | Cameron Dallas | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Bryan found an impala killed by leopard at Chimbwe lagoon ( hyena ) in the morning. A small female had made the kill and was unable to cache it in a tree, leaving it in a gully. A pride of lion had recently killed a buffalo in the same area and we found them having scavenged the kill from the leopard on the night drive.
I had found the same leopard hunting at 11 oclock in the morning the previous day. She was stalking a group of impala and puku using the cassia grass and shallow dry hippo runs as cover. We left her as she leopard crawled around group into the cover of combretum trees.
| | | | | Date: | 23 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Last night game drive was very good. We left early at 1530 hrs because they wanted to go back to the lions which they saw in the morning. They killed a buffalo the previous night. When we got there we only found two females watching their kill to make sure no one will take it away. We sat there until the evening and they started coming one by one until there were 9 lions. They greeted each other as they came. One female was very full that she lay down as her friends were munching. But before dark the vultures were circling above us, some of them were fighting and others eating. It was fantastic. Sitting and having sundown with lions eating. We did not go anywhere until we decided to drive back to camp. | | | | | Date: | 23 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | This morning I was doing the transfer to two camps. We left at 0730 hrs driving slowly down stream. I stopped at the lion kill but there was not even one lion. Only the head of the buffalo was remaining and few bit and pieces of the bones. The vultures were still there and we watched them taking off which was marvelous. The buffalos came down to drink while the impalas, puku and baboons walking with them. I dropped off two guests at the first camp at 1030 hrs and I had two more to drive them to the next camp. On our way to the next camp we saw some elephants, kudu and one giraffe. Twenty minutes after the first giraffe there were two young ones less than six months old. The one to the right walked passed us to join the other one on to the left and lay down. We got to the next camp at 1140 hrs. There after I drove back to Tafika. | | | | | Date: | 22 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Last night we started our game drive at 1550 hrs. We first saw the elephants not far from the camp. They were coming out from the lagoon because they had lots of mud on their bodies. Some of them were under the tamarind tree eating the fruits. After watching them for few minutes we left and drove off. I took John’s road and there we saw lots of zebras, puku, impala and warthogs. We also saw brown snake eagle, lilac breasted roller, fish eagle and crowned cranes. After crossing the chichele stream we saw the remains of the puku. But there was nothing eating it. As I was driving away a reed buck was lying in the grass. This is the only one we see in this area. Having said that we used to see two of them and we only saw one. After dark we saw civets, genets, one hyena and two bush babies. | | | | | Date: | 21 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | This morning we started our game drive late since the guests were flying with John in a microlight. So we left at 0720 hrs. Half an hour after leaving camp we saw a family of elephants with babies . They were on the road that we couldn’t drive passed them. We watched them for about 20 minutes and one of them started trumpeting and all of them ran away crossing the road. One turned round towards us and I had to move quickly. We got into the park and two giraffe with young were browsing on the flueggea virosa (white berry bush). There after we headed to the stork colony for tea stop. Driving back we came across the mating lions. As we were watching them the mail stood up and walked towards the female, but there was no action. Waited for another 15 minutes still no action. It was now getting warm and I had to drive back. We saw another giraffe and elephants. Antelopes were all over this morning. | | | | | Date: | 20 June 2008 05:00 | | Guide: | Ernst Jacobs | | Outing: | Morning Walk | | Camp: | Mwaleshi Camp | | Blog: | Eventually, after 20 days of camp building, Mwaleshi camp has been completed and we welcomed our first two guests of the season in on the afternoon of 15 June.
Our transfer in from the airstrip started very positively as we saw Cookson’s wildebeest, Impala, Zebra and 2 young male lions resting up in the shade of a Spiny Combretum. We also had a beautiful view of two Racket -tailed rollers and a close up view of a young Brown snake eagle.
The afternoon’s walk had the theme of seed pod collecting to use as decorations for the dining room as it is looking a bit bare being the beginning of the season and no feather or seed treasures have been exhibited yet.
Our group of 6 started the morning of the sixteenth by being dropped off by Lawrence near Fish Eagle lagoon and walking back to camp. It did not take us long to hear hippo rumbles and also the tell-tale double path hippo-highway in the direction of the lagoon to make us realise that there was a pod occupying the lagoon. We had to be careful of our approach not to disturb any un-suspecting bull dozing under a tree. At the lagoon we found a big group of hippo that were peacefully sleeping in daisy chain formation. But the peaceful scene was belying the violent clash of two bulls that started from no antagonising of either party at all. They went for each other in a silent manner and one could only hear their heavy breathing and the clash of ivory as they were lunging at each other with jaws open. The force was so great that one hippo had both his front legs out of the water as the other hippo jack knifed under his weight. There was a lot of blood spurting , but we assumed that it was all from wounds inside their mouths. We decided then, that it would be prudent to clear the scene, as no one could guess which direction the loser would go once he turned tail and needed to vent his aggression on something!!
In the afternoon we were joined by two more guests and were very lucky to see a giant African Rock python barely as we left camp. The length was estimated at between 3 and 4 metres and it was thicker than a man’s thigh. It must have been sunning itself and returning to its burrow for safety.
Back at camp Douglas Brown said he saw a wild dog running into the tree line across from camp as we were having sundowners, but nothing was seen again.
Imagine the surprise when Douglas declared, first thing, the next morning that he had found the dogs again and they were lying up in the long grass across from camp. We were all very excited and went out on foot to get a better view. They were still there and looked very full. One was identified as a male and the other seemed to be a female which appeared to be quite pregnant. A male Puku was bouncing around, whistling at them, but they were unperturbed and just kept on sleeping. We hope that they will den in the nearby area and we have some more views of them in the future.
The afternoon of the eighteenth also produced a group of 7 lions lying on the bank of the Luangwa when we took a drive out there for sundowners. There were quite a few young males amongst them, which was probably the reason why they were as skittish as they ran away when we tried to get a closer look at them as they have probably never seen a vehicle before.
We hope that the rest of the season is as successful as the first couple of days, which will make it a very exciting season of game viewing
| | | | | Date: | 20 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Chikoko Walking Trail | | Camp: | Chikoko Walking Trails | | Blog: | On 18th June we crossed the luangwa river at 0730 hrs. We followed the big lagoon and we saw lots of impalas, puku, a herd of buffalo, a troop of baboons and water bucks. Coming near Chikoko camp we saw a bull elephant eating the winter thorn fruits.The next morning we saw lots water bucks coming down to drink water in the Chikoko river. In the afternoon we went walking, then we heard baboons barking and we went to check but there was nothing. But after we got back to camp we heard the leopard calling, and it was already dark that we could not go back. Today walking back to Tafika we had a close encounter with the elephant. It was exciting. Then we crossed the river to Tafika time for lunch. | | | | | Date: | 17 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Chikoko Walking Trail | | Camp: | Chikoko Walking Trails | | Blog: | I started another walk to Chikoko on 13th June. We crossed the river in the banana boat five of us. After about an hour we saw a fishing party of yellow billed storks, saddle billed storks, fish eagles, spoon bills, and open billed storks all on one lagoon. There were more than 200 birds. As we were approaching Chikoko camp we saw zebras, elephants and waterbucks. We joined up with other guests for one night. On our second day we walked along the mwamba river where two giant eagle owls flew across the stream and landed in the next tree. After our tea break 8 kudus appeared from the bush and near by was a group of zebras, warthogs in the back ground running away with their tails up as radio aerials. That afternoon we went to the river to watch the hippos and crocodiles. Day 3 we had a short walk since my guests asked me to go back to the river just to see hippos, crocodiles and birds. In the afternoon Heather came to stay with us just for one night. Our final morning at break fast time zebras, water bucks, puku and impalas all came to say bye to us. They walked across the stream as we watched them. What a good start of the day. Eating and watching animals. Lovely !!!!. Then we left for Tafika on 16th June. | | | | | Date: | 16 June 2008 07:00 | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Guide: | Bryan Jackson | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Blog: | A hundred yards down the drive we came across 2 Bush buck fighting, a serious battle, which lasted 30mins before one backed off. Andrea’s camera was red hot at the end. We drove up to the Salt pan to look for the Lions that were seen on last nights drive. On the way we came across Moustached Warbler, Swallow tailed Bee-eater, Dickinson’s Kestrel, Black crowned Tchgra, Wart hogs but no Lions.
Ed & Gail were leaving for the airport so we passed them over to Alex. Andrea, Carl & I carried on down to the Wafwa, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo, Giraffe, all good views and close. The Elephant in fact did not seemed bothered by us at all, walking to within 5 metres of the car. The Leopard lying in the shade, got up and walked through an open area in good light to lay down in another area of shade. It seemed like it was all for our benefit.
| | | | | Date: | 15 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Alex Phiri | | Outing: | PM Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | On the 12th of June 2008 we started our game drive at about 16:00hrs. On our way out, we saw a few birds , puku, banded mongoose and some crocodiles along the sand bank.
When we were at Chimbwi lagoon we saw lots of buffaloes going down for a drink as well as 3 giraffes walking along the side of the road . I decided to have our sundowners at the end of Chipolata loop where we saw another two giraffes browsing near the spot.
After sundown we saw one Genet hunting and it caught a frog. Thereafter I decided to use Drypetes loop where we saw a few genets, white tailed mongoose and one civet. As we were coming towards Chimbwi lagoon we saw 2 lions, male and female.
These lions chased a small hippo and the male jumped on it’s back but as the hippo went close to the water the male lion jumped off. After about 5 minutes the lions started chasing a puku but the male decided to stop. At the far end yet another big male lion joined the chase, but they could not make it. Lastly the intruder male started chasing the first male lion and this is how we left.
On our way back to camp, we saw a big female leopard drinking water at the lagoon and finally we saw a civet near the camp.
| | | | | Date: | 13 June 2008 06:00 | | Guide: | Bryan Jackson | | Outing: | Viewing from Camp | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | 13/06
A Day trip to Bangwaulu swamps.
We left at 7 am, a 1hr flight over the park at 6500 ft. Fantastic views, water holes and small rivers flowing all the way to the escarpment. Up on the escarpment, all we could see was solid bush until we hit the Great north Rd, then Cassava mounds all the way to Chimbwi airstrip. Flying into Chimbwi we could see hundreds of black Lechwe out on the grassy plains.
We were picked up by David the camp manager and transferred to our waiting boat, which we would spend the next six hours in searching for the elusive Shoebilled stork.
Unfortunately we did not see a Shoebill, but we did see many new and exciting birds.
Purple Gallinule (African purple swamphen), Lesser Gallinule, Grey Headed Gull, Wattled Crane, Hottentot Teal, Little Bittern, Black Heron, Rufous Bellied Heron, Squacco Heron, Madagascar Squacco Heron, Long toed Lapwing, Blue Breasted Bee-Eater, Swamp Flycatcher, Rosy- Breasted Longclaw, being a few of the birds we saw which are not common to the Luangwa valley.
A good day was had by all, we returned to Tafika for a short night drive and a well deserved G&T.
| | | | | Date: | 12 June 2008 16:00 | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Guide: | Bryan Jackson | | Blog: | Joan had not seen a big cat in the wild yet, so the mission was to find at least one even if it was only a fleeting glimpse.
Up to sundowners we had seen all the normal things, Impala, Puku, Elephant, Buffalo, Yellow Billed Storks etc, no sign of any cats.
Up Drypetes road and down into Chipela lagoon, a quick glimpse of a Leopard racing into a bush, a Bush Buck came flying out the other side with a loud bark. The Leopard sauntered out a little embarrassed at having missed, and headed off in search of another meal. We had a good view, all though quick. Happy, we headed off down to Chimbwe where another two Leopards showed themselves, one up a tree with an Impala leg, two Hyenas circling beneath. She jumped down and led us to another, a big male. We were trying to get abetter view of both when they mated 5 metres away from the car. All behind a bush. Lots of noise, A little scary that close.
Joan left next morning very happy.
| | | | | Date: | 12 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Chikoko Walking Trail | | Camp: | Chikoko Walking Trails | | Blog: | We left Tafika for Chikoko trails on 8th of June at 0700hrs. We crossed the river being watched by the hippos, pied kingfisher hovering above us. After that we saw two giant eagle owls flying away. On that first day we also saw zebras, kudus, elephants, yellow billed storks, spoon bills and eland. The second day in the morning we saw buffalos, elephants, puku and then stopped for tea. As soon as we left after tea two little cape turtle doves were on the nest. We walked close to them for photos and they did not fly away. In the afternoon in front of crocodile camp was a herd of water bucks about 17. On the third day we moved to the next camp Chikoko where on the way we saw lots of elephants, zebras, troop of baboons and some bush bucks. That afternoon walking along the Chikoko river a hippo came out and ran in to the long grass on the other side of the river. The last day we left Chikoko camp at 0705 hrs and five minutes later we saw 8 giraffes all feeding on the tamarind fruits. A lonely buffalo was lying in the bush, heard us then left. As we were looking for a tea spot a pel’s fishing owl flew away from the near tree which we were standing. Walking back to comp about ten minutes before the camp we saw a flap neck chameleon climbing the tree. On my 4 day walking safaris I had six guests. These were Elaine, Gin, Jenny, Joe, Ted and Dot. They enjoined very much and so I did. | | | | | Date: | 07 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Yesterday I started my game drive at 1615 hrs with 5 guests. After 15 minutes we saw a female elephant with a baby under the ebony tree eating the fruits. There after we got into the park and 4 giraffes were standing very close to the road. Buffalos, puku, impala were also close by. We stopped for sundown and I heard the baboons screaming on the other side of the stream. My guests asked me what was going on and I explained that there was either leopard or lion. After our drinks I decided to go and check. Sure enough was a leopard walking in the grass. I stopped watching her coming towards us. She came very close about 10 meters from where I parked the car. She walked passed us and went into the bush. On the way back we saw a scops owl less than 2 meters away. We left without disturbing him, later we saw an elephant shrew, civet and another scops owl. I have never had a close view of a sops owl before as last night. | | | | | Date: | 05 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Alex Phiri | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | This morning we started our game drive at about 7;00hrs, after five minutes we saw lots of baboons running around and some puku grazing .The guests asked me to find them lions but I could not find them but as we were looking for them, we saw lots of buffaloes going down for a drink. I decided to take drypetes loop and we saw a female leopard and one cub with lots of antelopes looking at them. After we had our tea break we thought of going back to camp we saw another young male leopard and we watched for about ten minutes there after we left. | | | | | Date: | 05 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Morning Walk | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | I did the morning walk with six guests. Since we do our walks on the other side of the Luangwa river we crossed using the canoes. But before we crossed we stopped looking at the trees. As we got to the river we saw lots of hippos lying on the sand catching the morning sun .Crossing the river hippos were looking at us. There was also a female with a baby very close to her. On the other side there were buffalo droppings, porcupine droppings and puku. A fish eagle perched on the branch was staring at the lagoon which is drying hoping to catch some fish. We walked further and we saw an aardvark hole but not in use any more. We crossed another stream to the lagoon where we stopped for tea. George the tea bearer made fire using traditional way that is by friction. I asked my guests to try. They nearly made it but you need more practice. In the end George took over. While I was saving the tea one of my guests saw a cape buffalo and pointed out to us, then three more came from the bush. Walking back we found porcupine quills which I thought the porcupine was killed. The love birds in the tree overhanging on the lagoon were also great. Got back to camp for lunch at 1155 hrs. | | | | | Date: | 04 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | This morning we set off at 07 10 hrs for a morning drive. Before the gate we saw some bush bucks, impalas, puku and baboons all in one area. After that we saw four giraffes crossing the stream going outside the park. Further down near the river were a small herd of buffalos heading to the river for a drink. We watched them going down and then decided to leave them alone. We got to the stork colony, stopped for tea. After that I went to the island and we found 14 lions. There were about 8 cubs sub adult male and females. Driving back we saw some elephants breaking up the trees while the babies were eating small brunches. | | | | | Date: | 04 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Alex Phiri | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | This morning we started our drive at around 7;30hrs and just near the camp we saw male puku grazing and there after we saw bushbucks feeding on the leaves of the senna. Before we reached the stream we saw about 8 adult elephants two babies in the middle of the group. After we had our tea we saw big herd of buffalo going down for a drink in the main river. I decided to go on the wafwa island and we saw a pride of lion where we saw 10 cubs four females and one male. There after on our way back ,we saw giraffes browsing ,impalas, puku and some birds like lovebirds, starlings, doves and herons. | | | | | Date: | 01 June 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Today the 1st of June I took the morning drive with two guests. We mostly stopped on trees since one of my guests was interested in trees. After about one hour we got into the park. Puku ,impala and bush buck were seen on the way. I drove close to the river bank where we saw a huge crocodile on the beach. On the road there were lots of lion foot prints going both ways. Further down two hyenas were fighting for the bones left over from either lion or leopard kill last night. We watched them for 15 minutes and drove further down stream. Heading to the stork colony elephants droppings were seen on the road side. Arrived at the colony watching the adult storks feeding their young an eagle flew in which made them fly away. Stopped for morning tea at the colony and drove away slowly coming home. There were five elephants eating the rain tree leaves. One female mock charged us. More elephants were on the lagoon having mud bath with their babies in the middle. After that we saw baboons fighting and I got back to camp for lunch. | | | | | Date: | 31 May 2008 16:00 | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Guide: | Bryan Jackson | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Blog: | First night drive of the season with friends, a quick trip down river side. Lots of tall grass and bumpy roads, but loads of game everywhere. After sundowners we made our way along Bandas loop, there not 50 yds off the road were 14 Lion. Doing what Lions do, laying around looking very lazy. | | | | | Date: | 31 May 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Dear all.
Once again the season has started. Before I write the game viewing dairy I would like to thank you all for taking your time to read my last season’s game viewing dairy. Hope you will do the same this season.
I came back to camp on 13th of April for camp building. As I walked to the walking camps we saw lots of elephants, baby hippos and many impalas. One evening the night watchman was walking around the camp and saw the eyes on the beach. He thought he was looking at crocodiles eyes but when we went to check there were 10 lions lying down looking where he was standing.
The camp building has finished and we had our first guest on 21st May 2008. On our first drive we saw one giraffe, crocodiles, hippos, puku and zebras. Alex saw the vultures in the morning and he went to look and he saw a leopard kill. We went to check in the evening and the leopard was there but we couldn’t see it very well because of the tall grass. We had elephants very close about 20 meters from where we stopped and they
walked past in front of the car. Driving back to camp we came across 14 lions feeding on a puku which they just killed about five minutes before we got there. Last night drive we had surprise sundowners and after that we started off .Five minutes later we saw a leopard walking on the other side of the stream. We watched her for a few minutes and went away. Driving back home a lioness appeared from the bush crossed the road and disappeared. What a good start of the season.
| | | | | Date: | 31 May 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Alex Phiri | | Outing: | Viewing from Camp | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | The season has started again and we opened our camp with lots of smiles as we saw lots antelopes grazing on fresh grass. On the 27th of May we saw lots of birds ,elephants, buffaloes zebras and few crocodiles sleeping on the sand bank. After sundown, we saw one female leopard hunting puku but she could not make it. On our way back to camp , we saw four lions laying down by the river bank. The next morning we started our drive and we saw eight giraffe ,lots of puku and buffaloes. | | | | | Date: | 09 November 2007 00:00 | | Guide: | Alex Phiri | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | On the 7th of November in the morning we saw lots of antelopes
Birds and lots newly flowers of the baobab tree. After finishing
Our tea break we continued our drive and we saw one female
Lion sleeping under the sausage tree we watched for about 10mins
And we left. Further more we saw buffaloes and lots of baby
Impalas.
| | | | | Date: | 09 November 2007 00:00 | | Guide: | Alex Phiri | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | In the afternoon we started our game drive at 16:00hrs and we saw elephants near the camp and a big herd of buffalo to the other side of the river. There after we continued
Our drive to the salt pan where we saw one leopard before sundown and this leopard
Was in a distance such that we could not get close to it. After sundown, we saw one
Serval cat by the hot spring and as we were watching ,we herd the baboons barking
And we went to see what they were barking on but we could not see anything and they
Stopped. We went back to see the Serval and we saw two on the same area. On our way
To camp we saw two white tailed mongoose, another big female leopard, three civets, lots . Of antelopes and we finally saw another leopard near the camp
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