|
| | | "Rhino SIghting In North Luangwa by John Coppinger"
29 August 2010 00:00 | | | read more... |
 |
|
 | Game viewing Diary | |
| Date: | 05 November 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | This morning I went to the salt pan where Bryan saw the wild dogs last night. I have not seen them for a while until today. I first stopped at the spring watching buffalo drinking water. After that I went down stream to meet up with Alex to take two guests from me for airport transfer. But before we met up we found the wild dogs near the stream. It was 0840hours. When we stopped they tried to move away but we were very quiet that they sat down and some of them sat in the stream to cool up since it was already getting hot. We watched them for 40 minutes and while we were there they saw a family of warthogs and got interested, chased them and caught one baby. They tore it apart in seconds. I was very happy since it has been long time I saw them. We also saw nice male kudu on the way to meet Alex. | | | | | Date: | 04 November 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Bryan Jackson | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | November is a secret, It’s Hot, It’s Humid and you may get very Wet, hardly anyone comes at that time of the year and most of the other camps are closing or closed.
But what a spectacular month for game viewing. Baby Impalas everywhere, big herds of Buffalo coming down to the river to drink, the cats are having a field day. And to add into the mix, we have Wild dogs at the Salt pan.
Let me tell you about one night drive. Eva asked to go to the Salt Pan in the hope of finding Wild dogs, so off we head toward Kakonje pans, it was quiet, not an animal anywhere, we get to the water and lying in the water keeping cool are 6 Lions from the Salt pan pride. About 400m away a small herds of Buffalo grazing, maybe 200 or so. Thinking there maybe some action later, we left them to look at the main pan. This was also quiet, another herd of Buffalo in the distance, we drove toward them and slowly through the middle and on the other side, Wild dogs on a kill. We slowly moved toward them, they were a little unsure of us and moved away from the kill, but came back very quickly once we had stopped and sat quietly. They had finished most of the kill so moved off up the road to the Pan, past the Buffalo, making several half-hearted attempts at chasing other antelope. The Impalas just took one look at the Dogs and ran, no alarm calls, just ran for their lives. We followed the dogs for half an hour and had sundowners, Eva could hardly breathe with the excitement, so needed a stiff G & T. The Dogs made one more appearance before moving off into the trees behind the Pan.
We went back to where the Lions had been to see if they had made a move toward the Buffalo, in fact the Buffalo had moved toward the Lions and seemed to have chased the Lion away, we managed to see a few Lions moving off into the trees leaving two young males to sit and watch the Buffalo from a safe distance. We waited for a short while to see if anything would happen, but time was coming to and end and we had to be out of the park. By this stage everyone was full of Lions & Dogs so the mongoose etc didn’t have much of a chance.
The next day Gene who had missed the dogs and was leaving early that morning took a quick spin up to the pan. We found the dogs in the same place as the night before, lounging in the stream. We were there no more than 5 min when they started to hunt, chasing 2 Impala into the bushes behind us. A little off road rally driving was required to get through the bushes and to catch the action. They caught a young male Impala and were busy pulling it apart. Within seconds Hyaena were there, the dogs chased off the first two to arrive, but the big dominant female Hyaena arrived walked straight in and helped herself to the Impala, no argument from the dogs. The dogs milled around for a bit, two of the dogs started to mate next to the car, then all five moved back to the stream to cool off in the water.
We then moved down to see the Crowned Cranes fly into the Delta and back home. Gene flew out at 8.30 that morning a very happy photographer. | | | | | Date: | 04 November 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Yesterday we left for the afternoon game drive at 1500hrs since the guest asked to leave early. We saw lots of elephants, puku, hippos, crocodiles and baby impala. We stopped to check on the other side of the river and behind us we heard the impala alarm call. Turned round and there was a lion walking across the road to the river. The rain started and we went to stop under the tree while the lion was walking looking at the puku. The puku saw him and took off then the rest of the pride came out as well. After the rain stopped we drove further down to luangwa wafwa{dead luangwa} where there were loads of antelopes grazing. We stopped for a drink and after that we started spotting. About an hour later we saw a leopard lying on the beach cooling him self since it is very hot. He came to the bank went to bush hiding. I thought because the lions were walking towards him so he was afraid. After that we saw a porcupine, genet, civet and an elephant shrew | | | | | Date: | 03 November 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Yesterday’s game drive was a good one. We saw loads of elephants, baboons, baby impalas even if the rain is late, lion on the beach over looking the other side of the river. Further down stream we saw four more lions, some buffaloes, before sun downers. After that we saw lion, leopard in the tree, genets and civets. | | | | | Date: | 28 October 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Rory McDougall | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Combined Afternoon and Night Drive.
We left Tafika on a quest! Mellissa, Stephen’s Daughter had seen 30 odd Lion but NO leopard yet. Her last drive…………….
We set off for the Salt Pan, as the whole of Riverside Drive Area seemed to be full of Lion.
Wild Dog too had been seen there at Lunchtime.
As we arrived at the Pan we picked up The Salt Pan Pride of 17 lion immediately trying to keep cool in the shade of the Combretum Thickets close to the water. They looked inactive until one noticed a group of Buffalo coming to drink. One female Lioness was interested and began a stalk, followed by a few of her sub adults in the pride. Dusk was closing in as we decided to back off and have Sundowners at a safe distance and watch this develop.
Almost an hour went by before the snorting splashing and grunting in the dark, followed by pounding hooves heralded an attack. Alas, we counted all the buffalo, present and correct thundering by, as we all quickly re mounted the vehicle.
Disheartened but happy for the buffalo, we headed out and soon picked up a solitary Serval Cat in the spotlight. We followed him and had wonderful viewings……….another new set of spots for Stephen and Mellissa.
Turning round we spotted a big leopard not one hundred meters from where we had our sundowners watching the Lion! We followed him in the open and had lovely views.
Mission accomplished A very happy young Lady and Dad and relieved set of guides, and Mellissa with a total of 47 Lion to her credit over her four night stay!
| | | | | Date: | 27 October 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Rory McDougall | | Outing: | Morning Walk | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Monday 27th October.
A Morning Walk from Tafika, crossing the Luangwa River by canoe then walking along the Kanchanga River bed, on to Kanchanga Lagoon and Kapani Lagoon For tea.
I was hot early as we set off. After our briefing introducing a new Walking scout, Weston and our Tea Bearer, Brighton, we were met early on with a big male Elephant shaking a Winter thorn tree in an effort to dislodge pods; their favorite protein biscuit at this time of year.
An exciting but uneventful crossing took us close to the Hippo pods, and then we walked foe a short distance up the dry river bed.
We examined foot prints of Aardvark from the night before and discussed other spore.
At Kanchanga lagoon we found numerous waders along the shore, Fish Eagle and three separate groups of Zebra. Warthog, Kudu, impala and Buffalo were also there.
Moving on further, we located Giraffe spore, but no owner, then a large group of Kakuli Buffalo. They didn’t think much of us as we crossed the “”Wafwa”, so we made an early exit from there skirting around them to Kapani Lagoon.
Brighton entertained Mellissa and Stephen, by demonstrating how to make a fire by rubbing sticks together in the way of their forefathers, and then brewed the tea.
Buffalo came down to drink and the Lagoon was full of birdlife, as we watched Fish Eagle attempt to steal a fish from an immature Marabou.
Our walk home in the increasing heat took its toll on us, having at this stage to avoid all shade as animals sheltered beneath.
We had a good sighting of Zebra, Kudu, impala and Puku as usual, but Hyena totally oblivious to our presence investigating the shady spots in front of us.
Buffalo were plentiful and needed to be avoided as a wind got up and muffled our approach.
All in all a lovely walk, but hot with us all needing to replenish our Electrolytes before a welcome drink.
| | | | | Date: | 23 October 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | This morning I took two guests on the drive. It was slow in the beginning for about an hour. Then we saw some buffaloes, impala, waterbuck which was very shy, some crocodiles near the hippos and birds. There after two lions on the beach looking at the buffaloes. We watched them at least 40 minutes and moved on to check other things. A minute from where we saw the lions a leopard was up in the tree. Staying with him for an hour I decided to leave him so that we can go for our tea break. After that we came back to check on the leopard and was still there in the same tree. Few minutes later baboons came underneath the tree started barking and the leopard came down ran away towards the different tree. Driving down to the lions again we saw them coming up the bank and walked pass us. The male went to the tree and started sniffing, tried to climb but failed. We looked in the tree we saw a dead puku. The lions moved to the other tree lay down and next to it was a dead black eyed bulbul. We also saw some elephants and 4 male kudu near the camp. | | | | | Date: | 21 October 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Chikoko Walking Trail | | Camp: | Chikoko Walking Trails | | Blog: | I went to chikoko for one night yesterday afternoon. We arrived there at about 1330hrs. After our afternoon tea at 1615hrs, we walked for one hour and saw waterbucks, warthogs, zebras, kudu, puku, impala and lots of baboon. This morning my guests wanted to see crocodile camp so we left early. Before we crossed the chikoko river we heard the puku calling then we decided to check and there was a leopard eating baboon. After that we saw buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks and bush bucks. We crossed the luangwa river at 1015hrs for Tafika camp. | | | | | Date: | 18 October 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Yesterday we left for the afternoon game drive at 1600hrs. Driving along the river we saw some elephants having dust bath, hippos no the beach, crocodiles and few buffalo. Crowned cranes, saddle billed storks, lilac breasted rollers and oxpeckers. Three lions lying on the river bank, kudu, bushbucks, zebras and impala. After sundowners we saw two more lions following impala. Then we saw civet, genet and an elephant shrew running across the road. A chameleon was seen in the bush. | | | | | Date: | 18 October 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Rory McDougall | | Outing: | Chikoko Walking Trail | | Camp: | Chikoko Walking Trails | | Blog: | October 10th.2008
Long walk to Crocodile Camp and then onto Chikoko Camp.
We left Tafika on a long walk, with Brigitte and Thierry from Paris and Sally and Paul from the UK.
We crossed the Luangwa just below the Camp with Hippo in attendance. Almost grudgingly, they gave way and we were able to view the Carmine Bee-eater Colony in the beautiful morning light leaving for their daily catch. Such a sight, truly amazing colours.
We walked through the plain close to the crossing and were able to look at Puku and Impala at close quarters. We studied the feeding habits of the Puku in the short grass and began our exercises in becoming experts in Poo dropping”” identification.
We had a pleasant walk in threatening storm build up and it became very hot early on. We stopped for a welcome Tea break next to the Luangwa where Justin our Tea bearer demonstrated his skill at lighting fires using the traditional fire rubbing stick method.
After Tea, we said goodbye to Paul and Sally at another Luangwa crossing point as they were returning to Tafika. We continued onto Crocodile camp to enjoy a lovely cooling drink in the shade of the Ebony trees which were just sporting their new foliage.
A hot afternoon ensued with stormy winds blowing in. We enjoyed a short walk, followed by a shower and three course dinner.
The next day, we woke early at 0500hrs, breakfasted and set off on our morning walk via Croc crossing, where we met Kath, Mark and Bill McAdam, who were joining the Walking Safari onto Chikoko Bush Camp. On the way we had lovely sightings of Thorny croft Giraffe.
A good walk, and we were soon heating up in the October sun. We stopped for a necessary Tea break at Mwana Chikoko dry lagoon, and enjoyed a Cappuccino that Kath had brought along. At the same time we watched a group of six Male Waterbuck sparring away.
We walked in silence for the next half an hour hoping to see Roan that we had spotted in the vicinity earlier in the week. Sure enough, there some were. Not the Herd of 20 we had spotted earlier in the week, but 4 lovely Bulls. We tried to get close by stalking up the Chikoko Dry river bed and succeeded to a degree. A truly magnificent animal but very wary and hard to approach.
Buffalo were nearby and waterbuck and elephant too.
Another a hot afternoon with promising rain meant all of us having electrolyte rehydration salts to keep our energy levels up.
Just as we were about to leave for the afternoon walk, we noticed a large herd of Buffalo approaching camp from the west, downwind. We sat and watched, hoping they would come to drink.
After being spooked, we were then able to approach within fifty meters, stalking up the Chikoko Dry river bed, and Bill and Mark, drooling at the mouth, were able to study wild Zambian Buffalo close at hand. This was a subject close to their heart as they breed Disease Free Cape Buffalo, on their Game Farm in South Africa. Thierry a keen photographer provided much hilarity as his flash spooked the herd into retreat en masse””, much to his dismay. We continued our walk to the Luangwa River and were able to look at Elephant drinking in the distance as the light began to fade.
We arrived back in camp just in time to be able to enjoy our sundowner followed closely by 2 millimeters of rain and wind to cool us all down. The wind was exciting and exhilarating and later sleeping with the gentle patter of rain was an unbelievable feeling.
The morning of the 12th, was a lovely soft quiet one as a result……Just the” Öhwaan” call of the pair of Crowned Crane that had landed, no Sausage Tree leaves crunched underfoot; and the black Cracking Clays were an unusual pleasure to cross. We walked to Dups Lagoon for tea, All the flocks of Lillian’s Lovebirds wheeled overhead, excited by the recent shower, and a lot of the sausage tree flowers remained uneaten as the antelope sought out the new softer shoots. At lunchtime a lone bull Cookson’sWildebeest came to Croc attempting to drink at the waterhole in front of camp, an unusaual sighting for me.
. An afternoon walk to Big Lagoon flushed out Epauleted Fruit Bats and and Giant Eagle Owl, before once again driving winds sent us scurrying homewards. Someone else got that shower.
An early rise on the 13th saw us leaving the McAdam,s at Croc Crossing for their return trip home ,and we continued with Tony and Sally toward Tafika. The cool weather had brought out a 3 meter Python which lay close to our trail and we got some cracking shots close up along with sightings of Giant Eagle Owl
| | | | | Date: | 17 October 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | On 15th of October I did a morning drive. We saw some puku near camp, then we went further down the river and we found 9 lions sleeping on the beach. But since they were on the other side of the river we left them. After about an hour later we saw 23 elephants walking across the beach in front us with babies. Then I headed further to check on the lion kill, only found vultures. As we were watching them, there was another lion lying down in the shade near the bank. There were antelopes everywhere, such as kudu, puku and impala. Driving back to camp in the tree was a genet on a fork sleeping. When he heard us he got up and moved to the top that we could not see him again. | | | | | Date: | 14 October 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Morning Walk | | Camp: | Mwaleshi Camp | | Blog: | I was sent to Mwaleshi camp to help Ernst. Leaving here on the 3rd October we arrived at mwaleshi airstrip at 0650hrs. I did my first walk in the afternoon and saw elephants, impala, zebras, 3 lions and more elephant came close to lions. One elephant came in to the camp at night and destroyed the viewing shelter. On the 4th we saw a genet coming down from the tree we stopped for tea, two buffalos, 5 elephants. On the 5th we saw puku, impala, zebras, hyena, wildebeest, and a herd of buffalo, lots of love birds, wahlberg’s eagle and a leopard in the tree while driving to the airstrip. 7th October we were doing a transfer to another camp so we walked to a place where we met up with the car to drive to the next camp. On the way we saw bateleur eagle, saddle billed storks, leopard walking towards the water, lion, hyenas, wildebeests, elephants, buffalo, more lions, water bucks and warthogs. In the afternoon buffalos came very close to camp. On our morning walk the 8th we saw 2 female lion with 3 cubs feeding on the wildebeest, baboons, puku, later one male lion sleeping, crocodile and a herd of buffalo. In the afternoon we went to the lions on the kill and one female mock charged us that one of my guests jumped while he was taking pictures. On the walk warthogs, buffalo, rock monitor lizard in the tree which was my first time to see. Afternoon 7 lions lying on the bank of mwaleshi river. I did a drive in the afternoon on the 10th and we saw peal spotted owl, pennant winged nightjar, dwarf mongoose, genet and double banded sandgrouse. The next day we saw one wildebeest mixed with impala, african harrier hawk, fish eagle, yellow billed kite and later afternoon 4 lions. On 12th I walked up stream of mwaleshi river. There were some elephants, crowned cranes saddle billed storks, hammer kop, white crowned plovers, great white egret, wildebeest, impala, lion vultures and 5 water bucks near camp. My last morning went to luangwa river to see the carmine bee eaters. On the way there we saw a giant eagle owl, puff back shrike, troop of baboon, African hoopoe, lappet faced vulture, white backed vulture and martial eagle. I left mwaleshi camp on 13th back to Tafika in the afternoon. | | | | | Date: | 12 October 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Alex Phiri | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | This morning I went out on drive and these are the following things which we spotted.
Tawny eagle, vultures, doves, goliath heron and a green shank just to mention a few.
The animals that we saw were lots of antlopes, few buffaloes, three female lions two young male lions and a young male leopard up in the tree.
| | | | | Date: | 10 October 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Rory McDougall | | Outing: | Chikoko Walking Trail | | Camp: | Chikoko Walking Trails | | Blog: | October 10th.2008
Long walk to Crocodile Camp and then onto Chikoko Camp.
We left Tafika on a long walk, with Brigitte and Thierry from Paris and Sally and Paul from the UK.
We crossed the Luangwa just below the Camp with Hippo in attendance. Almost grudgingly, they gave way and we were able to view the Carmine Bee-eater Colony in the beautiful morning light leaving for their daily catch. Such a sight, truly amazing colours.
We walked through the plain close to the crossing and were able to look at Puku and Impala at close quarters. We studied the feeding habits of the Puku in the short grass and began our exercises in becoming experts in Poo dropping”” identification.
We had a pleasant walk in threatening storm build up and it became very hot early on. We stopped for a welcome Tea break next to the Luangwa where Justin our Tea bearer demonstrated his skill at lighting fires using the traditional fire rubbing stick method.
After Tea, we said goodbye to Paul and Sally at another Luangwa crossing point as they were returning to Tafika. We continued onto Crocodile camp to enjoy a lovely cooling drink in the shade of the Ebony trees which were just sporting their new foliage.
A hot afternoon ensued with stormy winds blowing in. We enjoyed a short walk, followed by a shower and three course dinner.
The next day, we woke early at 0500hrs, breakfasted and set off on our morning walk via Croc crossing, where we met Kath, Mark and Bill McAdam, who were joining the Walking Safari onto Chikoko Bush Camp. On the way we had lovely sightings of Thorny croft Giraffe.
A good walk, and we were soon heating up in the October sun. We stopped for a necessary Tea break at Mwana Chikoko dry lagoon, and enjoyed a Cappuccino that Kath had brought along. At the same time we watched a group of six Male Waterbuck sparring away.
We walked in silence for the next half an hour hoping to see Roan that we had spotted in the vicinity earlier in the week. Sure enough, there some were. Not the Herd of 20 we had spotted earlier in the week, but 4 lovely Bulls. We tried to get close by stalking up the Chikoko Dry river bed and succeeded to a degree. A truly magnificent animal but very wary and hard to approach.
Buffalo were nearby and waterbuck and elephant too.
Another a hot afternoon with promising rain meant all of us having electrolyte rehydration salts to keep our energy levels up.
Just as we were about to leave for the afternoon walk, we noticed a large herd of Buffalo approaching camp from the west, downwind. We sat and watched, hoping they would come to drink.
After being spooked, we were then able to approach within fifty meters, stalking up the Chikoko Dry river bed, and Bill and Mark, drooling at the mouth, were able to study wild Zambian Buffalo close at hand. This was a subject close to their heart as they breed Disease Free Cape Buffalo, on their Game Farm in South Africa. Thierry a keen photographer provided much hilarity as his flash spooked the herd into retreat en masse””, much to his dismay. We continued our walk to the Luangwa River and were able to look at Elephant drinking in the distance as the light began to fade.
We arrived back in camp just in time to be able to enjoy our sundowner followed closely by 2 millimeters of rain and wind to cool us all down. The wind was exciting and exhilarating and later sleeping with the gentle patter of rain was an unbelievable feeling.
The morning of the 12th, was a lovely soft quiet one as a result……Just the” Öhwaan” call of the pair of Crowned Crane that had landed, no Sausage Tree leaves crunched underfoot; and the black Cracking Clays were an unusual pleasure to cross. We walked to Dups Lagoon for tea, All the flocks of Lillian’s Lovebirds wheeled overhead, excited by the recent shower, and a lot of the sausage tree flowers remained uneaten as the antelope sought out the new softer shoots. At lunchtime a lone bull Cookson’sWildebeest came to Croc attempting to drink at the waterhole in front of camp, an unusaual sighting for me.
. An afternoon walk to Big Lagoon flushed out Epauleted Fruit Bats and and Giant Eagle Owl, before once again driving winds sent us scurrying homewards. Someone else got that shower.
An early rise on the 13th saw us leaving the McAdam,s at Croc Crossing for their return trip home ,and we continued with Tony and Sally toward Tafika. The cool weather had brought out a 3 meter Python which lay close to our trail and we got some cracking shots close up along with sightings of Giant Eagle Owl
| | | | | Date: | 02 October 2008 06:00 | | Guide: | Bryan Jackson | | Outing: | Morning Walk | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | The last two morning walks out of Tafika have been really good ones, on both occasions we had good sightings of Lion, Buffalo and Elephant. The second walk added 6 Giraffe at tea time, 2 young males necking, the rest feeding on woolly caper bushes, all very close to our tea spot and a Leopard on our way home. It was a brief glimpse, the Leopard did 0-100 in 2 seconds flat. | | | | | Date: | 30 September 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Chikoko Walking Trail | | Camp: | Chikoko Walking Trails | | Blog: | I have come back from the chikoko walking trails. I left Tafika camp on 27th September and walked to crocodile camp for two nights. While at Tafika for tea, I saw a hyena running towards the water and after a good look he had something in its mouth. On the bank were two leopards which we thought the hyena took their kill. So we crossed the river and walked towards them because we were going to the walking camp, but they ran before we got near them. Also my guests were very interested in birds that we stopped at the carmine bee eaters not far from the crossing. We got to camp at about 1815 hours. At camp we saw scops owls at supper time. The next morning we saw kudu, elephants, puku, impala, fish eagles, lilians love birds, lilac breasted roller and many more. In the afternoon there were elephants having mud bath as we were standing on top of the bank. Then on 29th we moved on to chikoko where I stayed for one night. This morning I went for a walk before I left for Tafika. At chibembe lagoon we saw a wood owl in the bush and flew in to the tree we were. We had a wonderful sight of him. Then I left for Tafika since I handed over my guests to Issac who came in with two more. | | | | | Date: | 26 September 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Morning Walk | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Last night’s game drive was started a little bit early since the guests wanted to go to the salt pans for the wild dogs which were seen the previous night. Taking the kakonje road which has tsetse flies, was very an usual because we did not noticed any one. At kakonje pan we found 15 lions sleeping. We watched them until sundowner time. After that we saw a serval, hyena with two puppies, grysbok and then leopard hunting.
This morning I went for a short walk from Tafika with two guests. Before crossing the river there were buffalos, puku, banded mongoose, ground hornbill and vervet monkeys. The other side we saw two pel’s fishing owl’s elephants, banded mongoose drinking nectar from the sausage flowers, lions and leopard sleeping on the branch.
| | | | | Date: | 25 September 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Chikoko Walking Trail | | Camp: | Chikoko Walking Trails | | Blog: | On 19th September I went to chikoko for two nights. My first night I had one guest and we were joined up with four others the following day. One afternoon one guest wanted to see baboons and watch them for a while. Luckily enough they came very close to camp, so we did not have to go away. But while looking at them we heard other baboons barking from a different place. They asked me what was going on, I said, they were barking either on the leopard or lion. I asked them if they were happy to check. After we got to the place, the baboons were still shouting and one of them was like 10 meters from the tree. We were looking in to the grass but the leopard was right in the tree next to us. As we kept looking Tracey on of my guests saw the tail flicking from the tree. She whispered ‘leopard, leopard.’ I asked where? She said in the tree next to us. We watched him for few minutes and he came down walked away. We crossed the stream so that we can have a good view but we could not see him. As we were talking he heard us and stood up from where he was hiding and walked to the other tree sat there. Then he moved and climbed again in the other tree. It was getting dark so we had to walk back to camp. The following day we were leaving for crocodile camp. At crocodile we saw some water bucks, kudu and many more. In the evening while having our drinks the scops owl flew above and landed on the branch. In this tree there is a hole which I think they are nesting in. Later he went in to the hole while the other one was waiting out side.
On 22nd we walked to the crossing to drop off 4 guests since they were leaving. Before reaching the crossing Bryan one of the guest was asking whether we would see the leopard because he missed the first one. I said well let’s keep looking we may see one. When I was explaining on some of the plants, the scout saw a tail in the tree and thought it was a genet. He asked to check with the binoculars and it was a leopard. Bryan was very happy. After that they crossed the river and I took three new guests back to crocodile camp for two more nights. This time a herd of buffalo came near camp, at night the hyenas calling, owls and baboons barking. I came back to Tafika on 24th in the morning.
| | | | | Date: | 25 September 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Alex Phiri | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | It was in the morning when we went out on drive, and these are the following things that we saw , lots of birds like doves, herons love birds , just to mention a few.
Some of the animals we saw were lions , one leopard came down from the tree and also lots of antlopes.
| | | | | Date: | 19 September 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | PM Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Once again, yesterday I left for the afternoon game drive with 4 guests at 1600 hours. They were interested in birds. As we left the camp, one bull elephant came out of the bush and looked at us. Then in the next tree flew the purple crested turaco. Further down the road we saw another elephant eating the marula tree. After about an hour we saw some lions. Watching them, one female decided to take a walk towards the tree close to us. I thought she was going to lay down under this tree but she climbed on to the fallen branch and came very near where we were. She looked at us while at the same time she was looking at the buffalos behind us. Since she was very near I decided to back up a little bit so that my guests could take pictures. We saw the mother pushing him while he was trying to suckle. After sundowners we saw two civets, one genet. It was not very active after dark last night. | | | | | Date: | 17 September 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Chikoko Walking Trail | | Camp: | Chikoko Walking Trails | | Blog: | I left for chikoko trails on 14th September at 06 45 hrs since we have changed the time because of the heat. I walked to chikoko camp for two nights. On the way there, we saw a lot of animals and birds. While we stopped for tea, there were two families of warthogs with five babies digging for roots. As we were heading to the camp there were some lilians love birds in the tree near the water with red billed queleas. In the afternoon we saw one hyena which was sleeping in the chikoko river bed. The next morning we were going to chibembe lagoon but we heard the baboons barking behind us and I decided to go back to check. We did and saw a male leopard sleeping on the side of the ant hill, and the elephants were not far from him seemed not noticing his presence. We managed to walk a little bit close about 50 meters. When the wind changed directions to him, he woke up and walked away. That afternoon we walked along the Luangwa river to see the hippos and crocodiles. There were massive crocodiles basking on the sand. And on the 16th we left for crocodile camp and saw a herd of buffalo another warthog family with babies. At crocodile camp there is a lagoon behind, the buffalos were drinking and one of them got stuck in mud. We checked her this morning before we left camp and she is still there. | | | | | Date: | 13 September 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Yestarday I left for the pm drive at 1620 hours herding towards chimmbwi lagoon. On the way out we had a small family of elephants taking down trees. As I was crossing Banda’s drift we heard the baboons barking and the impala all looking into the long grass. We couldn’t see what ever was there. I stopped at a small hill to check round for other things and I spotted some lions on the top bank of the luangwa river. I drove near them, but since they were on the other side I couldn’t get very near. While watching them, one female decided to cross and we saw her. On the other side were more lions. So after she crossed she went to visit the male who was lying down. She seemed that she was ready for mating but the male just kept sleeping. So one of my guest said that may be the male was gay. There was a big laughter after he said that. After dark, when we started spotting we saw a female leopard on the lagoon drinking. It was very difficult to get too near to her because the place was very rough, so we had just to watch her from where we were. I was running out of time so I had to leave for home. But before reaching the camp we saw another leopard eating the impala next to the road. About 150 meters to camp we saw one civet looking at us as I drove pass him. | | | | | Date: | 12 September 2008 06:00 | | Guide: | Ernst Jacobs | | Outing: | Morning Walk | | Camp: | Mwaleshi Camp | | Blog: | 12 September
Our morning walk had us see an impressive sight of buffalo filling up a floodplain whilst they grazed. We also noticed two lionesses lying under a tree for shade. They made the mistake of moving off to find better shade and were immediately spotted by the Buffalo. The buffalo gave chase and the lions had to move smartly not to be caught by the irate bovines.
We found the same group of buffalo close to camp on the afternoon walk. It seemed as if their numbers had swollen and they made a trail of a kilometre long towards the river. Unfortunately the wind was swirling and they soon caught our scent and moved away from us.
13 September
We took a drive out to Tuwidi lagoon where we watched warthog wallow and impalas come down to drink.
The afternoon was made exciting by finding ‘Bama’ in the tree again. She does not seem to mind our presence any more and is a real bonus to have around. I hope that we will have many more sightings of her. We then found a giant eagle owl in another tree where we had very good views of its pink eyelids and white face. Two lions completed the icing on the cake of our viewing experience! They were sleeping in the river bed and did not notice us, but then jumped up and scurried off into some tall grass.
14 September
The morning walk went up stream along the Mwaleshi to see if the buffaloes had maybe gone that way. Instead we had good views of wildebeest and zebras coming to drink.
The afternoon walk also found us on the banks of the Mwaleshi where we encountered our three resident buffalo bulls that are now called “The Three Musketeers”.
| | | | | Date: | 12 September 2008 06:00 | | Guide: | Ernst Jacobs | | Outing: | Morning Walk | | Camp: | Mwaleshi Camp | | Blog: | 12 September
Our morning walk had us see an impressive sight of buffalo filling up a floodplain whilst they grazed. We also noticed two lionesses lying under a tree for shade. They made the mistake of moving off to find better shade and were immediately spotted by the Buffalo. The buffalo gave chase and the lions had to move smartly not to be caught by the irate bovines.
We found the same group of buffalo close to camp on the afternoon walk. It seemed as if their numbers had swollen and they made a trail of a kilometre long towards the river. Unfortunately the wind was swirling and they soon caught our scent and moved away from us.
13 September
We took a drive out to Tuwidi lagoon where we watched warthog wallow and impalas come down to drink.
The afternoon was made exciting by finding ‘Bama’ in the tree again. She does not seem to mind our presence any more and is a real bonus to have around. I hope that we will have many more sightings of her. We then found a giant eagle owl in another tree where we had very good views of its pink eyelids and white face. Two lions completed the icing on the cake of our viewing experience! They were sleeping in the river bed and did not notice us, but then jumped up and scurried off into some tall grass.
14 September
The morning walk went up stream along the Mwaleshi to see if the buffaloes had maybe gone that way. Instead we had good views of wildebeest and zebras coming to drink.
The afternoon walk also found us on the banks of the Mwaleshi where we encountered our three resident buffalo bulls that are now called “The Three Musketeers”.
| | | | | Date: | 11 September 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Alex Phiri | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | It was in the afternoon when we started our drive at about 16:00 hours and I had six guests with me. Just after we left the camp, we saw the impala which was killed by the leopard but we did not see the leopard. We saw few birds like tawny eagle, marabou stork and also vultures up in the trees .As I stopped for the vultures, I saw elephants coming for the crossing so I went to see them as they were crossing. I also saw lions lying on the sand which I thought they had killed a buffalo where I saw the vultures up in the trees.
After sundown, we saw two leopards a female and a male which I thought it was a mating pair .we watched them for about 20 minutes and there after we left .On our way back, we saw genets, white tailed mongoose and two honey badgers.
| | | | | Date: | 11 September 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Last night’s game drive started by seeing the bush bucks within the camp. I left at 1605 hours, and after watching the bush bucks we saw the tawny eagle in the tree near by. Then after that I drove to the river side road where we saw 4 lions lying on the beach while the elephants were looking from the other side, making a rambling sound trying to chase the lions away so that they can cross. Giraffe, buffalo, impala, puku and baboon were also around. As the sun was going down it was time to stop for a drink. Driving to a sundowner spot, we saw another lion on its own lying next to water hole. Behind her were some vultures in the tree where there was a dead a buffalo. At sundowner stop we saw 5 hyenas walking towards the dead buffalo. After that I drove further down to a place called chimbwi lagoon only to do loop. Getting there we found two leopards walking towards the antelopes and we thought that they were hunting. We turned our lights off not to disturb both the leopard and the antelopes, but they only walked through. Then we left and saw a porcupine.
This morning I conducted a short walk with one guest. He loves to walk and he did not bring his camera since he just wanted to enjoy walking. I first went to check on the dead impala which the leopard killed last night. He was not there only part of the impala because he ate most of it. Then we crossed the river and walked along the chankhanga stream to the lagoon. But before we stopped for our tea break, the scout spotted some lion foot prints. We tried to follow them but no luck this time. At the lagoon lots of different birds, antelopes, few elephants, warthogs and monkeys. Walking back I saw something in the bush which at first thought was a dead log. But checking well they turn out to be three porcupines. We tip toed towards them and we got close not more than 20 meters. We watched them for about 5 minutes and they went into the hole. As we were crossing back the hippos and crocodiles were looking at us. 5 minutes to camp two buffalos were lying in the bush, they stood up, looked at us as we walked pass them.
| | | | | Date: | 10 September 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Alex Phiri | | Outing: | PM Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | It was the afternoon drive when we started the trip and just at the water hole we saw lots of banded mongoose and also about six bush bucks drinking at the spot .After we entered the park, we saw some few birds like lilians love birds ,red billed horn bills ,weavers and also lots of doves. Further more we saw zebras ,kudu ,Impala and lots of baboons playing and this was before sundown .I decided to have my sundown at the Hot spring and we saw the salt pan pride on the buffalo kill and there for we had our sundown in the car.
After that ,I decided to go to the river side where we saw one hyena ,two bush tailed mongoose ,genet and also a civet in a distance. On our way , we saw two hyenas on the kill which was not for them because the leopard was just next them waiting to see if the hyenas can move out. The hyenas had chassed the leopard on the kill and this cat had a cub which we saw after the hyenas had left the mother started calling the cub and the cub was just up in the tree
| | | | | Date: | 10 September 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Night Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | Last night I did a game drive started at 1600 hours with 4 guests. I was heading for the salt pan to try to find the wild dogs which the other people saw the previous day. But before the pan we stopped for squirrels, birds and trees. Along the kakonje road there is a big baobab tree which is half eaten by the elephants and it looks as if it has a big belly. After looking at it, I went on and only about two minutes we saw a leopard walking away. She stopped 50 meters, laid down. We watched her for 20 minutes and when I was positioning the car so that the guests can take pictures with sun set behind her, she moved into the bush. I drove towards the bush and she came out from the other side. As I turned round we saw another leopard walking away from the same bush. It was a mother and her cub. We watched them for another 10 minutes then they disappeared into the tall grass. Now it was already 1700 hours so I drove a little bit faster to get to the salt pan before dark. We did not find the wild dogs instead there were 16 lions feeding on the buffalo. Since we had on time to stop for sun downers on the way to the pan, I decided to have it where the lions were. How nice it is having your drinks with lions eating. Then it was time to go home so I did. So last night we saw 4 of the big 5 in 3 hours. | | | | | Date: | 10 September 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Cameron Dallas | | Outing: | Morning Drive | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | I decided to head up to the Salt pan to see if anything was left of the buffalo killed by lioness the previous two days .
We found a spottted hyena on the carcass together with whitebacked vultures which the hyena was constantly having to drive off. In the distance I counted another eight hyena.
Driving closer we found a mixture of females and youngish males.
One large female had the skin of the buffalo in its jaws and another male was running off with the legs.
Back at the kill a lappetfaced vulture was now dominating on top of the carcass. I decided to go down to an area we call the "delta ", green and always full of puku. Roundin a bend in the road one of my guests tapped me on my shoulder and said "theres a lion over there ". Stopping I saw another looking out over the long grass.
Then another popped his head up and then another.
Four lovely males full of last nights kill. One by one they moved off into the shade of a small combretum thicket where we left them. | | | | | Date: | 10 September 2008 00:00 | | Guide: | Stephen Banda | | Outing: | Morning Walk | | Camp: | Tafika Camp | | Blog: | This morning I went on a short walk with the guests I had in the walking camps for 4 nights. Their names are Patrick and Alison from Australia. We left at 0630 hours with Emanuel the scout and Brighton the tea bearer. Before leaving camp we heard lions the other side of the river so we crossed and saw their foot prints on the hippo high way, and tracked them. There were lots of elephants on the way so we had to take a long detour. As we got out of the gulley, the wind changed direction and this is the time the lions picked our scent. We saw one running, and as we watched her going, the male came out as well but he did not run because he did not notice our presence. He walked away majestically showing his manes. Patrick took nice pictures of him. This male followed the female into the grass that we could not see them. There after we walked to the lagoon and there, we saw more elephants drinking. We stopped there for tea while watching them. There were also about 14 different kinds of birds at the same lagoon. | | | |
Jump to Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 NEXT
|
|
|
