A Meyers Parrot welcomed you to this newsletter.  They are fruit-eaters and there is lots of fruit available at this time of year.

Weather

November started off hot and then it got hotter.  By the middle of the month one tour operator put a note on social media that she would do a rain dance but didn’t have the energy.  And then, one week before the end of November there were reports of rain in the north.  Finally, Livingstone also got rain.  It came as a loud and very blustery storm with lightning and thunder crashing all around.  And the temperature dropped by at least 15ºC.

It also becomes humid and those potatoes and onions in the vegetable tray soon start to grow.

The Parks

With the rain, many camps closed during November as they become inaccessible until May/June next year.  In South Luangwa all the bush camps closed although the camps in the main area and those over the river in Lupande GMA remain open.  Luambe and North Luangwa are completely closed.  In Kafue camps in Busanga Plain and Nanzhila Plain have closed, as has Fig Tree Camp in Central Kafue.  In Lower Zambezi the park has closed but the neighbouring Chiawa remains open.

This is probably the best time for bird watchers.  Many migrants have arrived and our residents are in their bright colours for the breeding season.  They are also being very vocal as they proclaim their territory.  The grass has not grown tall and the trees and shrubs are not in full leaf, therefore viewing is easy.  Many young will be born during the rainy season, the impala probably the first babies to be born.

In Liuwa Plain the wildebeest have started to arrive and in Kasanka the bats are gorging themselves on the fruit.

The Rivers

The seasonal rivers will run after each storm cascading down the hillsides to our big perennial rivers.  Much of the water in the Luangwa comes down the Muchinga Escarpment.     The Zambezi which starts in Zambia but then goes for a meander in Angola receives a large amount of its water from Angola and takes many weeks to reach the Victoria Falls.  The water coming over the Victoria Falls in the photograph above is from our local rain and will ebb and flow accordingly.  The Kafue River fills up from many streams around the Copperbelt and then it is joined by the Lunga and Lufupa Rivers.  It is the Lufupa River which is responsible for the flooding of Busanga Plain.

Money Matters

I am often asked about costs in Zambia, so here are a few to give you an idea.

Tracks 4 Africa

Tracks 4 Africa gives lots of advice on self-drive travel around Africa.  They also have maps and tips for GPS use.  If you need advice on travelling to Zambia via other countries, their website is worth reading.  Click on the link to the right to have a look.

From around the regions from media

Above is the Curio Market at the Victoria Falls.  Some excellent crafts but all visitors have to haggle for a good price.

Tony Barnett Productions

Under Livingstone Island.  In search of light

Fawlty Towers

Our friend, Emma, snapped this shot recently. Zebras ambling about Livingstone! We love where we live!

The Elephant Café

We waited and waited and waited!  It’s finally here.  Rain over the Zambezi.

Safari Par Excellence

When we say “no predators” in Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, not sure this impala would agree? A rare and awesome sighting captured by Shannon Weaver on a Safpar Game Drive!

Kayube River Estate

One of the most unusual accommodation options at Kayube is the ‘Mama Out of Africa’ that has a remarkable history. The old-shaped bus, now retired under a huge sloping thatch roof has been converted into accommodation for 2-4 with an outside bathroom, spacious seating area and game viewing platform. The bus was driven down from Munich in Germany by the late Peter Kermer in the early seventies. Since then it has travelled many miles all over Africa and became known as the ‘Okavango Mama’. Her claim to fame is that she once served as the dressing room on the set of the famous movie ‘Out of Africa’ – hence her current name, Mama Out of Africa.

Wilderness Safaris

Always remember to bring your trunks when coming to Toka Leya…  Images courtesy Brigitte Mosig

AVANI Victoria Falls Resort

Explore the grounds of AVANI Victoria Falls Resort and you often will run into a few giraffe and zebra.

Chundukwa River Lodge

Sunset Cruises on the Zambezi River at this time of year are particularly beautiful and a fabulous way to relax and unwind after a long flight to Africa.

Tongabezi

This gorgeous lady came down just in time for a Tongabezi Sundowners boat trip. She was definitely showing off for our guests!

The Mobile Safari Company

4 days in Kafue , 7 lion, 5 cheetah, 1 serval and 1 leopard … good trip

Last week in Kafue – wild dogs near Konkamoyo

Nanzhila Plains Safari Camp

The Nanzhila deck has been alive in the last few days – in the afternoon, this pack of wild dogs were seen harassing our resident Defassa waterbuck and wait and see what happened during the night…coming soon.

Mukambi Safaris

Coming face to face with a lioness is an experience you won’t quickly forget – especially one with such intense eyes. Staring directly up at our guests on a game drive we wonder what she’s thinking.

The beautiful Roan Antelope on the Busanga plains, complete with Oxpeckers to rid them of ticks and other irritants. The black and white patterning on their faces acts as a heat exchanger, allowing them to withstand incredibly high temperatures.

Great white pelicans – many of our guests are surprised to see these heavy birds when they visit the plains, assuming them to be seaside dwellers, but we love to watch them waddling about in front of our boma at Busanga

… opening ceremony of our new school classroom block… we’d like to send huge thanks to all of our donors, workers, staff and guests for your continued support for the future education of our growing Mukambi community.

McBrides’ Camp

Very rarely seen in the open: Pel’s fishing owl

Scotopelia (Greek, skotos) – gloom, darkness.  Peli, of Pel, after H.S. Pel, Governor of Dutch Gold Coast 1840- 1850

Kafue River Lodge

Some photos

Wildlife Camp

Early this morning I heard some strange noise coming from my verandah !! Turned out that it was a very confused elephant calf. The mother was very upset, so we had to wait for her to move off a bit before Dawie could help the little one out. Took a while but all happy now !!

Wildlife Photographer, Steven Witteveen stayed with us for a while. Here is a few of his pictures he took during his stay with us.

Kafunta Safaris

One of our favourite owls! The Scops Owl.

Photo by our guest Andrew Halter

Remote Africa Safaris

The impala foals have arrived! This marks a special time at the end of season when the female impalas throughout the valley start dropping their precious cargo and we start seeing their little foals wobbling around on long spindly legs. We were lucky to see this foal out in the open for a bit before mum shepherded it away from sight.

The Bushcamp Company

It’s the time of year here at Mfuwe Lodge when this sight becomes very common!

TGIF!

At Mfuwe Lodge, everyone’s getting ready for the rains!

photo by Ian Salisbury

When you’ve made it to the gym, but the idea of doing an actual workout is just too daunting . . .

photo by Mfuwe Lodge host Bella Doyle

Gavin Opie Safaris – Nkonzi Camp

There are many reasons why we love the Luangwa, this photo sums up many!.

Robin Pope

This week on Safari Diaries, we witness a pack of wild dogs on the hunt! And for the first time, their growing pups are joining in.

Conservation South Luangwa

Chilli Patrollers Are Ready for the 2019 Season

This week we partnered with Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife to ‘refresh’ our seasoned veteran chilli blasters and train the new recruits. A team of 20 dedicated farmers/chilli blasters will spend each night of the growing season out in their communities keeping the crops and property safe from elephants.

Luambe Camp

Baines’ River Camp

And this is why we don’t let our guests go swimming in the river !!!

Kasanka Trust Zambia

It is now peak bat season, where all of the bats have arrived at Kasanka. One of our guests has allowed us to share a video he took from Musola Hide (formerly known as Japanese Hide).

A description we quite like that has been used to describe the bats, is like being in the middle of a bat hurricane, no matter where you look, you see bats.

While photos and videos just cannot capture the sheer enormity of the bat numbers, we hope it helps our friends who are at home. If you listen closely, you can hear the bats’ wings.  Video: Dan Smith

Ndole Bay Lodge

Check out this amazing catch! Weighing in at over 20kgs this is a perch this lucky angler will never forget. Live released back into the lake for the next aspiring angler too. Thanks for the great pics Rennie and Christine!

Sooo many warthogs! Very commonly seen on the shores of Nsumbu National Park along with plenty of Puku and bushbuck, hippos, a wide assortment of birds

Isanga Bay

Tautvydas Pangonis is with Brenton Pember and 3 others.

During our trip to Lake Tanganyika we camped twice at Isanga Bay Lodge. We would like to thank Morkel Du Preez, his family and guys working at the lodge for warm welcome and good memories !

Quentin Allen‎ of Zambian Waterfalls

Kalambo Falls.  One of the top 10 falls from volume 1 of Little Known Falls of Zambia. It happens to be the longest drop in Zambia, 2nd in Africa and 11th in the world.  A stunning fall well worth a visit bordering Tanzania tumbling into the river which flows into Lake Tanganyika.

Centenary of the End of World War I

Throughout the world the centenary of the end of World War I was commemorated at 11am on 11th November.  However, Zambia had a special commemoration on 25th November because hostilities had not ended here on 11th November.  General von Lettow-Vorbeck, the German Commander, was still with his forces, plundering Northern Rhodesia (Zambia).  He was found between Mpika and Kasama near the Chambeshi River two days after the end of hostilities.  He was formally given notice of the end of the war and forced to march to Abercorn (Mbala) which took 11 days.

So, Zambia had its own commemoration on 25 November to remember the dead at the Memorial Site by the bridge over the Chambeshi River.  Photo: Lee Anne Singh

G: I have written a potted history of Northern Zambia where General von Lettow-Vorbeck is mentioned. If you would like to read, click on the link to the below.

Remote Africa Safaris

Mwaleshi Camp was the last walking camp to close and was packed up a week and a half ago. Alex led the team in packing away everything safely for next year and they all headed for home. The end to another great season up in the North Luangwa!

From Canoes, Fishermen Guard Africa’s Famous Shoebills Against Poachers

Audubon

Live chicks can go for thousands of dollars on the black market. So dedicated locals have banded together to protect the birds and their nests. …

To continue reading the article click here

The Mobile Safari Company

Liuwa Plains November 2018

Tribal Textiles

Tribal Textiles founder, Gillie Lightfoot, with HRH Prince Harry at a reception at the British High Commission in Lusaka this evening. It was a privilege to be able to tell HRH about the Artisan Programme we are running with DFID support in South Luangwa, working with local artists to create beautiful products and provide sustainable incomes for the community in Mfuwe.

Ruth Henson (Livingstone)

Doesn’t take many days after rain for the lilies to flower.