Wednesday 22 September 2010

SIGHTINGS REPORT AND PHOTOS FROM BUSANGA KAFUE GUIDED SAFARI




Well what a couple of weeks we have been enjoying out here in the Zambian Bush. Our first guided trip in to the Kafue was simply fantastic not just because the guests all had a great time enjoying our
informal style of safari and staying in the camps which we carefully choose as our bases but because the wildlife sightings were varied and interesting. From Ants to Elephants the Kafue did not disappoint. The first afternoon in the bush we took a gentle boat trip on the Kafue and immediately the camera's were clicking as Elephants
crossed the river in front of us, of course Hippos were everywhere and the birding was spectacular, with the sun low in sky as we approached camp we spotted a Leopard at the river side.
The Kafue is a beautiful place.
The antelope species sightings alone included : Roan both in breeding herds and bachelor's sparring , Red Lechwe in vast numbers on the Busanga plains, Puku, Oribi, Impala, Sable, Hartebeest, Wildebeest who were giving birth all over the place, Kudu, Common duiker and Sharpe's Grysbok. A highlight for me and the guests was an encounter with a large herd of Elephants on the plains as for many years Ele's would only cross at night to avoid human contact but now with careful approaches they remain on the plains, sightings were exciting and interesting with a number of mock charges as we approached from protective family members but when dust settled we saw family ties being reinforced and sat quietly listening to the low rumbles as they communicated with each other.
Whilst staying with Tyrone at his camp on the Plains we had one of those special nights, which started with an encounter with the Elephants, then a great sighting of Serval, then back in camp for a bucket shower and drinks around the camp fire as we chatted I noticed a Lechwe alarm call in the darkness close by as i reached for my torch a Puku alarm and as the beam reached the plain we could see antelope running passed just 20 mtrs away Add Imagewith a Lioness in chase I just had time to turn to see another Lion spring from the grass ahead of the stampede taking down a poor Lechwe, we retreated a little way to out dinning room from where we ate dinner with a spotlight
on the Lions as the feed very close by. The week ended with days at Hippo Lodge where the riverine woodland provided a contrast to the plains and where we encountered not just Lions (from landrover & on walking safaris) but Buffalo and a huge Croc on her way back to river from her nest site. The birds here are always varied from raptors to finches another highlight was a spectacular pennant winged nightjar.
If you would like to know more about this safari or join one of our safaris to the Kafue please feel free to get in touch
Regards Tony McKeith










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