South Luangwa National Park

Luangwa River – Mfuwe
Zambia
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We arrived at Nkwali camp around 5PM on Tuesday, November 13. What a spectacular change, both in the lodge and with the game. On the way from the airport we passed many villages with more people that we have seen since we left Cape Town. Here is a local grocery store. And some of the local housing and children running home after school.

We spotted Cape buffalo and elephant before we even got to the camp. The regimen is the same – up at 5:15am, morning safari, lunch, nap, tea, evening safari, dinner and bed. We have been having very strange dreams, which we understand is one of the side effects of Malarone, the malaria meds. I suspect it is also the environment.

The lodge has virtually no bugs in comparison to what we have been used to. We took a shower the first night with a small frog, and there are a few geckos around on the walls, but in comparison to our last two camps, this is the 4 Seasons.

The game viewing has been spectacular, although the leopard still eludes us. We saw a herd of about 25-30 elephants, who passed about 10 feet from the land cruiser. Today we saw a pack of wild dogs. Also saw Thornicroft’s giraffe, more hippo, impala, bushbuck, an African civet, and more. It’s been amazing.

Today we saw a pack of wild dogs. You don't want to be a baby impala around here!

Last night, again in the rain (but nothing like Lunga), Brian was fiddling with his poncho and dropped his camera on the hard metal floor of the land cruiser. He dented the rim to the lens, but fortunately the hood probably saved it from shattering completely. He was able to use a leatherman to straighten it out and today’s shooting seems to show that the camera and lens are ok. We are very grateful.

There will be more from here as we don’t leave Mfuwe until Friday. Having massages this afternoon and then relaxing until dinner.

Keep an eye out for more!