safari!

Back to Zambia for 4 day safari. Went with a tour group from Lilongwe and felt pretty ritzy. 3 of us from Nkhoma-me, Ngari, and Gerwim and 2 guys from US volunteering around Malawi (traveling separately). Small group meant plenty of room in the vehicles. 6 hours in the vehicle to get to South Luangwa National Park (4 of which were on very bumpy dirt roads) but we did arrive safely and in one piece very grateful to get out of the car. tents with 2 cots in and lamp light (when there was electricity) made for pretty nice accommodation at Track & Trail River Camp that also had the option of chalets or your own tents with a pool overlooking the river where we were able to relax and go for swims (very refreshing—read a little chilly). Meals were at picnic tables along the river where you could see hippos and crocs lounging.

Up at 5 to go on our first ride at 6. we saw everything—well almost. Lions, elephants, zebra, giraffe, hippos, stork, impala, buffalo, mongoose, baboons, monkeys, loads of birds. It was great and we still had 3 more drives! Beautiful weather though it was a little cold. Back about 11 for lunch, nap, and swim and then tea and another drive. This time we saw a leopard and saw him stalking an impala. I think our lights got in the way of the capture and the impala did get away (at least while we were watching).

They told me that there were hippos that come into camp at night to graze but I was really good at sleeping right through it which is pretty impressive as they are extremely loud eaters. And that elephants will wander through camp whenever they please. Don’t keep any fruit in your tent and just give the wild animals lots of space (good advice).

Day three was very similar to day 2. lots of wild animals. Up close with zebras and giraffes. Even lions—we got to see the male (Simba) with his carcass of somesort hiding in some bushes and the pride of female lions sunning themselves and not at all bothered by the vehicles around. Got smart and brought the blanket off my bed because the mornings and after the sunset was COLD…at least in the moving vehicle. If I hadn’t been afraid of mosquitos when we got back to camp tshirt still would have been fine. Watched most of the US v Ghana game but will admit to going to bed after Ghana scored in overtime. I left the 2 other Americans there to cheer but I was beat.

Got to sleep in the last day (get up at 6) but of course I was up at 530 so went to sit by the river in a camp chair and watch the sunrise. Great colors—when I hear a noise behind me (middle of camp). When I turn around there are 5 elephants eating off a tree and grazing right in the middle of the tents. Wow! Maybe 40 feet from me. I’m just going to sit and watch as there is no way I can make sure that Ngari and Gerwim are up as they are closer to the elephants but still in their tents. Then 2 of them come to the cliff edge over the river…now I’m 10 feet from them. And frozen in place—semi wishing for a camera, semi wishing I were invisible, semi glad I don’t have a camera because I’m sure the flash would go off just like everyone else’s, and fully hoping that they don’t come any closer as there is nothing between us. I’m an arm’s length from a tree but not going to move unless it is to jump out of the way…when I hear the guide who has snuck around the tents and is under the dining tent (my closest form of shelter that isn’t really any kind of shelter) trying to get my attention—SERIOUSLY?! I’m not sure what he wanted me to do but I kept the option of just not moving. The elephant closest to me did look at me (I don’t know how their eyesight is so I’m not sure if it saw me) flap his ears but then wandered back to the others. And I could breathe again.

Really cool but not sure I’d want a repeat performance at that proximity.