10/05/2008
My first week has flown.
Settling into school work has had it challenges. It took two days to locate lead pencils. We have a little school room with a wall of bookshelves and a blackboard, (and soon I will have chalk). Out of the school room window we have seen baboons, a large Monitor Lizard, and 3 Elephants including one baby one.
School was to start at 8.00. On the first morning I left the breakfast table early and got to school early to set up. A little after 8, Mother and child arrive. I was then told it was my job to leave the breakfast table at 8 and walk Luke to school…Opphs!
Part of my job is to drive Luke to another camp, two times a week, so he can play with kids. This turned out to be a challenge, as is along time since I have driven a car with manual gears, and I had NEVER driven on the type of 4W drive roads. The Gibb river road is tame by comparison.
My camp is a delight; some type of wild animals can be seen all the time. Last night there was a two day old hippo with its mother just below the dinner platform. The baby was so small it could have walked under its mum. As we watched, the mum rolled on her side and suckled the baby. How fantastic is that.
I eat breakfast with Luke and his Mum and Dad, Anke and Ron, Honey, my next door neighbor, Mike the manager, Patrick, the bush camp manager, the building Manager, and the guides who are on duty that day. Breakfast table talk includes a discussion of what animals were in the camp the night before. That list has included a heard of 13 Elephants, Lions, Leopards and Hippos. At 4.00 one night 3 lions were lounging on our deck where we eat breakfast and dinner. BUT I don't see them. I sleep soundly and don't even hear them. I do hear Hippos and Elephants bellowing at times and I hear the rustle of leaves when an Elephant is grassing out side my house.
In the evening, after I have finished socializing, a night guard walks me home. On Thursday night there was a BIG elephant on the path next to my house. I had to return to the lodge, wait awhile and was later taken home in a car.
I have been lucky with sightings on Safaris. On a walking safari we got up close to Giraffes, were up (or was it down) wind of Elephants; however the high light was seeing a pack of wild dogs. I saw 2 chasing some Impala and later they joined the pack making 5. It was fun watching them interacts. Two dogs were sort of crying and chasing two other dogs. The Guide said the crying dogs were trying to get the dogs they were pestering to vomit up food for them.
On game drives I have seen, the usual elephants etc., but also an Adult lion and a separate Lion cub, a Leopard hunting, Hyenas and a Crocodile, so close I could have touched it, the very shy porcupines, and lots of nocturnal creatures whose names I have not learnt.. I am the only person who has seen both the elusive packs of dogs in the area.
Electricity is a problem in Zambia. It can be out for 6 hours a day. The day before we arrived at camp there had been a power surge, which had damaged two computers. The wireless/satellite Internet connection is erratic and can only work if the electricity is on, emails sometimes bounce back, even if I am replying to an email.
May letters : Getting there | Week 1 || Pictures from week 1 | Cheeky Monkeys | Hippo and Snake Pics | No Safari but... | Home
Lyn Haywood, Kafunta River Lodge, Box 83, Mfuwe, Zambia. Check out where I am staying Kafunta River Lodge.com
Tel at Office +260 216 246046
LynHaywood@luangwa.com (but all old email address still work)
My Mobile does not send or receive calls, SMS works : 0448 598 629