Luangwa River Lodge weekend.

The Lodge is about as far as safari drives from Kafunta go before having a Sundowner and heading back, so I saw parts of the park I had not seen before. My accommodation was beautiful. The bathroom had a sunken bath and an open shower looking out to the river. Coming from drought stricken Australia, I was concerned about wasting water. I found out that they pump their water from a boor, used water soaks back into the ground and returns to the water table in about three weeks, so I indulged myself and had a baths by candle light.

I was treated like royalty, the managers were charming, the staff friendly and helpful and to top this off there were 4 very interesting English guests in the lodge. I joined them on drives and enjoyed their company and sense of humor. Our sightings included: an amazing no of lions, including 5 young cubs playing together like kittens herds of elephant at close quarters and crossing the river two Wildebeest, one pictured apposite, this type is only found in Zambia a large colony of Carmine bee eaters - two pictured flying Lots of Hippos and unfortunately 8 dead Hippos surrounded by crocodiles in a feeding frenzy (there is speculation that anthrax is killing the hippos) and a 400 herd of Buffalo run across the road in front of us. The vegetation included strands of African Ebony trees which contrasted to the dry, dessert like landscape surrounding them. The Luangwa river was, as always interesting and beautiful. I came home refreshed and relaxed after a wonderful weekend.

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