No Safari but...

You might like to check out my Cheeky Monkeys story ...
Thursday, 22 May 2008
We have had a week with out guests. No Guests meant no Safari's for me to join.
However I have had a rich wild life experience around the camp.
A Leopard has been seen several times across from my house in the evening… unfortunately not by me.
A Hippo and baby came close to our meal platform and entertained me for some time.
A little after 6 am, on Wednesday morning, Mike, the manager stopped in his car and yelled a message that lions were passing through the camp. I was in the shower, so the message was muffled. I thought the message was that Lions were at the breakfast area. No way was I going to go for breakfast with out protection. Fortunately, Mario and Luke, stopped near my place to check out some animals, so I hitched a ride. Then I found out that the 4 lions were passing the lodge, not "AT" the lodge. That morning our "Breakfast" view was very rich with wild life. The 4 lions moved along the river flat in front of the Lodge. 7 Giraffe appeared and wandered toward us, Puku were playing mating games and Baboons were being mischievous.
Last night Elephants grassed around the house as they do most nights. In the early hours of the morning, 3 Elephants were outside my front window eating leaves from a tree. I watched, wishing my camera was not locked in my trunk.
As Luke and I were returning to school after lunch today, he saw Elephants crossing our path, heading for the river flat. We back tracked to the lodge. The three Elephants, possible mine from last night, walked along and stopped in front of the Lodge. We watched them drinking, eating and putting mud on them selves for about half an hour.
On the way to back to school, Luke, my 8 year old student, delivered me a lecture about LOOKING, LISTENING and being ALERT as I walked.

Friday night something large seemed to be nesting above my bed. I used the broom to bang on the roof to try and move it on. It did seem to relocate. Soon the sound of squirrels stopped, but the nesting sound was still there. The next day I noticed something above my door, but thought nothing of it. On Sunday, Hannelore, my neighbor joined me for a cuppa in our outside chairs. She notice a snake skin hanging above my door. A very poisonous snake had been in my roof, maybe eating small squirrels.... not a nice feeling. Check out the Hippo and Snake photos.

Sunday 25th May
I went on a Walking Safari this morning and saw lots of Zebra and a heard of 20 Giraffe. While we were sitting having a rest we had an amazing experience with a Bird sitting on a Hippo. Seeing a Hippo, walking in water, with a bird on it
Latter, after lunch, I was sitting outside my house when Hannelore, my neighbor notice a snake skin hanging above my door. A very poisonous snake had been in my roof.... not a nice feeling. Check out the Hippo and Snake photos
Kennedy, one of the Guides, holding a piece of Giraffe poo. The guy at the back, is the guard, he carries a loaded rifle and watches out for dangerous animals as we walk.


The Local Chief has a sign outside his house (or should I saw Palace). The locals told me he is good. When he was first appointed he tried to tax his people. The senior chief, who is over the local chiefs, stopped him and made him return what he had collected. Gossip has it that the chief before him was not so good, he took girls from the primary school, because he did not want women with aids.

 

25/5/08

Lyn Haywood, Kafunta River Lodge, Box 83, Mfuwe, Zambia. Check out where I am staying Kafunta River Lodge
Tel at Office +260 216 246046
LynHaywood@luangwa.com (On a good day all old email address work - other days you may be bounce back .... don't give up try again in a day or two )
My Mobile does not send or receive calls, SMS works : 0448 598 629