BUFFALOS BATTLING WITH ELEPHANTS /
 LEOPARDS BATTLING WITH BABOONS

 

Well, just when you think you are getting to understand animal behaviour you realise you don’t. The wildlife around Chiawa Camp continues to fascinate and amaze us – last week we got to watch a young bull elephant chase an old dagga boy buffalo through the wetlands at the back of Sunset Strip. For what reason we don’t know, maybe the ele was just feeling cantankerous, but the outcome was as expected – large animal chased away smaller (but still large) other animal.

 

 

Two days later the same guests got to witness one bull buffalo chase an entire herd of elephants away from their drinking session on the banks of the Zambezi. Despite trumpeting, squeals, mock charges and other impressive behaviour the old dagga boy simply cut through the herd like a hot knife through butter – the two photos, both taken by Miles Cox, document both dramatic scenes.

 

Which reminds me of a scene played out in camp a couple of years ago where one buffalo bull, the one with the grey face that malingers in camp even today, seeing off 8 bull elephants from under a tree which he wanted to browse under – maybe it is mind over matter but if any animal psychologists have a theory out there please let us know.

The leopards, bless them, have just continued to delight us this year with particularly beautiful scenes of one leopardess and her two, fast-growing cubs.

Eating baboons, impalas – drinking from lagoons, you name it. We watched one scene with the three leopards and a related young male, that’s four leopards together feeding on the same impala.

Photo: Bob Krause

At one point a troop of baboons started harassing the leopards, with a few brave, larger individuals actually chasing the leopards high up in the tree. What was comical to watch was that this all took place in a massive fig tree which was in fruit so the baboons, between barking and lunging at the leopards, grabbed as many figs as they could and shoved them into their bulging mouths.

Photo: Andy Laursen

 Fortunately the cubs had been well hidden by their mother before the fracas so they emerged unscathed but the mother and the young male both sustained nasty looking but seemingly superficial bites to their hind legs.

The birding has also been brilliant the past few months – the purple crested louries are about feeding on the figs with huge flocks of trumpeter hornbills, we had an amazing sighting of a Narina Trogon hopping from branch to branch of a massive Winterthorn tree, and then just the other night we got a great look at a Pels Fishing Owl on what we call Honeybadger Stream.

Talking about hopping on branches we have been getting regular sightings of young and old lions up trees including this great shot of a lioness and cub.

Before I forget, some administrative information for you; Airport Departure fees have increased in Zambia – Domestic Flights are now $8 and International Flights are now $25 per departure, with immediate effect.

 

 

Back to the bush – Lynsey and Scott came out to join me for a week in camp which was the first time to the bush for Scott and the first time back for Lynsey since last year. It was great to introduce Scott to his first elephants at close, but not too close, range and to have Lynsey back in camp with me.

 

Our long awaited bush chalet is only days away from completion and where we expect to be spending a lot of time in next year. Our old tent is a little cramped for family life so we will bid it a sad farewell.

The tiger fish too are doing their thing and the fly fishermen are having great success with some anglers landing and releasing in excess of 35 tigers in a day, on fly. The biggest tiger fish of the season so far is a little over 14lbs and the largest on fly a little over 10lbs – not a bad record at all. Just read the accolades in the best fishing book I have ever read, Pat Ford’s "The Best Flyfishing Trips Money Can Buy" and which can be purchased from the following link www.stackpolebooks.com  ISBN # 978-0-8117-0179-2

We can’t believe it is nearly the end of the season and Lynsey & I are preparing to head over to London in early November for World Travel Market, a short holiday and then some visiting around our travel agents and tour operators in the USA – no rest for the wicked! Anyway if any of you would like to schedule an appointment for WTM we will be on the Zambia Tourism stand.

Until next time,

Grant and the Chiawa family.