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The Green
Hills of Africa
Chiawa Camp
Newsletter
February 2004
 Hi
Everyone,
A big hello from
hot, wet Zambia. I hope you are all
well and enjoyed the holiday break?
Lynsey and I have just returned from
a manic but successful shopping trip
in Johannesburg and are now making
preparations for the opening of the
safari season and of course our
wedding.
Two weeks ago my
father David, and I, went down to
camp by boat (the roads are
inaccessible this time of year) in
order to re-supply the chaps looking
after everything during the rains.
We were blessed by great weather,
lots of elephant swimming, squadrons
of blue-cheeked bee-eaters dive
bombing near the boat (they only
visit during the rains), large
colonies of egrets roosting in the
reeds along the riverbank, and a
lovely kudu cow and calf.
However the most
remarkable sight for me was that of
the rolling hills of the Zambezi
Escarpment – a deep emerald green
background to the blue (well, sort
of) Zambezi River.
With thoughts of Hemingway’s classic
we carried on our journey.
 On
arrival at Chiawa we were greeted by
almost 100 elephants, some in the
camp, and the usual impalas and
buffalo – in fact I asked myself why
we were closed as the boat trip had
been so spectacular. Everything was
lush, the sky spectacular, and with
lions roaring nearby it was
difficult to imagine that only a
week previously I had been in the
midst of Chicago and London’s
winters.
The following
day we headed back up the river and
were abruptly reminded why Chiawa
does shut this time of year. The
heavens opened on us whilst in the
boat and we were thoroughly drenched
on our way up to Mugurameno village,
our next port of call.
 Fortunately
the sun had returned by the time we
got there, where we paid a visit to
the primary school and donated
uniforms and stationery for 91 AIDS
orphans who, with the help of a
Swiss charity, School Against Aids,
we are helping educate.
Not only does
this encourage and enable these
particularly unfortunate orphans to
study, but this donation also
alleviates some of the expense
incurred by the host family obliged
with the care of these children. Our
aim is to assist even more orphans
in 2005 so please email us should
you wish to help.
 Our
last stop before the end of the boat
journey was at a Paprika Farm near
Chirundu to see if the rumours were
true. And so they were – there she
was – black, shiny, full of mischief
albeit with a slight limp.
MOMBA – “our”
long gone ground hornbill, who we
released to the wild in 2001,
peering at us with that familiar
sideways look, from behind a tractor
of all things.
After three years
at Chiawa, Momba had then based
herself at various camps in Zimbabwe
and now near Chirundu nearly 90kms
from Chiawa Camp! During her time
with us at Chiawa, Momba taught us
many things about ground hornbills,
most of all how fickle they are.
Although in great
condition we wonder if she will ever
stop seeking human company and
return properly to the wild, and
hopefully find a mate. Anyway it was
great to see her, and the blue
“blush” just under her chin that
indicates her gender, far more vivid
than when we last saw her a couple
of years ago.
 Now
we are all back in Lusaka getting
organised for what is looking like
will be an even bigger season than
2003. Fingers crossed. After the
wedding we will be at Indaba on the
Classic Retreats Stand in the ICC so
please stop by and say hello if
you’ll be there too. If not,
hopefully we’ll catch up with you in
the bush or on our travels.
Take care, and
have a great 2004.
Grant & the
Chiawa Team.
PREVIOUS CHIAWA CAMP NEWSLETTERS
December
2003
August
2003
June 2003
February
2003
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2002
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2001
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2001 May
2001
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2000
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