Hi everyone,

 Apologies that we have been a bit lacking in the news department over recent times but with all the teething problems we had going broadband it has been manic simply keeping up to date with day to day business. However that is hopefully behind us and we are happy to report that the Lusaka office is at last fully functional on broadband – Jenny can be reached exclusively on info@chiawa.com and the old chiacamp@zamnet.zm no longer operational. Thank you for your patience during this time and apologies for any inconveniences – all appears to be working fine now however we still have the occasional hiccup - if you do not receive a reply to your email within 24 hours please resend your message.

 

I have also been very busy with Conservation Lower Zambezi over the past months trying to improve overall effectiveness of conservation efforts in the Lower Zambezi – many meetings and journeys to say the least. We also had the CLZ AGM last week and I am now Vice-Chairman of CLZ after a record 4 years in office as Chairman – congratulations to my successor Tim Mushibwe who I am confident will do a fine job at the helm. I must say I am somewhat relieved inasmuch as I have committed so much of my time and resources, particularly over the past year at significant cost and it will be good to abdicate some responsibility. On the other hand, to quote an ancient Zambian proverb, “the buffalo does not find its own horns heavy”.

 For your info we have tweaked the Chiawa Camp website ever so slightly – the menus have been adjusted for easier browsing and there are comprehensive bird and mammal checklists available for download – you will find these under the Lower Zambezi menu button.

 

Enough of the administrative stuff – the season is in full swing and we have been treated to some great game viewing. The wild dogs have been performing well for us but are now denning up in the hills with hopefully a large healthy litter to supplement their numbers.

 

We will see in October when they tend to return to the Valley floor and show their pups to us! We have had some great big-cat interactions and have had leopards on four out of the last five game drives.

The other morning Paul, just out of camp, came across three hyenas with a very freshly killed impala ram and the remains of another impala nearby; hiding in a bush nearby was a leopard who had clearly killed the first impala and lost it to the hyenas after which it had killed a second impala which was again pinched by the greedy hyenas which by now were too full to feed properly on it. On returning in the evening we found the three hyenas gone but a large male lion (which we refer to as Douglas) feeding on the remains of the impala and the poor leopard still in attendance.

 Speaking of lions, the male lion we have been enjoying for the past few years (referred to as Dan) was fatally injured whilst Lynsey & I were at Indaba in May. We found him resting a few hundred meters downstream of Chiawa with a massive slash to his throat and a couple of nasty puncture wounds around his lower abdomen – classic signs of a run-in with a buffalo. When he finally succumbed the crocs dragged him into the Zambezi and that was that – very sad for all of us. In fact this morning I took a walk out past the spot where he was last seen and came across a big patch of blond mane-fur – all which is left of what was once a magnificent lion!

But in Africa life has to go on and indeed it does - the good news is that there are 3 new cubs with the Chiawa pride and at least 4 new cubs down at Old Mondoro.

Old Mondoro is looking great by the way, with some new soft furnishings, and of course everyone is enjoying its new boat for afternoon game viewing trips along the river.

Also nearby Chiawa is a leopard with a cub and Old Mondoro has been blessed recently with mating leopards – the other night they were treated to watching a male leopard mate with a large female whilst another female watched patiently.

The tom then turned to the second female and to everyone’s surprise started mating with her too – a ménage a trois leopards right before their eyes! Of course there have been lots of other great sightings already this season including 2 aardvarks at Chiawa.

 

 

A few days ago Lynsey, I and one of her ex-BA pals (yes, Lynsey has finally resigned from BA and is here with us full-time now) drove into camp, stopping off to drop school uniforms and stationery for some 271 AIDS orphans at Chiawa and Mugurameno Basic schools – thanks to the support of SidEcole, this is a massive increase over the 93 orphans we cared for last year and it is help that really does make a difference. The look & excitement on the faces of the children said it all.

 The other day we had a select group of agents stop for a night at Chiawa on a visit through the Luangwa’s and Lower Zambezi’s top lodges – we are proud to say that they liked Chiawa “probably the most out of all of them” and they made particular mention of how impressed they were with the immaculate manner in which Chiawa’s vehicles and boats are maintained – hats off & thanks to Dave (my Dad) who sees to all of that!

 That’s probably it for now – I’d just like to say that Chiawa Camp’s guiding is going from strength to strength and that our new guide Paul Grobler has settled in very well and scored the highest ever recorded marks on the Lower Zambezi Safari Guides Exams – he of course has been guiding for many years in Mana Pools and although he was very impressed with the standards set by the Lower Zambezi, he passed very comfortably and as I speak is paddling with some guests down the channel behind Waterbuck Island. Congratulations also to Dispenser Chizuwa who passed his practical exam and who has become very popular with Chiawa’s guests – for his sense of humour and for his ability to find leopards!

 

Until next time, 

Grant, Lyns and the Chiawa Team