As usual I leave my newsletter writing much too late but at least it is for a good reason – there is usually too much else going on in the bush and in camp! The problem is I don’t know where to start as there is so much to report on. Take today for instance where we walked with lions and buffalos, yesterday we walked with elephants and a leopard whilst our afternoon canoe safari got to see a pair of mating leopards lazing about. This afternoon’s game drive reports lions stalking buffalos but where they got delayed en-route by a leopard lying in the shade whilst our fishermen are reporting big tigers on fly whilst watching lions from the boats. The other week at Old Mondoro Boaz found 8 leopards, yes EIGHT, on one drive and then day before yesterday we got to walk with three male lions before watching a leopard and cub on her kill.

 

But I am getting ahead of myself so I shall turn the clock back a few days earlier where one morning Liza came skipping up to the camp fire whilst we were sipping our 2^nd cup of tea to report that not only had a honey badger raided the veggies and fruit in the store room that night but that it was curled up in a ball fast asleep amongst the debris. We gingerly approached the scene and consensus was (knowing that these creatures can be aggressive and are said to viciously go for one’s most tender regions when cornered) consensus was reached and it was agreed to let sleeping badger’s lie. Until our chef Benaya decided otherwise and, needing to start preparing brunch but against advice, gave it a gentle prod with the end of a broom. All hell broke loose and the badger very nearly turned one of our camp choir bass singers into a tenor, fortunately Benaya managed to evade the badger’s teeth which were nipping at his heels and leaping at his departing behind as they both disappeared into the bush to huge laughter amongst all the camp staff.

Then a few days before that I was on an early morning game drive and thanks to some deft tracking and bush bashing we found a troop of baboons surrounding a leopard, harassing it – what a commotion. This battle continued for nearly 3 hours before the leopard, after being submissive to the baboons, finally lost its temper, almost caught a baboon and then disappeared safe and unhurt into a thicket which the baboons wisely opted to not pursue it into. You may know that it is not unusual for troops of baboons to corner and tear apart leopards so this kitty had a very lucky escape and we were fortunate to not only get to witness a very close to nature situation but to also get some dramatic photos. As coincidence would have it Daniel has just radioed in saying that a troop of baboons has just had at our new leopard cub but it too has escaped – phew.

For the birders amongst you we are proud to announce the first ever confirmed sighting of a Buff-spotted flufftail in the Lower Zambezi Valley – well done to Paul and our learner guides who spotted it in the back of camp, got a photo and sent it for formal identification. It is rare that such sightings can be confirmed but in this case a genet had permanently secured the bird – I guess the genet should also get credit though lets hope it wasn’t the only flufftail in the Lower Zambezi!

 

 I have been fortunate to have had my family with me in camp for much of this season and Scott is thriving in this environment; Lynsey on the other hand has taken a little strain in this hot October weather and being in her last three months of pregnancy – she is looking great but I think she is secretly looking forward to some cool Glaswegian weather where we will be headed for Christmas and the arrival of the new baby.

Which reminds me that we will be leaving for World Travel Market in just a couple of weeks – if any of you would like to make an appointment to see us please email asap or simply stop by our table on the Zambia Tourism stand. After WTM Lynsey and Scott will head to Glasgow but I will return to the bush for a few weeks to get some camp renovations underway including the re-thatching of the lounge and dining areas. This is no small task and the grass will fill 5-7 trucks, all brought in from western Zambia about 600kms from the Lower Zambezi – enough said!

That’s it for now – I will send out another newsletter before Christmas but already this has been another record breaking season for Chiawa Camp so thank you all for being a part of our success.

Best wishes,

Grant & the Chiawa Camp family.