A leisurely start from Mama Rulas saw us on the road by 09h30. A shot drive of some 120km saw us in Mfuwe, which is the gateway town to South Luangwa National Park.
Our plan is to meet our Cape Town friends at the very upmarket Time and Tide Kakuli Lodge where they have invited us to stay with them.
Firstly we decided to do a bit of fact finding to secure a campsite after our stay at Kakuli. There are numerous camps along the Luangwa River. Our choice was Wildlife Camp. We had a look around and it passed the inspection by Chantal and Conny. The site we chose is on the banks of the Luangwa River. The campsite is unfenced and is open to the reserve. This means that elephant, hippo and whatever else can wander in.
We have secured a booking for our chosen site.
The arrangement with Kakuli was to park at one of their other lodges and they would send a game drive vehicle to collect us. Kakuli is situated inside the South Luangwa National Park. Only upmarket lodges are inside the park. A productive game drive to the lodge saw numerous birds and a mating pair of lions.
Kakuli is right up there with your typical upmarket bush experience. Thatched bush bungalows open ended with uninterrupted river views. The sort of place one sees advertised in glossy travel magazines. The entire camp has space for 10 people. 13 staff are on hand to cater for your every need. We were fortunate to have been invited and enjoyed a massively reduced rate from the advertised normal fare.
Food is very good and we did a welcome bush walk this morning. The bush walk left after an early breakfast and lasted until brunch at about 12h00. It was wonderful to get walking again. The afternoon game drive is to come.
After tea and cake the afternoon game drive left at about 15h45. Very relaxing to be in the game viewer with our head guide, Philemon, keeping us informed of all around. We drove all around the area at the river bank and then further inland. Sightings of the exciting kind were limited. A lovely spot next to the river had us enjoying the usual sundowner drink with snacks. Rather a nice way of doing things. Darkness falls early here and by just before six it is pitch dark. Being in the valley at about 500m altitude it is cool rather than cold. Our guides then started looking in earnest for the leopards that Luangwa is renowned. A short while later the hyenas alerted them to the action. A puku had just been taken by a leopard, but the kill had been stolen by the hyenas. The leopard was spotted departing the scene hungry.
The hyenas here are not hunters, but rather just stay in the company of the many leopards. They then steal the prey for themselves. A rather lazy way of doing things. Up close we witnessed the jaw power of the hyena enjoying the spare ribs that were on special that night.
As it was dark, pics did not pass muster for display.
Nice Mr Lion.
A croc in the Luangwa River having just taken a drinking Puku.
Our delightful bedroom. Open to the river. Canvas cover comes down at night. Hippos all around the tent at night.
The dining/lounge area. Lovely river view.
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