This is a bush walk you won't forget in this lifetime
Aug 27th, 2008, 07:59 AM
#1
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This is a bush walk you won't forget in this lifetime
Aug 27th, 2008, 12:41 PM
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That's so cool! I note that the lady is standing behind the gentleman (right where I would be!) and peeking over his shoulder! Also looks like a tripod he is setting up, brave, wow, I'd be thinking of backing off ever so slowly......
Is the gentleman you? (sorry I shouldn't just presume you are a guy, but your posts have always made me think you are - but I have been wrong before!)
And what was the next set of pictures?
Is the gentleman you? (sorry I shouldn't just presume you are a guy, but your posts have always made me think you are - but I have been wrong before!)
And what was the next set of pictures?
Aug 27th, 2008, 02:30 PM
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That guy is Steve Pope. He runs a Lion Encounter camping and bushwalking safari. The pride of lions- about 20+ are nearly always in the immediate vicinity this time of year. The only water around for a long ways. The rest of the waterholes have dried up. Wildlife are coming their thoughout the day and nite.
Aug 27th, 2008, 02:50 PM
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adrenalin pure!
wonderful!
luangwa - is that robin's brother?
i am thrilled to do that walk BUT WITHOUT a rifle!!!i don't want a lion to be shot only because we intrude his territory he he/she behaves naturally!
have to decide whether i am brave enough to face consequences ;-)
div
wonderful!
luangwa - is that robin's brother?
i am thrilled to do that walk BUT WITHOUT a rifle!!!i don't want a lion to be shot only because we intrude his territory he he/she behaves naturally!
have to decide whether i am brave enough to face consequences ;-)
div
Aug 27th, 2008, 05:43 PM
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divine54
I don't believe Steve and Robin are related.
When you see how close Steve can bring you to these lions, you will not believe it. I heard 2nd hand that recently on one of his last safaris, "6 lions came into camp and killed two buffalo."
I don't believe Steve and Robin are related.
When you see how close Steve can bring you to these lions, you will not believe it. I heard 2nd hand that recently on one of his last safaris, "6 lions came into camp and killed two buffalo."
Aug 27th, 2008, 07:22 PM
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atravelynn
I can't speak for the lions, but the first time I was that close and then some to a pride of lions, I was extremely uncomfortable. I hired an old tracker in Matusadona that worked for a very famous guide for years. We tracked a herd of buffalo, that is the way you found these lions back then, and found the pride noisily dining on a buffalo. All 26 of them. Me, the tracker, and his single shot rifle that looked like it hadn't been cleaned, let alone shot in years. Standing within a semicircle of feasting lions, with our backs to Lake Kariba and really not anyplace to leave to in a hurry. Not until a couple people in a motorboat decided to see why we were frozen in one place appeared out of nowhere.Imagine that, game viewing from a boat and spotting a lion kill with 2 idiots in the middle of it all. One, a park ranger who said he forgot to load his rifle. I'm not sure he had more then the one bullet he pulled from his pocket.
That was my $10 bushwalking safari in Matusadona.
I can't speak for the lions, but the first time I was that close and then some to a pride of lions, I was extremely uncomfortable. I hired an old tracker in Matusadona that worked for a very famous guide for years. We tracked a herd of buffalo, that is the way you found these lions back then, and found the pride noisily dining on a buffalo. All 26 of them. Me, the tracker, and his single shot rifle that looked like it hadn't been cleaned, let alone shot in years. Standing within a semicircle of feasting lions, with our backs to Lake Kariba and really not anyplace to leave to in a hurry. Not until a couple people in a motorboat decided to see why we were frozen in one place appeared out of nowhere.Imagine that, game viewing from a boat and spotting a lion kill with 2 idiots in the middle of it all. One, a park ranger who said he forgot to load his rifle. I'm not sure he had more then the one bullet he pulled from his pocket.
That was my $10 bushwalking safari in Matusadona.
Aug 28th, 2008, 12:45 AM
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"When you see how close Steve can bring you to these lions, you will not believe it. I heard 2nd hand that recently on one of his last safaris, "6 lions came into camp and killed two buffalo."
i very much appreciaste some adrenalin driven things but on the other hand i don't want to become the reason for enhancing the safety measures ;-)
div
i very much appreciaste some adrenalin driven things but on the other hand i don't want to become the reason for enhancing the safety measures ;-)
div
Aug 28th, 2008, 02:54 AM
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divine54
Steve Pope is in the process of putting together a website, but this is what he does per an email:
He will teach you how the Chitake Lion pride (currently numbering 20+) became habituated to human presence and bush walks; the tactics used to locate and approach them; and the methods used to control the encounter. You will be encountering herds of elephants and buffalo daily, among a wide variety of other wildlife, learn about the history of the ancient village residents; 10 ways to find your direction in the bush; some survival tips; tips on animal photography and Steve Pope, a Trustee of a Zambezi Valley Conservation Trust, will discuss the effects of mass elephant culling and the damage to habitat due to lack of fire. You will be bush walking from the tented camp to track Lion and sitting in "hides" observing game near the Springs.
This is the same lion pride that the Richardson's did a National Geographic documentary on. I had been camping there a couple times while they were filming.
He's been doing this for a number of years and has some sort of reputation as a 'lion whisperer'. I'm waiting for a women to report back on this particular safari he put together for her. She is there right now. Steve has some friends that own a guest house in Livingstone meet her, drive her to Mana Pools and join the safari.
This is the kind of stuff I like to do. Not sit in a 4x4 half the day, but out bush walking. As John Stevens says “ … from a vehicle you see Africa. On foot you feel, hear and smell Africa"
All that from 2 pics. Yikes!!
Steve Pope is in the process of putting together a website, but this is what he does per an email:
He will teach you how the Chitake Lion pride (currently numbering 20+) became habituated to human presence and bush walks; the tactics used to locate and approach them; and the methods used to control the encounter. You will be encountering herds of elephants and buffalo daily, among a wide variety of other wildlife, learn about the history of the ancient village residents; 10 ways to find your direction in the bush; some survival tips; tips on animal photography and Steve Pope, a Trustee of a Zambezi Valley Conservation Trust, will discuss the effects of mass elephant culling and the damage to habitat due to lack of fire. You will be bush walking from the tented camp to track Lion and sitting in "hides" observing game near the Springs.
This is the same lion pride that the Richardson's did a National Geographic documentary on. I had been camping there a couple times while they were filming.
He's been doing this for a number of years and has some sort of reputation as a 'lion whisperer'. I'm waiting for a women to report back on this particular safari he put together for her. She is there right now. Steve has some friends that own a guest house in Livingstone meet her, drive her to Mana Pools and join the safari.
This is the kind of stuff I like to do. Not sit in a 4x4 half the day, but out bush walking. As John Stevens says “ … from a vehicle you see Africa. On foot you feel, hear and smell Africa"
All that from 2 pics. Yikes!!
Aug 28th, 2008, 03:01 AM
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luagnwa - i can comprehend what you say and what he means! would love to do that as well!
the only worry i have is in case anything goes wrong they have to kill the cat/s. and that' something i don't want to happen...........
btw
i think in any case it's better to die in africa killed by a lion or elephant than being killed in a car accident in europe ;-)
think of that obituary notice
div
the only worry i have is in case anything goes wrong they have to kill the cat/s. and that' something i don't want to happen...........
btw
i think in any case it's better to die in africa killed by a lion or elephant than being killed in a car accident in europe ;-)
think of that obituary notice
div
Aug 28th, 2008, 05:24 AM
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Luangwablondes - talk about every sense organ being alive. That $10 you spent at Matuusadona had to be the best $10 you have ever spent in your life.
I fortunately on my last trip to Zambia had two instances where I was able to see lions on foot within 15-25 meters. I felt extremely lucky to have had that experience and only hope I will ever have the opportunity to do it again.
In both of my encounters the scout was very comfortable being close and the rifle was kept in the "relaxed" unloaded position. In the first encounter, the male lion came up the banks of the Mwaleshi River in the North Luangwa and plopped himself 25 meters from where we were having morning tea. When he finally spotted us he gave us this surprised look and bolted down the river bank.
In the other encounter, the male lion was lying in a dry river bed with his back to us. We were within 15 meters on the top of the bank looking down at him he never knew we were there.
I did ask what would have happened if he turned around and saw us. The guide answered by relaying a story to me of a similar close encounter. In this case one of the group started to open the velco strap on her camera case and this caught the lion's attention. The lion looked straight at the group and let out a thunderous roar and then swiftly ran away.
Below is a link to some photos of my encounter. Not great sharp shots, but they give you an idea of the scene. (Chikoko Camp - S.Luangwa).
http://www.pbase.com/greendrake/lion_on_foot
I fortunately on my last trip to Zambia had two instances where I was able to see lions on foot within 15-25 meters. I felt extremely lucky to have had that experience and only hope I will ever have the opportunity to do it again.
In both of my encounters the scout was very comfortable being close and the rifle was kept in the "relaxed" unloaded position. In the first encounter, the male lion came up the banks of the Mwaleshi River in the North Luangwa and plopped himself 25 meters from where we were having morning tea. When he finally spotted us he gave us this surprised look and bolted down the river bank.
In the other encounter, the male lion was lying in a dry river bed with his back to us. We were within 15 meters on the top of the bank looking down at him he never knew we were there.
I did ask what would have happened if he turned around and saw us. The guide answered by relaying a story to me of a similar close encounter. In this case one of the group started to open the velco strap on her camera case and this caught the lion's attention. The lion looked straight at the group and let out a thunderous roar and then swiftly ran away.
Below is a link to some photos of my encounter. Not great sharp shots, but they give you an idea of the scene. (Chikoko Camp - S.Luangwa).
http://www.pbase.com/greendrake/lion_on_foot
Aug 28th, 2008, 06:27 AM
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GreenDrake
Yep. That included a tip for the guide too. He wanted just $5. We used my landrover, but so what.
It’s a whole different story seeing lions close up on foot, then in a vehicle. Special moment for each of us. Mwaleshi Camp, like Buffalo Camp seems to have good lion sightings. Did you see the big herds of buffalo while there? I should ask when you were there 1st. As the dry season progresses, the herds combine into ever larger herds.
Re: you pics-- Any shots from up close are good shots. It brings out the memories of the moment.
If you like to get up close to lions, buffalo, elephants and various antelope, then you should do a safari with Steve Pope. ScubaTV (Fodorite) just got back from there a couple days ago. I introduced him to the place 2 years ago, and this is now his 3rd time. I think he camped out there for 8 days.
Yep. That included a tip for the guide too. He wanted just $5. We used my landrover, but so what.
It’s a whole different story seeing lions close up on foot, then in a vehicle. Special moment for each of us. Mwaleshi Camp, like Buffalo Camp seems to have good lion sightings. Did you see the big herds of buffalo while there? I should ask when you were there 1st. As the dry season progresses, the herds combine into ever larger herds.
Re: you pics-- Any shots from up close are good shots. It brings out the memories of the moment.
If you like to get up close to lions, buffalo, elephants and various antelope, then you should do a safari with Steve Pope. ScubaTV (Fodorite) just got back from there a couple days ago. I introduced him to the place 2 years ago, and this is now his 3rd time. I think he camped out there for 8 days.
Aug 28th, 2008, 07:12 AM
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I love photographing on safari, but what were they thinking???!!!! www.pbase.com/pattyroth
Aug 28th, 2008, 09:41 AM
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Luangwablondes- "he wanted just $5" Man we are in a different world now huh...
I don't think I saw one buffalo on my last trip to Mwaleshi Camp. Dried droppings of large herds all over, but they had moved on to other locations. The year before they were all around the banks of the river in front of Buffalo Camp.
Yes just having shots of that close encounter to spark the memory works for me. I actually may have lucked out having my limited p&s camera. It does not capture images well in low light, but because its a p&s you can take shots without any shutter sounds. My DSLR would have worked a hell of lot better in that low light, but its shutter sound in that situation may have attracted unwanted attention.
Yes I remember I remember ScubaTV's self-drive Bots report. Maybe you can talk him into posting his experience at Steve Pope's camp.
I don't think I saw one buffalo on my last trip to Mwaleshi Camp. Dried droppings of large herds all over, but they had moved on to other locations. The year before they were all around the banks of the river in front of Buffalo Camp.
Yes just having shots of that close encounter to spark the memory works for me. I actually may have lucked out having my limited p&s camera. It does not capture images well in low light, but because its a p&s you can take shots without any shutter sounds. My DSLR would have worked a hell of lot better in that low light, but its shutter sound in that situation may have attracted unwanted attention.
Yes I remember I remember ScubaTV's self-drive Bots report. Maybe you can talk him into posting his experience at Steve Pope's camp.
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