Back from Zambia....need help with setting up Kodak slide show
Jun 19th, 2006, 07:16 PM
#42
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Part 4...Chiawa continued.
Sunday, May 28
The hippos in the Zambezi River are very noisy during the night. Especially around 4 AM when they are jumping back into the river and talking to each other after their nighttime grazing on land.
Chiawa serves breakfast around the campfire. They cook cereal over the fire as well as making our toast on a grill over the fire. Also have cold cereal, fruit, yogurt and delicious muffins.
After breakfast we left for our morning game drive.....still in search of the leopard. Didn't find him, but did see 1 male lion, 2 females and 2 cubs.
Back to camp for brunch and resting, writing in journal, etc.
For our afternoon/evening activity, Sharon and I chose a leisurely boat ride and the 2 Richards decided to go canoeing....even though neither had ever canoed before. Sharon (cooncat)and Kristina another guest from Germany(I think) also went canoeing. There were 4 guests and 2 guides going. The Richards thought that they would have a guide with them in each of their canoes, but the 2 of them were put in a canoe together with no guide. Sharon and Kristina each had a guide. Daniel was the guide for the water activities and instructed them on how to paddle, but neglected to tell them how to slow down, turn or stop the canoe!
They did pretty well with the canoeing, but finally decided it worked best if only one of them paddled so that they weren't working against each other. Richard T. was in the back seat and then did the paddling with Richard K. in the front seat paddling occasionally when requested by Richard in the back. Somehow it got away from them at one point and they couldn't slow down and ran into a bush on shore. No injuries. just some debris left on Richard K. in the front seat.
Our boat and their canoes met along the shore for sundowners and then Sharon, Sharon, Kristina and Star went on the night game drive and the 2 Richards returned to camp on our boat towing the 4 canoes. Saw a couple of genets and a civet on the game drive.
Monday, May 29th.
Stefanie(Esmeralda)from the Netherlands, and Brian arrived around 7 AM, just after Sharon L,Kristina, Richard and Star had left for a morning game walk with Joe. Sharon and Richard T.had gone fishing with Daniel.
Stefanie and Brian took a short game drive with Dispenser and hadn't been gone long when they found a leopard along the road. (the rest of us had been looking for him 2 days and nights!) Stefanie got some great pictures.
We had a couple of animal encounters on our walk. Nothing scary. We met a bull elephant heading our way as we walked on a dry river bed. We just crossed the river bed and let him pass. We later met a cape buffalo cow. Joe told us that cows are more dangerous than bulls. This one didn't have a baby with her, so we weren't too concerned. She saw us and we just stood still and stared at each other for a while and then we slowly moved close to a tree and a termite mound in case she decided to charge.....but she just went on her way once she realized we weren't a threat.
Joe is very good and we learned much. It started getting hot and we returned to camp about 10:30 and met Stefanie and Brian.
I promised Barbara that I would not reveal any of her "surprises" on Fodor's and I did not plan to, however, someone else has already recently done that....so guess it is o.k. now!
As we were gathering for lunch, Barbara quietly told Richard and Sharon and Richard and Star to not go to lunch and to wait for her after she got the others started with lunch. Then she took the 4 of us down to the boat where a table was set for us. We enjoyed a pleasant surprise cruise on the river as we had our lunch.
When we went to gather in the bar area for our afternoon tea and game drive, we had a visitor in camp. An elephant that had been in camp in the morning had returned and was busy shaking a tree so that the pods would fall off for him to eat. He was just outside the railing around the bar and some of the pods fell inside the rail and he put his trunk over and vacuumed them up.
Was fun to watch him up close...also good for closeup pictures. After he moved away, we proceeded with our game drive. No leopard. We did see a side striped jackel and a nice view of a genet sitting on a tree branch with long racoon striped tail hanging down. Genets have a spotted leopard type coat, cute face, and long striped tail.
Back to camp for dinner. Bed about 11:00.
Tues., May 30th
Most of the camp was kept awake last night by one (or more) very noisy Bush Baby----a nocturnal primate with very big eyes.
After breakfast, we left for our morning game drive. Richards and Sharon and Star with Daniel and Sharon L, Kristina, Stefanie, and Brian with Dispencer. Bill, another guest from the U.S. (college professor from Pennsylvania) left with Joe for a walk.
A guide from another camp reported that they had just seen lions in a section of the park they call Out of Africa. It is a long drive--over 1 hour--but we decided to go and see if we could find the lions. After much searching, we gave up and started the long drive back to camp.
Then Dispencer radioed us that some vulchers were eating an elephant carcass...so we headed off to find it. As we got close we could see lots of vulchers circling and landing. They were huge brown birds. We saw the head and trunk of the elephant covered with vulchers.
Back to camp for lunch and rest to get ready for our 3:00 canoe channel trip.
This time each of the 2 passenger canoes had a guide and a Richard and the 3 passenger canoe had Sharon T. and Star and Daniel as our guide/paddler. We did some paddling also when Daniel told us it was o.k. Barbara and Kristina were in another canoe.
We were taken by motor boat to the site where we would start canoeing (our canoes were towed by the boat) We had to go to an alternate site because there was a herd of elephants drinking and bathing at our original site.
We watched as a baby elephant got stuck in a muddy area of the river bank. He fell over and was helped up by 2 females using their trunks on either side of the baby to lift him to dry land. What a great sight to see!
It was a beautiful and peaceful ride through the channel. We saw hippos, cape buffalo, zebra, elephants, and lots of birds.
Had sundowners along the river. Joined by 2 new guests...Ben and Lucy from England, on their honeymoon. Went on a short game drive and then back to camp for dinner. Bed about 10:45. Heard lions roaring during the night. They were lions in Zimbabwe across the river from us.
all for now
hope to finish this soon........
Sunday, May 28
The hippos in the Zambezi River are very noisy during the night. Especially around 4 AM when they are jumping back into the river and talking to each other after their nighttime grazing on land.
Chiawa serves breakfast around the campfire. They cook cereal over the fire as well as making our toast on a grill over the fire. Also have cold cereal, fruit, yogurt and delicious muffins.
After breakfast we left for our morning game drive.....still in search of the leopard. Didn't find him, but did see 1 male lion, 2 females and 2 cubs.
Back to camp for brunch and resting, writing in journal, etc.
For our afternoon/evening activity, Sharon and I chose a leisurely boat ride and the 2 Richards decided to go canoeing....even though neither had ever canoed before. Sharon (cooncat)and Kristina another guest from Germany(I think) also went canoeing. There were 4 guests and 2 guides going. The Richards thought that they would have a guide with them in each of their canoes, but the 2 of them were put in a canoe together with no guide. Sharon and Kristina each had a guide. Daniel was the guide for the water activities and instructed them on how to paddle, but neglected to tell them how to slow down, turn or stop the canoe!
They did pretty well with the canoeing, but finally decided it worked best if only one of them paddled so that they weren't working against each other. Richard T. was in the back seat and then did the paddling with Richard K. in the front seat paddling occasionally when requested by Richard in the back. Somehow it got away from them at one point and they couldn't slow down and ran into a bush on shore. No injuries. just some debris left on Richard K. in the front seat.
Our boat and their canoes met along the shore for sundowners and then Sharon, Sharon, Kristina and Star went on the night game drive and the 2 Richards returned to camp on our boat towing the 4 canoes. Saw a couple of genets and a civet on the game drive.
Monday, May 29th.
Stefanie(Esmeralda)from the Netherlands, and Brian arrived around 7 AM, just after Sharon L,Kristina, Richard and Star had left for a morning game walk with Joe. Sharon and Richard T.had gone fishing with Daniel.
Stefanie and Brian took a short game drive with Dispenser and hadn't been gone long when they found a leopard along the road. (the rest of us had been looking for him 2 days and nights!) Stefanie got some great pictures.
We had a couple of animal encounters on our walk. Nothing scary. We met a bull elephant heading our way as we walked on a dry river bed. We just crossed the river bed and let him pass. We later met a cape buffalo cow. Joe told us that cows are more dangerous than bulls. This one didn't have a baby with her, so we weren't too concerned. She saw us and we just stood still and stared at each other for a while and then we slowly moved close to a tree and a termite mound in case she decided to charge.....but she just went on her way once she realized we weren't a threat.
Joe is very good and we learned much. It started getting hot and we returned to camp about 10:30 and met Stefanie and Brian.
I promised Barbara that I would not reveal any of her "surprises" on Fodor's and I did not plan to, however, someone else has already recently done that....so guess it is o.k. now!
As we were gathering for lunch, Barbara quietly told Richard and Sharon and Richard and Star to not go to lunch and to wait for her after she got the others started with lunch. Then she took the 4 of us down to the boat where a table was set for us. We enjoyed a pleasant surprise cruise on the river as we had our lunch.
When we went to gather in the bar area for our afternoon tea and game drive, we had a visitor in camp. An elephant that had been in camp in the morning had returned and was busy shaking a tree so that the pods would fall off for him to eat. He was just outside the railing around the bar and some of the pods fell inside the rail and he put his trunk over and vacuumed them up.
Was fun to watch him up close...also good for closeup pictures. After he moved away, we proceeded with our game drive. No leopard. We did see a side striped jackel and a nice view of a genet sitting on a tree branch with long racoon striped tail hanging down. Genets have a spotted leopard type coat, cute face, and long striped tail.
Back to camp for dinner. Bed about 11:00.
Tues., May 30th
Most of the camp was kept awake last night by one (or more) very noisy Bush Baby----a nocturnal primate with very big eyes.
After breakfast, we left for our morning game drive. Richards and Sharon and Star with Daniel and Sharon L, Kristina, Stefanie, and Brian with Dispencer. Bill, another guest from the U.S. (college professor from Pennsylvania) left with Joe for a walk.
A guide from another camp reported that they had just seen lions in a section of the park they call Out of Africa. It is a long drive--over 1 hour--but we decided to go and see if we could find the lions. After much searching, we gave up and started the long drive back to camp.
Then Dispencer radioed us that some vulchers were eating an elephant carcass...so we headed off to find it. As we got close we could see lots of vulchers circling and landing. They were huge brown birds. We saw the head and trunk of the elephant covered with vulchers.
Back to camp for lunch and rest to get ready for our 3:00 canoe channel trip.
This time each of the 2 passenger canoes had a guide and a Richard and the 3 passenger canoe had Sharon T. and Star and Daniel as our guide/paddler. We did some paddling also when Daniel told us it was o.k. Barbara and Kristina were in another canoe.
We were taken by motor boat to the site where we would start canoeing (our canoes were towed by the boat) We had to go to an alternate site because there was a herd of elephants drinking and bathing at our original site.
We watched as a baby elephant got stuck in a muddy area of the river bank. He fell over and was helped up by 2 females using their trunks on either side of the baby to lift him to dry land. What a great sight to see!
It was a beautiful and peaceful ride through the channel. We saw hippos, cape buffalo, zebra, elephants, and lots of birds.
Had sundowners along the river. Joined by 2 new guests...Ben and Lucy from England, on their honeymoon. Went on a short game drive and then back to camp for dinner. Bed about 10:45. Heard lions roaring during the night. They were lions in Zimbabwe across the river from us.
all for now
hope to finish this soon........
Jun 20th, 2006, 12:03 PM
#45
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sharon,
No, you're not off the hook. We want your version also and your report from the other camps!!
You were lucky to have Victor mostly to yourself at LRL and a day with James. James was not in camp while we were there and Victor had to do it all! Some days we had as many as 8 people on our game drives early in our stay.....more than I would have liked. (although, Barry did have James come back one activity on our last day) We have no complaints about Victor though.
So, we still want your trip report!!
No, you're not off the hook. We want your version also and your report from the other camps!!
You were lucky to have Victor mostly to yourself at LRL and a day with James. James was not in camp while we were there and Victor had to do it all! Some days we had as many as 8 people on our game drives early in our stay.....more than I would have liked. (although, Barry did have James come back one activity on our last day) We have no complaints about Victor though.
So, we still want your trip report!!
you OWE us a trip report! You're not getting out of this one!
Jun 20th, 2006, 01:04 PM
#47
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Honestly - I was incredibly spoiled. With the exception of Chiawa, I basically had the vehicle and guides to myself throughout. I shared the vehicle with others once at each camp. Otherwise I was on my own little private safari!
I see from reading above that Smudgie slept with others, as well. That little tart sure gets around. I thought it was just a special thing we shared. Harumph.
I see from reading above that Smudgie slept with others, as well. That little tart sure gets around. I thought it was just a special thing we shared. Harumph.
Jun 20th, 2006, 07:31 PM
#48
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hari,
In looking back thru my replies on this post, I see that my reply to you didn't post. I have been having problems getting things to post and have to sometmes copy and paste. Anyway I didn't mean to ignore your question regarding Kapamba. Luangwa River Lodge was the only other camp where we stayed in SLNP. At the time you asked about the comparison, I hadn't posted my report yet. So maybe your question will have been answered by now. Anyway, just briefly (and if you have other questions, please let me know and hopefully I can answer them)....Brothers Barry at LRL and Sean at Kapamba were both excellent hosts and the staff at both were great also. Kapamba is more remote and in a beautiful area, but not as much game to see. We did enjoy watching the pride of lions and hearing them talking to each other! We preferred Victor at LRL as a guide. We especially liked his walks. He was very enthusiastic and was capable of sharing his knowledge with us through his stories. The chalets at both places were very nice. Kapamba is newer.
Again sorry about the delay in replying.
Hopefully this will post this time.....(This is the second time I have written this tonight....the first one disappeared when I hit the Post button)
Star
In looking back thru my replies on this post, I see that my reply to you didn't post. I have been having problems getting things to post and have to sometmes copy and paste. Anyway I didn't mean to ignore your question regarding Kapamba. Luangwa River Lodge was the only other camp where we stayed in SLNP. At the time you asked about the comparison, I hadn't posted my report yet. So maybe your question will have been answered by now. Anyway, just briefly (and if you have other questions, please let me know and hopefully I can answer them)....Brothers Barry at LRL and Sean at Kapamba were both excellent hosts and the staff at both were great also. Kapamba is more remote and in a beautiful area, but not as much game to see. We did enjoy watching the pride of lions and hearing them talking to each other! We preferred Victor at LRL as a guide. We especially liked his walks. He was very enthusiastic and was capable of sharing his knowledge with us through his stories. The chalets at both places were very nice. Kapamba is newer.
Again sorry about the delay in replying.
Hopefully this will post this time.....(This is the second time I have written this tonight....the first one disappeared when I hit the Post button)
Star
Jun 20th, 2006, 07:43 PM
#49
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,553
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tigerpaw,
Just a suggestion...whenever writing a lengthy post or e-mail you should highlight and copy your text. Then, just in case there is a failure, all you have to do is press the paste button and all of your text will appear. Voila!
Just a suggestion...whenever writing a lengthy post or e-mail you should highlight and copy your text. Then, just in case there is a failure, all you have to do is press the paste button and all of your text will appear. Voila!
Jun 22nd, 2006, 08:14 AM
#50
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Rocco....I actually did just start copying before hitting the preview or post button. Sounds as though others have been having problems also. Thought it was just me!
Hope to get the final segment of my report done soon.
Hope to get the final segment of my report done soon.
Jun 22nd, 2006, 07:11 PM
#51
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...1&y=9wn2g1
Getting near the end of the pictures finally.....this is slideshow 6...the last of the Chiawa photos.....only Old Mondoro segment to go!
Also hope to soon post the rest of the trip report!
Getting near the end of the pictures finally.....this is slideshow 6...the last of the Chiawa photos.....only Old Mondoro segment to go!
Also hope to soon post the rest of the trip report!
Jun 22nd, 2006, 07:47 PM
#52
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,395
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
More great pics tigerpaw! I loved the elephants at Lower Zambezi, they were everywhere! Is there a way to combine all your photos into one slideshow? I'm so enjoying all the pics from Zambia! Thanks!
Jun 23rd, 2006, 06:58 PM
#53
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Star - I'm so loving your trip reports, and the pictures! Brings back extremely good memories of our time together (with the 2 Richards, and Sharon cooncat). I still recall with a smile our introducing our "gang" to Barbara - First time she ever had only 3 names to remember for 5 people (and you'd have probably answered to "Sharon" if she asked you to!). Loved seeing the elephants from our canoe trip - I have a great picture of the Richards coming in for a rough landing on their canoe adventure!
Jun 23rd, 2006, 07:44 PM
#54
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
part 5......May 31.
Our final day at Chiawa. We went on a game drive with Richard and Sharon. Saw more leopard tracks. Went back to check on the elephant carcass to see if any lions were there. No lions, just lots more vulchers. The sourrounding trees were full of them. Didn't stay long. Went on a search for lions. None found. Back to camp for lunch, resting and getting packed for leaving tomorrow.
3:30 tea and then the 4 of us (R.R.S.S.) left for a boat ride on the Zambezi with Joe. It was a pleasant and peaceful ride. Saw elephants, hippos, crocs, and many birds. Some crocs were feeding on a hippo carcass that was stranded on a sandbar.
At 5:30, we met Dispencer, Stefanie, Brian, and Bill on shore for sundowners. They were a little late arriving because they had been watching a male leopard. They had left the leopard to come and meet us! Very nice of them to come for us. They said it wasn't very far away, so we all piled into the landrover with them and headed off to see the leopard. He had however, moved on. So we went back to the river where we had left Joe sitting on the boat! As Joe wanted to get the boat back to camp before it got too dark, Richard and Richard (they were skipping the night drive) took their sundowners "to go" and got on the boat to return to camp. Stefanie, Brian, Bill, Sharon and Star had Amarulas and then on to look again for the leopard. No luck. Saw an owl and a chameleon.
We were then driven to a surprise location for our evening meal. It was a dry river bed area where the staff had set up our tables and chairs and hung lanterns. The chefs were there in their nice white clothing preparing our authentic African meal over a fire. Craig talked about each dish explaining its origin, etc.
Thurs, June 1st.
After breakfast, we said goodbye to Richard and Sharon. They were going to spend a week touring S. Africa before returning home to California.
We had enjoyed our time with them and will miss them.
So Sharon (cooncat), Richard and I went our last game drive with Dispencer. We found lions resting after feeding on a kill the previous night. We could see the vulchers circling nearby. There were 2 lionesses and 3 cubs. Their stomachs looked very full. We watched them for some time until we had to leave to get back to camp for lunch and final packing before leaving for Old Mondoro camp.
The Old Mondoro boat came to transport us, so we told everyone goodbye and the 3 of us --Sharon, Richard, Star--were off for a fast 1 hour motorboat ride to Old Mondoro. We arrived around 1:30 and were met by Helen and Roeloff, managers of Old Mondoro and the rest of the staff.
It was a beautiful location on the Zambezi River. The chalets were smaller than the previous locations. But were very nice and open with great views of the river with hippos, elephants and buffalo.
The 3 of us were the only guests. They have only 4 chalets.
After getting organized and a short rest, we had 3:30 tea and then 4:00 game drive with Levi and Roeloff. We saw a pair of kudu. The male had large curly horns. These were the only kudu we saw on the trip. They were very shy, so I didn't get a picture. Also saw 2 genets and an African wildcat sitting in the tall grass so could just see it's head and face.
Also saw a young hyena.....he was curious about us and even walked over to the vehicle to check us out and didn't seem afraid.
Back to camp for dinner.....pork with orange sauce, rice, carrots and snap peas, and a roll. Milk tart for dessert. All delicious.
It was very chilly during the night drive and during our dinner time. But they had put hot water bottles in our beds and was warm for sleeping.
June 2nd..
After early breakfast, the 3 of us left with Roeloff, Levi and a scout from the National Park armed with an AK-47. We were gone about 4 hours and learned much from Roeloff and Levi. Saw many birds. At one place we had to wait for quite some time for 3 elephants to move on past us. They were taking their time eating and after waiting for them to move on, we decided to take a detour around them and go on with our walk....they seemed in no hurry. Arrived back in camp about 11:00, lunch at 11:15.
After lunch we started working on packing for tomorrow's long flights back home.
They delivered our hot water at 2:30 for our showers. We had been told that there was plenty of hot water for 2 showers. I went first and guess I was too slow and the hot water ran out just after Richard got all soaped up and still hadn't shampooed his hair, so had to finish with cold water.
3:30 tea time and 4:00 game drive. (R.S.& S.) After dark we saw a civet, whitetailed mongoose, owl, and an African wildcat with her cute little kitten.
Back for dinner and bed early around 10:00
Sat., June 3rd.
Was awake some in the night hearing hippos outside our chalet walking and munching on something.
After breakfast, we went for a short game drive before leaving for the airport. We met an anti poaching team that had come to investigate gunshots that Roeloff had heard and reported on our previous evening's game drive. They told us that they had been in the area of Jeki airstrip about 30 mins. earlier and had seen a large male lion resting in the sun. So we decided to take a fast trip to see if we could find him. It was a long drive and we had to drive fast to be back at camp by 9 to be ready for our 9:50 boat departure to Royal Airstrip. It was a fast bumpy ride and didn't find the lion. But we did get to see Jeki, where Roeloff and guys from Old Mondoro had been grading the airstrip so that it would soon be usable. It is much more convenient to Old Mondoro than Royal and should be open soon.....although too late for us to use. According to Roeloff the National Park is supposed to maintain it, but doesn't.
Saw many warthogs running with their tails straight up in the air. Also large herds of impala jumping and leaping high in the air. They are so graceful to watch.
Arrived back at camp and departed on time by boat to Chiawa (1 hr. fast boat ride) where we switched to Chiawa's boat for about a 30 min. trip to Zambia Conservancy area, then landrover ride for the final 30 min. to Royal airstrip.
So would have been much more convenient if Jeki airstrip had been open.
When we arrived at Chiawa, we were met by Barbara, Joe, Craig, and Mr. Cummings, owner of Chiawa and Old Mondoro, who lives in Lusaka.
Our luggage was transferred to the Chiawa boat and we quickly took off on the 2nd leg of our trip to Royal.
We also added another passenger...Bill the college professor from Penn. was leaving Chiawa for S. Luangwa so joined us on the flight from Royal to Lusaka where he and Sharon would go on to Mfuwe Airport.
The flight from Royal to Lusaka was smooth and scenic. When we arrived in Lusaka it was time to say goodbye to Sharon (cooncat). We had been communicating for several months on Fodor's and by email and I enjoyed spending our safari time together in Zambia.
So our homeward journey continued from leaving Old Mondoro and flying from Royal to Lusaka, to Johannesburg, to London, to Chicago and then finally to Peoria.
It was a wonderful trip that we won't forget.
Our final day at Chiawa. We went on a game drive with Richard and Sharon. Saw more leopard tracks. Went back to check on the elephant carcass to see if any lions were there. No lions, just lots more vulchers. The sourrounding trees were full of them. Didn't stay long. Went on a search for lions. None found. Back to camp for lunch, resting and getting packed for leaving tomorrow.
3:30 tea and then the 4 of us (R.R.S.S.) left for a boat ride on the Zambezi with Joe. It was a pleasant and peaceful ride. Saw elephants, hippos, crocs, and many birds. Some crocs were feeding on a hippo carcass that was stranded on a sandbar.
At 5:30, we met Dispencer, Stefanie, Brian, and Bill on shore for sundowners. They were a little late arriving because they had been watching a male leopard. They had left the leopard to come and meet us! Very nice of them to come for us. They said it wasn't very far away, so we all piled into the landrover with them and headed off to see the leopard. He had however, moved on. So we went back to the river where we had left Joe sitting on the boat! As Joe wanted to get the boat back to camp before it got too dark, Richard and Richard (they were skipping the night drive) took their sundowners "to go" and got on the boat to return to camp. Stefanie, Brian, Bill, Sharon and Star had Amarulas and then on to look again for the leopard. No luck. Saw an owl and a chameleon.
We were then driven to a surprise location for our evening meal. It was a dry river bed area where the staff had set up our tables and chairs and hung lanterns. The chefs were there in their nice white clothing preparing our authentic African meal over a fire. Craig talked about each dish explaining its origin, etc.
Thurs, June 1st.
After breakfast, we said goodbye to Richard and Sharon. They were going to spend a week touring S. Africa before returning home to California.
We had enjoyed our time with them and will miss them.
So Sharon (cooncat), Richard and I went our last game drive with Dispencer. We found lions resting after feeding on a kill the previous night. We could see the vulchers circling nearby. There were 2 lionesses and 3 cubs. Their stomachs looked very full. We watched them for some time until we had to leave to get back to camp for lunch and final packing before leaving for Old Mondoro camp.
The Old Mondoro boat came to transport us, so we told everyone goodbye and the 3 of us --Sharon, Richard, Star--were off for a fast 1 hour motorboat ride to Old Mondoro. We arrived around 1:30 and were met by Helen and Roeloff, managers of Old Mondoro and the rest of the staff.
It was a beautiful location on the Zambezi River. The chalets were smaller than the previous locations. But were very nice and open with great views of the river with hippos, elephants and buffalo.
The 3 of us were the only guests. They have only 4 chalets.
After getting organized and a short rest, we had 3:30 tea and then 4:00 game drive with Levi and Roeloff. We saw a pair of kudu. The male had large curly horns. These were the only kudu we saw on the trip. They were very shy, so I didn't get a picture. Also saw 2 genets and an African wildcat sitting in the tall grass so could just see it's head and face.
Also saw a young hyena.....he was curious about us and even walked over to the vehicle to check us out and didn't seem afraid.
Back to camp for dinner.....pork with orange sauce, rice, carrots and snap peas, and a roll. Milk tart for dessert. All delicious.
It was very chilly during the night drive and during our dinner time. But they had put hot water bottles in our beds and was warm for sleeping.
June 2nd..
After early breakfast, the 3 of us left with Roeloff, Levi and a scout from the National Park armed with an AK-47. We were gone about 4 hours and learned much from Roeloff and Levi. Saw many birds. At one place we had to wait for quite some time for 3 elephants to move on past us. They were taking their time eating and after waiting for them to move on, we decided to take a detour around them and go on with our walk....they seemed in no hurry. Arrived back in camp about 11:00, lunch at 11:15.
After lunch we started working on packing for tomorrow's long flights back home.
They delivered our hot water at 2:30 for our showers. We had been told that there was plenty of hot water for 2 showers. I went first and guess I was too slow and the hot water ran out just after Richard got all soaped up and still hadn't shampooed his hair, so had to finish with cold water.
3:30 tea time and 4:00 game drive. (R.S.& S.) After dark we saw a civet, whitetailed mongoose, owl, and an African wildcat with her cute little kitten.
Back for dinner and bed early around 10:00
Sat., June 3rd.
Was awake some in the night hearing hippos outside our chalet walking and munching on something.
After breakfast, we went for a short game drive before leaving for the airport. We met an anti poaching team that had come to investigate gunshots that Roeloff had heard and reported on our previous evening's game drive. They told us that they had been in the area of Jeki airstrip about 30 mins. earlier and had seen a large male lion resting in the sun. So we decided to take a fast trip to see if we could find him. It was a long drive and we had to drive fast to be back at camp by 9 to be ready for our 9:50 boat departure to Royal Airstrip. It was a fast bumpy ride and didn't find the lion. But we did get to see Jeki, where Roeloff and guys from Old Mondoro had been grading the airstrip so that it would soon be usable. It is much more convenient to Old Mondoro than Royal and should be open soon.....although too late for us to use. According to Roeloff the National Park is supposed to maintain it, but doesn't.
Saw many warthogs running with their tails straight up in the air. Also large herds of impala jumping and leaping high in the air. They are so graceful to watch.
Arrived back at camp and departed on time by boat to Chiawa (1 hr. fast boat ride) where we switched to Chiawa's boat for about a 30 min. trip to Zambia Conservancy area, then landrover ride for the final 30 min. to Royal airstrip.
So would have been much more convenient if Jeki airstrip had been open.
When we arrived at Chiawa, we were met by Barbara, Joe, Craig, and Mr. Cummings, owner of Chiawa and Old Mondoro, who lives in Lusaka.
Our luggage was transferred to the Chiawa boat and we quickly took off on the 2nd leg of our trip to Royal.
We also added another passenger...Bill the college professor from Penn. was leaving Chiawa for S. Luangwa so joined us on the flight from Royal to Lusaka where he and Sharon would go on to Mfuwe Airport.
The flight from Royal to Lusaka was smooth and scenic. When we arrived in Lusaka it was time to say goodbye to Sharon (cooncat). We had been communicating for several months on Fodor's and by email and I enjoyed spending our safari time together in Zambia.
So our homeward journey continued from leaving Old Mondoro and flying from Royal to Lusaka, to Johannesburg, to London, to Chicago and then finally to Peoria.
It was a wonderful trip that we won't forget.
Jun 24th, 2006, 07:18 AM
#56
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sharon and Dennis,
Thanks for your comments. Dennis, I am going to try to combine all of the photos and also the reports into one post with a new title.....Not sure how to accomplish this, but will spend some time trying to find out!
Sharon, looking forward to your report and photos........and also more from Sharon (cooncat)
Thanks for your comments. Dennis, I am going to try to combine all of the photos and also the reports into one post with a new title.....Not sure how to accomplish this, but will spend some time trying to find out!
Sharon, looking forward to your report and photos........and also more from Sharon (cooncat)
