cooncat2

Um. I hate to ask, but Rocco, if there is anything of interest for me at the convention, would you consider passing it along? I can send you my street address.. thanks~

matnikstym

Rocco-Me too! You've got my address..anything from Kafue area or North Luangwa would be interested in seeing.
Thanks,
Dennis

pnd1

Lisa: seeing that kingfisher in a human hand made me do a double take and reach for my camera, all in one motion. As for editing my images down to the finest few, it is never easy. But I have taught photo-editing, along with photojournalism and expressive travel photography, for nearly 40 years, and I’ve built my entire approach to both imaging and editing on the axiom “less is usually more.”

Matnikstym: yes, Barry has told me the river has raised its level quite dramatically last week. It all comes from heavy rains upstream in the mountains, he tells me. It should certainly still be green come March. And yes, it is a very special place.

Kimburu: I’m glad my images have encouraged you to visit South Luangwa. I am sure you will find it everything you expected and then some.

Rocco: Thanks for using my pictures to build interest in Zambia as a travel destination.
If they can encourage even one more traveler to visit, that’s one more voice added to the chorus.

Bat: I like the word “Edenic” I will have to use it myself some time.

Phil

matnikstym

while we were tiger fishing on the Zambezi, the river guide made some strange whistling noise and all of a sudden out of the sky a kite flew down and took a piece of bait out of his hand...too fast for pictures but amazing to see!

Roccco

I will try to come home with arms full of Zambian literature, and if they are nice enough and don't mind a 40 minute drive from Long Beach, I may even bring home a couple Zambians for dinner at Rocco's! They won't be the first ones, as our jeweler from Lusaka has already used my place as her B&B for a couple nights. If I am a good enough host, maybe next year they will bring me a mating pair of African Wild Dogs, although I don't think my alpha male Corgi sire would appreciate their presence!

Always nice to see so much interest in Zambia, even with Tanzania so close for me. But, after three straight years of South Luangwa, I am just glad that I learned enough about it and have been passionate enough about it to persuade others to visit. Glad to see that this passion is being passed on to others. My next task will be to get to Kafue and North Luangwa, likely in August 2007, and this will be in addition to South Luangwa and, if time permits, Lower Zambezi. Another goal is to connect South Luangwa/North Luangwa with Ruaha & Selous. This should not be too far an air transfer at all...what, about 2.5 hours?

And then there is Kasanka and Liuwa Plains, in very different parts of Zambia, but equally fascinating. A December visit would work out best at these locations:

http://www.zambiatourism.com/travel/...arks/liuwa.htm

http://www.zambiatourism.com/travel/...ks/kasanka.htm

While Kafue, Lower Zambezi and North Luangwa are not possible for travelers going after early November, South Luangwa combines beautifully with Kasanka and Liuwa Plains.

KayeN

Hi Phil

Some lovely photos! Just a question for you regarding #89 I think, is that really a 12 month old cub - if it is, they breed them big in Zambia - I have just seen 12 month old cubs in the Sabi Sands and they are nowhere near that size. She is enormous!
Kaye

sundowner

Really enjoyed looking at your photos. Thanks for posting them! The Malachite Kingfisher is awesome! Loved the last one of the Landrover also.

One item, you said on one of your pictures that hunting elephants is not allowed in Africa. There are really very many elephants hunted in Africa. According to this website http://www.safaribwana.com/NEWSLETTE...er%20mar05.htm, they have recently reintroduce elephant hunting in Zambia (I know nothing about this hunting sight - I just googled elephant hunt zambia). Hunting is still banned in Kenya but elephants are hunted in SA, Zim, Nam and I don't know where else.

cooncat

You could hardly call it hunting....given how plentiful the elephants seem to be in Zambia. What a "sport" that is. (Sorry...I understand hunting deer in the Midwestern US for food, but I just don't get wild/exotic animal hunting at all.)

pnd1

thanks, Kaye, for the question about the lion cub.
I have one year in my notes. I might have misunderstood my guide, however. It could well have been older. And thanks, Sundowner, for filling us in on the latest info about elephant hunting. The website I checked said that hunting elephants in Africa was illegal, but in light of what you say, that info is now outdated. In any event, licensed hunting of elephants in certain areas must be very expensive and tightly controlled.

Thanks,
Phil

stamiya

fabulous pictures and commentary. thanks for sharing. Your photos show so much more than just the animals. Thanks also for your report on Luangwa River Lodge and Puku Ridge. We'll be there in May, and it was reassuring to read of your good experiences at these camps.

CarlaM

Welcome back Phil. Thank you for the wonderful experience, I felt like I was there! You inspire me to keep practicing. I start classes locally in March. I plan to return to Botswana & Zambia in 2007.

Rocco, save some brochures for me, I will be there Sat afternoon after the LA Kings game. I am sure I will be able to tell who you are if you are there!

pnd1

Thanks, Stamiya and CarlaM for looking at my images. I wish you both great trips to Zambia.
And Stamiya, be sure to give my best to Barry, Tara, and Victor at Luangwa River Lodge, and to Paul, Sonya, and Abel at Puku Ridge, when and if you see them.

Phil