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Zambia

Una aventura de 24 días de Charlesi Leer más
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  • Charlesi Main-BZambiaCharlesi Main-B

    Mwamba - Evening

    26 de mayo, Zambia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Just before we left Lainey had a surprise encounter with a huge River Monitor Lizard,. It was crawling down the tree trunk at the side of our balcony and it was so big she thought at first it was a Crocodile! She screamed it fell off the tree and fled into the undergrowth. we don’t know who was more surprised, him or Lainey!

    We left at 16:00, Phil had heard the Wild Dogs were still in the area so we set out to see them. They were indeed ‘on the road’ and Charles got footage of them playing, rolling about and generally behaving like domesticated Dogs, until they suddenly set off running into the undergrowth together.

    Phil tried to follow the, as he’d heard a cry, and we had a fun time driving through the undergrowth but couldn’t make it through the undergrowth although we could hear them crunching on bones nearby. We were really surprised at the speed with which they had located, killed and were eating their kill, we’re not sure but we believe it was probably a Bush Buck.

    We had our Sundowner overlooking the river with the Crocodiles and Hippos. On the drive back we saw Genet, Elephant Shrews, Nightjars, and lots of various Antelope including a herd of Wildebeest, not forgetting a trail of Ants across the track, apparently moving their eggs to safety

    We also had our, usual, uninvited guests in the bathroom on our return!    Leer más

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  • Charlesi Main-BZambiaCharlesi Main-B

    Mwamba - 27/am

    27 de mayo, Zambia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Quite cool this morning with quite a bit of cloud cover, sun didn’t come out till 06:55!

    Megan accompanied us this morning, she does the Social Media for the MK Lodges (Mwamba/Kiango)

    Today we simply trailed over by the river checking out the wildlife and mixing in a bit of bird watching., Phil is incredibly knowledgable about all the wildlife and over morning coffee told us the trading front guides is over six years!

    There are some fabulous birds here, we saw many including the Saddle Billed Stork, Blacksmith Lapwing and the Lilac Breasted Roller, you can’t believe some of the colouring

    Also Blue Wildebeest and Giraffes not forgetting the Hippos and Crocodile that abound here    Leer más

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  • Charlesi Main-BZambiaCharlesi Main-B
    1Mom and baby
    1Little Bee Eater

    Mwamba - 27/pm

    27 de mayo, Zambia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Again a quiet evening we’re really just out for the sunset and sundowner, of course!

    We saw a mother Elephant with her baby and, either, an older cousin or sister it us lovely to see the new born, apart from being reminded of the number of predators about

    Phil is excellent and stops the car pointing out the tiniest things like the Little Bee Eater and the Giant Kingfisher, Giant!? We also saw a herd of Zebra

    One of the things I love in Zambia are the tree trunks, they’re so twisted and gnarled, just incredible. We also saw these in the Namib
    Desert

    After our Sundowner we headed back with the spotlight picking up whatever’s lurking in the night and we saw Hyena, lots of Bugs and Genet    Leer más

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  • Charlesi Main-BZambiaCharlesi Main-B
    Lion - No. 1
    LionessLion - No. 2...with youngLittle Bee EaterZebraSaddle Billed StorkWaterbuck with ImpalaBlue WilderbeestImpala - The Termite. Mound has collapsed...seemed a little upset with us!Flap Necked Chameleon

    Mwamba - Penultimate

    28 de mayo, Zambia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Very strange night as we definitely heard something outside our cabin, at breakfast we learnt we’d had Lions in the area so we are heading straight to where they are thought to be

    We found a Lion 25 minutes later in the road, it was on its own but it is actually one of the two Lions with the Lioness we saw at the Giraffe kill. It moved off and we attempted to follow, as it seemed sure it was looking for the others, but we lost it. Deciding to move on we headed for the Luangwa but after some 10 minutes we heard the other Lion and Lioness had been located so we headed there, again it appears they are waiting for the other Lion. We waited some 10 minutes but realised we could wait hours and not see then reunited so, again, headed for the river

    Quite a gathering on the way so many birds which were too quick to ‘snap’ and lots of animal but the Elephants and Giraffes are so elegant and relaxed, as indeed was the Chameleon which is only about 4 inches long

    Nearly back and we saw an Elephant by the side of the road but he got somewhat irate and gave out a rumble as he headed for the vehicle, suffice to say we moved on…

    Back at the Lodge we had an Elephant, Impala and Baboons all going by outside our cabin, the Baboons in particular made such a racket we really believed they were running from a predator but no, just a domestic!    Leer más

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  • Charlesi Main-BZambiaCharlesi Main-B
    Now that's a chilled Hippo!
    Feeding time on the move...honestly seconds before there were loads of them!...beat that if you can!Soon, very soon...Two Hyenas looking for a snack...Unusually cloudy and close this afternoon

    Mwamba - Pen Eve

    28 de mayo, Zambia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Quite overcast and air quite ‘heavy’ so this evening we decided to head straight to the Hippo Hide for a relaxing time with our Sundowner

    As it happens, on our way we enjoyed the sights of a two Elephants with a young one and further on we came across more Elephants except this was a herd of Elephants but at the side of the road was another mother whose young was suckling so couldn’t move! However she was successful on her second attempt whereupon the babe almost gambolled along into the bushes to join the herd, we also saw over sixty Lilian’s Lovebirds swirling around and feeding on the track

    After this we managed to get to the Hide and settled in. As the light started to fade it was funny watching them jostling for position unfortunately, at this point, my camera was having real trouble focusing so we, once again, have to rely on the iPhone.

    Being a normal state of affairs, ie. not the BBC we got a couple of good shots but missed more but very happy with what we saw mixed with the trumpeting, snorting and bird call was superb

    All too soon it’s drinks consumed and back to the ranch. Coming out of the Hide it was still quite cloudy and close and heading off we managed to see, and hear, a lone Elephant who scared the life out of me trumpeting as we passed, then a herd of Elephants and Giraffe but we don’t stop or play the light on them but we do for the Hyenas and Genet etc

    On our return we managed a ‘Moonup’ with Lester and Val, owners, before having a romantic dinner for two on our veranda…did I say romantic!? I believe, due to the closeness, we were beset by every imaginable bug and beastie located in Zambia and fighting a losing battle retired to bed and the safety of Mosquito Nets which, sadly, did not offer us any respite from Midges so, as you can imagine, not quite the evening we had planned!    Leer más

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  • Charlesi Main-BZambiaCharlesi Main-B
    Intrepid Explorers saved by Charles, and someone else!
    Fish EagleGreat White PelicansGreater KuduLilac Breasted RollerMantisPuku and Zebra grazingEgyptian GeeseI believe Black Ducks with Lazing HipposSleep disturbed by squabbling DucksAfrican Spoonbill and African Sacred IbisThis was so funny...A pillow called mum!Puku...Puku, same pair...Giraffe at Lunch

    Mwamba - Last Full Day

    29 de mayo, Zambia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Lainey was up to go for a walk with Phil and Goodson this morning whilst I had a lay-in and joined her at the end of their walk

    We went East today to a Water Buck Gambo, a waterhole, when we arrived Phil was quite concerned at the levels, also the fact Great White Pelicans were already here when usually it’s around September time before they arrive. We had also expected to find Cape Buffalo but they weren’t about, although all the signs were there

    We then began to check the area along the river for signs of life and saw a Greater Kudu who was heading to drink become very wary at our approach deciding to head off instead, moving along we came to an opening which is beneficial to browsers and grazers seeing Zebra, Puku and Baboons all sharing the same area, also, in the tree line was a Giraffe browsing, as opposed to grazing, they really are magnificent creatures. At this point I was about to discard a leaf when I took a closer look and it was a Mantis which had de coded to land Phil very kindly stopped and we left it in a field of grasses

    Back at the riverbed, a subsidiary to the Luangwa, we saw lazy Hippos and a whole gaggle of Geese arguing over territory and their mates watched on by an African Spoonbill, African Sacred Ibis and, of course, the Hippos after which we moved further along for morning tea on the river bank itself

    Here we had a chuckle seeing the Hippos noisily rearranging themselves and at a youngster determined to rest on her mums back and at a Crocodile sliding along, he must’ve been all of four metres…huge!

    Heading back we interrupted, albeit briefly, Puku enjoying a ‘coupling’ although I rather think she was still on the hors d'oeuvre…    Leer más

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  • Charlesi Main-BZambiaCharlesi Main-B
    Our last Sundowner in Zambia
    DadsMums and Cubs, sucklingYoung Crocodile about a year oldThey do look the part, for sure...Right in front of our noses!Wild Dogs in the distanceLester, Val and John welcome us to a Bush SundownerJust after a Sunset picture

    Mwamba - Last Sundowner

    29 de mayo, Zambia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    A fabulous Last Day…

    Off, really for a wander but thought about checking out the last sighting of the Lions/Lionesses. Everyone’s been wondering where their Cubs are but to no avail, until tonight…sighting a clump of weathered trees we saw the two Lions so we know the Lionesses must be nearby but what was totally unexpected was they had their Cubs with them. It was truly incredible to see this amazing picture and knowing we were amongst the first to see it

    The Cubs are about twelve weeks old and beautiful, they were suckling as we watched. Each of the Lionesses has two Cubs but they were clambering between each of the Lionesses, see video, hard to believe what they will be capable of in the future…. More vehicles turned up so we decided to leave to prevent them being harassed but we checked out the Lions on the way

    From there we sought the Wild Dogs and, heading West, off we went, driving along something ran across the road which, amazingly, turned out to be a young Crocodile, about a year old, that was trying to get to the river. So we started agin after the Digs which we caught up with quite easily as they were up on the radio but, sadly, when we arrived there were already four vehicles there so we prepared to leave. Just as we were turning Goodson called to Phil and there, not six foot in front of us was a Wild Dogs and, it was truly a ‘Wow’ moment so paused to record that and take a long range photo of what we could see of the pack. After this we headed to our Sundowner…

    Imagine our surprise when we realised the owners, Lester and Val, had driven out to arrange a Bush Sundowner, it was really lovely and totally unexpected. They really are a lovely couple who are just ‘themselves’ and a joy to spend time with. So, all in all, a fabulous ‘Last Sundowner’

    After which we returned to the Lodge and had dinner with our hosts, Lester and Val and Phil, a good night…a very good night!    Leer más

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  • Charlesi Main-BZambiaCharlesi Main-B
    Lainey and Lester checking out the Morning Star
    Visiting MwambaIn Mwamba, we only found out later at breakfast! Courtesy of: Lester ShentonHyena, our first clue to the killAbsolutely fixed on the area of the killHeading into the brush, we're headed that way ourselves nowAgain, driven to a tree and it was 'suggested' we look above...Simply unbelievable to be so close to a Leopard

    Mwamba - Breakfast and…

    30 de mayo, Zambia ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    Woke to some strange noises outside but this is becoming almost normal now, we did see someone out and about so knew something was happening

    Drums were delayed and at breakfast we found out the reason…there’d been an Elephant in the camp and immediately outside our cabin, there were some concerns as you can see from the video (courtesy of: Lester Shenton). It should be noted that Hyenas, Leopards and Lions, amongst others, are regular visitors to Mwamba, the reason visitors don’t go out unescorted after dark…the ‘very’ good reason visitors don’t go unescorted at night!

    Lainey, Phil, Goodson and myself start our trek heading out to see the Cubs from last night but, on the way, we noticed a Hyena who was very fixed on an area in the bush, we did a quick check but he was on his own, that done we moved to the area he was interested in and entered slowly working our way between the trees and bushes, it is great the places they manage to get these vehicles in, not for the faint hearted

    Soon we stopped and looking up in the tree there was a Leopard with her kill, an Impala, probably from yesterday. Phil explained the Hyenas would gather to scavenge anything that was dropped but otherwise would get nothing.

    I think I’ve said before how moving it is to see these creatures so close and knowing how terrifying it would be if they so decided, it truly is a privilege

    Sadly, this is our last morning and there’s packing to be undertaken before we set off for the airport at 12:30, so we head back    Leer más

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  • Charlesi Main-BZambiaCharlesi Main-B

    Mfuwe International Airport

    30 de mayo, Zambia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Travelling to the airport we turned a corner and ended up facing a ‘Journey of Giraffes’, strangely when they stop they became a ‘Tower of Giraffes’ eventually they moved aside and we continued on. It was quite a journey because with the exception we saw, albeit very briefly, almost everything apart from Lion! A fabulous farewell from an amazing country

    Arrived MIA at 16:40 after calling in at some shops local to the airport and a place called Mulberry Mongoose, this is a shop where the locals make jewellery from animal traps and from which the locals benefit financially also a percentage made to the locality generally

    This has to be the smallest International Airport in the world!

    We depart here at 18:20 to arrive Lusaka at 19:30

    All times are Local Time    Leer más

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  • Charlesi Main-BZambiaCharlesi Main-B

    Lusaka Airport

    30 de mayo, Zambia ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, better known as Lusaka Airport

    Boarding for Dubai, time is now 21:35 and we expect to arrive at 06:30

    All very uneventful so far, thank goodness and, with luck a bit of shut eye, he said hopefully!

    All times are Local Times    Leer más

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  • Charlesi Main-BZambiaCharlesi Main-B

    Dubai

    31 de mayo, Emiratos Árabes Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 37 °C

    …our last leg, though not counting the five hour journey from Heathrow to Canadel

    We depart here at 09:40 to arrive Heathrow at 14:25, It’ll have been a long journey and reaching home (Canadel) will have been travelling for over 24 hours, and no alcohol ‘cause I’ll be driving and, sigh, there’s 18 year old scotch for free…sob!

    All time are Local Times    Leer más

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  • Charlesi Main-BZambiaCharlesi Main-B

    Canadel - Home

    31 de mayo, Gales ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    We arrived into UK to lovely weather which turned into torrential rain 38 miles from home but it ceased and the last 25 miles were good

    Got home at 19:51, which wasn’t too bad considering the SatNav says it’s a 4:30 hour (220 mile) drive and the adaptive cruise control, anti-lock brake system, tyre pressure system and anti-skid all decided to become inactive 80 miles out of Heathrow

    Sequence…kick dog, toilet, get very large drink…that’s all folks

    If anyone wants any of the pictures, or to see our other trips just let me, or Lainey, know 👍

    See you all soon xx    Leer más

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    Fin del viaje
    1 de junio de 2025