We were up at 5:00 so we would be ready for breakfast at
5:30 and the game drive at 6:00. We want
to get out early while the animals are active and it is not too hot. Every game
drive is different. You have no idea
what to expect. Right now it is
extremely dry in Zambia. In fact, the
river has just one fairly narrow channel of running water. They really are concerned and hope that the
rainy season will come early and be plentiful this year.
After we entered the South Luangwa National Park, we saw
lots of impalas – a good food source (leopard McDonald’s), giraffes with
several young ones, hippos in the river – over 100 at this one location, next
we found a leopard under the tree where he had an impala impaled on the tree
branch. He had eaten until he was full,
and was resting under the tree when we came by.
A little farther along we came upon a “new kill”! 9 lions had just killed a buffalo in the past
hour or two. The young lions were full,
with bloody faces, resting in the shade while the others were now eating. They begin with the innards and brains, and
those where all eaten by the time we got there. The vultures (20 of them) were standing
around, waiting their chance for a bite. It was an incredible find, even if the
buffalo did not make it – it is all part of the food chain.
I took a nap before lunch, we ate lunch, took a dip in the
pool, by then the electricity came on, so we could be in the chalet with the
fan blowing around the hot air, Cal took his nap and I had another short one
before it was tea time and then the evening game drive at 3:30. Where did the day go?
The evening game drive took us back to the lions and carcass
– the lions were gone and the vultures were having their meals. Later tonight the hyenas would finish
it! We did find some of the lions later,
resting in the shade. The leopard was
back up in the tree resting on a branch when we drove by before dark. After
dark he was resting on the ground.
We found another pride of lions (9) with 2 cubs (about 2
months olds). Cute, Cute, Cute!! The
cubs were so playful. Part of the Pride
was stalking a warthog until a bird gave a warning sign to the warthog and he
ran out of the area. However, we had our
bets on the lions - they would take him out later and have a midnight
snack.
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| One of the many beautiful scenes in the park |
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| One of the many Termite hills |
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| Sundowner at Sunset |
At dusk and later the hippos emerge from the river looking
for grasses to eat. They continue eating all night returning to the river
around dawn. They are one of the active
night time animals. Hippos cannot be in the sun for a period of time. But if they are out of the water during the
day their skin emits a type of suntan lotion (red -ish in color). The Luangwa
River has the largest population of hippos than any other river in Africa.
Hippos cannot swim so they need a river that is deep enough for their size of
body, but not too deep so their feet touch the bottom. During the rainy season they move to the
sides of the river and into lagoons.
The last part of the night drive took us by the carcass – to
see if the hyenas had started their part of the meal. We
saw 3 Hyenas in the area but not at the carcass when we left at 7:30, however,
they would soon be moving in for their part of the buffalo! Before leaving the
park we found a 2nd leopard,
just walking among the bush.
We returned to the lodge for dinner, a shower and hit the
bed as we will be up at 5:00 tomorrow morning, for the 6:00 game drive.
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