After a two day drive from Livingstone, over nighting just outside Lusaka, we arrived at Wildlife camp on the banks of the Luangwa River just outside the national park.
We have now spent eight days in the Luangwa Valley and done two self drives around the park and a guided day and night drive. We have been trying out all the various campsites in the area and stayed in three different ones. All campsites have been on the river bank overlooking the Luangwa. The campsites are all outside the park but in Game Managment Areas (GMA). There are no fences between the National Park and the GMA. The end of the dry season is approaching and the river levels are low. Therefore elephants, giraffes and other animals can easily cross the river from the NP into the GMA and are often seen around the camp. Hippos regularly leave river at night and graze on the grass that the camp staff have been watering during the day. That keeps the night security staff busy trying to stop the hippos walking too close to the campers.
Mother and Child
Thornicrofts Giraffe was until recently thought to be a unique giraffe sub-species occuring only in the Luangwa Valley. However in the past year it has been established that the genetic make up of the Luangwa Giraffes is identical to the Masai Giraffe. It is estimated that there are less than 600 left in the park. There are no Thornicroft Giraffes in captivity.
African painted dog
Yesterday we met a Spanish Lady, aged 60!!! who lived in Greenwich and was cycling on her own from Cairo to Cape Town, camping as she goes. She has already been on the road for seven months.Very brave if you ask us!!
Within the next two days we will cross from Zambia into Malawi and head for the lake.