South Luangwa NP, Zambia

Even tonight it was raining. For every night I'm more convinced we are doing the right thing by upgrading.

Our lost soldiers was brought back and the group was complete again, ready for new adventures.

Today we are leaving Malawi to cross the border into Zambia. Just before the border, at a road block, a police officer decides we don't have all our papers in place and we are kept there by the side of the road for quite a while until it is all sorted and we can proceed. 

Border passing goes rather quick this time. 

Welcome to Zambia!

We stop at the first town and a supermarket to stock up and then just outside town we stop for lunch at a nice camp site. 

The last part of today's journey goes through a green bushy landscape. Not as much farmland anymore. Unfortunately we are passing through quite a bit of rain, but rather while driving, than when we reach our destination. 

Our destination today was South Luangwa NP. The camp was beautifully placed on the river bank. 

Tonight me and my roomie upgraded to a great permanent tent. We had our own bathroom and a beautiful view, comfortable beds and I was a happy puppy.

Together with our neighbours we had our Happy Hour as the sun set, overlooking the river and its hippos, elephants etc... 

Life can be hard sometimes! :)

Tonight I will go to sleep listening to hippos and that is such a lovely experience.

Six of us were up in the crack of dawn to go on a game drive. It turned out to be such a beautiful and successful morning. We saw lots of animals including a big group of wild dogs, about ten hyenas, all full and tired after a big meal at the look of them. We also saw giraffes, impalas, zebras, elephants etc. But unfortunately no cats.

On return back to the camp we got a nice second breakfast and then joined the others by and in the pool. It was a lovely sunny day. 

After lunch three of us went for a little walk. We were told about a lagoon but when trying to find it we passed some chalets and there we saw acme elephants wandering around, it turned out to be six of them. We got a little bit too close for our own good and a guy from the lodge came running telling us to get in the one building. It was an open bar area from where we had full view of the elephants. They walked around looking for fruits to feed on and they were right up by the building. If we were allowed to we could have reached out a hand and touched them. What an experience!

However, we now had a problem. One of the big bulls didn't want to leave the property and we had to be back at camp for a sunset game drive. Then a second bull came back. When they both went behind the on chalet the guy escorted us out of there.

The sunset drive wasn't as successful as the morning. However the sunset was amazing!

A late Braai waited for us on arrival. Lovely day!

Another early morning. We packed up and left the camp in two safari vehicles. Morrison will meet up a little later. 

First we visited a village and was shown around and told how the people lived. At the end of the tour they sang and danced. A very good visit.

Lots of kids here too, but better behaved than in other places we've been.

After a stop at a textile workshop, that was closed in December and only the shop was open, Morison came to pick us up.

A found a new friend in that shop, a tall man, and I'm taking him home. But the thing is a think he is a her.

We drove back to Chipati where we stopped at the same supermarket as two days ago before we continued to Petauke where we will stop for the night.

We got some heavy rain and there was nowhere to sit inside for dinner, why we all stood outside the truck and the ablution block. Even our happy hour before dinner had to move due to the rain and became a picnic on the floor of one of the cabins.

Yip, sleeping in a bed tonight too...