Customer Review: Luangwa Zambia - August 2008

"At last I have finished editing the video taken during our visit to South Luangwa in Zambia. During this delightful occupation there has been opportunity, once again, to appreciate all the careful planning, and the care lavished on us to make our final trip wonderful and unforgettable.

We met up with so many old friends, and the warmth of their greeting was very moving. It was like coming home, and being with family. Everyone looked after us so well, and made sure that we made the best use of our time with you. Our new friend Laurence was an excellent guide. Most interesting, and with a good sense of humour. His impressions of birds and animals were great fun. On our first night drive at Kapani he even found two leopards!

Nsolo was even more special than before. We loved the position of the new camp, and Hut No.4 was absolutely perfect. Our sunrise view of the Luwi river bed is now my desktop picture and a daytime one is Joan's. On our arrival with Laurence we were even welcomed by a dung beetle! He said it was an unusual sight, as the rainy season is when they are usually around.
On one of our drives I managed at last to get a picture of a lilac breasted roller in flight. I had been trying for 16 years!

On our previous trip to Nsolo in 2006, we decided to be brave and leave our curtains open to the night sky. Not long after we had settled in, the drama commenced. A lioness, not a healthy one, who had been lying low locally with her warthog prey, decided to go walkabout. She walked under our hut, and stayed there, I think. Anyway, trucks, staff, lights, radios, all was uproar that went on for hours. We were fascinated, especially when she finally walked across in front of us (we were lying upright in bed, me with my camcorder clutched in my hands!) Everything quietened down at about 3.30 a.m., and we composed ourselves for a short night's sleep. It was not to be, because a Scops owl in a tree by our hut started up when the lights went out, and continued saying 'prrrrrrrrrrrp every 5 seconds until the wake-up call came!

I did not bring a book with me this time, but was lucky enough to be able to buy a second hand copy of 'The White Impala' at the Kapani shop. I asked people to write in the front and back for me. I cannot close on anything better that what Rice wrote.................. Shaking hands will vanish, but memories will remain fresh....................................."

Foy and Joan, August 2008

Click here for details of Zambia Safari: Leopards of Luangwa