The Many Faces of Wild Kafue

[Julian]

Only just seen this report. Read some of it and looked through most of the photos. 

So many really superb photos in this post, and loved all I have read so far in the report, a fantastic report.

 

Never been to Zambia, hopefully our next safari, and although we had decided it was going to be South Luangwa and Kafue, Rachel ( my wife) has such a bad reaction to the bites that we have decided it’s almost certain that we will not go to Kafue but to Lower Zambezi instead for that part of the safari.

 

Noted in the photos the close similarity of the landscapes in Kafue ( the seasonal plains and clusters of palm trees) to the landscape in the Paradise area of Katavi.

[Peter Connan]

A late starter here, and still only on page two, but I just want to comment on the lion at the hippo:

 

I have a 4x4ing friend who says that adrenaline is a brownish fluid with a very particulour odour. I can almost smell it from here!

[Peter Connan]

A whole family of Finfoot, and feeding too! Wow!

[Peter Connan]

Finally got it all read.

 

Any trip report on @michael-ibk and @AndMic's travles is sure to be epic. Similarly @Atravelynn's and @Kitsafari's, or any trip guided by Doug McDonnald.

 

Combine these four into one trip report, and you are sure to have a FANTASTIC adventure. This report bears that out. Thank you one and all for a very entertaining read!

[screentraveller]

Lynn has all the extra points I can give.

[Atravelynn]

20 minutes ago, screentraveller said:

Lynn has all the extra points I can give.

Thank you.  I hope those extra points can translate to good luck!

On 12/7/2017 at 4:03 PM, Julian said:

Noted in the photos the close similarity of the landscapes in Kafue ( the seasonal plains and clusters of palm trees) to the landscape in the Paradise area of Katavi.

I had those same feelings.  What a privilege to be able to compare and contrast such wild spaces.

On 12/7/2017 at 9:55 PM, Peter Connan said:

A late starter here, and still only on page two, but I just want to comment on the lion at the hippo:

 

I have a 4x4ing friend who says that adrenaline is a brownish fluid with a very particulour odour. I can almost smell it from here!  Fascinating fact!

 

6 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

Finally got it all read.

 

Any trip report on @michael-ibk and @AndMic's travles is sure to be epic. Similarly @Atravelynn's and @Kitsafari's, or any trip guided by Doug McDonnald.

 

Combine these four into one trip report, and you are sure to have a FANTASTIC adventure.  An adventure it was, and as my safari companions have noted, not always an easy one.  The talents of Doug and James of Musekese helped tease out Kafue's hidden treasures. This report bears that out. Thank you one and all for a very entertaining read!

 

 

[screentraveller]

P54: love the concentration on small things. @AndMic and @Kitsafari are clearly specialists in cloudscapes and trees. The very first sky looks like a tempestuous Rubens. (at the moment exhibited in Vienna)

[Peter Connan]

@Atravelynn, a holiday whith no challenges whatsoever will be forgotten by next week...

 

Well, that's my belief anyway.

[Atravelynn]

7 hours ago, screentraveller said:

P54: love the concentration on small things. @AndMic and @Kitsafari are clearly specialists in cloudscapes and trees. The very first sky looks like a tempestuous Rubens. (at the moment exhibited in Vienna)

What a wonderful cultural segue! 

 

5 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

@Atravelynn, a holiday whith no challenges whatsoever will be forgotten by next week...

 

Well, that's my belief anyway.

A fine philosophy, and not just for safari.

[optig]

@Atravelynne I couldn't agree with you more. Every time I go on safari I face different challenges in large part due to the fact that I have A.D.H.D ( Attentional Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) which means that amongst other things I'm incredibly absent minded and don't take stress well,however, as you know every safari is a learning experience. So I simply continue to learn how to cope with this disability; I can't and won't allow it not to let me enjoy my safaris. As I told @Sangeeta virtually   everyone has some sort of disability when they go on safari. 

[TonyQ]

Thank you all for a wonderful report. It sounds like you made a good team on safari, and you are certainly a great team when it comes to producing a joint report.  You showed us the "many faces" from your different perspectives.

[Game Warden]

@michael-ibk @Atravelynn, many thanks for the mentions: Safaritalk would be but a blank web page if not for you the members making it special. In a way, it's almost that I've provided the paper, you are the scribes.

 

Thank you so much, 

 

Matt

[Treepol]

@michael-ibk @Atravelynn@Kitsafari I read your TR right through last night and thoroughly enjoyed your 3 perspectives on the same safari.

 

Beautiful bird photos as usual. I was especially interested to read your views on the game viewing in the Konkamoya area as we will be there for 3 nights next year, staying in the reed huts at Hippo Bay Camp Site.

[SafariChick]

only on page 4 of this report and just finished @michael-ibk's portion. The roan were beautiful, and the sables - just gorgeous! I haven't seen sable in so long, would love to see them again. Funny how it is always when you least expect it!  Also funny about the hippo and the lions as @Sangeeta and I also had a dead hippo being eaten by lions when we went to Musekese.  

[Galago]

@michael-ibk @Atravelynn @Kitsafari  What a great trip report! Thank you so much. I always enjoy your reports, jointly and separately, but this brought back some memories. I was in north Kafue in 2004, at a lodge (now defunct) in the NE corner and then onto Busanga. The drive between the two was through miombo woodland and the tsetses were bad. I'd only encountered them once before, in the Luangwa, and been fine. What I didn't know was that this had set up a reaction in me and, second time around, resulted in goose egg size swellings all over. In the end I was pretty sick as the mossie bites joined in with the histamine reaction! I now travel with anti-histamines, taken every day from day one, and steroids as a back up. So far trips have been tsetse free but, as it's Chad in a couple of weeks and possibly Kafue in October, the efficacy of the steroids may be tested! I may well invest in a bug suit for Kafue and Lynn's fly swat is a great idea!

Just loved the Twinspot pics. Ran around all day looking for them, only to find them hanging out by the chicken coop at the lodge. And you saw Locust Finch! I saw Sable on the Spinal Road from Kaingu in 2013 but they were fleeting. And knocked out by your Sable photos.

The lions at that time in Busanga were amazing, black maned, the Revival Pride, and seriously scary. Ele's were good too but they were very nervous, so it was usually retreating rear ends. However, there was a lot of burning which made for smoky air and probably contributed to a lack of game. 

I think you've made my mind up for me. After a lot of changing my mind, it's going to have to be Musekese in October. As Tyrone and Doug are the guides in Chad next month, I'll be able to have a good chat with them about it.

Thanks again, all of you, such a great report!

 

[Atravelynn]

Do supplement the steroids with a bug suit.  So glad we point you in the right direction, @Galago, which is straight to Musekese.  Good choice!

[Kitsafari]

@Galago  You won't regret Musekese. Ty and Phil are passionate and committed in protecting and nurturing their location and the lack of burning has made the area's eco-system even more green and healthy. (psst - just bring more lights as I found the two solar lamps for the room too underwhelming for me). Ty is a very engaging and knowleageable guide from the 1.5-day of guiding from him - I wish we had him for the entire trip but i think he was off to Liuwa. You'll have great fun with him and Doug in Zak for sure. 

 

I echo Lynn's advice - get a bugsuit and a fly swatter.  your companions will look at you enviously. 

 

[lmonmm]

@Atravelynn and @Kitsafari  You may have posted it before but is there a link to where you got the bug suits? I tried googling it, but there are so many options it became a bit overwhelming. Thanks

[Atravelynn]

1 hour ago, lmonmm said:

@Atravelynn and @Kitsafari  You may have posted it before but is there a link to where you got the bug suits? I tried googling it, but there are so many options it became a bit overwhelming. Thanks

Mine was a Buzz Off from about a decade ago.  They have updated and improved the bug suits since.

http://www.buzzoffoutdoorwear.com/products.htm

[michael-ibk]

@Galago

 

Thanks, very glad you enjoyed it, and cool that it set your mind for Kafue. I´m sure you won´t regret it. Say Hi to Tyrone for me, and have a most wonderful time in Zakouma.

[Galago]

@michael-ibk Thank you very much. I'm on the countdown now - 12 days to go, woohoo! And, yes, I'll pass on your greetings to Ty.

 

@Atravelynn Thanks for the link about bug suits, it was useful to have a look at what's on offer. As Buzzoff is USA only I looked for a UK company (to minimise shipping costs/ time). There's virtually nothing, unless you want mesh to keep critters off your cabbages  But I found www.addnature.co.uk which has the mesh jacket/ head cover and trousers, sold separately. I phoned them and they turned out to be in Germany and, if the kit isn't right it's a free return, so all risk free. The outfit came to £30 plus £5 delivery. The kit should be here in a few days so if any UK ST'ers want to know what they're like, just PM me so I don't take up any more space on this thread. Now, off to Poundland for that fly swat!

[Game Warden]

1 hour ago, Galago said:

But I found www.addnature.co.uk which has the mesh jacket/ head cover and trousers

 

1 hour ago, Galago said:

if any UK ST'ers want to know what they're like, just PM me so I don't take up any more space on this thread.

 

@Galago Please start a new topic once you have photos of you in said outfit...

[Kitsafari]

16 hours ago, lmonmm said:

@Atravelynn and @Kitsafari  You may have posted it before but is there a link to where you got the bug suits? I tried googling it, but there are so many options it became a bit overwhelming. Thanks

 

and mine was from Bugshirt http://www.bugshirt.com/ 

the shirt took only 10 days to ship and deliver to me. 

 

@Galago only 12 days left?! so exciting! have fun, and a great time, and say hi to Ty for me too. will doug be there as well? please send my regards to him too! and I hope to see your photos soon. 

Edited January 25, 2018 by Kitsafari

[Galago]

@Kitsafari Thank you Kit! Yes, I'll pass on your greetings. I'm getting very excited and, if I'm honest, a bit nervous about the mesh only tents. However, I tell myself that you all came back in one piece, so that means I will too ? 

[Atravelynn]

You can tell Phil, Tyrone, and James hello from the multi-national group of a Zimbabwean guide, 2 Austrians, a Singaporean, and an American!    The tents will be great, I recall no complaints about any aspect of the tents.  You may want a product like "After Bite" or another type antihistamine cream to attend to any tse tse wounds you might sustain, @Galago!