What a wonderfully composed holiday trip we have had!
After the overnight stay in the beautiful Kilimanjaro Country Lodge we were picked up for a very long journey on asphalt and gravel roads with the necessary potholes, through the park. With the ferry across the Kafue River to the *****Leopard Lodge. Elize and her team were waiting for us with the announcement that lions and a hippo named Max regularly came into the camp. In the evening we saw lions lying by the campfire. A day later they were mating in the camp and around the lodge. Those lions took us back and forth to the lodge by bus, right up to the front door. Hippo, Max, came to mow the grass in the camp at night. There were always two men who kept an eye on things while we were eating by the campfire.
For the game drives we went to the other side of the river where the safari jeep was waiting. The first day Joke had been stung by gadflies through her clothes. The next day we looked for dry elephant dung and hung it in tins on the back of the jeep and lit it. The smoke solved that problem. We also visited the 'Hot Springs' (hot springs from the ground, you don't expect them there!), again with surveillance because of the wild animals. Twice a river safari and spotted many waterfowl and hippos and visited a village with a school and a small clinic on the other side of the river.
Then flew to Mfuwe. Unfortunately, it turned out that two of our suitcases were left behind, which would not arrive until the next day with the morning flight. After arriving at the Track & Trail River Camp, manager Kirsten and manager Ruud told us that they would be picked up by our guide (name Friday) after the morning safari, after which we received a toothbrush and a welcome drink… We slept again in a safari tent along the river (with many frogs) and also here a hippo visit to the camp after the evening safari. Saw many animals in the park.
There is untouched nature and a completely different vegetation to be found there. We did a walking safari with a guide and an armed ranger in front. Kirsten as spotter and guide Friday took us by means of a long safari drive to the high-altitude Puku Ridge Camp. Again, the weather was magnificent: a *******lodge with outdoor shower and terrace 4 meters above the ground and a view over the plain where various animals came to drink. Indulgence! A surprise lunch together with others at a beautiful location in the park and an equally beautiful one sundowner . Then we were taken back to Mfuwe airport for the last flight to Livingstone.
Visited the Victoria Falls and of course we got very wet. The Zambian side is much more beautiful than the Zimbabwean side we have seen before. There was now also much more water after the wet rainy months.
Thanks again also on behalf of John and Carla Smulders!
Joke and Wim Vogelpoel
