Time in the bush with guests 23 - 27 August

We started off leaving camp around 15H00, and took a slow drive along the River road, and hoping that we could stumble upon some elephant, and that we did! It was a group of three young bull elephants. They were very relaxed with our presence, but I must say that we did have the breeze in our favour. We sat with these bulls for about 30 minutes, it felt like an hour, and they gave us good photographic opportunities. One could really see all the hairs on their bodies and long eye lashes.   

2010 - Elephant approaching us. 

We carried on with the afternoon drive and saw numerous Johnson's impala, a breeding herd of elephant, waterbuck, warthog and bushbuck.

After having a great sunset, with drinks and some snacks, we started to head back to camp. We managed to surprise a Large Spotted Genet, who posed nicely for the cameras. But unfortunately all my pictures of the Genet where out of focus.

2010 - Three young bulls.

The next morning we set out around 06H00 and the sighting of the morning was definitely that of the 16 Niassa Wildebeest. These are an endemic specie to the area, and are also not as common as one would think, especially when you talk about "wildebeest" "They are suppose to be everywhere", as one guest put it. About 5 minutes before we came across the Niassa Wildebeest, we saw a young bull elephant by itself. We probably gave him a fright as we came around the corner, as he did give us the "hairy eyeball". He then persisted in giving us warnings and trumpeting at us. The only thing we could do was to stand our ground, and eventually after about 10 minutes he meandered into the bushes, always giving us that little side look that elephants like to do when they are slightly agitated.

2010 - Niassa Wildebeest.

 2010 - Johnson's Impala (endemic to the area).
  

In the afternoon, I suggested that we go on the river and do an afternoon canoe trip down river. It takes about 2 hours, and we generally stop close to the area where we normally see hippo. When I said canoe trip on the river, I could see everyones brains ticking with the thoughts of " hippo attacking me" "what if we fall in and there are hippos and crocos". Well after the briefing about being on the river and what to do and what not to do, everone was ready for the trip.
When you are on the river you do encounter the locals (fisherman) on the islands and on the sand banks. They just seem to be part of the system now!!
What I was hoping for, was what we got. Another 3 bull elephants, but different ones to the afternoon before. To see them feeding on the banks and not being sure of what we are when you slowly drift towards and passed them is all very exciting stuff.
We also saw waterbuck, bushbuck and some kudu as we carried on down the river to our pick up point.

2010 - Viewing elephants from Canoes.

 

 2010 - Sundowers after a good canoe trip.

The following morning, we decided that if we found any fresh buffalo tracks, that we would follow up on foot. Everyone was in agreement. This is generally the only way we do get to see them, as they are still nervous of the presence of a vehicle close by to them. After half an hour into the morning drive we got some tracks, and good ones they were. The excitement started!! I parked us on one of the smaller inselbergs close to where we had the tracks. We then got walking. Buanar my tracker kept his eyes to the tracks and had his "sock of dust", for which is used to check wind direction all the time. I was behind him looking ahead. Its important to keep checking wind direction as these buffalo will smell you a mile away and will be gone.
An hour passed when we started to slow down as the buffalo where difinately getting close, as the their pattys "Pooh" where getting greener!! Then we saw them ahead of us about 50 meters,  it was only part of the herd, that we could see.

2010 - Buffalo bull giving us the stare!!

At that time they were not aware of us so we could get a good view some of them. Then all of a sudden one of them turned and ran, and then the whole herd followed, luckily in the opposite direction to us. We waited for a while, then followed again, this time the wind was more constant and in our favour for a long time. Everyone got a good view again and for the last time as we left them and moved back to the vehicle.

Well thats all till the next safari!!

African Pitta's call

General Pictures

2007 - on a morning walk

2008 - View from one of the mountains close to camp.

2009 - Elephants walking in the Lugenda River bed.

2009 - Walking in Bamboo thickets.

2007 - Where Batwa paintings are.

2007 - one of the passing locals.

2007 - Batwa paintings.

2008 - Crab Spider feeding on its prey.

2010 - "Ben" the elephant feeding outside Tent-Suni.

2010 - Sitting at "Hippo Pools"

2008 - Sunset looking over Lugenda River.

2009 - Barred Owlet. 

2008 - Black Throated Wattle Eye.

2009 - Juvenile Palmnut Vulture.

2009 - Elephant in camp.

2008 - Female lion after killing bushpig.

2008 - Lion in the grass.

2008 - Lion scratchings on a tree

2007 - Herd of Sable

2008 - "Ben" the elephant walking across the deck.

2008 - View from Ngolonge Mountain Range, looking south.

2009 - Hippos at Hippo Pools.

2008 - Flame Creeper.  
 

2008 - Out on drive.

2009 - Taita Falcon.

2009 - Taita Falcon.

2007 - Niassa Wildebeest (endemic to the area).

First Days at Lugenda

I started at Lugenda Wilderness Camp, Niassa National Reserve Northern Mozambique, in May 2007. Must say big change from the safari's which are done in South Africa. I started off as a guide then, and I am still guiding, and enjoying it tremendously.
Having to learn your way around a vast area is always a challange!!! That is what I did, and with those first guests it was like a Stanley and Livingstone expedition. Roads were few and far between, so having to make do with what was there was great. Many days were spent walking and exploring these new areas and climbing up some of the inselbergs in the Ngolonge mountain range (this is the mountain range directly behind Lugenda Wilderness Camp), was always exciting stuff. Finding a Vaureuxes (Black) Eagle's nesting site on one of the cliff faces was a great find, and also it having a juvenile on the nest.
Well ,some years have past now, and this area is still as remote and wild as the first days I arrived. Carri has since joined me, and we are very fond of this area and of the Camp, which we are now managing.
We are unlimited on what we can do with our guests here at Lugenda, from the normal game drives and night drives to walking and canoeing safaris, late night drives after dinner, birding which is fantastic and camping out at our fly camp and exploring more of the Ngolonge mountain range. Our road network has improved somewhat, and still we keep finding new areas to explore, be it by foot or by car.

Well that is a small intoduction to this blog, so please keep watching this space for more on Bushlife here at Lugenda Wilderness Camp with me.

I will be posting photos from when I started in 2007, in the next few days.