Zambezi Valley Expedition

Wonderful pictures and write up. thanks for sharing.
 
This is so nice to see and know that there are still gems in Zim would love to see it one day.
 
Hi Kevin. Sounds like you and Tess are having a great adventure. 900 kms shouldn't be too taxing, even for a Landy :oops:. No-one's guaranteed tomorrow, get out there and enjoy the world while you can.
Quite right Hunter, there will be many more trips in the Landy, maybe Botswana even.
 
This is so nice to see and know that there are still gems in Zim would love to see it one day.
Book a trip here Frederik, either a hunting trip or a safari adventure. It is an incredible bargain right now.
 
Day 4
Hot coffee was delivered to the tent at 6:30, and the animals put on a display on all sides as we enjoyed a cup or two with the homemade biscotti. First to arrive were wave upon wave of collared doves, I have shot over sunflowers, but never have I seen as many as this in one place. Guineafowl came next, the helmeted variety, they remind me of naughty kids on the school field at break time, running all over the place. And what a raucous outburst when an eagle flew into the tall mopane tree and spooked them. Contrast that with the crested group over on the other side of the pan, alltogether more dignified with their smart hair do's and muted cackle, quite a treat to see both together. We unfortunately don't get the vulturine variety here in Zim, but I wonder if anyone in Tanzania or Kenya has seen them all together?
All too soon it was breakfast time and as we tucked into a full English on the deck the ellies began to arrive, one family group after the other. This was to be ellie day, maybe twelve or fifteen at once but as groups swapping out all day long. There is a study in progress to identify individuals from ear nicks, tusks of course, and the shape of the hair on the tail. The camp staff seemed to be familiar with most of them as this is the only water for miles.
An interesting fact I learnt is that pans form from a small depression in a clay area that holds water from late rains. The ellies come and wallow and spray their backs with mud, carrying away a few kilograms each as they go. Next year more rain and mud and so after tens of thousands of ellie visits you have something like Kanga, about an acre in extent. The owner pumps water all year now so it will grow and deepen at an even more rapid rate. We hear a lot about the destructive side of elephant numbers, but at least they bring water to the fellow animals.
Big Mac is the camp pet, he is estimated at about forty five years old and carries modest ivort of about forty pounds a side. He is the biggest bodied bull we saw, not as big as the Hwange bulls, but respectable. What he lacks in size he makes up for in character - he loves human company, even came and rubbed against my shower wall and peered over the top inquisitively, literally a foot away. It is so tempting to touch them, but you never know how tame wild really is.

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Hey @Kevin Peacocke ! How are your wife, you and the Land Rover doing? :) any updates on the trip?
 
Day 5
That afternoon a pride of eight lions arrived at the pan, two lionesses and eight sub-adults, apparently two males were also somewhere near. Everything went dead quiet and even the elephants vanished. A lone zebra appeared and quickly beat a retreat, this group was giving out the hungry signal. After afternoon tea we went for a game drive, ostensibly to seek out the two males, but with the sun dipping Cliff turned a corner onto an old river bed and instead of two male lions there were the camp staff with a bush bar set up, a fire going and a splendid spread of snacks for our sundowner! A G&T never tasted better and with the sun bursting into a broad swathe of crimson red two hyena popped by to check us out. It is at times like this that one makes resolutions to fill every day with something special, and so it will be.
Back in camp camp, the pan was still eerily quiet, we and the other guests made an early night of it. As I was showering out there in the open the evening breeze brought an unexpected chill to the stillness. I made sure to double check all the zips and as the lights went off the roaring began. I freely admit I am terrified of lions, my friend was killed by one not far from here at Chitake Springs and Mana is famous for encounters. Now my mind raced, what have I got to protect us, and where is it? I daren't switch the light back on to illuminate our flimsy plight, so I rummaged around in the dark and came up with an air horn, a small can of mace spray and my little sheath knife. These I laid out on the pillow berween us and felt very slightly better. The lions continued to roar for many hours, but as Tess assured me would be the case, she is far less afraid of them than I, the night passed safely and with a few hours of sleep thrown in too. I was never so grateful to see the dawn and to hear the call "knock knock, coffee is here"!

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Safe travels Kevin. I'm jealous of that Landy. I'll trade you a GMC Yukon Denali!
They are neat rigs. I once owned a '67 109 safari wagon with 6 cyl gas. Loved it but sadly it was a bit of a shop car. Suspect it had been abused by a previous owner. I still think about getting another but the prices have gone thru the roof on them.
 
They are neat rigs. I once owned a '67 109 safari wagon with 6 cyl gas. Loved it but sadly it was a bit of a shop car. Suspect it had been abused by a previous owner. I still think about getting another but the prices have gone thru the roof on them.
Yes, they are a bit of an investment now, especially an 80 inch short wheel base. Funnily enough they are valuable as they come with all the original patina and use, which is just right because you need to use these things. Get one!
 
Wonderful adventure Kevin. Funny, I have been on many safaris but the two most memorable events didn’t involve hunting. One was driving and camping through the parks from Maun to Vic Falls and running the cut lines back. The other was piloting a 206 on the deck from Chikwa to Mfuwe, following every bend of the Luangwa. Amazing how these moments stick with you. I think I may have to trace your footsteps on this one one day! Epic!
 
Wonderful adventure Kevin. Funny, I have been on many safaris but the two most memorable events didn’t involve hunting. One was driving and camping through the parks from Maun to Vic Falls and running the cut lines back. The other was piloting a 206 on the deck from Chikwa to Mfuwe, following every bend of the Luangwa. Amazing how these moments stick with you. I think I may have to trace your footsteps on this one one day! Epic!
Those adventures sound terrific WAB, why don't you write them up? Thinking of going either to Maun or to Luangwa in the Landy, mabe both!
 
I certainly appreciate your taking so much time and effort sharing your adventure. I have not been to Zimbabwe in ages and have fond memories of prowling around with no time restrictions while enjoying adventures other than hunting. These days ease of travel combined with affordable South African ranch/lodge hunts of very short duration prompt us to forget how special adventuring around Africa without hunting can be. Kindest Regards and keep the writing and photos coming.
 
Wonderful adventure Kevin. Funny, I have been on many safaris but the two most memorable events didn’t involve hunting. One was driving and camping through the parks from Maun to Vic Falls and running the cut lines back. The other was piloting a 206 on the deck from Chikwa to Mfuwe, following every bend of the Luangwa. Amazing how these moments stick with you. I think I may have to trace your footsteps on this one one day! Epic!
Those adventures sound terrific WAB, why don't you write them up? Thinking of going either to Maun or to Luangwa in the Landy, mabe both!
 
Kevin, your presence is such a blessing to this site. I so appreciate your enthusiasm for all things Africa and all things hunting and so many of the peripherals related to the outdoors. Thank you so much for sharing. This story has been a hoot.
 
Kevin, your presence is such a blessing to this site. I so appreciate your enthusiasm for all things Africa and all things hunting and so many of the peripherals related to the outdoors. Thank you so much for sharing. This story has been a hoot.
Thank you TT, on your next trip to Africa, or maybe mine to your beautiful Alaska we must meet.
 
Day 6
This was to be our last full day and night at Kanga, so we decided to do the game walk instead of a drive. We had seen a lot of animals around the pan and I confess I got to drawing imaginary beads on them, it's what hunters do, right? So when Cliff asked what was on our menu I quietly told him that we were to please put a stalk on some buffalo. Heaven forbid Tess were to hear that, but one has to follow one's itch.
as soon as we stopped the game vehicle there were the NABI's (not another bloody impala), but we set off through some fairly thick jesse after Cliff, he seemed to be on a mission. Not 15 minutes into the walk he stiffened up and bade us fall behind - there not 40 metres away was a very old and large buffalo bull, broadside on right to left. The horn on this side was broken off and the opposite one looked pretty worn down. Up came my double, at this distance no sticks necessary. I settled the white dot in the wide V and placed it on his massive shoulder. At that he must have got our scent as he abruptly stared straight at us with his nose up. I squeezed the trigger and he turned and thundered off from us. Tess was totally unaware of this whole episode, but Cliff knew the score. With that, on our left at ninety degrees and also about 40 metres two more buff crashed off, fortunately all away from us. We were oblivious to their presence and I think even Cliff got a bit of a start, just goes to show you can never take buff in the jesse for granted.
Now we carried on a bit further, looking at trees and insects etc, but in my mind I was listening for the death bellow and thinking of how to display the old warrior to do him justice. The excitement over I suggested it may be tea time, Cliff got the drift and soon we were back at the cruiser sipping a satisfying cuppa in the glow of a successful outing.
Yes, I did tell Tess, I think she knew all along.
That night around the camp fire we were joined by an elderly couple from San Francisco. They seemed astonished that we knew the names of all their politicians, when Gavin was due to be recalled and so on. I didnt have the heart to tell them that I was a red blooded conservative and a hunter to boot, but they did share their thoughts on global warming with me. I sipped my merlot and thought about the global warmth in my soul at having taken such a fine old bull....

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That last entry was fabulous! Well written sir. I about spit hot tea, unaware previously of what a NABI was. And what a blessing, that you got to hear about the perils of global warming. :ROFLMAO: Thanks again.
 

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Everyone always thinks about the worst thing that can happen, maybe ask yourself what's the best outcome that could happen?
Very inquisitive warthogs
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Big areas means BIG ELAND BULLS!!
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autofire wrote on LIMPOPO NORTH SAFARIS's profile.
Do you have any cull hunts available? 7 days, daily rate plus per animal price?
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