South Luangwa National Park

Yesterday we had a wonderful day in the wildlife. After a full breakfast, we embarked on a self-guided safari with Chipo as our designated driver. From 8 am – 2 pm we explored the South Luangwa National Park. It was captivating to see so many animals in their natural habitat. We even witnessed an elephant defecating as it nonchalantly walked down the road.



Here are some photos of the wildlife we encountered:

from impalas...

to buffalo...

to elephants...

to giraffes...

to hippos...

to wild birds...

to lizards...

to zebras...

Halfway through our morning on Chichele Drive our landcruiser got stuck in the soft mud. We ended up taking about 45 minutes to extricate the vehicle.

More than a few times during our daytime safari my heart pumped with adrenaline – especially when we were entrapped between two sets of elephants, and also when we were surrounded by an entire herd of buffalo (>100 animals in this particular herd) which was crossing the street. It was amusing to watch them all just stare at us as we stared at them.

We returned to our lodge for a short lunch break, then we headed out again on our night safari – from 4 to 8 pm. This time we were in a real safari car, the kind with no covered roof, making us feel very vulnerable to any animals that might come our way. The safari car was especially built for these extreme outdoor situations and we were literally able to forge through roads completely covered with water. It was a bumpy ride for us in the back row, but terribly exciting and adventurous at the same time.

We spotted many more hippos grazing outside the water. We even spotted a hyena. My only regret is that we were never able to find the wildcats, neither the lions nor the leopards. But at least now I can say I have come to the heart of Africa.