First Impressions of Zambia
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The Adventure Has Begun.
Well we’ve survived our 20+ hour flights to South Africa and we spent some time with the Wild Eye team. This is the company that we’ve used for our safari tours and I cannot speak too highly of them and their support in the planning and booking process. They take care of all of the details that make for an enjoyable and smooth trip, plus we have the added peace of mind knowing that we have support should we need it in case anything doesn’t go to plan (I’ve travelled to Iceland and Kory and I have visited Kenya and now Zambia with Wild Eye).
First day on safari in Zambia (South Luangwa Park). (EXIF data iPhone image)
It was lovely to meet Tanya, Caitlin and Judy - just a few members of the logistics team who have helped us with booking trips. Being able to put faces to names when all communications have been via email or WhatsApp messages really helps. We spent an afternoon chatting and laughing over our interactions (Kory tends to break the ice wherever we go). I am very glad that we made the effort to meet as it certainly helps with our interactions going forward.
Travelling can be so very tiring, so it’s great to have fun companions which includes Kory and our guide Michael. We met Michael on our Kenya adventure and yes the bad dad jokes continue.
South Luangwa - Mwamba Bush Camp
I’m sitting here in the Mwamba Bush Camp Bar/Lounge area in between the morning and afternoon drive. It’s hot - very hot and I’ve found a shady spot that overlooks the small flood plain that is currently dry, but full of impala, zebras and the odd elephant that comes wandering by grazing on what is left of the green grasses. They are getting more sparse as we enter the dry season, but this is a lush area. The trees are plentiful with their twisted branches - still full of greenery which is starting to fall. The sound of birds squawking and the occasional sound of a hippopotamus vocalizing. It is surreal - everything feels big and rich with sounds and colour and texture.
Breakfast by the campfire as the sun comes up. (EXIF data iPhone image)
Mwamba is the local word for heaven and I totally get that as I’ve fallen in love with this area already on day 3. The camp is located on the site of a former poaching camp in order to protect the area and animals from such activities. The stewards of these camps have a passion for the land and the animals which extends far beyond just conservation.
We have a pretty full routine - wake up at 5 am and get ready for a 5:30 am breakfast/coffee in front of the campfire - only leaving our room once we hear the drums giving us the all clear that the camp has been scanned for animals roaming (there are no fences or barriers and elephants, hippos and lions come through on a regular basis). By 6 am we are all in our vehicles and ready for the morning game drive as the sun comes up.
A quick coffee break mid morning and we’re back by 11 am for lunch followed by an afternoon break until 3 pm tea time and then we’re back out for the afternoon/evening game drive. Sundowner (drinks break) at sunset and then back to camp by 7 for dinner. Rinse and repeat.
It’s a full on day of activities and then I have to download/backup photo cards as well as recharge batteries and make sure equipment is clean - that’s my gear and Kory’s gear. By the end of the day I’m tired, but excited about the sightings we’ve had, the things I’ve learned and the images I’ve captured.
Favourite Times So Far
Our hosts at Mwamba (Val and Lester) have made us feel so welcome - sharing stories of their time with the camp and Zambia in general. Their staff are so engaged and genuinely happy that it reflects the working rapport that comes from gracious leadership.
We are back with our guide Michael Laubscher (Wilder Escapes) who we travelled with to Kenya. His wealth of knowledge and relaxed energy is so in tune with the way we like to travel. In addition his rapport with Kory also provides so much fun and laughter. He is definitely a great travelling companion with his photographic and naturalist knowledge. He is passionate about his work and about conservation in general which really comes across clearly.
He is also in tune with our desire for a great experience and we start each game drive with a moment of gratitude for whatever we will see without any specific expectations - my one wish is for interesting light and inspiration to shoot what this area makes me feel. So far my wish has come true with so many opportunities to shoot amazing scenes, light, birds and animals. I can become fascinated by the simplest subject such as Guinea Fowl scratching in the dirt first thing in the morning creating a dust cloud which looks amazing in the backlight.
Guinea fowl raising plumes of dust as they scratch at the dirt for breakfast. (EXIF data F5.6, 1/1000s, 100mm, ISO500, -1EV).
Apart from the outstanding photographic opportunities my favourite time is listening to our guides talk about what we’re seeing, behaviours and just general naturalist knowledge. I have learned so much about this area and how it is different from Kenya which we visited several years ago.
I am finding myself filled with awe and wonder at the sights and sounds that I’m experiencing. There is something wonderful about this experience that transports me back to my childhood times when everything was new and filled me with such excitement. This also adds to my inspiration for creating images that speak to me - if I can capture the feeling of this area - the sounds, the heat, the colours and textures - then I feel like I have accomplished something worthwhile.
The Sightings
Already after 5 game drives we’ve seen so much - birds and animals that I hadn’t expected to see. This area is a birders paradise and I find myself more engrossed with what’s flying around me than the four legged animals on view. The animal sightings have been plentiful with elephants at morning and evening light, giraffes that are indigenous to this area only, wild dogs - so much!
A mama baboon sharing a quiet moment with her little one. (EXIF data f8, 600mm, 1/500s, ISO400, +2 EV)
One of the things that I enjoy most of all is that we are not rushed. Kory and I can set the tone and speed of our experience and we’ve found that Michael and our driver have picked up on this as well - everyone is very chilled and focused on the experience, not on bagging shots. We pause and listen to the sounds, let a sighting play out around us and capture some amazing images too.
I would highly recommend this approach as it fills us up with such positivity, takes the pressure off everyone regarding expectations and it just makes for such gratitude when we do experience amazing things.
And It’s Only Just Begun…
What a wonderfully positive way to begin this amazing adventure. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to experience these adventures and experience the natural world around me which is so foreign to where we live. Meeting people and learning their stories as well as the local culture provides such a richness to my life.
How do you like to experience new adventures or travels? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below or drop me a note directly by clicking on the Connect With Me button.
The view from our room at Mwamba Bush Camp. (EXIF data iPhone image)
I hope you’ll come back soon, share a cuppa, relax and enjoy more of my musings.
