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Peter Ginn Birding Safaris | |
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| Natural History Tours in Caprivi & Zambia |
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These tours are planned to cover a variety of habitats in the Caprivi and Zambia. They cover various aspects of natural history, including birds and big game, in their natural habitat. Groups wishing to concentrate on birds will be able to do so. Even in winter there is the potential to see over 350 species of birds. The summer count is well over 500 species! There are also over 25 big game species including some unusual species like Liechtenstein's Hartebeest. For the keen birders it should be possible to extend these tours to include the Bangwelu Swamps or northern Luangwa. We will visit the Victoria Falls first if members wish to do so and then transfer by road to the Kazungula Border Post and thence to Ichingo Lodge. For the keen birders it should be possible to extend these tours to include the Bangwelu Swamps or northern Luangwa. We will visit the Victoria Falls first if members wish to do so and then transfer by road to the Kazungula Border Post and thence to Ichingo Lodge. |  |
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We will spend 4 nights at Ichingo and in the evenings Peter Ginn will be showing you how to identify the birds and telling you something about the birds we hope to see on this trip. From Ichingo we shall proceed by road to Sala Camp in western Zambia. This will include crossing the Zambezi on the Kazungula Ferry near the only place in the world where 4 countries "join" at a single point. This will one day be the "focus point" of the FOUR CORNERS TRANS-FRONTIER PEACE PARK. |
Here we will spend 2 nights before traveling by road to Livingstone. We will take a scheduled flight to Lusaka, and then a charter flight to Kayila or Royal airstrip in the Lower Zambezi National Park area.
We will spend 3 nights at Lower Zambezi River Camp and 2 nights at Chifumbe Camp on the escarpment - part of the Great African Rift System which stretches from the Red Sea to the mouth of the Zambezi.
We take an air charter to Mfuwe and by road to Flatdogs Camp in the South Luangwa National Park. We spend 3 nights here before taking a charter flight back to Lusaka where you can catch the SAA flight back to Johannesburg.
It may also be practical to fly BA from London to Lusaka, scheduled flight from Lusaka to Livingstone and then by road to Ichingo.
N.B. as we shall be flying charter flights, each person is allowed a maximum of 10 kg of luggage in soft bags. We plan to arrange for hard cases to be left in the Senanga Safaris offices while we are on tour.
Some Notes on the Camps to be visited
ICHINGO RIVER LODGE: Situated on an island in the Caprivi overlooking the Kasai Channel, this lodge offers superb game and bird viewing from the comfort & safety of a boat. My most memorable moments here include the elephant herds, Cape Buffalo feeding on the rank grass in the shallows attended by Great White Egrets & African Spoonbill and in summer the African Skimmer fishing at dusk.
Accommodation is in Safari Tents with en suite facilities. The food at this lodge was really special on my last visit. 220 volt power from a generator in the evenings only.
SALA RIVER LODGE: This camp is situated on a weir on the Sala River in western Zambia. This will give us a chance to see the birds and animals associated with dry woodland. Much of the area is covered with open Mopane Woodland with vleis (marshes) in the valleys. Hopefully we shall be able to find unusual species like Liechtenstein Hartebeest and Black-cheeked Lovebird. There is also the opportunity to see rural settlement which has not changed in hundreds of years.
Accommodation is in individual lodges made of brick under thatch roof with en suite facilities. 220 volt power from a generator.
CHIFUMBE & LOWER ZAMBEZI RIVER CAMPS: These are both situated near the Lower Zambezi National Park. The former is on the massive fault escarpment, inland away from the river and offers some interesting Combretum & Acacia woodlands to explore. They are directly opposite Mana Pools in Zimbabwe and the game viewing is comparable. All species of big game occur in the park. Interesting bird species include Lillian's Lovebird, Crowned Eagle, Augur Buzzard etc.
Both camps have "Meru" type tents on wooden platforms with en suite facilities. Lighting is by solar power.
FLATDOGS CAMP: This camp is situated just outside the Lower Luangwa National Park where the game viewing is usually outstanding. It is considered to be amongst the best in Africa. Along the river there are oxbow lakes providing shallows for wading birds. Open grassland attracts the grazers which in turn attracts the predators - both Lion and Leopard are regularly sighted. The park has a large population of Puku which is an unusual species not recorded south of Zambia. The woodlands are mainly Mopane and Acacia but others species also occur.
NB: Because we shall be flying charter to Lower Zambezi & Luangwa, passengers will only be allowed to carry 10 kg of luggage each from Lusaka onwards and this must be in soft bags. Please bear this in mind when packing. We should be able to leave cases with Senanga Safaris Lusaka offices while on tour. All lodges offer laundry on a daily basis so 3 changes of clothes should be adequate.
WEATHER: This is the southern hemisphere winter so days should be cool to warm. Nights can be cool to cold as heat loss by radiation because of clear skies results in nights cooling down rapidly. A pullover is necessary. However, a cold SE wind can blow at any time of the year so it is essential that you have a light weight windproof jacket which can slip over whatever else you are wearing. It is unlikely that we shall experience any rain in June or July. Early mornings are cool to cold, especially when out on an open safari vehicle, so one needs layers which can be taken off as the day warms up.
Light shirts and trousers (shorts or longs) are normally adequate for daytime wear. Please bring walking shoes or boots (we will not be hiking any long distances). It is essential that you wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts in the evening to protect against mosquitoes. A mosquito repellant is also advised. However, winter being dry, mosquitoes & hence malaria are not normally a major problem.
Even in winter sunburn is a possibility - wear a sun barrier during the day. Use a hat with a wide brim to protect the face. Carry one which can be folded up and packed for travelling.
MALARIA: You are strongly advised to take malaria prophylactics.
Outline of Tours
Day 1: Arrive Vic Falls or Kasane. Transfer to Ichingo
Last Updated on: 12/03/05
Days 2, 3 & 4: At Ichingo Lodge
Day 5: Transfer by road to Sala Camp, NW Zambia
Day 6: At Sala Camp
Day 7: Transfer by road to Livingstone. Scheduled flight to Lusaka. Charter to Lower Zambezi area
Days 8 & 9: In Lower Zambezi Camp
Days 10 & 11: In Chifumwe Camp
Day 12: Transfer by charter flight to Flatdogs Camp, Luangwa
Days 13 & 14: In Flatdogs camp
Day 15: Charter flight from Luangwa to Lusaka. SAA scheduled flight to Johannesburg