Mwaleshi Camp North Luangwa National Park

... was not like a goat track it was similar to a trial ride. The first 80 ks were on a great road so we thought all was good. The first down hill after that was unbelievable, what road? It went through dry river beds, deep sand pits, rutty up hills etc.... We stopped in one village next minute the whole village was there. We had all of the kids yelling all of the parents were sitting back enjoying the circus The people here in Zambia are great. They have nothing ...

By now we were running out of most stuff, food, cigs and batteries for the tent fan so temper(s) were a bit frayed. Finally hit the bitumen and were both very pleased. Especially Darren found some cigarettes.

Resigning our selves to a night in a border town we made hast in the direction of Tanzania.. Lisa wins hands down for seeing signs of great places to stay.. We turned left at a sign saying camping and hot showers, internet and a hot ...

... being completely lost is now a normal state of mind, the track did pass through a large number of villages, including right through a school yard, the Shorty parting the kids like Moses across the water, crossed two airstrips, covered some of the most knarly bull dust and seen some of the most amazing scenery. North Luangwa Park is renowned for its wild life and we were driving out still not having never seen wild lions, we had just resided ...

... place.. green grass swimming pool with a view over looking the Luangwa River only higher up this time.. Even as I write this blog I can hear the Lions roar just across the river.. crazy..

The river is great for viewing the Hippo’s and an Elephant wandered by this arvo.. just to set the scene this afternoon was spent mainly in the pool (only because it was hot!!) with a beer watching a Hippo do Hippo things and monkeys doing goodness know what.. Oh I ...

... budget given by moses from the kitty money, and Malawi was quite expensive for food, sadly Zambia is supposed to be much worst…….. o dear….the drive to the Zambia border was only 2 and half hours and I got to finish the third book in th twilight series, whoop!! need the 4th one now!! the border crossing didn't take long, $50 to get in and we’re here ...

... keeping an eye out for wild animals. Oh the joys of driving in wild Africa. We managed to get up the Mano Gate in good time so decided not to stay at the Natwange Community Camp but to push on through Mpika and onto Mutinondo Wilderness.

Driving the other side of the Mano Gate was a challenge, they were re-grading the road and it is deep orange sand. Neil had to concentrate very hard and try and keep in tracks, we also had the front ...

... At Chifunda village we followed more It’s Wild signs to the bushcamp, the village is 20 km from the bushcamp. Mwanya bushcamp is 160km from Chifunda bushcamp.

Yet again we received an exceptionally warm welcome from the staff. All of them lined up to shake our hands and to introduce themselves. Then into the boma for a glass of orange juice and to tell us about the camp. An added bonus was that another gentleman was there too ...

... had decided to take the road back to Chipata as the road they were going to take through South Luangwa National Park was closed, that too is being re-graded. There is no way they would have got through the riverbeds or down into them with their camping trailer. You do need a 4WD and preferably not to be heavily loaded, and ideally with no trailer.

Reaching Mwanya Bushcamp meant following the It’s Wild signs after passing through the ...

... help out with kitchen duties before heading straight down to the bar and have a game of the Name Game which goes on until dinner. Dinner tonight is mash potato and chicken stew.

After dinner, most people head back to the bar for a couple of drinks, but I stay behind to read and chill out.

... room overlooking the river. Our expectation when signing up for this is that we'd see a few animals, but certainly not huge numbers. We were surprised that within a few hours of our arriving at the camp (and before we had even entered the park) we saw hyenas, monkeys, a few baboons, and get this...a huge tusked elephant lumbered into our camp just after we finished dinner! The two following days we started early with a four-hour game drives through the park in a ...