Zambia

I started this post ages, ago, soon after writing about my safari in Tanzania 

After my safari in Tanzania I fancied doing another one, but this time staying inside a national park.

In 2014 I chose Zambia because I also wanted to visit Victoria Falls. My stay was in the South Luangwa National Park. The first 3 days were at Nkwali safari camp on the bend of the Luangwa River.

My hut

Those bamboo doors were all that separated me from wildlife at night time! It was best not to dwell on the nocturnal sounds, animals want a quiet life to go about their business undisturbed. 

Open air shower room

The very dry Luangwa River

Communal lounge area

Doesn't she look sweet

Those teeth will rip through the belly of her prey in seconds

Going through my photos later a shiver went through me as I realise just how close this

lion came to our jeep, and had he wanted to he could easily have jumped up into it!! 

Someone once said that buffalo look at you as if you owe them money!

Mid morning break on a walking safari

cute

deadly

Termite mound, difficult to believe that these tiny insects build such huge rock hard mounds

Sundowners on our evening safaris. That's me on the left.

After three nights at Nkwali I moved to Nsefu Safari Camp, still on the Luangwa River

My hut

Reception and lounge area

Although we had early starts I enjoyed this safari more because we were out early

enough to see more animals. 

Breakfast was about 6.oo then out in the jeeps. Me on the right.

It was cold at that time but soon warmed up to another gloriously hot day.

I think this is a Tawny Eagle

 How cute is this little Brown Hooded Kingfisher

Aren't their markings exquisite

This was a very unpleasant scene that we encountered whilst driving back to camp.

Hyenas and vultures fighting over the carcass of a baby elephant.

The stench was unbearable, it was grim, but it's what happens in the wild.

African Fish Eagle

Back to camp for a light lunch and a siesta. After a couple of hours rest we went out in the jeeps again.

Baby near my hut

Re-united with mum and on their way 

I could now go to my hut for a siesta

Chillin

I didn't see leopards on my first safari, I was very excited when we saw her, so beautiful.

Female leopard marking territory

Female Waterbucks

Pretty Carmine Bee Eater

Hippos are shy and usually run away, I think we accidentally startled this one, it just froze.

It had a lot of scars on its back and face. 

We stayed out until after dark which came quite early. Then back to camp for dinner.

The food was excellent and plentiful at both locations.

And finally 

something to make you smile!

After 3 nights at Nsefu I went to Livingstone - coming soon.

~ Be safe and well ~

Polly x

Pelican

Less words, just a picture

Pelican in Fremantle

~ Be safe and well ~ 

Polly x

A Good Read

The Muse by Jessie Burton is two interlocking stories about two women: Odelle in 1960’s London and Olive in 1930’s Spain.

The novel starts on a hot July day in 1967. Since arriving in London from Trinidad five years earlier Odelle Bastien has struggled to find her place in the city. Now she is excited to be entering the renowned Skelton art gallery to start work as a typist under the tutelage of the glamorous and enigmatic part owner Marjorie Quick. Quick takes Odelle under her wing and unlocks a potential she didn't know she had by encouraging her to follow her lifelong dream of becoming a writer. One day a young man Odelle met at her best friend’s post-wedding party walks into the gallery with a painting under his arm. It was left to him by his mother and he would like to have it valued and find out something of its history. Quick is sure she recognises it but says nothing. The owner of the gallery is excited by the painting, thinking it could be a lost masterpiece by Spanish painter Isaac Robles, who died under mysterious circumstances. 

In 1936 in rural Spain, the threat of civil war is present everywhere. The dysfunctional Schloss family are renting a finca in a village near Malaga. Arrogant Harold Schloss is a renowned art dealer, completely absorbed in his own talent he believes that females are incapable of great art. His wife Sarah hails from a wealthy background. She relies on self-medication, and pines for lost youth and a less wandering husband. Their daughter Olive harbours ambitions of her own. Unknown to her parents she was selected for admission to a London art school but declined the offer to spite her father.

Isaac Robles and his half-sister, Teresa, are employed by the property’s owner, to take on whatever tasks need doing. Isaac is a painter and an activist, working against the fascists. They insinuate themselves into the Schloss family.

Sarah commissions Isaac to paint a portrait of herself and Olive, but he knows he’s not up for the task so he asks Olive to do it and he take the credit. Olive is happy to be the anonymous artist, to enjoy the freedom of creating purely for pleasure, rather than working for praise or profit. She had no way of knowing the ramifications of her decision.

I didn’t like Isaac.

I thought the plot was somewhat predictable but nevertheless it's a good read and it held my interest all the way through.

∼ Happy Reading ∼

Polly x