Ken Watkins
07-18-2010, 04:35 AM
<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" http:="" www.birdphotographers.net="" forums="" images="" smilies="" redface.gif="" border="0" alt="" title="Embarrassment" smilieid="2" class="inlineimg"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" http:="" www.birdphotographers.net="" forums="" images="" smilies="" redface.gif="" border="0" alt="" title="Embarrassment" smilieid="2" class="inlineimg"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Sect</style><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1>Zimbabwe</st1></st1:country-region> Trip Report 11th June to 8<sup>th</sup> July 2010<o></o>>
<o></o>
In spite of our less than wonderful experience last year we decided to return.
<o></o><o></o><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1>Zimbabwe</st1></st1:country-region> is after all a real Wildlife area.<o></o>
<o></o>
<st1><st1>Rhino</st1><st1></st1></st1> Safari Camp (18<sup>th</sup> to 24<sup>th</sup> June)<o></o>
<o></o>
Our first stop was Rhino Island Safari Camp on the shores of <st1><st1>Lake</st1> <st1>Kariba</st1></st1><o></o>
<o></o>
http://www.rhinosafaricamp.com/<o></o>
<o></o>
As with last year we had very high water levels, which somewhat reduced the available areas for land based game and bird viewings, but we more than made up for it on boat based viewing.<o></o>
<o></o>
This camp is very special to us and provides good all round fun as well as good food, drink and accommodation. After all how many lodges are there where the actual owner is present to entertain you.<o></o>
<o></o>
We were fortunate enough to spend our 365<sup>th</sup> day on Safari in Africa during our visit and celebrated with <st1><st1:state w:st="on">Champagne</st1:state></st1> (French not SA) on our evening boat trip<o></o>
<o></o>
Perhaps the most unusual sighting of our trip was Jenny and Karl’s daughter Megan, we have not met such a well mannered, lucid speaking child in a very long time!<o></o>
<o></o>
Very good and interesting birding, sadly my photography was not up to the standards required, and the Fish Eagle were not as co-operative as last year.<o></o>
<o></o>
We were lucky enough to find a Red Billed Wood Hoopoe nest and despite distance and hand-shake got a few god images of the beautiful bird.<o></o>
<o></o>
There were plenty of really good Elephants on the shoreline, and we heard although did not see Lions. We had a memorable walk with new guide Dean McGregor (another highly qualified <st1><st1:country-region w:st="on">Zimbabwe</st1:country-region></st1> guide)looking for two males on the island but did not succeed in finding them they were always one step ahead of us. However one of them did leave us a very stinky reminder of there presence on their path, I thought we were walking into an old kill it was that bad.<o></o>
<o></o>
<st1><st1>Matopos</st1> <st1>National Park</st1> </st1>(25<sup>th</sup> to 26<sup>th</sup> June)<o>
</o><o></o>
We then had a short stay in order to visit this small park which is very near to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1>Bulawayo</st1></st1:city>. After a flight back from Bumi Hills to <st1:city w:st="on">Bulawayo</st1:city> we took a short drive to <st1><st1>Camp</st1> <st1>Amalinda</st1> </st1>on the outskirts of the park.<o></o>
<o></o>
http://www.campamalinda.com/<o></o>
<o></o>
An amazing structure built into the hills (beware lots of steep steps to the rooms).<o></o>
<o></o>
I have to confess this was a little too posh for us.<o></o>
<o></o>
We took excursions into the nearby Game area, which has a large population of White and Black Rhino, but is very dense. Walking with an armed guide is really the only way to see Rhino and we got mighty close!<o></o>
<o></o>
Birding is supposed to be very good there, it claims to the world’s largest population of Black Eagle, but we saw very little indeed.<o></o>
<o></o>
We would consider returning and would be better organized next time, probably self-driving in the park with a guide.<o></o>
<o></o><o></o>
Hwange National Park (27<sup>th</sup> June to 5<sup>th</sup> July)<o></o>
<o></o>
We drove up to Hwange in around 4 hours just outside the park we had our first and only sighting of Sable, a very large herd, who managed to have the sun directly behind them.<o>
</o><o></o>
This was to be our 4th visit to Hwange, on our first two visits we stayed in lodges <o></o><o></o>
The Hide<o></o>
http://www.thehide.com/<o></o>
<o></o>
and Somalisa<o></o>
http://www.africanbushcamps.com/bush-camps-zimbabwe/somalisa-camp<o>
</o><o></o>
Both of these lodges are excellent and I can thoroughly recommend Somalisa for the Elephant drinking at the swimming pool!<o></o>
<o></o>
This year we asked around and received assistance from and old friend <st1>Alwyn Myburgh</st1>, who recommended <st1>Kazuma Trails</st1> an operation run by a very experienced Zimbabwean guide Dave Carson, who also runs tours in <st1><st1:country-region w:st="on">Botswana</st1:country-region></st1><o></o>
<o></o>
http://www.mobile-safaris.com/<o></o>
<o></o>
Alwyn’s tip turned out to be very excellent indeed.<o></o>
<o></o>
Our camp was situated off the main road between Main Camp and Ngweshla, just before Kennedy 2 waterhole. For those who are familiar with Hwange, it was on one of the loop roads constructed by the staff at the Hide over the past few years (there are now 4). The setting was idyllic in relatively open acacia wood land and was extremely comfortable, a large tent for us, a fine mess tent and a great campfire every evening.<o></o>
<o></o>
As we were very close to Kennedy 2 (<st1>Southern Africa</st1>’s second best waterhole for Elephant?) we spent most of our time between here and Ngweshla and an occasional sortie as far as Somalisa Pan (on the public road).<o></o>
<o></o>
Ngweshla is a very special place being largely open and always has something of interest.<o>
</o><o></o>
The weather was not kind to us, and although we had no rain, on many occasions the sky gave a good impression of it being ready to arrive.<o></o>
<o></o>
We had many good sightings including<o></o>
<o></o>
A Female Leopard in a tree ,a first Leopard in Hwange for us<o></o>
<o></o>
Another first a Male Cheetah, in very dark conditions at Kennedy 2 followed by a long wait for the sun.<o></o>
<o></o>
A very attractive Pride of Lions four females with 8 cubs including two tiny ones, who eventually presented us with good photographic opportunities.<o></o>
<o></o>
Two really nice Male Lions, including a giant Black Manned Lion, unfortunately in poor light.<o></o>
<o></o>
Another group of seven Lions four females and three sub-adult males.<o></o>
<o></o>
Very nice Jackal<o></o>
<o></o>
A few Roan and Eland, plus the usual plains game, Kudu, Zebra and Gnu<o></o>
<o></o>
All in all a wonderful trip which could only have been made better by a little more consistent light.<o></o>
<o></o>
We are already planning a return for next year in September/October.<o></o>
<o></o>
Some of my"better" images can be found at<o></o>
<o></o>
<o></o>
<st1><st1>Rhino</st1> <st1>Island</st1></st1><o></o>
<o></o>
http://sniktawkwild.zenfolio.com/p335731320<o></o>
<o></o>
<o></o>
Hwange<o></o>
<o></o>
http://sniktawkwild.zenfolio.com/p742022441<o></o>
<o></o><o></o>
<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>
<o>Forget what you may have heard Zimbabwe is SAFE, it has PETROL and FOOD and the people are the friendliest and best educated we have ever met.</o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>
<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" http:="" www.birdphotographers.net="" forums="" images="" smilies="" redface.gif="" border="0" alt="" title="Embarrassment" smilieid="2" class="inlineimg"></o:smarttagtype>
<o></o>
In spite of our less than wonderful experience last year we decided to return.
<o></o><o></o><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1>Zimbabwe</st1></st1:country-region> is after all a real Wildlife area.<o></o>
<o></o>
<st1><st1>Rhino</st1><st1></st1></st1> Safari Camp (18<sup>th</sup> to 24<sup>th</sup> June)<o></o>
<o></o>
Our first stop was Rhino Island Safari Camp on the shores of <st1><st1>Lake</st1> <st1>Kariba</st1></st1><o></o>
<o></o>
http://www.rhinosafaricamp.com/<o></o>
<o></o>
As with last year we had very high water levels, which somewhat reduced the available areas for land based game and bird viewings, but we more than made up for it on boat based viewing.<o></o>
<o></o>
This camp is very special to us and provides good all round fun as well as good food, drink and accommodation. After all how many lodges are there where the actual owner is present to entertain you.<o></o>
<o></o>
We were fortunate enough to spend our 365<sup>th</sup> day on Safari in Africa during our visit and celebrated with <st1><st1:state w:st="on">Champagne</st1:state></st1> (French not SA) on our evening boat trip<o></o>
<o></o>
Perhaps the most unusual sighting of our trip was Jenny and Karl’s daughter Megan, we have not met such a well mannered, lucid speaking child in a very long time!<o></o>
<o></o>
Very good and interesting birding, sadly my photography was not up to the standards required, and the Fish Eagle were not as co-operative as last year.<o></o>
<o></o>
We were lucky enough to find a Red Billed Wood Hoopoe nest and despite distance and hand-shake got a few god images of the beautiful bird.<o></o>
<o></o>
There were plenty of really good Elephants on the shoreline, and we heard although did not see Lions. We had a memorable walk with new guide Dean McGregor (another highly qualified <st1><st1:country-region w:st="on">Zimbabwe</st1:country-region></st1> guide)looking for two males on the island but did not succeed in finding them they were always one step ahead of us. However one of them did leave us a very stinky reminder of there presence on their path, I thought we were walking into an old kill it was that bad.<o></o>
<o></o>
<st1><st1>Matopos</st1> <st1>National Park</st1> </st1>(25<sup>th</sup> to 26<sup>th</sup> June)<o>
</o><o></o>
We then had a short stay in order to visit this small park which is very near to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1>Bulawayo</st1></st1:city>. After a flight back from Bumi Hills to <st1:city w:st="on">Bulawayo</st1:city> we took a short drive to <st1><st1>Camp</st1> <st1>Amalinda</st1> </st1>on the outskirts of the park.<o></o>
<o></o>
http://www.campamalinda.com/<o></o>
<o></o>
An amazing structure built into the hills (beware lots of steep steps to the rooms).<o></o>
<o></o>
I have to confess this was a little too posh for us.<o></o>
<o></o>
We took excursions into the nearby Game area, which has a large population of White and Black Rhino, but is very dense. Walking with an armed guide is really the only way to see Rhino and we got mighty close!<o></o>
<o></o>
Birding is supposed to be very good there, it claims to the world’s largest population of Black Eagle, but we saw very little indeed.<o></o>
<o></o>
We would consider returning and would be better organized next time, probably self-driving in the park with a guide.<o></o>
<o></o><o></o>
Hwange National Park (27<sup>th</sup> June to 5<sup>th</sup> July)<o></o>
<o></o>
We drove up to Hwange in around 4 hours just outside the park we had our first and only sighting of Sable, a very large herd, who managed to have the sun directly behind them.<o>
</o><o></o>
This was to be our 4th visit to Hwange, on our first two visits we stayed in lodges <o></o><o></o>
The Hide<o></o>
http://www.thehide.com/<o></o>
<o></o>
and Somalisa<o></o>
http://www.africanbushcamps.com/bush-camps-zimbabwe/somalisa-camp<o>
</o><o></o>
Both of these lodges are excellent and I can thoroughly recommend Somalisa for the Elephant drinking at the swimming pool!<o></o>
<o></o>
This year we asked around and received assistance from and old friend <st1>Alwyn Myburgh</st1>, who recommended <st1>Kazuma Trails</st1> an operation run by a very experienced Zimbabwean guide Dave Carson, who also runs tours in <st1><st1:country-region w:st="on">Botswana</st1:country-region></st1><o></o>
<o></o>
http://www.mobile-safaris.com/<o></o>
<o></o>
Alwyn’s tip turned out to be very excellent indeed.<o></o>
<o></o>
Our camp was situated off the main road between Main Camp and Ngweshla, just before Kennedy 2 waterhole. For those who are familiar with Hwange, it was on one of the loop roads constructed by the staff at the Hide over the past few years (there are now 4). The setting was idyllic in relatively open acacia wood land and was extremely comfortable, a large tent for us, a fine mess tent and a great campfire every evening.<o></o>
<o></o>
As we were very close to Kennedy 2 (<st1>Southern Africa</st1>’s second best waterhole for Elephant?) we spent most of our time between here and Ngweshla and an occasional sortie as far as Somalisa Pan (on the public road).<o></o>
<o></o>
Ngweshla is a very special place being largely open and always has something of interest.<o>
</o><o></o>
The weather was not kind to us, and although we had no rain, on many occasions the sky gave a good impression of it being ready to arrive.<o></o>
<o></o>
We had many good sightings including<o></o>
<o></o>
A Female Leopard in a tree ,a first Leopard in Hwange for us<o></o>
<o></o>
Another first a Male Cheetah, in very dark conditions at Kennedy 2 followed by a long wait for the sun.<o></o>
<o></o>
A very attractive Pride of Lions four females with 8 cubs including two tiny ones, who eventually presented us with good photographic opportunities.<o></o>
<o></o>
Two really nice Male Lions, including a giant Black Manned Lion, unfortunately in poor light.<o></o>
<o></o>
Another group of seven Lions four females and three sub-adult males.<o></o>
<o></o>
Very nice Jackal<o></o>
<o></o>
A few Roan and Eland, plus the usual plains game, Kudu, Zebra and Gnu<o></o>
<o></o>
All in all a wonderful trip which could only have been made better by a little more consistent light.<o></o>
<o></o>
We are already planning a return for next year in September/October.<o></o>
<o></o>
Some of my"better" images can be found at<o></o>
<o></o>
<o></o>
<st1><st1>Rhino</st1> <st1>Island</st1></st1><o></o>
<o></o>
http://sniktawkwild.zenfolio.com/p335731320<o></o>
<o></o>
<o></o>
Hwange<o></o>
<o></o>
http://sniktawkwild.zenfolio.com/p742022441<o></o>
<o></o><o></o>
<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>
<o>Forget what you may have heard Zimbabwe is SAFE, it has PETROL and FOOD and the people are the friendliest and best educated we have ever met.</o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o>
<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" http:="" www.birdphotographers.net="" forums="" images="" smilies="" redface.gif="" border="0" alt="" title="Embarrassment" smilieid="2" class="inlineimg"></o:smarttagtype>