Shenton Safaris - Photographic Newsletter
June 2005 Issue
This newsletter is dedicated in loving memory to "Roddy" (Roderick Nkhoma) a great waiter and a good friend, who passed away on the 24th of June at 34 years of age. May he rest in peace.
There has been an awful lot of office in my Africa this month meaning not as much time out and about taking photos. Still without the office I'd be out of a job, and our guests have more than made up for it with some spectacular shots!
I did occasionally find time to soak in the bush and one of my favourite spots to do this is our sundowner anthill at Mwamba Bushcamp. Facing due west it is a perfect vantage point from which to watch the setting sun sinking into the thickets.
Everyday at sundown several Grey Hornbills come gliding in to roost in the surrounding Acacias.
And kudu often wander around underneath backlit by the setting sun
I caught this mating pair of Puku on film another afternoon from the same spot.
This Baobab shot was taken in Mwamba's walking area.
It seems birds have captured my attention this month:
African Hawk Eagle
Juvenile Bateleur
Giant Eagle Owl
Bateleur Eagle
Skops Owlet
Lillian's Lovebird
A flock of Lillian's Lovebirds
Lilac Breasted Roller
This juvenile Pels Fishing Owl on the right is a very special bird. Extremely rare and top of the list for birders we are lucky enough to have two residents near Kaingo. It seems they have been breeding successfully.
Another of my favourite areas is Fish Eagle Lagooon
Another sundowner afternoon we watched a lone African Skimmer skimming the surface of the water for insects, shortly later its mate and 8 fledglings joined it.
In the distance a group of Zebra came in to drink
And on the far bank a troop of baboons sat grubbing on the ground this smaller baboon played a game of hide and seek with us behind the long grass.
Back down at the Luangwa river near Accacia loop a group of elephant came down to drink next to the roots of an uprooted tree
Early one morning whilst attempting to catch Impala jumping we discovered this hyena sitting calmly under a bush.
The hippos have been up to their usual shenanigans at the hide - here is a yawn in progress.
and here a hippo in a typically cantankerous mood.
Which is not altogether surprising considering the number of crocodiles in their midst
Although there were plenty of kills caught on film by our clients this month (4 lion kills and a leopard kill witnessed in two night drives within one 5 day period) I unfortunately wasn't there to witness them however one kill I did catch was this spotted bush snake (harmless to humans) devouring a tree frog just outside our kitchen
As always we have had plenty of leopard action
Heading out of the park to village this little boy in his beer carton shoes was photographed on the way in to camp from Mfuwe Airport
Derek and I are getting married on the 19th of August and between wedding planning and running camp there isn't going to be much time to get out and take photos! So, the July and August issue will come out as a joint issue in late August.
See you here next time
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