After having spent time in the fabled Serengeti, we left - albeit reluctantly - we explore our next destination in Tanzania and drove along the cloud laden rim of the Ngorogoro crater. We had heard about and read about this legendary place all of our lives. To finally see the crater in person was pretty overwhelming. We had read so many books about animals of the Serengeti, and accounts by wildlife preservationists. Now we are here…
Mfuwe is a small town in northern Zambia. For us it is the jump-off point to visit Luanga National Park, perhaps one of the most gorgeous and impressive of Africa’s national wildlife preserves. We flew here from Lusaka, the capital city in southern Zambia. The airport isn’t much more than a quonset hut with a tiny gift shop attached. We are booked in for a three night safari stay at Lion Camp, located inside the boundaries of South Luanga National Park. But, really, we have no idea what to expect…
Our home for the next few nights is a row of large tents, Kati Kati Camp. Our tent is like a cabin, with a wooden floor, camp beds, and a tiny bathroom. On the ‘porch’ outside is a canvas wash basin. One of the servers, who showed us our tent, says “If you want to come for dinner, just wave your flashlight and we will come get you.” I am surprised. It is a a mere 30 meters or so to the dining tent.
“We can find it by ourselves,” I tell him.
“No, ma’am,” is the answer, “there are lions around. Call us!” I wake at 4 AM to the grumbles of a lion and the call of hyena. At 5:15 we get up and head out to watch the savannah come to live with the first rays of sun. I asked, in camp, if they’ve had any animals nearby. “Yeah, last week a cheetah killed a wildebeest by tent #5,” was the response.
