MAY-B-3
AN IDYLLIC
DAY IN THE AFRICAN BUSH
OF SOUTH LUANGWE NATIONAL PARK,
WITH KNOWLEDGABLE GUIDE MESHAK AND THE SUPERB
ACCOMMODATIONS OF MFUWE LODGE AND OUR BUFFALO CHALET:
OUR DAY BEGINS WITH AWAKENING IN PRE-DAWN
WITH NOISES OF HEAVY BREATHING AND TEARING OF TREE
BRANCHES
OVER OUR BATHROOM WITH A VIEW;
WE ARE DETAINED FROM EARLY ARRIVAL AT BREAKFAST
TEA BY A HERD OF ELEPHANT FEEDING AROUND OUR CHALET
DOOR!
GAME DRIVE AMONG RUTTING IMPALA, AND PLAINS
GAME WHILE FOCUSSING ON THE BIRDS OF THE BUSH;
RETURN TO A LAZY MID-DAY IN THE OVERHEAD
SUN,
AS I WRITE POSTCARDS ON THE BUFFALO CHALET’S
DECK OVERLOOKING WILDLIFE THAT INCLUDES IBISES,
AFRICAN FISH EAGLE, A LEGUAN MONITOR LIZARD, AND
A RARE SIGHTING OF A PALM NUT VULTURE;
SUNDOWNERS AT HIPPO-CLOGGED LUANGWE RIVER
AMONG CROCODILES, THEN A LONG COOL DRIVE FOR NIGHT
VIEW OF THE HYENA WHICH HAD SERENADED US, CIVET
CATS, HIPPOS AND YELLOW-BILLED STORK
May 10, 2003