Major highlights of the trip were a pack of well fed cape hunting dogs resting not far from the airstrip, two spontaneous buffalo kills (a cow and calf) by 3 young male lions, who had vicious fights with hyena the second night only to attract the attention of the resident male and get chased away in steaming heat of the day, resident male fed for a few minutes and left the catch for up to 40 hyenas but before they could settle down the three musketeers were back in town on a mission. The one major attraction is the abundance of aardvark in the area. On one of the night drives, we watched one for a long time digging a series of holes in pursuit of termites until he disappeared down a newly excavated hole. Waal what an experience!!!!.

Honey badgers could be seen on most evenings and both black backed and side-striped jackals with young pups. We were lucky enough to see a martial eagle devour a Swanson's francolin within meters of our vehicle. With Linyanti’s big herds of buffalo, buffalo and lion tracking is a highlight for those seeking adventure. Hundreds of Zebra have been moving through the area on their way to the North in search of permanent water and grazing pastures.

This a guide's paradise, with great birding and flora and one of the best walking areas in Africa."

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Vundu Camp and Ruwesi Canoe Trails, run and owned by our friends Nick and Desiree Murray
This month was hot, up to 46 Celsius on some days, luckily cooled down nicely at night so sleeping was good. The floodplain was pumping with game, heaps of elephant, fantastic to see so many big tuskers this year. Our old friend who can stand on his back legs to get food did not give us such a show this season as the apple ring thorn trees had a bumper crop of pods , the ground was littered with them. All other animals taking full advantage, buffalo, waterbuck, impala, eland, hippo, their droppings full of seeds from the pods.

The lions have been around a lot. The Mucheni pride with 4 cubs has been resident most of the dry season, with excellent experiences tracking and approaching on foot. Very relaxed. The Nyamatusi pride has also been resident the whole dry season and sightings have been great, all by tracking. Although they are a little shyer than the Mucheni pride, as the Nyamatusi is a Wilderness area and access is limited. On the Ruckomechi -Vundu channel we have also had sightings of lions from the canoes regularly, which makes our job easy. Wild dog sightings have been excellent again this month. Unfortunately the pack which had 10 pups earlier this year is down to six. We had an unconfirmed report that they were killed by elephants.

Regularly when tracking dogs we see them getting chased by elephant cows for a long distance (needless to say we walk in the opposite direction when this happens). It is quite possible that the dogs may kill very young elephants. Amazing experiences with elephant bulls on the river , within a couple of feet , these bulls tower over you as you sit quietly and motionless in your canoes as they feed on the green grass of the many islands on the river

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