Today we took a 25minute flight to Shoebill Island to look for this iconic bird. The pilot was staying with us so the trip was easy, we went in two waves again. John and I left with Catherine first and on arrival we went to the tented camp to wait for the others to arrive......as they could leave later they had gone to see the dawn bat experience. It's unbelievable that in May these now dry plains are full of water and birdlife. We saw fishermen leaving on their...

We were up at the usual time and after breakfast set off for a walk in the game management area around the lodge. Refreshed we returned for a final shower and last minute packing before we headed to the airport for our flight to Kasanka. The 8 seater plane was not available so it meant two trips the first half left at 1030, John,Jacob and I waited until he returned and left at 1pm. The delay enabled us to have a light lunch at the airport and enabled me to sort ...

Today started normally but was full of surprises! We decided to walk, which stopped us getting jeep bound, and after parking under a large tree by the river we slowly walked along the river bank watching the ever grumpy hippos jockeying for position. As we walked along the path there was a mass of chirping from the grass infront of us, you could hardly see the flock of lovebirds as their green colouring blended with the grass but when focused you could see their ...

We were up showered and ready for our 5.15am breakfast of porridge, toast and fried egg all cooked outside while we sat around the campfire and looking over a really dry Luangwa river bed. We left at 6am for our morning safari and after an early encounter with elephants and giraffes, in the game management area which surrounds the park, we entered the national park. As we crossed the river we stopped and watched the grumpy hippos crammed into the water that was ...

As our flight to Mfuwe wasn't until 1600 we had most of the day to ourselves. First on the agenda was breakfast - our route to breakfast was underground via a small escalator and up the other side to lovely large open restaurant. I didn't think the escalator was working so we walked down the static escalator - but it was only static until I broke the beam at the bottom - I looked round and saw John, who was behind me, trying to come down the up escalator - this ...