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 left in the river. Some intrepid locals made their way to the river to fish - they were in really close proximity to the hippos and a large numbers of crocodiles so you could see how deaths could occur.
As we were about to leave the park for brunch at 1030am Jacob had wind of lions on a kill but about an hour away - did we want to go? Two hours later we finally headed back to camp having seen a couple of mums and several large cubs reclining in the shade of a bush with very fat tummies while one female guarded the hapless buffalo carcass and chased off ever hopeful vultures. We guessed that the carcass was probably a day old as it was quite smelly and surrounded by flies.
On our journey there and back we also saw several puku - antelope who thrive in this riverine environment.
After lunch we had a very short break, where I crammed in a swim, before afternoon tea and an afternoon game drive towards the southern end of the park - we drove across the river and enroute to the carmine bee eater colony we watched Puku contemplating crossing and when one did she lept really high minimizing her contact with the water! The carmine bee-eaters, are a beautiful crimson colour, and unusual in that they are communal feeders i.e. any parent will enter any of the burrows to feed the chicks ( today's photo)
Enroute to a high ridge overlooking the park for sundowners we passed 3 lolling lions.
Dinner was at 8pm and quickly followed by much needed sleep after a very full hot day.