Zambia Safari Diary - Day Twelve

Luangwa River Lodge to Chaminuka Lodge (Lusaka)

Winding down now, we eschewed a final 5.30 a.m. game drive, in favour of a really good lie-in, followed by a huge breakfast, and a final stroke of the camp pussies (camera icon). Then Barry took us on our way to Mfuwe airport for our early afternoon flight back to Lusaka (after a final Mosi moment at the Moondog). The perfect end to a perfect trip. However it was not all over yet, as, after an uneventful flight back to Lusaka, we were met by our transport to our overnight accommodation prior to our early morning flight back to Heathrow.

Now, you could stay at the Lusaka Hilton, or whatever, but by far the more desirable option is to take the half hour drive out of town to Zambia Photothe beautiful small private game reserve of Chaminuka. Here the Sardanis family provide immaculate hospitality in amazing surroundings. A luxury game lodge in its own right, Chaminuka is also the home of Zambia’s largest private art collection, with innovative sculptures jostling with striking modern art canvasses, all created by local Zambian artists (camera icon) We didn’t believe that we could have improved on the food served in South Luangwa, but at Chaminuka we did! The first hot bath, too, after nearly two weeks of taking showers.

Chaminuka should not be thought of simply as an overnight staging post. Although lacking the adrenalin rush of the true bush, its private game reserve well repays an exploration, and a visit to the local cheese factory (camera icon) (the guest described in Camp Fire Tales No 11, above, thought that he’d died and gone to heaven) unexpectedly proved to be as memorable and interesting as any of our other rich and varied experiences.

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camp fire tales

Safaris aren’t always totally serious affairs. One guide told of a group of Japanese tourists whose sole desire was to see lions – nothing else was of interest or would do. Eventually, although only after several days’ search (as happens on such occasions) a fine pride of lions was discovered in full view of the road. However it was all over in a minute – after numerous photographs had been taken - and the guests cried “move on!”. “What would you like to see next?”, the guide enquired. “More lion!”, came the reply.

A different group of Japanese were equally desperate to see leopard, but with no success. However, on their final (night) game drive, a genet was spotted up in a tree, and the guide hadn’t the heart to discourage them from their conviction that this was a baby leopard.

Sometimes the guides themselves will have some gentle fun with their guests, as when one solemnly explained that the way to distinguish male from female zebra, was that the males had black stripes, while the females had white stripes, only for a confused lady to point to a nearby zebra and ask which sex was that one then?


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