This is being written on Friday after long flights. Details may be off.
The team enjoyed the hospitality and activities in and around Bushbuck lodge and Livingston. Power shedding continues, but the staff at Bushbuck lodge did an awesome job looking after us, with excellent food and warm hospitality. We were also able to see a group of elephants on the other side of the river, about 10 of them. Heard hippos during the night, and some said they heard lions as well. Cape buffalo were also seen on the property (thee are the most dangerous as they give no warning before charging!).
Nancy, Bill, Tamara and Melissa went walking with the lion cubs Monday morning. Rumour is that this program will be shut down, (they raise cubs then put them into a protected area. Their offspring have no human contact). In the afternoon Melissa and Tamara rode an elephant. They were very happy with the ride.
Tuesday Nancy, Bill, Tamara and Melissa went to Livingston Island. They stood on the edge of the fall and looked down, 100 metres, and the girls got into a pool at the edge of the falls where a rainbow obliged by coming out for the photos. Doug went into Livingston and visited the museum, which has a good section on Dr Livingston and also another on Zambian independence (50 years last year, big celebration). We all met up at the Cafe Zambezi and did a little shopping. The temps are cold here particularly in the morning, and Bill & Nancy wanted long sleeve shirts as they will be continuing on after the others head home. Lunch at the Cafe Zambezi where they have croc on the menu was very nice. A little confusion as we got ken the taxi driver who had been taking us around to pick us up, but he didn't know where we were going in the afternoon (we assumed he did). He took us back and the pickup for the Rhino walk was there waiting for us. So the afternoon was spent at Mosi-a-Tunya (this is the local name for Victoria Falls) national park walking with a guide and park ranger (who carried a gun) to find Rhinos. We were successful, standing about 60' away (you can't do that with black rhinos apparently). We saw the alpha male who was off on his own, and 5 of the 7 cows and calves. There are only 8 white rhinos here, but 5 were born in the park. The current alpha male is not related to any of the females, so it is hoped the girls will like him and make more rhinos. There hasn't been a poaching incident since 2007 at this park. They would like to bring more in from South Africa where poaching is a big problem, but it costs too much. Dinner that evening was great, and just the five of us as the other guests all had other plans. A great way to end our time in Africa together.
Wednesday morning the girls went to visit a nearby school which is supported by Bushbuck lodge. Bill stayed back and Doug headed off to the airport for 10:30 to start his homeward journey. Tamara and Melissa will leave later in the afternoon. Just before I left, elephants showed up in the back, and I was able to see them from very close by. They were beside the road as we pulled out, a great way to end the time there.
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