Corinne and Pierre are in love with Africa and its wide open spaces!
In Zambia, with Kafue and South Luangwa national parks, they could not have been more satisfied.
Among the hundreds of photographs taken during their journey, they shared with us this selection of wild moments and a few anecdotes from their safari.
Selected moments:
Stage 1: Kafue National Park and a hot-air balloon flight
“After many hours of flights of all sizes and a very efficient welcome in Lusaka, a final helicopter leg to reach the Busanga Plains.
We arrive just in time for the first safari and the first gift from the Busanga Plains: a small lion family (one male, two females, two cubs about a year old).
On our return we discover our “tent” at Kapinga (we’ve been upgraded by the lodge!!!) The camp is magnificent and the team very friendly!
The next day, up at 4:30am for a hot-air balloon flight over the plains.
Superb, of course! A magical moment, this sunrise over the great plains and its immense herds of lechwe.
We make a “sport landing” (meaning we come down in a heap!!!) but what a flight!!!
Then breakfast with champagne, to recover from all the emotion.
Today we’ll see large gatherings of crowned cranes and numerous roan antelopes. Not to mention elephants, buffalo, zebras, hippos & crocodiles, as well as five lionesses at sundowner time!
But before leaving Busanga, we witness a major moment.
We are alone in the whole of northern Busanga and watch lions mating, so close we could touch them.
They are perfectly calm and sit slightly above the plain where the lechwe are resting.
Out of Africa… an overused image, but one that takes on its full meaning here, as we feel we are looking at the Africa of long ago…
We end the day with a barbecue out in the bush, for the evening drinks. Before a magnificent serval poses for us during the night game drive, and we return to the lodge for a private dinner on the terrace…
What a day!”
Stage 5: mobile camp safari in South Luangwa
“On arrival at camp, a fifteen-day-old baby elephant and a six-day-old giraffe calf (still with its umbilical cord) seem to be waiting for us!
During the first walk, we see a lioness, giraffes and elephants. Once again, Zambia gives us far more than we could have expected.
Words fail to describe these extraordinary impressions.
Night falls over the bush, to the sound of lions and elephants…
Absolute fulfilment!
The next day, roars at breakfast time. A hurried departure to try and find them.
It isn’t difficult: five minutes’ walk is enough! And they (one female and two males) are only 20 metres away!!!
The elephants are there too. The scene is magnificent, and we wish time would stop so we’d never have to leave.
But you never truly come back from Africa…”
Journey to Zambia completed in October 2010, with Etendues Sauvages.
Images, Corinne and Pierre Le G.
