Wildlife: South Luangwa 10 – 16 June 2020 – Edward Selfe Photo Safaris

Zambia’s experience of COVID continues; cases are increasing slowly and active cases rise only very gradually as many are recovering well. 11 deaths have been recorded so far. Of course there is much speculation about whether the lack of testing is revealing only a fraction of cases; or whether the virus is really spreading much more slowly due to the lack of high-speed transport links across Zambia. Whatever the situation with testing, we are not hearing of people suffering COVID-like symptoms in hospitals or in their homes, which surely we would if the disease was widespread and increasing. Some have commented that the young population and smaller numbers of elderly with ongoing medical problems might also play a part.

Whatever the apparent cause of Zambia’s relatively gentle journey through COVID, we hope the nation continues to avoid the worst of it and that the easing of the pandemic across the world enables visitors again soon. While it has been amazing to have the bush to myself for many months, I have really missed the chance to share that with guests and enjoy the experience together.

This has been a mixed week. As always, there have been wonderful sightings in the bush….but a period of strange weather has given us a number of cold and cloudy mornings which are less productive for sightings and photography. I have also had some sad days during which I worked on deferring the last of 2020’s safaris. It is quite horrifying to think that this beautiful area might go a whole season without visitors and the crucial injection of finance that it needs…

But, on a positive note my 2021 season is very busy already and 2022 is starting to book up which has been a light at the end of the tunnel! Please give me a shout if you would like to talk about safaris in 2021 (Emerald Season spaces available) and 2022. To those who have already been in touch – thank you and look out for more information soon.

So, as always, to the sightings of the week with their normal captions.

A few cold, cloudy mornings this week meant that baboon troops were particularly inactive in the early part of the day, preferring to sit and wait for the sun to warm them up. This is a great time to approach them and enjoy some close ups!

The most memorable sighting of the week was an encounter between two crowned eagles at their nesting site. I am going to write this up properly in the coming days but, for now, it’s enough to say that the male tried to approach the nest…..

…and was repelled in dramatic style by the female!!

I spent a morning with my family surrounded by elephants, including this female and calf who stood out beautifully against the dark background…..

…and this little one who simply had to share his secret with his older sibling.

A large puku ram and his daughter.

On the cold mornings, sometimes baboons were the best option to photograph and I enjoyed watching the youngsters as they played and chased each other.