For The Love of Travel

Zambia, formerly Northern Rhodesia, gained independence from Britain in 1964 and took the name Zambia from the mighty Zambezi River that originates in the north of the country and forms the border with Zimbabwe. National Parks and Game Management Areas make up almost 50% of Zambia’s total area.

Sausage Tree Camp is located within the heart of the Lower Zambezi National Park, beside the confluence of the Chifungulu Channel and the Zambezi River.  With a river frontage of 120kms, the valley floor, plateau and escarpment combine to give the National Park picturesque scenery.  

The central dining and bar area is fronted by an enormous teak deck overlooking the Zambezi River and low set reed islands teeming with game. Accommodation is in luxurious white Bedouin style tents.  

I have done a canoeing trip down a portion of the Zambesi and one of the ‘off channel’s’; game drives in the morning and afternoon/evening; and floating on a boat at sunset – special moments…..leaping hippo (off a riverbank); lazy leopard perched in a tree; Egyptian geese; lazy lion with perky tail; sighting of a giant kingfisher and white fronted bee-eaters and a thirsty elephant on the banks of the Zambesi.

I have a personal guide, Alex Chibutsa. He’s very enthusiastic about game drives and canoeing – and superfit! He’s done four year of study to qualify as a guide, is very proud that he passed the test the first time he sat and has worked in an anti-poaching unit trekking through the Zambian escarpment, before starting his job as guide at this luxurious camp. His favourite animal is the aardvark, not ‘pretty’ (ears resemble those of a donkey; snout of a pig; tail of a rat; claws similar to a bear), but a critter that contributes hugely to the ecosystem – those claws allowing him to dig!! It reduces the ant and termite harvesting of crops, and aardvark burrows are often used by species unable to make their own. Alex (right) and his tracker mate, Dixon, have incredible vision and can spot an impala, leopard, bird, elephant, hippo…at 500 paces!. And greatly contributed to me bringing you these photos. 

I am also looked after by my own personal ‘Muchinda’ (butler), John.  He brings me tea early in the morning with my personal ‘wake up call’; does the domestics around the tent and serves me at meals times. What a lovely extravagance!

Its a very special experience during an early morning shower to listen to elephants trumpeting in the surrounding park outside your bathroom, and baboons chattering and leaping on branches above you. On my last night at camp, knowing I was on my way to Kenya/Tanzania on another safari…this is the message John left for me, written in leaves from the sage bush….awwh! Was very touched.