Looking NE from Cerro Dragon

Looking NE from Cerro Dragon
180° panorama, looking NE from Cerro Dragon on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Day 8, August 1: South Luangwa National Park

We boarded a small airplane to take us to Mfume in the Luangwas valley. Cou.ldn't see much from the plane. Then a van to take us to Flat Dogs camp on the banks of the Luangwa. The area seemed to be pretty heavily populated. and less smoky than Lusaka.



The camp is run by a couple of Brits. A nice central dining area, and a series of chalets. Stone floors; very nice.





Went out for a quick preprandial drive, in the park, on the other side of the Luangwa. Found some giraffes immediately, along with an African Harrier Hawk.



Here she is, with some pukus.



And a vervet monkey



Meves starling.


We did a much longer drive, after lunch. 

An emerald-spotted wood dove, although the emerald color is iridescent and shows up only is certain light. Here, the spots look black.



A garish looking African Harrier Hawk.


The much prettier white-fronted bee-eater


The very wattled white-crowned lapwing.




The bee-eater has some red-billed Quelea friends...

We found a near-comatose pride of lions, still bloody from a kill.


A honed vulture, helping clean up after the kill.


...and a saddled-billed stork.


After it got dark we found a savannah hare.

and a rusty-spotted genet.


Back at the camp, we found a Xenopus frog in the lodge.


We were escorted back to our chalet, a stone-floored building that was very nice. On the way, we saw a leopard, watching us. Now I know why the escorts carry a gun!




























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