Entering the park
This was our route, widdershins.
So of course there were zebras
A western banded snake-eagle
We came upon a fresh buffalo kill, almost stripped clean by white-backed and hooded vultures and marabou storks.
The lions, of course, had already eaten, and were sleeping it off, lazily.
A black-headed heron
A great egret, just like in Florida...
So why are these ibises sacred anyway? Gotta look that up.
OK, they were muffied by the ancient Egyptians, as a votive offering to the ibis-headed god Thoth, the god of wisdom and reason. Fair enough, though it seems a bit rough on the poor bird. They apparently fought off invasions by winged serpents from Arabia. Wonder if they work against the menacing drones of New Jersey?
Some very lazy lions, after another kill.
A very dapper-looking African pied wagtail...
...and our old friend the puku.
A perky-looking family group of swallow-tailed bee-eaters
The purple-crested turaco, a fun and noisy bird. He doesn't know he looks like a clown.
Our first river crossing was via the bridge. Downstream, we were somewhat lower-tech.
The landcruiser, and its passengers, were hauled across the Luangwa by strong Zambian backs!
And down at the river, hadada ibises.
...and African skimmers, which are very similar to our familiar black skimmers.
A boatman.
And a pied kingfisher, fishing.
By flashlight, a three-banded courser.
And a leopard and her cub.
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