South Luangwa NP, Zambia - Day 7

The local bush buck takes to a morning drink.

Our final morning in Zambia and we were up early as usual as it’s just too hot to sleep in.  We also needed to make good time to get through the border, but when we looked outside we found that the wild dogs were in the same spot that they’d been the evening before - they hadn’t moved at all.  

So we decided to have a good old cooked breakfast while keeping an eye on the dogs, and then head to the hide at the waterhole in case the dogs came to drink again. The light was perfect so of course the dogs didn’t make an appearance! But we were treated to some nice shots of impala and baboons drinking, as well as a fantastic sighting of a band of banded mongooses. About 16 altogether because we were in a hide, they didn’t know we were there and it was fascinating to watch them go about their business.

Imp's taking their turn at the waterhole.

With no dogs making an appearance, we finally gave up around 8 o’clock as we needed to get going soon to make sure we could cross the border and get into Lilongwe at a decent hour; that would allow us the leeway to go further towards Blantyre if we wanted.

A band of Banded Mongoose was the star of the show. 

We finally got to Lilongwe in the late afternoon and decided to camp overnight at Barefoot safaris after getting some stuff for a braai (including a grid!).  A chilled out night and the next morning we were off to Blantyre after a good cooked breakfast.

South Luangwa is a true gem and has quickly risen to one of our favourite river parks.   It’s probably one of the nicest river driving parks and the opportunity to see some of the sightings we did has elevated it to a park we’d definitely visit again.  

Impala boys club take their turn.