Blog - Msandile River Lodge

A Wild Wedding in the Heart of the SouthLuangwa Valley.

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0200

A Morning in the Bush

The wedding day starts with a gentle gamedrive. We head out just after sunrise, when the park is soft and golden and the animals are still active. Afterwards, we set up a bush breakfast in the cool shade of an ebony forest. The smell of coffee, the sound of birds, the light drifting through the trees—everyone feels the moment.

Back at the lodge, the morning settles into a relaxed rhythm. Some float in the pool, some enjoy their rooms, and others gather in the restaurant area for a game or a chat. It’s calm, simple, and exactly what a safari wedding morning should be.

Preparing for the Ceremony

After lunch the energy shifts. People return to their rooms to get dressed, the air fills with excitement, and down by the river we put the finishing touches on the ceremony space.
The arch is decorated, the chairs are lined up, and the Luangwa River flows quietly behind it all.

Soon everything is ready.

The Entrance, the Music, the River

At 16:00 the wedding begins with movement and music. The bride and dad walk in behind the vibrant SECA band, who dance and drum their way towards the riverbank. It’s joyful, colourful, and full of life—exactly the spirit of South Luangwa.

The ceremony itself is unforgettable. Vows are exchanged right at the edge of the river, while baboons play on the sandbanks behind the couple. The light is soft, the breeze gentle, and every guest feels how special this moment is.

When the couple says “I do,” the whole riverbank feels like it’s celebrating.

Sunset Toasts & Safari Photos

After the ceremony we gather for speeches and a champagne toast, just as the sun begins to sink behind the trees. The river glows, the sky turns warm and golden, and glasses clink as friends and family share their words.

The bride and groom then step into a vehicle for a short gamedrive photoshoot—complete with a river crossing—capturing those wild and intimate safari wedding moments.

An Evening of Music, Dancing, and Good Food

As darkness falls the SECA band returns with a spectacular theatre-style performance. The whole group joins in for dancing, laughter, and pure celebration.

Dinner is served at a beautifully arranged U-shaped table covered in white tablecloths, golden plates, glowing candles, and warm lights. Chef Douglas and his team prepare a wonderful meal, and with every course there are heartfelt speeches, toasts, and stories.

The night ends the way all great celebrations should: with a spectacular wedding cake baked by Chef Douglas and the kitchen team—our own sweet masterpiece to close a perfect day.

A Wild Wedding in the Heart of the Valley

This wedding feels like everything we love about Msandile River Lodge:
community, nature, warmth, good food, music, wildlife, and moments that stay with you.

To the bride and groom, thank you for choosing our little corner of South Luangwa for your special day. To your guests, thank you for filling the lodge with so much joy.

Here, on the banks of the Luangwa River, love truly feels at home.

Kingdom — A New David Attenborough Film Set in Our Backyard

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Set in the heart of the Nsefu sector in South Luangwa National Park, this breathtaking production captures the real-life drama of Africa’s most iconic predators — lions, leopards, hyenas, and African wild dogs — all living and hunting within the same dynamic landscape.

For five years, the filmmakers followed these four rival families through changing seasons and shifting fortunes, documenting alliances, rivalries, and survival in one of the richest ecosystems on Earth. With Attenborough’s signature storytelling and stunning cinematography, Kingdom brings to life the daily struggles and triumphs of these magnificent animals — right here in the wilderness that surrounds our lodge.

Step Into the Story
At Msandile River Lodge, you don’t just watch the wild — you live it.
The very terrain and river valleys seen in Kingdom stretch across our backyard, leading into the Nsefu Sector, one of the most exclusive and wildlife-dense areas of the South Luangwa. Here, lions patrol the riverbanks, leopards glide through ebony forests, hyenas prowl under starlit skies, and wild dogs race across the open plains.

Join a Full-Day Safari in the Nsefu Sector
If you’d like to meet the “stars” of Kingdom in real life, we invite you to stay a few nights with us and join our whole-day game drive into the Nsefu Sector. It’s the ultimate way to explore the very landscapes featured in the film — a true immersion into nature’s theatre, guided by our experienced team.

“Kingdom” is not just something to watch. At Msandile River Lodge, it’s something you can experience.

Book your stay now and step into the wild story of South Luangwa — the real-life Kingdom.

Fresh, Safe, and Sustainable: The Story of Our Water at Msandile River Lodge

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0200

From Borehole to Your Glass
Earlier this year, we invested in building a dedicated water treatment plant, located just behind our restaurant building. The plant is directly connected to our borehole, which taps into a clean underground water source. From there, the water is carefully filtered and treated in various tanks to ensure that it is completely safe for drinking.

Water You Can Trust
Msandile River Lodge is one of the very few lodges in Zambia where you can drink water straight from the tap—whether in the restaurant or in your accommodation. This makes your stay not only convenient but also reassuring, as every drop is fresh, clean, and safe.

Safe Water in Every Detail
Because our water is treated to the highest standards, you can rest assured that the fruits, vegetables, and salads served at the lodge are washed in perfectly safe water. The same goes for all the food prepared by Chef Douglas and his team.

Our swimming pool is also filled with this fresh borehole water. To ensure maximum cleanliness, we treat it with additional chlorine, so you can enjoy a safe and refreshing dip at any time.

A Commitment to Guests and the Environment
For us, safe drinking water is more than just a comfort—it’s part of our commitment to sustainability and guest wellbeing. By sourcing, treating, and providing our own fresh water, we reduce the need for bottled water and help protect the beautiful environment of the Luangwa Valley.

So, the next time you sip a glass of cold, refreshing water at Msandile River Lodge, you can enjoy it with peace of mind, knowing it comes directly from our very own borehole and treatment plant.

Leopards & Birds by Emma and Jeroen | Msandile River Lodge

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

For quite some time we knew what our highlight of Zambia would be: South Luangwa! It is one of the most well-known parks in Zambia, renowned for its leopards. Due to the Luangwa River flowing through the park, the park also boasts a wide variety of birdlife. When we were in Botswana, with all the expensive game drives in Moremi, Khwai, and Chobe, we decided to skip them all, saying: 'We'll do the game drives in South Luangwa'. After leaving Rusco farm, we traveled for four days to arrive at South Luangwa. This all increased our expectations to massive heights. But even those were exceeded.

Jeroen had gotten the contact details for Msandile Lodge by chance when he was in Livingstone in October. He had kept the contact information and as soon as we had an expected arrival date at South Luangwa, we arranged the accommodation. During the last days before our arrival date, the contact intensified and we made the final arrangements. As it was not possible to take Gigi to the lodge, we had to leave her near the main gate of the park, where there would be security night and day. Not ideal in our opinion, mainly with the rat still in our heads (despite not having seen any rat activity for about two weeks now), but it was the only option.
From Petauke to the main gate took us about 5 hours of driving. We left quite early in the morning and we kept driving, except for the moments when we switched between being driver and passenger. This was not ideal for the atmosphere in the car and when we arrived at the main gate, we were overdue for some lunch. With both of us being quite hangry, we did not respond in the kindest of ways when we found out that there was no secured parking area. The parking would be on the main road, just past the main gate. With no other option, we agreed and we started offloading all our stuff. We are not packed for staying in hotels, with one bag per person. We needed to take most of our bags: separate bags for clothes, a separate bag with all our toiletries and related stuff, a separate bag for our (spare) shoes, our backpacks, our camera gear, our 'leisure bag' with our games and sudokus and I am probably forgetting some. When we couldn't find our keys, our grumpiness peaked. In the meantime, the Msandile car had arrived at the gate with guide George and two other guests. They had not seen us at our best and all we could think was 'they must think we are really grumpy people'. Anyway, we sat down and we were on our way to the lodge!

The lodge is situated on a beautiful escarpment overlooking the Luangwa River. The lodge is officially situated outside of the park, which keeps the costs lower than for lodges inside the park. This location is truly ideal and makes for a perfect place to start game drives. To get to the lodge, we had to drive through the park and take a boat to cross the river. This combination makes the lodge truly unique. Once in the vehicle, we forgot our hunger and enjoyed the bush again. After a nice drive, already seeing some animals, we arrived at the boat. Navigating between the hippos, our captain brought us safely to the lodge and we were welcomed with open arms and a wet towel to wash our hands and faces. We put our stuff in the tent (Frank had given us a double tent for the price of a twin, lucky us!) and we had lunch. The food was delicious and we could feel our hangriness fade away. As we had quite a late lunch, it wasn't until much later that we set off for our first real game drive!

Game drives in the afternoon are done differently in South Luangwa than we are used to. The game drives start between 3 PM and 4 PM, and they continue until the sun sets. As soon as it is too dark for photographs, it is time for a sundowner. Then, in the darkness, it is time for a night game drive in search of the nocturnal animals.
We had a lovely game drive, during which we saw many of the African animals, including lions. The guides tried really hard to find us some leopards, but those kept eluding us. At some point, long after the sun had already set and we were driving in the dark, we wondered whether the guides wanted to continue driving until we had seen a leopard. Despite not seeing any, we had a great game drive and a wonderful time back in the bush. The hangriness seemed like weeks ago and fortunately the guests with whom we shared the vehicle, who were the same as the guests we shared the car with when coming into the park earlier that day, had forgotten about that as well. We had a wonderful time with them.

The days at Msandile were nothing short of amazing. We had wonderful game drives, guided by the good guides George or Isaac and our favourite spotter, Ellis. The first two game drives we were in the car with a Belgian mother-daughter duo. We had a great time with them and with her enthusiasm, Emma even got them excited with birds. Frank and Sabine had already discussed with us that we love to see and photograph birds, so the next day we were seated in a vehicle with Sabine's family (Ruud and Marja), who had just spent time in Malawi and were now enjoying the birdlife in South Luangwa. We enjoyed our time with them a lot as well and we learnt much about the birds from both guide Isaac and Ruud. During the breaks, we would discuss wildlife, birdlife and driving through Malawi. Having just been there, Ruud and Marja had a wealth of knowledge about the country we still planned to visit. We exchanged contact details and received a ton of information.

Spoilt as we are, we do not get too excited about lions anymore. They are beautiful and majestic, especially the males with their manes. However, they are also super lazy, and as soon as they find their spot to rest, there is not a lot to see anymore. It happened more than once that we were at a lion sighting, and we were focusing on birds rather than the lions. Emma happily updated the sightings in her bird book, with a lion sleeping next to her. With four people we even looked at a pigeon. A very special one; the African green pigeon.

With a big thanks to the guides, we saw so much wildlife and we had amazing game drives. We came in the hopes of seeing as many animals as possible but with three in particular.

1. Leopards (for which South Luangwa is famous).

2. Carmine bee-eaters, known to reside in the banks of the Luangwa River in summer, starting in October. Sadly, now was not their season.

3. Wild dogs, the special animals we always hope to see, anywhere we go.

Leopard luck came to us very soon. On the second game drive, we saw the famous leopardess Lucy in the bush. She had a kill and was not likely to move too much. We hoped to see her climb a tree, but she probably waited until all the cars had left. Despite there being quite a number of cars in the park, we never were with more than 5 cars at a sighting. South Luangwa has the rule to not have too many cars at a sighting at the same time. This helps protect the animals and it makes sure people and cars do not get in the animal's way, or block each other, which we have seen happening many times in other parks

After the first two game drives, we had something to discuss with Frank and Sabine. We had booked for 2 nights, knowing that we would likely want to spend an extra night if possible. During the second game drive, however, guide George told us that we would be likely to see Carmine bee-eaters in another sector of the park, as not all of them leave the area after the breeding season. Some of them stay in the Nsefu sector, a part of the park where people usually do not go from Msandile. To get there, we would have to go on a full-day game drive. Carmine bee-eaters have been on our wish list for a long time, so we knew we had to go for it, meaning we would want to stay 4 nights, instead of 2. Frank and Sabine, however, had been the most generous of hosts and they had given us another upgrade, meaning we stayed in a large chalet instead of in the twin tent that we paid for. We couldn't expect to just extend the stay with two nights at the same rate, so Jeroen went to discuss the matter with Frank, wanting to propose that we go in a twin tent for the 2 extra nights. Before he could say anything, Frank already insisted that we would stay in the chalet for the other 2 nights as well. This was much more than we could have hoped for and their hospitality and generosity were very much appreciated. The chalet was beautiful, in a magnificent location overlooking the Luangwa River and it was spacious enough for Emma to do yoga in. We could not have been happier about the lodge.

On more than one occasion, we were able to see elephants across the river, or even cross the river from the lodge. We always carried our binoculars to breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as we were able to see many animals from our tables. The highlight was an elephant family crossing the river, with 2 young elephants barely keeping their trunks above the water.

Besides the many birds, elephants, and antelopes we saw in South Luangwa, we were lucky enough to see leopards on several occasions. There are two leopardesses in the area who both have cubs. We had seen Lucy, and her cubs up in a tree during the night game drives. On our second day of game drives, we were lucky enough to see even more leopards. The second leopardess had 2 young cubs playing around when we just arrived. The cubs immediately fled into the bush as they were startled, but they carefully came out again to inspect us and quickly ran back to their mother. We only saw the cubs briefly, but they were amazing and beautiful.

In the meantime, we saw many other animals. Zebras, puku, elephants, buffalo, and many, many birds. We didn't take photos of all the animals we saw, but we enjoyed them all. Especially the smaller birds were seen only briefly before they fled into the thickets again. We had 2 amazing days of game drives in the regular sector until it was time for day three, the full-day drive to the Nsefu sector.
The full day started just like the other days at Msandile. At 5:30 AM everyone would gather at the river to watch the sunrise with a cup of coffee and some yogurt with granola. Then instead of crossing the river, we took the road away from the regular park, behind the lodge. The road to the Nsefu sector, where were were going, was about 2 hours through the villages. It was a wonderful way to see the village life of Zambia, the side tourists usually don't see. Our Belgian friends had heard that we were going on a full-day game drive to see the carmine bee-eater and we had invited them to join us. Fortunately, they had not grown tired of us yet, and they happily joined us. We had brought some African (including Zambian) music for the road, as we knew it would take about 2 hours before we would reach the gate. The faces of our guides, George and Ellis, when they recognized the music from Zambian artist Yo Maps, were hilarious to watch, as they didn't expect us to put on Zambian music. We enjoyed the ride, the music, and the company on our way to the gate. The check-in was done quite quickly.
Time to spot the red bee-eaters!

Before we saw any animals, we had seen many people. The road through the Nsefu sector is also a road traveled by a lot of people who need to get from one side of the park to the other. It was weird to see so many people walking and riding motorbikes in the national parks, where we were looking for animals like leopards, wild dogs, and lions (apart from the bee-eaters).

Soon enough, Ellis and George said: 'There is one'. And surely, a beautiful red bird sat on a branch in the distance. It was quite far away, but we had seen a carmine bee-eater. Unsure if we would see another, we took some photographs, although they were far away and not very good.

Then we saw more, and more. There were not just a few bee-eaters who stayed behind, but a lot. They were quite shy though, as in this part of the park they sometimes get hunted by the people traveling through the park from town to town. People do have to eat. Fortunately, some of the younger ones, identifiable by pale patches of feathers between their scarlet feathers, were braver. They sat closer and stayed for longer. The full-day game drive was wonderful, thanks to the guides and our Belgian friends. We had a great time with the six of us and a flat tyre couldn't distract us from the great day we had. George and Ellis replaced the tyre in the African bush way and after that, we drove back to the gate. As soon as we had left the park, George said 'We have now left the park', indirectly asking us if we could put our African playlist back on. We blasted the playlist through the villages, which brought a lot of joy to George and Ellis. We were the main attraction driving back to the lodge.

We had a lovely dinner with Frank, Sabine, and our Belgian friends, who brought us so many nice moments during the past few days. Sabine even agreed to join us on our final game drive, just before we had to leave South Luangwa. A final goodbye from Lucy, who decided to parade just past our game vehicle and we were off, definitely coming back here!

We were happy to see Gigi again when we arrived at the main gate. She had been well taken care of and the security had kept her safe. We were worried about nothing (again, of course). With a lot of tips and information, we were off to our final new country, Malawi!

Sustainability at Msandile River Lodge: Supporting Local, Protecting Wildlife

Sat, 17 May 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Locally Sourced, Freshly Served
We are proud to source nearly all of our food locally. Our vegetables come from Simon Organic, a passionate small-scale farmer who brings us fresh, seasonal produce straight from his garden. For meat, we rely on Mayana, our trusted local butcher who provides high-quality cuts while supporting the local economy. And our eggs? They’re laid daily by free-roaming chickens right here in the Luangwa Valley.

Not only does buying local reduce our environmental footprint, but it also ensures our guests enjoy fresh, flavourful meals that directly support the livelihoods of nearby families and producers.

Protecting the Wild Heart of Luangwa
Msandile River Lodge is a proud contributor to several conservation organisations working tirelessly to safeguard South Luangwa’s ecosystems and wildlife:

LSA (Luangwa Safari Association) – A collective of lodges and tourism operators working together to promote sustainable tourism and environmental responsibility in the Luangwa Valley.
CSL (Conservation South Luangwa) – One of Zambia’s leading conservation organisations, CSL is on the front lines of anti-poaching efforts, wildlife rescue, and human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
ZCP (Zambia Carnivore Project) – Focused on scientific research and the protection of Zambia’s carnivores, ZCP plays a vital role in conserving lions, leopards, wild dogs, and hyenas in South Luangwa.
By contributing to these organisations, we are actively supporting anti-poaching patrols, wildlife research, and community education—all critical elements in protecting the fragile balance of this extraordinary ecosystem.

Small Steps, Big Impact
From minimising plastic use and managing waste responsibly to sourcing supplies ethically and investing in solar power, we’re always looking for ways to improve our environmental practices. Our mission is to ensure that future generations—both human and wild—can continue to thrive in this remarkable corner of Zambia.

When you stay at Msandile River Lodge, you’re not only enjoying a memorable safari experience—you’re also becoming part of a wider conservation story. Thank you for joining us on this journey.

Deon Kelbrick | Wildlife Photographer

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Recently we had the privilege of having Deon Kelbrick say with us, a renowned guide at Mala Mala in South Africa. An accomplished guide himself he is also a wonderful photographer and swapped the plains of the Sabi Sands in the Kruger conservancies for the wild woods of Zambia! The fight for the number one spot to see leopards is a fierce one between Sabi Sands and South Luangwa and we were intrigued to see just what a guide makes of it! Deon is not the only Mala Mala guide to visit nor the only one we can draw comparison from, so I do invite you all to give us your thoughts!!

Deon had a private vehicle, a lovely add on for $100 a day that facilitates a private guide and vehicle, essential for photographers as it allows them the freedom to look for what you want, move around the car without other guests in the way, set the times of the drives and stay at sightings for as long as you want rather than the group desires of a car.

Whilst for most of us it is lovely to meet fellow bush enthusiasts and chat about the sightings at drinks stops for those that want to do something specific like only birding, only the carmine bee-eaters or only the cats etc. having your own vehicle can allow you the freedom to do so! It also allows you uninterrupted views of the sighting without the off pesky arm or head coming into the viewfinder. For photographers or for those that prefer drives done in a specific way this is such a nice add on. You can have a PV for a few days or your entire stay it is entirely up to you. To add on from the PV you can also add in a whole day game drive. We have written about these before lasting from 6am to almost 6pm you have breakfast and lunch on the go and head up north to find some incredible ebony and winterthorn forests as well as the famous cats from all the documentaries filed in the area, another shot at dogs and elusive hartebeests and wildebeest.

The overall feeling at the end of the trip was that whilst wildlife was prolific in both areas and leopards abundant, he was impressed by the diversity of landscapes and the relaxed nature of the animals here. The calmness of the leopards, lounging in the sausage trees, the light filtering through the magical ebony forests, the lionesses who walked peacefully by the vehicles giving you full frame portraits and eye contact. It is not to say you do not get fantastic shots in SA, you can check out his Instagram @deon_wildlifephotography, to see for yourself. However often getting lost in the wild, untamed bush of South Luangwa can give you a fresh zest for new photographic angles and he chance to see species which are common or endemic here missing from the bush at home! For example, the ground hornbill is a rare bird in South Africa but numerous in South Luangwa, as are the puku and endemic Thornicroft giraffe. We lack the rhino and the nyala antelope, however the beaches of the Luangwa provide excellent hunting grounds for the wild dogs and the river itself gives a beautiful back drop for the elephant and giraffe crossings. And the backdrops of the alternating landscapes were what sold it for Deon
It is safe to say all bush is good bush but we are really happy Deon enjoyed our slice of paradise and look forward to having him back soon. If you would like to come to experience the magic of Msandile just get in touch! team@msandileriverlodge.com

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Solly Levi visits Msandile

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0200

We were lucky enough to recently host Solly Levi a world-renowned photographer who is well known for his clean and colourful fine art images of Namibia and Botswana. An inspiration to one of our team, who was very excited, and teacher then to all of us after he left. Solly took the time not only to enjoy South Luangwa but to give all our staff members and even guests some tips and tricks for photography. When he left we were all quite sad but when he sent the images we marvelled at what he produced and felt quite proud of the team for their part they played.

Solly was here to see the wild dogs, despite his many years in the business and working in areas with wild dog packs he was yet to see them…until he came to Zambia! We are lucky enough in South Luangwa to have a booming population of wild dogs and there are high chances of seeing them. Last year you may remember we had a pack of 33 that settled on our beach for 10 days using it as a base to hunt from, relax and frolic over which was such a treat. Most of the packs successfully denned this year and thanks to CSL and ZCP we hear numbers are doing well despite the pressures and dire outlook on the species as a whole. However, Solly choose an unusual time to come, not to his knowledge. Just a few months ago the alpha female of the group of 33 was killed by a crocodile, the second time this pack has lost its alpha female and they dispersed. Not only have they broken into smaller groups they have gone in every direction! In the days leading up to Solly’s visit we had the northern pack of 14 come into (yes into) the lodge and kill a Puku on our side of the river. Having recently re-collared the alphas they had run from their normal territory only to return a week later. We thoroughly enjoyed their visit! We had a group of 5 females just the day before chase hyenas as they hunted, tease elephants causing mayhem and mischief and even a few kills in the Wafa just across from the lodge.

The known dens had all been left as the pups were old enough to keep up with the packs so normal spots, we saw some packs had been abandoned. In short, in the lead up to a famous photographer wanting to see dogs. We confidently sent him pictures on the daily of what they were up to not 5 minutes from where he would be sleeping.

That is until the day Solly arrived. Actually, the day he arrived the dogs were in front of the lodge, we confidently smiled as we told him as we collected him from the airport. He landed on the 17.45 flight ready for action the next morning… the dogs however decided to move on!! Nightmare! The pressure was somewhat off as he had come from some great sightings in Kafue however planning some of his group trips to Zambia, he wanted to include South Luangwa, so we were eager to impress. The dogs it seemed were playing hard to get. We have the option for just $100 a day to have your own private vehicle which is a cost shared between the car, quite the bargain for a group! It is also a lovely option for guests who prefer birding, or who don’t want to stop with newcomers for impala and Puku or anyone with a love of nature so great it overpowers their love of other humans and they prefer their own company to that of a group!

Solly had his own vehicle as he was solely looking for dogs, we didn’t race to leopard sightings, track lions or enjoy the beauty of the dancing carmine bee-eaters. Just dogs. Just dogs who were playing a very good game of hide and seek. He took some incredible images of giraffe in mahogany forests, impala in the dancing light of the ebony forests, zebra in the Winterthorn cathedrals, the almost guaranteed twice daily elephant crossings from the park to the lodge and into the villages to raid the mango crops at sunset returning at 6am sharpish to the safety of the park oh and maybe one or two carmine bee-eaters.

His guide Lungi frantically messaged the network of Luangwa guides, we packed breakfasts and lunches in cooler boxes so they could roam further if needs be and still nothing. After all our tempting messages of dog sightings we felt we had catfished him and apologised profusely. Sadly, we are not a zoo, we can’t schedule the animals sometimes we don’t see a leopard, sometimes we don’t find the dogs. Solly was great, ever enthusiastic he confidently marched down to the cars each morning excited and ready for the day. He kept in touch with Lungi over lunchbreaks, just in case, ready to jump into a car as soon as we got the “nod”. He kept changing his flights staying longer just in case, tomorrow would be the day. Proflight knew us by name, we knew their number off by heart and then on one of his many “last days” Day 5 we struck GOLD! Five females, a break off from the big group of last year, about 2 hours south of the lodge, Solly, our manager, our brilliant guide Lungi and another esteemed guest tracked down the mysterious wild dogs and fulfilled our promise! Of course, it was hot, they were sleeping, there were not so many of them but it was what we needed to ensure to Solly that we did indeed have dogs! He took the rest of the day off, enjoyed the pool, a few cold drinks and we chatted about getting photographic tour groups in the future. Phew!

South Luangwa is one of the few “wild” places in Africa, away from the crowds in South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya. Less commercialised then the slick and expensive lodges of Botswana and one of the true off the beaten path destinations that still has the level of sightings you would expect in more developed destinations. Zambia itself is a true hidden gem of owner run lodges, rustic charm and conservation success stories which is hard to find these days. It is in short, a photographer’s paradise, from the great sightings of the rarer animals like the leopard and the dogs as well as the usual other suspects to the ability to have the sighting yourself. We offer both private vehicles and all-day drives so you can explore the areas you want, target the species you want or simply let your guide work his magic. There is nothing better than enjoying a bush lunch, as you watch elephants eating the Winterthorn seeds in the towering cathedrals of the trees, all to yourself. Or if you want you can sit for hours at the riverbank to ensure you get the shot of the carmine bee-eaters. Sit for hours with the lions on a kill or wait to see a leopard emerge from the bushes its concealed in.

We are extremely excited to host more photographers, welcome back the ones we have had before, entertain their clients and groups and revel at the images that they produce. And you never know maybe we get a few “shots” of our own!

Check out more of this amazing photographer @www.sollylevi.com

BIG, LITTLE, UGLY AND LUANGWA WHAT ARE THE 5 SPECIES YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING OUT FOR?

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The Buffalo, in a large herd these animals are not particularly dangerous, nicknamed the bush cow these bovine creatures can be docile and easy to move on but the lone older males who are too slow to keep up with the herd are dangerous. Alone or in small bachelor herds these Dagga boys are grumpy and temperamental and put on a quick show of aggression if challenged or if they feel threatened. Their thick Bose is hard to get a bullet through and it needs to be lined up carefully, when charging you only have seconds to accurately shoot making key alterations and keeping a clear mind in a chaotic and life or death situation!

Elephants, they too have thick skulls and a brain shot is hard. The elephants are incredibly protective of their young and getting between a mother and calf is a grave error. The males go through Must and like most male mammals it matches their testosterone cycle making them more aggressive. This can be seen from a liquid that runs down from the gland behind the eye and can often be smelt, you will see the larger bulls chasing herds of females looking to mate being chased off by the matriarch. The females can also secrete from this gland and do it when stressed, perhaps they are coming into labour, their baby is stuck in the mud or they came across a large pride of lions, or are being harassed by bachelor herds. All these factors can play into why they will think you are a threat. An elephant can not only charge, I have seen them use their trunk to swipe away smaller animals with the strength to send a human flying, bore them with a tusk or kneel and grind the flat part of their skull into the ground pulverizing the offending item.

A rhino it’s obvious horn and size are a visible cue of their strength and danger however it is the rhino’s keen sense of smell and terrible eyesight that led it to be so dangerous. With poor vision, the smallest whiff of danger and shadow of movement causes the rhino to react quickly and aggressively. Whether it is the white rhino in the open plains or the more dangerous black rhino in the thick bush, they will use their sheer size and brute force to charge in the direction of an unfamiliar sounds or smell that humans carry. Females with calves are far more aggressive than a rhino on its own, as any mother does, she simply wants her baby to reach full term before she allows it to defend itself.

Of the big 5 ironically it is often the herbivores we fear the most! We know the carnivores behave in a steady fashion with usually predictable behaviours and telling warning signs. They look to warn you off before they kill. The herbivores however are less predictable, often more intelligent reacting to incidents we have not been part of. Line bull buffalo knowing they are vulnerable will be quick to lash out to make any threat before it gets them. A grieving elephant cow can react from hurt and anger we are totally unaware of or the rhino mother keen to protect her calf and at a disadvantage with her eyesight will quickly charge to show you who is boss. These higher emotive and intelligent beings can be far harder to read than a predator reacting on instinct.

The lion and leopard, both fierce cats with large canines and sharp claws. The lion, much bigger than the leopards, lives in a pride so very often in tricky situations you will be charged by more than one cat. If you are perceived as a threat perhaps to the lion itself or any cubs you may first be met with aggressive behaviour, snarling, mock charges and roaring before it will outright see you as a threat to its life and try to end yours first. These are more typical and follow a greater sense of predictability than the herbivores. If the lion is wounded or even very very hungry you will see an increase in this aggression just as you would in any domestic animal. The leopard on the other hand is thought to be more intelligent than the lion, often sneaking off around the intended victim charging from all angles, If you have a pissed off leopard you are in real trouble, they are said to follow their target for days attacking and charging at any time from any angle and you will need to keep your wits about you.

So those are the big 5 and the reasons they made the list! Nowadays they seem to be at the top of guests' tick lists on what they want to see and photograph! The majestic cats, the regal elephant, the overwhelming crowds of buffalo and of course the prehistoric and rare rhinos. Who wouldn’t from the beautifully wrinkled and textured skin of the elephant, the sheer size and power it beholds with such a gentle softness silently making its way across the plains; the strong, sturdy and stubbornness of the herds of buffalo a sign of brute force, if you have ever heard the crash between two male buffalo Bose you will understand just how headstrong these bush cows are; the rhinos with their prehistoric characteristics reminding us of a land that once was, their incredible horns ornate on their heads reminding us of their power and almost swordsmanship battling over females and territory; the king of the jungle, the lion with his impressive mane, loud roars and attractive females and cute cubs in tow; and the leopard one of the most eye-catching and appealing cats, its beautiful spots elusively hidden in the undergrowth, the rare beauty showing itself to only those most fortunate it is no surprise these animals have stayed on this list.

However, there are always animals we would add what about the wild dogs? They too have a beautifully spotted coat, their superior hunting skills make them one of the apex predators here in Zambia. They are rare and endangered and whilst easy to “hunt” and often get caught sadly in snares they are an uncommon sighting and one we all eagerly await. In Luangwa sadly rhinos have long since been poached out of the park, efforts are being made in North Luangwa and Livingstone to try and breed better numbers of both the white and black rhino respectively in order to one day stock other parts of the country. However, with poaching still a major issue it needs to be within parks that have the correct funding and manpower to provide 24-hour protection for this vulnerable species. As yet there are no immediate plans for South Luangwa to be a big 5 and thus the Luangwa 5 was created; leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo and wild dog!

Then of course there are the small 5, smaller animals that share a name with their larger counterparts. The leopard tortoise, buffalo weaver, elephant shrew, rhino beetle and lion ant! All common animals you can see within the park that make for a very cute alternative 5 to the traditional set. Ask your guide to point these out to you, very often you can find at least 4 around camp!

And finally, there is the ugly 5, cruelly named after these 5 animals that perhaps are not the most attractive to look at but fascinating all the same. They say after all that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and some of these animals are my favourite, character and sustenance over prettiness! The hyena, these intelligent beings are a curious mix of dog and cat, scavengers given a harsh name after the lion king; they are actually a very sweet species. With strong forelegs and shoulders these animals can ‘gait’ just as wildebeest do allowing them to expend little energy and travel long distances, famed for taking the scraps at cat and dog kills and being the number 1 predator for their babies they live in a matriarchal society where the females can be up to 30KG bigger than the males. Famed for the males and females that have penis’s a fused labia and extended clitoris, which they give birth through!!! They live in clans led by an alpha female who rule the den and have very sweet babies called pups. These animals are so important in the ecosystem, just as the vultures clean up the carcass the strong hyena jaws and teeth are able to break down bones and clear the bush of its skeletal remains!

The Marabou stork usually lurks around ponds, fishing for frogs, fish and foraging for small rodents and reptiles or around the carcass of a kill, their strong and agile beaks used to take any remaining scraps of meat off the bones. These large prehistoric looking birds look a little like old men with their skinny legs, plump bodies and bald head crowned with wispy feathers. Their legs are stained white by excretions of urine and faeces which help act as a sun cream to keep the skin safe from the powerful rays! Whilst their large and somewhat scruffy demeanour have added them to the list just like the hyenas these too play a vital role in the clean-up of the bush and I have a rather soft spot for them. The grandfatherly gentlemen of the bush, kindly tidying up after the messy predators!

The wildebeest is an unusual buck that does lack the beauty and majesty of some of the other antelope with their spindly angular horns, large head and shoulders and skinny legs. Just as the hyena these antelope can gait which simply means when running they use a rocking motion which helps exert less energy for their large journeys. Famous for their migrations from one plain to another through Kenya and Tanzania these humble grazers will happily let most plains game come along with them providing many eyes to watch out for any danger!

Vulture, perhaps unfair their long necks, beady eyes and sharp beak and talons are all specialized features that allow them to pick meat off a carcass. It seems this list is almost entirely made up of the scavengers! Much like the Marabou stork and hyena these are the dustbin men of the bush! Able to peck open a carcass and regularly found queuing up in chaotic fashion at a fresh kill, these guys have an incredible sense of smell and keen eyesight. Soaring in the thermals they are able to spot a kill from miles off, swooping in to finish the job at hand they often follow the predators waiting patiently for their next meal.

The cheeky warthog with his bumpy face and hairy body and moustached tusks we can see why people might think this one belongs on the list. The warthog is a wonderful animal digging up tubers to eat happily throwing the dirt around like an old-fashioned plough! It is said that the skin of the warthog is so tight that when he runs with his head down his tail must stick up! Whilst the adults aren’t the prettiest picture, I think we can all agree the baby warthogs are one of the cutest bush animals going. Their teeny tiny trotters, perfect miniatures of their parents are an absolute sight in the green season and we can’t get enough of them! Neither it seems can the lions!

Whole Day Safari

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

A classically early safari start, we left at the normal time of 6am with a fully packed car and eager excitement. After crossing the river, the car turned right and we set off to the area around Lion Camp. Inaccurately named we saw no lions but rather leopards!! The drive up north was really stunning, the area is full of beautiful ebony forests. The light dances through the dark wood and dark green leaves creating beams of sunlight that burst through the trees. That magical light backlit 100s of baboons, baby owl chicks, shy bushbucks and ever watching raptors.

Whilst the wildlife is never guaranteed it was a successful trip with lots of bird species ticked off the list, 2 leopards including a cub, buffalo, elephants, kudu, warthogs, zebra and of course our endemic giraffe! We enjoyed our first stop around 8.30 with a delicious buffet of hot coffee, full English breakfast, the ever-famous breakfast cookies and a selection of fresh fruit!

After our bellies were full, caffeine levels replenished and legs stretched we headed onward on our quest!

This is when we found the first leopard. A beautiful female sub adult who put on quite a show for us. The wonderful part was we had the sighting all to ourselves. Not only as it was out with normal safari timings it was quite far from any of the camps. As the park gets busier in high season this was a real treat and would have allowed the leopard to be very relaxed with just us rather than the pressure of many cars that can lead to the animal (rightfully) running away. We sadly cannot control other cars or guide behaviour, especially the self-drivers so having quality time at a sighting alone is one of the many reasons to choose an all-day drive and pick a lodge further in the park (like us!).

After our relaxed leopard went off into the bushes to escape the midday sun, we too parked under some shade, got the chairs out and had a relaxing picnic lunch. Jokes and stories were shared around the table and we made a valiant attempt to try and make a good dent in chef Douglas’s feast! From salads, breads, quiches and chicken drumsticks it was a lunch to remember as we watched the impalas, pukus and elephants wander past. As lunch drew to a close, we started the journey back to camp. we found another leopard by a lagoon (we think the cub’s mother) and many a raptor on the way home, which we took great delight in the ID’ing debates that ensured!

We had a coffee and cake stop along the river arriving at camp just in time for a sundowner and more snacks (never be afraid we will not feed you enough, we take the challenge to keep you full personally!).

We have a unique location that the sun rises over the river on the right-hand side and sets on the left, 180 degrees of reds, oranges, pinks and yellows as the sun comes up and down over our heads. Pure magic as the elephants bathe and cross the river to camp, our resident antelopes and monkeys retreat for the evening and the lions start to call out along their territorial boundaries. An incredible day!

Can I take my Kids on Safari?

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

We have had many kids on safari at Msandile and we can let you know a secret-all of them loved it! Having a private vehicle for younger children means your timetable is completely flexible to you. If you want to leave later or come back earlier to suit mealtime then all you need to do is ask! Worried if the kids will enjoy a safari, don’t! the pure joy on a child’s face as their favourite animals come into vision is magical. Whilst we do have “quieter drives” this is a great way to introduce kids to tracking, birds, trees and of course let them ask the million questions they have! We can comfortably then stay at sightings as long as they hold interest or stay further from animals you maybe apprehensive of. It is all up to you. Our expert guides will have a chat with you about what your questions are and are all too happy to start making mini rangers out of the kids! After all who better to be apprentice spotters than the eager eagle eyes in the back!

But what about at the lodge? All of our male employees have children and the ladies are all big sisters so having kids around comes pretty naturally to all of us! Which means you have many eyes watching out and many friends to make. Our chef is more than happy to cater to any requests (please just advise us in advance), we find the kids are excited about what is on offer and we usually find them queueing at the bar trying to sneak extra fizzy drinks behind mum and dad’s back (don’t worry we ask!). We also have a pool, ever known a child not to want to get in the pool? Us neither! Between the early starts and exciting game drives you may find your little darlings are actually quite eager to have a nap, or go to bed fairly early! If not, we also have lots of books to look at, magazines to read and staff to chat to. Whilst it might seem daunting it doesn’t have to be. We love the questions; we love the excitement and we hope to inspire our own little mini guides who one day might be working alongside us!

Make the memories with your little ones, teaching them about the incredible wild world we live in. Let their imaginations become a reality as they come face to face with an elephant for the first time, follow the footsteps of the big cats or watch from the pool as the hippos call out. Watch as their curiosity for the world expands and their knowledge of nature increases!

TOP 10 EXPERIENCES IN ZAMBIA

Tue, 30 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

SPECIALIST BIRD SAFARIS (SHOEBILL, CARMINE, BATS)

There are a lot of unique and endemic species in Zambia and more so in the animals that fly! From the birds to the bats there are several migratory and endangered species that are available at limited times of the year you may wish to consider when planning your trip! The most popular and easy to see is the Carmine bee-eaters who arrive late-August and leave at the end of November. Arriving in their hundreds they make nests along the river banks where they mate and lay their eggs and wait for the chicks to hatch. Carmine bee-eaters follow a yearly migration route— from August to November they reside in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. During the summer months, they fly to their southernmost habitats in South Africa, before eventually returning north to the lush rainforests of equatorial Africa from March to August. The shoebills are a prehistoric gigantic bird that live in the Bangweulu Wetlands, almost poached to extinction the birds are making a comeback and this is a must for any serious twitcher looking to tick off all the bird species.

And finally the bats! Between October and December annually 10 million fruit bats fly through Kasanka National Park into a tiny forest creating the largest migration , yes bigger than the wildebeest, in search of the abundant waterberries, mangoes, wild loquats and red-milkwood berries. Feasting on about two kilos of fruit per bat per night then the head on with their journey! A once in a lifetime experience.

WALKING SAFARI

A walking safari is a wild adventure that ironically allows you to slow down to appreciate all the smaller animals, look at the trees, listen to the birds and involve all your senses as you navigate the bush. You can learn how the guides look for clues and cues of where an animal is and take the thrill of approaching some of the bigger game by foot. This isn’t as strenuous as it sounds. You often do not go so far (unless you want to) stopping to see, touch, smell and even taste what is around you! Have you ever seen a termite mound up close and learnt all about the cities of heated chambers below the soil line? Or know the difference between a squirrel alarm call for the cats or a snake? This is the time to slow down and see just how everything works and fits together. A must for those who are able!

CANOE SAFARI LZ

Canoeing in the Zambezi River will forever be one of the most exciting and terrifying experiences I have had. Perhaps that doesn’t sell it well! The relaxing lull of being in the water, watching the animals as they come down to drink or bathe, floating gently towards them accepted as part of the river life tied with the excitement and nervousness at not being in a car and often smaller than the animals you are viewing! It was a way to see the waterbirds up close and see the animals at eye level. Coupled with the nervous energy that you can only paddle downstream so the shake of a matriarch elephant's head gives you a warning you take note of unlike in the car! A must do for anyone visiting the Lower Zambezi or Kafue National Parks.

TIGER FISHING

For those of us who don’t or haven’t fished then this one may not seem likely, for those that love fishing I’m sure it has already checked off your list and been added to your next trip already! However, tiger fishing is so much fun, from catching the bait fish, to reeling in your very first fish it is a thrilling experience for anyone with an interest. Not to mention this is a time to sit back, relax, chat to your guides, have a few drinks and enjoy a gentle safari along the river. That is until the line tugs then it is all hands-on deck to reel in your massive (we won’t tell!) catch beaming eagerly for a picture then releasing the monster back to the river!

RHINOS ON FOOT

The prehistoric cripplingly endangered rhino resides in two areas of Zambia, at Victoria Falls and in North Luangwa. In each area you can have the thrill of getting up close to these beasts on foot. Habituated to humans who provide 24hr protection to the heavily poached creatures it is perfectly safe, with the guidance of your guide and scout, to get close to these fascinating animals and watch them as they go about their daily life. With dwindling populations thanks to poaching this is a unique opportunity to get a glimpse of the majestic rhino before they disappear from existence altogether.

BOAT SAFARI KAFUE

A boat safari is a lovely way to get to see animals at eye level. Float along the river as you watch the many animals that come down to drink and bathe from the heat of the day. Peer along the tree line looking for leopards relaxing in the branches escaping the heat and hiding from the animals that give away their spots. Marvel at the many water birds around, watch kingfishers as they dive in the water looking for their next catch or watch as the crowned cranes elegantly walk along the water's edge looking for frogs and snails to eat. Sit on the floor of the boat for a great vantage point with your camera to photograph upward to the animal from water level. A lovely relaxing way to spend a lazy or eventful afternoon in the bush.

DEVILS POOL

Have you ever stared over the edge of a waterfall in your swimsuit as the water rushed around you over the lip? Here you have the quite frankly insane opportunity to sit in a pool on the waterfall edge as the water rushes around you down the falls and into the gorge below. If you ever wanted to appreciate just how high the falls are then this is the place to do it. Not for the faint hearted it is a thrilling adventure and the swim to supersede all others! Make sure you have your camera with you so the guides can take one of your most daring portraits!

HOT AIR BALLOON KAFUE

A hot air balloon is one of the calmest and most magical ways to do a safari from the sky. Allow the guide to tell you the history of the lands, explain the natural formations, forests and of course point out the wildlife. Float across the Busanga Plains of northern Kafue as you look out for herds of elephant, buffalo and pods of hippos. Map out the network of river pathways and lower into sightings of the cats or dogs. This breathtaking trip is best done at sunrise so you have the added magic of golden hour from the sky followed by a champagne breakfast. An indulgent treat is something you will never want to end nor ever forget.

MICROLIGHT SAFARI

Unique vantage points seem to have been a theme in this to do list however this truly is a thrilling experience. From low heights above the South Luangwa National Park you can take a micro light safari, flying just overhead of giant herds of elephant, buffalo, hippos and plains game you can see just how vast the park is and how many animals are within. An incredible photographic opportunity to catch the animals from above, playing with shadows, landscapes and sheer numbers it is an incredible way to see the animals hiding ‘off road”. You are low enough that you will see the predators too, the pride of lions under the tree, the pack of dogs covering vast areas on the hunt and a lone leopard searching from a vantage point for its next meal. It truly is a unique experience and one worth considering.

HELICOPTER VIC FALLS

As one of the seven wonders of the world it would be sacrilegious to come to Zambia and not consider seeing the falls. Named Musi O Tunya the smoke that thunders, this incredible mass of water that rushes over the gorge edge into the rapids below is a sight not to be missed. The sheer volume of water that passes through spraying the surrounding pathways with splashback and creating rainbows through the spray droplets. There are many ways to see the falls, on foot, at sunrise or sunset, from below river rafting but the best, we think, is by air. From here you can appreciate the sheer size of the falls and see the magnitude of the water force, carving the landscape below. This private tour is the ultimate treat and an excellent photographic opportunity for those that truly want a special activity to complete their trip!

BIRDING IN SOUTH LUANGWA

Mon, 08 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Zambia is one of Africa’s leading birding destinations, home to some of the rarest birds in Africa the Shoebill, African Pitta and, with over 750 species of bird through the diverse ecosystems and over 450 species in South Luangwa it is a birders paradise.

Whilst birding is fantastic throughout the year in November/December just before the rains arrive the species list drastically increases as the migrant species arrive. A firm favourite, the Carmine Bee eaters come in their thousands to nest on the banks of the Luangwa River.

The Emerald season, with its thick foliage and thriving insect population brings the palearctic and intra African migrants and although some of the areas have limited access there are some incredible opportunities for keen birders to tick off “lifers” from their lists such as the endemic Chaplin’s barbet and black cheeked Lovebird. This is also the time the male birds come into their breeding plumage. Marveling at the mating dances, large distinctive tails and bright colours it’s a twitchers paradise!

The key to having a successful birding trip on safari is to find the bird “parties” where you can find 20-30 species together in one habitat. For example, the Mopane and Ebony Woodlands that are lined by the Lagoons ensuring a variety of species in one area. Of course, it is not just the birds South Luangwa is famous for the wildlife in the park is also prolific with the South Luangwa Valley being famous for its dense number of Leopard, large Wild dog packs, numerous Lion prides, plains game, endemic Thornicroft Giraffe, Crawshay’s Zebra, Cookson’s Wildebeest and large Elephant herds.

Some top Bird species to look out for include the Lillian’s Lovebird, African Skimmer, African’s Crake, Dwarf Bittern, Racket Tailed Roller, the five species of Kingfisher, Western Osprey, Southern Ground Hornbill, Narina Trogen, the many raptors and Vultures and not to forget the colourful Bee-eaters and Weavers.

There are also a number of Nocturnal Birds such as the Pel’s Fishing Owl, Giant Eagle Owl, Pennant-winged Nightjar to name a few.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS – WHAT TO DO TO GET YOUR MEMORIES ON FILM!

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0200

TIMING

What do you want to photograph? Tiny cute babies, gnarly kills, beautiful birds, green backgrounds, dusty soils? Seasonality is everything. Green season brings dramatic backdrops, dark skies lit up by lightning, lush green emerging bush, babies and birds however the rain brings problems of getting deep into the bush and the animals are more spread out! The height of the dry/high season clears the bush right back to dusty skies and brown leaves but congregates the predators and prey round waterholes and gives some graphic action from starving and dehydrated skinny herbivores to actual kills which can be hard to watch. This season also brings the nesting carmine bee-eaters and mating cats as opposed to spring which brings rutting antelope. Do your research (*we have many blogs on this or feel free to just ask!), get inspired by other photographers in the area. Visualize “your hot” and then let us make that a reality!

It is also important to see what time of day you shoot, during the harsh midday sun all the animals hide in the shade, the sunlight is flat and photo opportunities are far and few between. The first sunlight and last are your best chance at really interesting pictures in the golden hours. The light is beautiful and the predators are active.

EQUIPMENT

There are long and lengthy discussions on what is the best equipment out there and we could go on at length about our favourites but ultimately it is going to depend on your budget, what you want to achieve and the weight of the equipment. A DSLR is preferable as the image through the lens is what will reflect on what you download, as well as the mirrorless cameras. You can get some older versions fairly cheaply and if you don’t want to spend the money you may consider renting one at a fraction of the cost! Make sure you have a zoom lens. We would recommend a minimum of 300mm. whilst you do get up close to the animals, some maybe far off road or for the birds which are harder to get close to. It gives you the flexibility of an animal in its landscape or to zoom into the details you want to capture.

You also may consider a beanbag for stability, if you are stuck on weight limits or space you can fold up a jumper or towel to help achieve the same! Bring lots of memory cards, spare batteries and chargers!! If you get a great sighting, you may spend an hour shooting many 100s of pictures and quickly drain a battery, we know this only too well. With digital film it is much better to take too many pictures and delete later than run out of space or battery and miss “the shot”.

COMPOSITION

There are guidelines and personal choices, again, here but as a rule of thumb each shot is divided into 9 rectangles and you want to envision these as thirds. Using the negative space to create movement and direction. Try not to cut off animals by the tail, wing, feet etc as it doesn’t follow a natural line and leaves the spectator wanting more of the image. It is all about natural focus. Typically you want a center the focus either in the middle, left or right third using nature to frame the picture. If it looks odd it will feel odd to the person you show the picture to so try to keep it clean with one main focus and natural framing. Take a look through other photographers and see what appeals to you and try to emulate that or let them inspire your own shot.

Get to know your subject matter, its behavior and its habitat. It will help anticipate the settings you need and also give you a better shot of the animal itself. Get low, the subject matter of the photo will always be great but what makes a shot stand out is eye contact and the easiest way to do that is to get the lowest angle safely possible. Ground perspective is best but not always possible so try to get on the floor of the car for a lower perspective or sit next to the guide in the passenger seat!

PLAY

Whilst there are many tips and tricks for what settings to put on your camera, we will briefly suggest the best way to learn what works for you is to play around. Take the breaks between drives and find some birds or insects, play around with what works and doesn’t. All too often we put too low an F stop on and wonder why the leopard nose is in focus and the rest of the face is not. Depth is incredibly important and creating that can be beautiful, the blurred sandy blades of grass before the sharp spots of a leopard can give a sense of closeness and focus to your subject.

For birds you will need anything above 1/3200 to capture any detail in the wings, movement blur can be great when you want to create movement in your picture but if you are looking for sharp detail you will need a fast shutter speed. I am a big fan of an over or under exposure that gives those harsh white or black backgrounds that can really frame an animal. So have a play with the more static animals to see how you like to create your own style!

The ISO is also important and the higher the ISO the grainier your image will be. Some photographer’s (myself included) use an auto ISO so the camera will find the best setting for you. With wildlife there are often fast changes and changing all 3 settings at once can be tricky and time consuming so don’t feel like you are cheating if you want to have some help!

Above all once you have what you think could be the shot, play around, get different angles, zoom lengths, play with under and over exposure. Some of my favourite pictures have been an ‘accident’ with what I considered the wrong settings so don’t be afraid to break the rules!

ASK QUESTIONS

Your guide is your best friend here, if you want to move a smidge forward because there is a pesky grass stalk in front of a lion’s eye just ask! Maybe the light is better from one side or you especially want to spend an hour with the bee-eaters at the river bank. Our guides will do their best to make sure you get the best angle you want but they are not mind readers so speak up and let them help you! As long as you aren’t trying to get too close or off road, they are more than happy to help with any requests you may have!

MORE THAN WILDLIFE

Don’t forget to shoot more than just the wildlife, the landscapes, dramatic weather, stars all make for great subject matter. Not only that but the people!! Please always ask permission to take or share pictures you take of others but these pictures often convey emotion, culture and heritage of the places you are visiting not just the safari drives! It doesn’t have to just be the Luangwa 5 (we swapped rhinos for wild dogs!) the smaller animals, insects, birds etc all have their place in your albums and can be much more exciting than a sleeping lion!

ENJOY

At the end of the day these are your pictures. Whether you want to sell them, showcase them to family and friends or hang them in your bedroom these pictures are for you so if you love them then really that’s all that counts! Don’t get too stressed at getting the perfect picture, it doesn’t exist! Art is subjective and your enjoyment of the holiday and your pictures is what matters most!

WHAT TO DO IN SOUTH LUANGWA

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0200

WALKING SAFARI

Did you know South Luangwa is the birthplace of the walking safari? Brought to fame by the pioneer Norman Carr, this is the park to explore by foot. The guides here are wildlife detectives looking for clues of a broken branch, footprint, listening for the alarm calls, the bark of the baboon or the shriek of the birds, utilizing all of their senses the guides expertly maneuver over the dry dusty soils of the Luangwa Valley finding creatures a great and small. Teaching you all about the fauna of the area, the magnificent ebony forests with their dark wood and deep green leaves against the light sandy soils beneath them; smelling the wild jasmine that lines the park and provides the sweet smell of our gorgeous surroundings, tasting the fresh wild mangoes just as the elephants and monkeys do; or poking the fresh elephant dung to see what insects are happily making a home in their buffet of choice! Take the time to learn how to track and trace the animals paying close attention to smaller species and the birds. There is also the thrill of potentially approaching the big game on foot at a safe distance with an armed scout, walking upwind of the larger more dangerous species as you find a space to stop and observe their behaviour. An absolute must do for all those avid safari goers in search of a bit of adventure.

GAME DRIVE

The classic safari activity of choice, kick back and relax in your seat as your guide expertly guides you round the park stopping to see the wildlife. Here is the time you can get up close and personal with the larger, more dangerous game. Habituated to the shape of the car they take no notice of the noise of the engine and allow you to study their behaviours within just a few meters. This is the easiest and safest way to get the “shot” with your camera, happily snapping away whilst our wild models happily oblige. Your guide will stop at any point to explain anything you see no matter how big or small or he will track the prints from the car along the roads to find you the animals you are hoping to see. Each game drive is accompanied by a welcome drink stop, either a sundowner or coffee stop, depending on the time of day (or drink of choice) where you can stretch your legs and chat about all the excitement of the drive!

BOAT SAFARI

Whilst we do not offer a boat safari per se at Msandile we do take you in and out of the park with our speed boat and can offer small trips up and down the river. Perhaps hippos and crocodiles are high up on your list of animals or you desperately want to spend more time with the water birds, whatever the reason we can make it happen. Watch the carmine bee-eaters from the water as the dash in and out of their nests in the riverbanks, the flash of pink, red and blue, perhaps the monitor lizards, snakes or larger birds will come down to try and snatch an egg or chick as the Carmine’s mob the offender. Get the camera down to water level to take the beautiful shots of the hippos yawning, fighting or snorting the water into the golden sun! An incredibly relaxing way to get to the park without the lengthy pesky queues at the gate this is truly a transfer in style!

RESPONSIBLE SHOPPING

Shopping may not come high on your list when you think of your African safari, it's hardly New York City at Christmas! However, you would be surprised what you can pick up in town. Not to mention all the shops we have given back to the community and conservation efforts so you can spend away with a guilt free conscience. From the stunning jewelry at Mulberry mongoose made from snare wire cleared out the bush to the incredible hand printed homeware items at Tribal Textiles. It’s not just souvenirs, although there are plenty of those too, there are carefully crafted and curated timeless pieces you will want to take home for yourself. A centerpiece of the animal printed tablecloths or a pair of guinea fowl earrings provide a talking point to ensure you can bring up your Zambian safari again and again!

CULTURAL VILLAGE

It is not all wildlife in South Luangwa, the nearby town of Mfuwe has a long rich culture and most of our staff come from here. Here they can teach you about the traditional Zambian way of life from traditional healing herbs to a typical day living in the bush from traditional foods and drinks to traditions passed down generation to generation, dances, learning to weave what woods you can use for what etc. See how they carve curios from the surrounding fallen trees to singing songs around the campfire, learn about the skills needed to live in harmony with the dangerous surrounding bush!

Need we say more? Book now to experience the magic that is Msandile River Lodge!

GREAT REASONS FOR GREEN SEASON

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0200

However, this is not the case at all, low /wet /green/baby/birding season is also an incredible time to come to the bush. The lush green foliage provides a beautiful backdrop to the ever-present wildlife! As you can see from the nicknames there are many reasons why this season continues to attract clients.

The rainy season lasts typically from December to May (we are closed Jan-April) but for anyone that has lived or visited Africa in these months you will know a shower typically doesn’t last more than a few hours, it comes down hard and fast then the sun shines through the rainbows after. The romance of watching a storm cross the horizon, the flashes of lightning from the comfort of your bed is truly quite romantic. Take a bottle of wine from the bar and enjoy the storm from the privacy of your room, cuddled up in the safety of your couch or bed with your loved one! The fresh smell of the rain, the animals who come out to sunbathe and dry off as well as the inevitable rainbows after are not to be missed. It is truly a time to indulge the senses. If you are after adventure, love birds, baby animals, sightings to yourself, cheaper safaris and the abundance of water then green season might just be for you! Read below to find out more!

PRICING

The green season is cheaper than high season, the low season prices dramatically reduce the overall cost of your trip. From the lodge to the flights, it is much cheaper to travel away from the high season, school holidays and international holidays. The demand for rooms and fights is lower so often in an attempt to attract tourists the places drop their prices. The same great service is ensured just at a more competitive price! If you are on a budget then come during the quieter months, you can even pretend you have rented a whole camp just for yourselves for an absolute bargain!

EXCLUSIVE AND SECLUSIVE

This is the time you will get sightings all to yourself, vehicles and camp all to yourself and feel as though you are the only ones in the park! At Msandile we are lucky that we have access to both Nsefu and Mfuwe sectors of the park, the quieter Nsefu allowing exclusive sightings and the busier Mfuwe offering a chance to see any sightings we haven’t yet captured on your trip, with an abundance of lodges and guides here once the animal is found the jungle drums let us know exactly where to join the action. During green season you often have even the busier areas of the park to yourself which means you can stay at the sighting all day if you really want. Enjoy dips in your “private pool” enjoy delicious dinners from your “private chef” and walk about camp all to yourself! If you want to beat the crowds and truly feel like you are exploring nature as it should be this is the time to visit.

BIRDS

Ok birds are not everyone's favourite but hear me out! The sign of a true bush lover is an evolving twitcher. It all starts with a love of the ‘exciting’ big game, usually the cats! Then you realize they sleep 20/24 hours a day and whilst those 4 hours can be exciting to watch you start to notice the smaller animals and the flying ones! With over 450 species there are some incredible opportunities to learn more about our feathered friends! Did you know the bush shrike hunts its prey then sticks it on the thorns of the Acacia tree like some sort of kebab buffet! The hornbills lock themselves away in tree holes shedding all their feathers in order to incubate their eggs with the male feeding them from a small hole until mum and babies emerge in spring? The snake eagles have touch scaly legs with little blood supply so that if the snake bites them the venom won't affect them? Then there are the migrants, kingfishers, birds of prey, colourful parrots, vultures, song birds, the list is endless and so are the stories and behaviours. The flashy males in breeding season with their colour variations, unusual ostentatious plumage, dances and songs all provide endless entertainment. The king fishers and pel's fishing owls dive in and out of the abundant river as they make the most of the fish, and so tell me more you say… you see birds they may not be at the top of your list but they should be on it!

BABIES

Is there anything cuter than animal babies, the cubby little hippos, the fluffy little lions, the hilariously clumsy elephants? Then there are the endless baby impala hopping around testing their little spindly legs as they hurry to catch up with mum. Watch as the babies suckle, play and learn how to hone in their skills as they grow up to one day be independent from mum. Most of the animals have babies at similar times; the prey, safety in numbers and the predators, an abundance of prey. It can be cute yet brutal to watch, the predators take full advantage of the weaker less knowledgeable babies picking them off as snacks, however the predators’ babies are in turn just as vulnerable. As the adults go off to hunt the babies are vulnerable to smaller predators such as hyenas and even baboons. It is a tense time where you aren’t sure who to root for!

PHOTOGRAPHY

What could be better than the backdrop of lush green foliage, flowers blooming, water running, bright skies and dramatic lighting! The colourful backdrops add new dimensions to your pictures, the two tones of the amber lions and green grass, the peering eyes of the leopard peeking through the sausage tree, and the unsuspecting impala below! You will get the unique chance at the animals in the rain photos, the rain splashes adding texture and depth to your shots, the movement of the water creating drama.

WEATHER

One minute the sun is shining, blue skies the next a heavy shower as the dramatic sky turns gray, black and dark blue the clouds come rolling over, the crack of thunder and flash of lightning as the dusty soils are once again nourished. But why would I want to go to the rains I’m escaping from! True but the rains come in thick and fast and then they leave, plenty of that famous African sun to bathe at your will, dip in the pool and enjoy the usual scenes we dream of when we think of African safari! The storms last usually only a few hours where you can sit back and enjoy the show, drink in hand before you continue on your journey again! After the rains the animals come back out putting on a show to dry off and re mark their territories! Sounds a bit better than cranking up the ever-expensive heating at home huddled in the dreary cold gray waiting for summer…! Sounds good doesn’t it! Don’t hesitate to book now and snap up your dream trip!

PARK RULES

Isaac Banda — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0200

“To become a safari guide takes years of studying, saving up for reference books and expensive exams. The love of nature and its wildlife is your first love and main priority. Your eagerness to teach your guests how magical the bush is at the forefront of your enthusiastic speeches in the park. To obtain your license is a proud and exciting day as your career as a guide starts. As a guide you must respect not only the park rules but understand the animal’s behaviour, when you can advance and when to retreat. When the animal is uncomfortable and when it is relaxed. Not only is this important for the safety of your guest, yourself and the animal it shows a great deal of knowledge and understanding of animal behaviour and warning signals. It is common sense to respect the land and the animals but also it is important to respect the rules in order to keep your license.

All too often we see guests trying to push guides for a closer viewing, a better photo or a look, more exciting behaviour or a snarl for the “gram”. The ethics involved in guiding are a gray area, of course we want to show off what we have but at a safe and respectful distance. The repercussions of breaking those rules include losing our license to guide and fines that long surpass the tips that caused us to break the rules. Driving, for example, off road is prohibited, we can reposition the vehicle as many times as you like but to drive off road not only destroys the landscape and biodiversity but can put our vehicle at risk of attack. We may crush small trees, shrubs, insects or even birds and in turn frighten the animal causing it to run off. We ask that guests understand and respect our boundaries as guides. There will always be another sighting, another drive or another chance to see something closer to the road. The animals who are habituated to the vehicles and relaxed often allow for very close viewings but we ask that you do not jeopardize our jobs! We too are here because we love nature so let us view it together!’

We asked Isaac what are the dos and don’ts of the bush and he gave us some helpful hints:

No littering, please if you have something you wish to discard give it to us and we will do so appropriately.
Do not stand in the vehicle, be warned an animal can be relaxed with us one minute and charge the next. The animals, particularly the predators are used to the outline of the vehicle, the minute you stand you go from vehicle to prey and we do not wish for any accidents!
No shouting or calling at the animals, if they were to speak it would be Nanja our local dialect so calling “here kitty pss pss” is not helpful! We don’t want to scare the animals away!
Turn your phone on silent, we are here to enjoy the bush. The phone calls, messages and Instagram likes can stay at home. Let the people in your car enjoy a mobile free zone. By all means take pictures and videos then message all your friends about your magical trip back at camp!
Let us know if you see anything or need anything! We have 2 eyes but 4, 6, 8 or 10 are better than 2. It is better to stop for nothing than to miss something so even if it turns out to be a log or a bush you never know what is around near that log! We can always find a bird to spare your stop in favour of a great learning opportunity! It is also perfectly normal to need to stop the car to “mark your territory'' or “water the flowers” if you catch our meaning. Do not be shy or embarrassed, the roads are long and bumpy, better you tell us early to find the best seat in the house than wait until it is too late!

A safari can be a once in a lifetime trip and whilst we love for you to come back again and again, we understand it is not a cheap holiday and many of you save up to make it here once! We ask you to respect your fellow guests and ensure it can be enjoyed by everyone! We appreciate you not pressuring the guides into behaving in a way that makes them uncomfortable and puts their livelihood at risk, even if another guide is doing it! We want this to be the very best holiday you have and we work hard to ensure that so we really appreciate your cooperation in the above to make sure everyone has the best time possible!