....subscribe here

Luangwa elephant rescue

Abraham Banda of Kapani captured an epic photo account from Zambia's Luangwa valley at the end of last month.  With the dry period approaching its hot and sticky end an elephant calf gets stuck in the remains of a muddy lagoon.  His mother comes to the rescue but gets caught herself. With help from South Luangwa Conservation the pair are saved.  See the full sequence and rescue on ZambeziZone or Facebook.

Escape the northern winter for some southern sun!
 

• Following rains there’s no dust, skies are dramatic, colours are vibrant - a photographer's dream.
• The region’s awash with migrant birds, the bush is lush and nursery herds are abundant. 
• There's also no shortage of action...crowds are thin and prices are low!
• Enquire now about Luangwa's green special

In East Africa the annual migration will dominate Tanzania's safari scene between now and end March 2012

• Ngorongoro Crater is en route to the Naabi, Ndutu and Gol areas providing the centre stage
• You'll also have one of Tanzania's best guides for guaranteed migration action
• Enquire now about our migration safari special (7 January - 25 March)

Safari highlights happening right now!
 

• Botswana: Romeo, Kings Pool's resident male lion is on the mend after a battle with the "Selinda Boys", one succumbed, the brother is missing; sightings of the 15-strong DumaTau pride have been consistent; a lone wild dog is the centre of the Mombo "soap" after having abducted 3 jackal pups!

• Namibia: TODAY's Matt Lauer kicked off the 10th edition of "Where in the World" on the Skeleton C0ast; weather's unpredictable in Damaraland, "summer's knocking on the door", cold Atlantic gusts are taking temperatures from 30° C to a cool 13° C; waterhole action has been outstanding in Etosha. 

• Zimbabwe: Temperatures are now hitting 40's in Hwange, Vic Falls and the lower Zambezi; 46.8° C was reported from Mana; despite 2 big storms early in November ZCTF report critical water shortages and devilishly hot conditions for Hwange's elephants;  lion, wild dog and returning migrants have provided daily excitement in Mana Pools.

November highlights from Wilderness in Zimbabwe

• Zambia: Kafue's had rain, Shumba's southern plain's a lush green vast expanse dotted with herds of roan, zebra, wildebeest and buffalo; Andy Hogg reported that Kapamba is the driest he's ever seen; heat in the Luangwa's been "unforgiving", "proper rains" are imminent.  The valley will be stunning within weeks!

The Busanga lioness moves into the Shumba family unit - courtesy Wilderness Safaris, Zambia

• Uganda: From Lonely Planet's "Best in Trave1", Uganda is voted top vacation spot in 2012!  It's where "savannah meets the vast lakes of East Africa", "where snow-capped mountains bear down on sprawling jungles". Where a seven day safari can include tracking gorillas, watching wild chimps, climbing volcanoes, meeting the Batwa communities and enjoying some of the finest birding in Africa.

• Tanzania - Mahale: The leadership battle continues 6 weeks after Pimu's demise - Alofu has declared himself king but the Japanese researchers believe that Primus is really in charge. 
  
  We received a gentle reminder that Mahale is much more than just chimps however - "Caroline and Mark W, spent some timeout on Lake Tanganyika, Mark's the avid flyfisherman and landed a 200g cuhay, Caroline hauled in an 8kg Nile Perch!".
  
   Tanzania "migration update": Northern rains "patchy"; main body of the migration has moved south; rains have been good in the southern Serengeti - lots of food about; Kennedy reported a wildebeest herd of over a million strong between Naabi, Gol Kopjes and Golini yesterday (23Nov).
  Make a point of spending a few days up in the Lamai area (good resident wildlife and no crowds)!
  
  Congo Basin Safaris:  Fancy a few nights as a deep forest dweller in a tree house?  Join us from late 2012 in Odzala-Kokoua National Park for lowland gorillas, bongo, forest elephant....