……many tribes believe that drinking a brew made from the seeds of the Baobab tree will protect them from crocodiles….?

……that leopards almost completely pluck the fur off monkeys and genets before consumption..? 

This is probably due to the fact that they have relatively dense fur, which might result in digestive problems for the leopard.

……That an Elephants tusks continue to grow throughout an elephant’s life but are constantly worn down as the elephant is always using them to feed..?

……pythons are the only African snake to have sensory glands on their lips? This enables them to sense the presence of warm blooded prey in the dark, when they are most active.

……the average Aardvark tongue is 45 centimetres in length? At The Bushcamp Company we have had seven Aardvark sightings in the last week!

………a lion spends up to 20 hours a day sleeping? 

……the age of a Baobab tree can be calculated by multiplying the circumference of the trunk by three? 
The 'Big Baobab' near Mfuwe Lodge is more than 1,000 years old. 

………an elephant is capable of pushing over a tree with a circumference of more than 1 metre? 

………that the white browed sparrow weaver avoids predators in very specific ways when it comes to the construction of their nests? 

* Firstly, they have two entrances allowing the birds to escape through the back door when a predator arrives on the scene. 

* Secondly, by building so many nests in the same location, the chance of the predator finding the correct nest is reduced. 

* Finally the dilapidated appearances of the nests often persuade predators that they are no longer in use and therefore aren’t worth a second glance.

………that the facial warts of the Warthog are composed of hard skin and dense underlying tissues...? 

It is thought that their purpose is to protect the jaw and eyes when fighting. 

………that throughout Zambia, a mixture using the bark of the Baobab tree is used to wash newborn babies in order to give them strength...?

……that the male hippo marks it territory by vigorously flicking its dung onto rocks, trees, and bushes with its short tail?

………that in the Luangwa Valley, the bark of the Mopane tree, which is deep red in colour, is traditionally ground and then drunk to cure stomach pains?

………that of all African carnivores, only 15% of them weigh over 11kg…?

………that the Peregrine Falcon can reach a speed of 240km/h when it swoops on prey..?

………That Pythons are the only African snake to have sensory glands on their lips...? 

This enables them to sense the presence of warm blooded prey in the dark, when they are most active. 

…………that our fantastic walking guide Manda Chisanga has been shortlisted for The Top Guide award in UK-based travel magazine, Wanderlust.


Manda joins 11 other finalists from all over the world on the shortlist for this prestigous title. 

For more information, please see http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/magazine/guides.html

………that Ground Squirrels use their bushy tails as parasols. This enables them to forage during the hottest part of the day.

………that on our first BUSH SKILLS course, guests not only saw the Wild Dogs - but actually saw them mating - a fabulously and incredibly rare sighting!!!

We have photographic evidence for those who would like to see - please let me know. 

Other Bush Skills course running in 2006 include - 
BUSH SKILLS NOVEMBER 
11-13 Nov 2006 - Mfuwe Lodge - 2 nights 
13-16 Nov 2006 - Kapamba - 3 nights 
16-18 Nov 2006 - Mfuwe Lodge - 2 nights 

BUSH SKILLS DECEMBER 
02-04 Dec 2006 - Mfuwe Lodge - 2 nights 
04-07 Dec 2006 - Kapamba - 3 nights 
07-09 Dec 2006 - Mfuwe Lodge - 2 nights 

………that Lions hunt by sight and sound, rather than by using scent...?

………that there are literally thousands of different species of fireflies. 

The female of one species will emit pulsating flashes, mimicking those signs of a different species, in order to attract the males of that different species.

Once the male approaches her - she devours him!

…………  that the Peregrine Falcon can reach a speed of 240km/h when it swoops on prey..?

…………  that a chameleons tongue is twice as long as its body..?

…… that the call of a leopard, given both whilst inhaling and exhaling, sounds a lot like someone sawing wood..?

…that the low stomach rumblings of an elephant actually come from the vocal chords?

...that the Leadwood Tree (Combretum imberbe), is the heaviest weighing wood in Africa. It weighs roughly 1,200 kg/m cubed?

…that the age of a Baobab tree can be calculated by multiplying the circumference of the trunk by three?

The one on Baobab loop is over 1000 years old.

...that the Grysbok is the smallest antelope found in the South Luangwa National Park, being only 40cm tall and weighing 9kg?

...that scientists have isolated proteins in the venom of African Mambas that can help treat brain diseases?

…that the Gymnogene (African Harrier Hawk) is the only bird of prey to regularly eat vegetable matter (oil palm nuts)?

…that you can make a pizza oven out of an unoccupied termite mound?

…that although looking rather slow-motioned, the Giraffe can actually reach speeds of between 50-60kph?

…that each turn in a set of male Kudu's horns represents roughly 2 years of life? 

...that Marula fruits contain four times as much Vitamin C as Orange Juice? 

…that we have had 4 different sightings of Aardvark at Kapamba Bushcamp in the last week? 

One was of a leopard stalking an aardvark!

…that around 38% of the elephants in the South Luangwa National Park are tusk less? 

…that an impala can leap up to 3 metres high and 11 metres in length? 

…that Wild Dog are one of the most successful hunters in Southern Africa, killing 85 per cent of all prey pursued?

…that a mixture of brandy and bark from the Marula Tree is used as a prophylactic against malaria?

…that the average length of an Aardvarks tongue is 45cm..?

…that on the 19th July, 10 hyena killed a buffalo at Kuyenda Bushcamp! -  just 50 meters from one of the guest chalets.

Even after working in South Luangwa National Park for more than 40 years, Kuyenda guide Phil Berry has never seen this before!!

...that Kapamba Bushcamp (our NEW Bushcamp) will be the only Bushcamp in the South Luangwa National Park to stay open until the end of December..??

Access - No problem
Walking - No problem
Game viewing - No problem.

…that the perineal gland of the African civet produces an oily secretion called "civet" that has been used in the perfume industry for many years.

Twenty years ago "civet" sold for over US$400 per gram to the perfume industry in France.

...what goes in must come out! Elephants can eliminate around 155kg of dung in a 24 hour period - at intervals of around 1.4 hours.

...that Elephants feed for up to 16 hours a day and an adult bull can eat as much as 400kg (880lbs) of vegetation per day.

…that the word "Chameleon"  derives from the Greek for "Small Lion"..?

…that a group of Zebras is called a "Dazzle of Zebras"?
…that a group of Crows is called a "Murder of Crows"?
…that a group of Leopards is called a "Leap of Leopards"?

…that Lions can eat as much as 25 percent of their bodyweight at one time, gorging themselves at a large carcass and then maybe going without food for 3-5 days.

Their  tongue is covered with tiny backward-curved hooklets that allow them to strip thin pieces of meat from the bones.

…that Wild Basil (ocimum canum) is commonly used as a mosquito repellent in houses in our local villages and is found throughout the South Luangwa National  Park..?

……that the sensitive plant - mimosa Pigra - closes its leaves for up to 30 minutes if it is touched.
Some people believe that you become lost if you accidently touch it, only finding your way again when the leaves reopen.

….. that parental care is rare in frogs.   The bullfrog, however, is an attentive guardian.   One adult was once filmed attacking young lions that came too close. (The frog ended up eaten.)

….that the world’s largest mammal, the blue whale, weighs about the same as 30 African elephants..?

Andy and Alison will be at Indaba 7-10 May, on the Classic Retreats stand 152 ICC.

….. that the African civet is often incorrectly called the civet cat.

It is, in fact, not cat-like in appearance or behaviour. It belongs to the family Viverridae that includes the palm civets and the genets.

Cats on the other hand belong to the family Felidae

….that within a Spotted hyaena clan, all females are dominant over all males..? The females are generally larger and more aggressive than the males.

There is a definite linear hierarchy within this female society - Females remain in the clan throughout their lives and daughters inherit their mother’s rank. Males on the other hand disperse at about 18 months of age and join a new clan.

.......that African Wild dogs are now extinct in 25 of the 39 African countries where they once occurred.

In 2004 three different packs of Wild Dogs frequented the main tourist area of South Luangwa National Park for much of the year.

…. that lions breed throughout the year and when the female is in oestrus. The pair will mate two to four times per hour for up to three days.  As the male tires, the lioness will move on to other pride males mating with them as well

……..that this year, we are holding "BUSH SKILLS" courses - run by Derek Solomon.
The course runs over 2 set departures and covers:-

*  Approaching Dangerous Game        
*  Tracks and Signs
*  Game Drives
*  Weapons
*  Survival Skills
*  Bush cuisine
*  First aid in the bush 
*  Mammals
*  Reptiles
*  Birds
*  Insects and their relatives
*  Vegetation

….that the African Wild Dog is thought to have evolved separately from other canines as much as 2 million years ago.

They are a separate species and cannot interbreed with close relatives such as the wolves and jackals, or any other species for that matter…?

……that Father Christmas paid us a visit at Mfuwe Lodge at Christmas this year??
Check out the photo of the lioness asking "Where is my present?" !!!
Sorry for the delay since Christmas, but processing takes some time in the bush!
Here's to a Prosperous 2005 for everyone.

……that given the choice male giraffe will browse at the higher part of the tree or bush whereas females prefer to browse below 2 metres. Another means of identification in the field and very useful when you cant see the obvious and you don’t have binos to see those bald patches on the male horn tips!!!

…… that baby giraffe are born with their horns flat on their head and stand erect within a few days.
 They finally fuse with the skull fully after about 4 years.

….that an elephants skull is not made up of solid bone, but has a lightweight honeycomb structure..? 

.....that the elephant shrew has the same toe configuration as the elephant?
 They both have 4 toes on the front feet and 5 toes on the back feet!

....that the longest elephant tusk ever recorded measured 11 Feet, 1 and 1/4 inches..(that's 331.12 cm !!) ...?
....and the heaviest ever recorded tusk was 230 pounds..?

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all!

..... that by placing a used wine cork in a stew makes the meat in the stew very tender..?

BUSH COOKING TIP OF THE WEEK!!!!

.....that the elephant shrew has the same toe configuration as the elephant?
They both have 4 toes on the front feet and 5 toes on the back feet!

........that porcupines have sex more often than any other mammal - at least once a day!!? 

.........That wild dog are back in town at Kuyenda this week!

.....that the eyelids of many skinks are transparent..?
This means that they can see where they're going when they're digging!!!

.....that some lizards, such as skinks and geckos have a 3rd eye called the pinial eye? 
They use this to detect shadows of birds of prey from above.

.........that the Gymnogene Hawk's bare face can change colour from pale yellow to deep red, in seconds - just like blushing in humans! This occurs when it feels threatened, hunting, mating or frightened and also in the heat of the day.

Gymnogene means "Bare Cheek"

....... that 11 Wild Dogs have been regularly seen at Bilimungwe Bushcampin the past 10 days.

Sightings include -

                    * Drinking at the Bilimungwe waterhole

                    * Running past Chalet 4

                    * Sitting on the plain in front of Bilimungwe

                    * Paddling through the Kapamba River

                    * Circling the game viewing vehicle this morning!

  Looks like this is Bilimungwe's Wild Dog Season!

.....that an average adult Male Lion can consume up to 50kg of meat in 1 sitting..?

.....that the Mfuwe Lodge rates will remain the same in 2005 as they were in 2003 and 2004 !!

......that some lizards, such as skinks and geckos have a 3rd eye called the pinial eye?  They use this to detect shadows of birds of prey from above.

.........that the Gymnogene Hawk's bare face can change colour from pale yellow to deep red, in seconds - just like blushing in humans!
This occurs when it feels threatened, hunting, mating or frightened and also in the heat of the day.

Gymnogene means "Bare Cheek"

.......  that the first thing a baby zebra does having been born,  is ingest its mothers excrement!  This is to obtain a bacteria which helps digest their food.  Weird goings on!

.....that the attached photo was taken about 10 minutes ago, only 150 metres from the
entrance to Mfuwe Lodge?  14 Wild Dogs.

We wanted to share this special moment with you as they are very rare and beautiful creatures.

What did you see this morning?

... that the collective noun for a group of warthogs is a SOUNDER of warthogs..?

...that a male elephants fully erect penis weighs in at 27kg.  The entire genitals weighs a staggering 50kg.....?!!

....... that the Baboon troop leader can be easily identified as he will
always have a more erect tail than any other member of the troop..?

.......that there are 73 different dialects in Zambia, which are spoken by 7 major tribes..?

............that Chameleons use their ability to change colour in order to communicate with each other..?

EG...During mating, the male chameleons will change to extra bright colours such as reds, yellow and blues, in order to attract a mate. If that mate wants to reject him, then she will change into a drab colour such as black or brown, but if she wants to accept, then she will also change into bright colours.

.......the difference between rabbits and hares????

*  Rabbits live in holes underground
*  Hares live above ground

*  Baby Rabbits are born furless, blind and helpless
*  Baby Hares are born with fur and with their eyes open - as they live above ground, they need to be ready to go from the start !!!!

Please see www.travelafricamag.com

.... That lions have been known to kill the young when taking over a harem?

........That the reason why an elephant can walk silently through the bush is that they walk on the tips of their toes on a pad made up of a thick cushion of elastic tissue which supports their weight?

SILENT NIGHT!!!

Merry Christmas!

Cheers
Andy, Al, Louise and the Bushcamp Team.

.....ELEPHANTS BOOK INTO MFUWE LODGE, SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK!  WONKY
TUSK AND HER FAMILY WALKED INTO OUR RECEPTION, ATE ALL THE BAMBOO OFF THE
RECEPTION COUNTER, KNOCKED OVER OUR BRASS BELL AND WALKED OFF IN A HUFF.
HOWS THAT FOR A BOOKING....?

....FLEDGLINGS OF SOME SPECIES OF SWIFT I.E ALPINE SWIFT, WILL FEED, SLEEP
AND MATE ON THE WING, LANDING FOR THE FIRST TIME AT 3 YEARS OF AGE FOR
NESTING!

...........THAT A CROCODILE CAN LUNGE OUT OF WATER AT A SPEED OF
70KM/HOUR...........?

.............THAT A LONE HYENA, ALTHOUGH A SCAVENGER, IS ALSO CAPABLE OF
RUNNING DOWN HEALTHY PREY THE SIZE OF A BULL WILDEBEEST THAT CAN WEIGH UP TO
270 KG...?

.........THAT THE COLOURATION AND MARKINGS OF A GIRAFFE ARE UNIQUE TO EACH
ANIMAL, ALLOWING THEM TO BE INDIVIDUALLY RECOGNISED...........?

..............THAT LAST SUNDAY 4 LIONS TRIED TO KILL A GIRAFFE AT THE
BILIMUNGWE WATERING HOLE....???!!!  THEY FAILED......LUCKY GIRAFFE....UNTIL
NEXT TIME!!!

........THAT THE FASTEST MOVING SNAKE IS PROBABLY THE BLACK MAMBA, WHICH CAN
ACHIEVE 15MPH ON LEVEL GROUND, AND 20MPH WHEN "SPRINTING"...............??

........THAT A GIRAFFE CAN GET BY ON ONLY 5 MINUTES SLEEP A DAY......????

..................THAT A TERRITORIAL MALE IMPALA HAS A THICKER NECK AND IS
MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN BACHELOR MALES DUE TO THE INCREASED LEVELS OF
TESTOSTERONE FLOWING THROUGH HIS BODY.......???

............THAT IF YOU MEASURE THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF AN ELEPHANT FOOT PRINT
AND MULTIPLY THIS NUMBER BY 2.5 TIMES, THEN THIS WILL INDICATE THE SHOULDER
HEIGHT OF THE ELEPHANT...???

.................THAT 36 DISTINCT SOUNDS FROM VERVET MONKEYS HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED, INCLUDING SEVERAL DIFFERENT ALARM CALLS THAT IDENTIFY DIFFERENT
PREDATORS...............???

..............THAT PACKS OF BANDED MONGOOSE LED BY A SENIOR FEMALE CAN
FORAGE FOR OVER 10KM IN  A DAY....??

..................THAT A LION'S ROAR CAN CARRY UP TO 8KM............??

........THAT THERE ARE 466 RECORDED DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BIRDS IN THE SOUTH
LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK, ZAMBIA???

................THAT 80% OF A CROCODILES WEIGHT IS MADE UP OF MUSCLE AND
ARMOURED SKIN...?!!?

................THAT THE STRONGEST FIBRE IN THE WORLD IS A SPIDERS WEB....???

..........THAT THE KAPAMBA RIVER, NEAR BILIMUNGWE, HAS LOVELY SHALLOW, CLEAR
WATERS, PERFECT FOR SWIMMING WHEN IT GETS HOT (AND NO
CROCODILES!).............???

THAT FROGS, LIKE CHAMAELEONS, CAN CHANGE THEIR COLOUR TO
BLEND IN WITH THEIR BACKGROUND.............???

.............. THAT HIPPOS WILL EAT ELEPHANT DUNG IN TIMES OF DROUGHT AND FOOD DEPRIVATION.....??

.........THAT HYAENA AND WARTHOGS WILL AND DO SHARE A DEN (USUALLY OLD
AARDVARK BURROWS) - THE HYAENA USE IT DURING THE DAY AND THE WARTHOGS AT
NIGHT........???!

.......THAT THE BUSHCAMP COMPANY SUPPORTS A PRIVATELY FUNDED ANTI-POACHING
TEAM IN THE SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK CALLED THE R.A.T.S (RAPID ACTION
TEAM)......???

............THAT HIPPOS WILL NOT BE ENJOYING A FEAST OF TURKEY THIS
CHRISTMAS TIME.  ONE OF THE REASONS IS THAT THEY ARE VEGETARIAN!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!

Cheers
Andy, Al and the Bushcamp Team

.......THAT A HONEY BADGER, WHEN THREATENED, WILL ATTACK THE GENITALIA OF WHATEVER IS THREATENING IT?????

..........THAT A LION CAN COVER 100M IN 4.4 SECONDS - YIKES!!

..............THAT GIRAFFE HAVE ONLY 7 VERTEBRAE IN THEIR NECK???
- THIS IS THE SAME NUMBER THAT A HUMAN BEING HAS TOO!!!

................THAT A HIPPO WILL CONSUME 45KG OF VEGETATION IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD..........???
WOW!

...........THAT ELEVEN WILD DOGS (6 ADULTS AND 5 PUPS) HAVE BEEN SEEN 3 TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK AT KUYENDA BUSHCAMP...........??

...........  THAT A CROCODILE WILL GROW BETWEEN 2,000-3,000 TEETH IN ITS LIFETIME....??

.............  THAT RECENT GUESTS, GRAHAM AND JANE WALKER, SAW ONLY ONE OTHER VEHICLE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE OF THEIR 12 NIGHT STAY IN OUR 4 BUSHCAMPS.......??!!

...........THAT WE ARE NOW PROUDLY PART OF CLASSIC RETREATS..........????

............THAT AN ELEPHANT FLAPS ITS EARS TO COOL DOWN ITS BODY TEMPERATURE????

.............THAT BILIMUNGWE MEANS "CHAMELEON" IN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE....???

.............THAT THE CARMINE BEE EATERS HAVE STARTED TO NEST AGAIN THIS SEASON IN THE BANKS OF THE LUANGWA RIVER OPPOSITE CHAMILANDU AND BILIMUNGWE..?

.........THAT PHIL BERRY IS THE LONGEST SERVING AND MOST EXPERIENCED CONSERVATIONIST &  GUIDE IN THE LUANGWA VALLEY...??

.............THAT PHIL BERRY (KUYENDA BUSHCAMP) IS THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE STUDIED THE THORNYCROFT GIRAFFE.......??

..........THAT THE THORNYCROFT GIRAFFE IS ONLY FOUND IN THE LUANGWA VALLEY.............?

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