Sausage Tree Camp

Trip Start Jun 24, 2012

Trip End Jul 31, 2012

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Flag of Zambia Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia
Thursday, July 19, 2012

After our exciting outing to Livingstone Island, we checked out of the hotel and left for the airport. Both Mike and I were really excited to be heading back to game drives and animal sightings but also sad that this was going to be our last stop in Africa. We had an hour flight back to Lusaka and then we boarded a 6 seater tiny plane! It was just our family and our young French pilot to take care of us. It is just a 30 minute flight but rather bumpy as it was the warm part of the day. None of us felt well, but when we heard the drive would have been 5 hrs plus, we got over it. We were met by our guide George who looks a bit like he has been living in the bush for years. During our hour drive, we got "mock charged" by an elephant for the first time. This is when an elephant flaps his ears, may trumpet or make noise, and takes some steps towards the car. It is somewhat intimidating but George was very calm and so respectful of the animals that you feel very safe. The camp is just lovely sitting along the shore of the Zambezi River with mountains as the back drop

Mock charge

. We are staying in the family house which is a large open living room with 2 beautiful bedrooms/bathrooms on each side. It is nice having the kids close as there is wildlife all around. In fact, by the time we were getting settled it was dark and we could hear hippo everywhere. We got out a flashlight and saw about 3 hippos right outside our deck and 5 minutes later an elephant just beside us. Our butler has to walk with us around camp anytime after dark. Anyway, our place is just lovely! Dinner was delicious and then we were off to bed for an early rise.
Day 2 at sausage tree started off with an early morning drive. The boys chose to sleep in and Ellie mike and I saw many great things including very young baboons (maybe a month old), an elephant who lost half of his trunk, and a pride of 6 lions. George is an amazing guide who has so much knowledge to share with us. After lunch we headed out to try our hand at fishing for tiger fish. Ellie had the first bite and almost reeled Ina fish about 12 lbs followed by both boys losing about 8 lb ones. Then they each caught a fish with Ellie having a 3 lb Liam next with 4 and John last (interrupting our sundowner drink)with a 5 lb tiger fish. We then went on a short night drive, looking for our elusive spotted friend the leopard (no luck) and were surprised with a lovely bush dinner. Here we saw the brightest shooting star any of us have ever seen which was accompanied by one of the best cups of hot chocolate

Lunch on/ in the river

!
Day 2 of the camp had us leaving Ellie to game drive with another car, and the 4 of us heading out with George on a walking safari (kids need to be 16- George felt the boys were capable) we had our armed guard Frances who packed the heat if any problems. It was a really cool walk with no big game to see but so many little things that we were taught. The boys loved making rope out of tree bark, we did a whole bunch of tracking animals and learning about so many cool things. We were then whisked off for a lunch on the sandbar along the river. A fantastic BBQ lunch served with Pimm's! That afternoon we did a boat cruise/sundowner and dinner back at our house so Ellie could go to bed early.
Our last day here we were woken up at 5:30 to have a bush breakfast out in the park and watch the sunrise. We did a game drive following the tracks of a large lion pride but we couldn't find them. After lunch we headed off for another fishing trip. Within minutes John hooked something huge! At one point George thought it was a hippo. After lots of work by John and much excitement he pulled in a 45lb cat fish! It was so much fun. Liam followed with a 7 lb catfish. Wasn't in the cards for Ellie but she had a bunch of bites. We watched our last sunset and enjoyed our last sundowner. We then headed out for an evening game drive and saw a civet cat, 2 honey badgers (which thrilled the boys as they are the bravest animals) and another mock charge by a bull elephant.
This morning we packed up and took the boat down river to the airstrip. When we took off I actually cried as we flew over the land and water for the last time calling out elephant, buffalo, hippo etc. we have loved our time here and can't wait to come back!

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