Fantastic News! Bill is currently at Victoria Falls and was able to provide me some text message updates of his Zambia safari up until this point. I have provided Bill's update after the itinerary and map below. Enjoy!

Bill's next stop is Mapula Lodge in Botswana - where he'll be staying tomorrow and for the next three days after that. Details of the current Walk on the Wild Side safari can be found below.

• Leg 1: Arrival in Johannesburg, South Africa (Oct 4th)


• Leg 2: Mfuwe Lodge, Zambia(Oct 5th)


• Leg 3: Bilimungwe Bush Camp (Oct 6th - 7th )


• Leg 4: Chindeni Bush Camp (Oct 8th - 9th)
  
  • Walking Safari Details


• Leg 5: Chamilandu Bush Camp (Oct 10th - 11th)


• Leg 6: Mfuwe Lodge, Zambia (Oct 12th)


• Leg 7: Sindabezi Island, Zambia (Victoria Falls Area - Oct 13th - 14th)
  
  • Zambia Safari Update From Bill!


• Leg 8: Mapula Lodge, Botswana (Oct 15th - 18th)


• Leg 9: Sandibe Safari Lodge, Botswana (Oct 19th)


• Leg 10: Savute Under Canvas, Botswana (Oct 20th)

South Luangwa National Park Safari Game Drives

Bill was fortunate enough to come across the elusive leopard
multiple times in South Luangwa National Park
Photo © Bill Given (From a Previous Safari)

Amazing Night Time Lion Hunt

Watching 6 lions hunt impala in the dark. Failed on 1st attempt and then started a second hunt. Could see lions flanking out to the side of the herd while "catchers" set up down wind and we were positioned where the herd would be forced. We turned out the spotlight to not interfere and then the thundering hooves came our way and we spotlit at the sound of a collision and found the kill taking place 25 feet behind our vehicle followed by an amazing feeding frenzy leaving no remains in just 13 minutes.

Webmaster Note:Bill mentioned to me in the text messages that he has some truly amazing video of this experience from the initial capture until the feeding was completed. I look forward to getting this video processed and put out to the website.

Other Notable Sightings

Saw three leopards together with one in a tree eating a baboon. I also received a special invite to accompany the Zambian predator project biologists for a predator census. The census involved playing sounds at night to call in predators. We had two hyena and a three year old male lion respond - all came into the location. We also saw African Wild Dogs in South Luangwa National Park.

Walking Safari Highlights

Bill was able to see amazing sights that you just
can't see from a vehicle while on his walking safari
Photo © Bill Given (From a Previous Safari)

• Sleeping Lioness - Walking through cover came upon a sleeping lioness just ten feet in front of us. When she realized it, she jumped up and then ran away. Then we watched her at a distance.
• Elephants - Great elephants that we carefully observed an manuevered around.
• Leopard - Startled a leopard from a tree about 20 feet in front of us - then we found its impala kill on the ground close by.
• Other - Sensational walks and night drives, lots of animals including those of the nocturnal variety like civets and genets. Camps were terrific. Full reports, photos, and video on my return.

Safari Planning Requests

With my limited email access, I have already contacted all of the people who requested that I get in touch with them. I look forward to providing personal calls/e-mails/meetings to the many people who have wanted to talk to me when I return on October 23rd.