Kafunta Newsletter

By the time you read this, Kafunta will have taken delivery of its new Landcruisers and all will be ready for the end of the rains and the start of a new season. The old fleet had served us well but it was time for new cars not new parts.

Island Bush Camp will see a face lift (chalet lift) this year with a new design of raised chalets with open front to the river.

Early days “Bush Experience” by Fred Hodgson :

Did you know that there are three species of Pig around Kafunta? The ubiquitous Warthog, the common but rarely seen Bushpig and the extremely rare (only two known) Kafunta Guinea Pig! I did not realise this until it came up in post prandial gossip around the Log fire. More to the point I did not know we were the Guinea Pigs! During a visit in 2001 we were asked "Why don't you try our bushcamp?" Well ,! Why not indeed? We could go on guided walks etc.,!

So into the cruiser and we head south through pristine bush to a beautiful and somewhat remote area of the park. Three or four igloo tents had been erected and showers and long drop prepared. It all looked very efficient and homely. A small table outside the tent held a mirror and water bowl for shaving and washing etc., Food was produced from a busy small kitchen and served on a large table overlooking the river where Hippo and Crocs were much in evidence. Then there were the "Guided Walks"! We enjoyed these enormously, once our heart beats had got used to Guinea Fowl exploding from under foot!

We saw lots of animals, large and small amidst woodland and open areas. Approaching them on foot was quite different to viewing from a Land Cruiser. We had Josephat to show us the way along with an armed Ranger called Dangerous! Was there something we had not been told? Towards the end of one walk we came to a stream which seemed to take our guides by surprise but we managed to cross by dragging a fallen tree into place. However on asking to return there the following day we were a bit nonplussed to be told that they were not too sure of the location! The next evening we were even more nonplussed to see several pairs of very red eyes reflected in our torch beams on the stream!

No doubt the Crocodiles had watched our passing the previous day with interest!

All in all we thoroughly enjoyed the experience of being out in the true wilderness with no other visitors around to disturb us and just the local wildlife, plus several attentive staff to attend to the domestic affairs.

It was only some years later, during the campfire gossip, that we learned two important facts that explained the guides strange behaviour. 1. We were the first “guests” to be taken to the Bushcamp and 2. It was our “guide's” first visit too, which explained an awful lot! We never did find out why our Ranger was called “Dangerous” though, but perhaps we are better off not knowing?

Today Island Bush Camp is an established part of Kafunta's excellent repertoire with "proper" chalets (which, as of this year, will be on raised platforms and open to the river) with on-suite flush toilets and bucket shower and open dining area and fire-place to enjoy the African nights with tales from the bush.

Even the guides seem to know their way around and will happily take you there for a most enjoyable few days without getting lost! Hopefully!

Kafunta Safaris
Kafunta River Lodge and Island Bush Camp
South Luangwa National Park
Box 83, Mfuwe, Zambia
kafunta@luangwa.com
Phone 00260 6 246046
After hours 0026 6 246132
For more info and Safari packages visit:
www.luangwa.com