Pangolin sighting at Kafunta

June 2004

Well winter is here and those coming to Luangwa are having to wrap up tight on morning game drives and maybe slip in an extra tot at sundowners to keep warm.

The question is, as always, is it worth it all? Well read on and I think that you will find the answer to that can only be yes. Every-one is always eager to hear of the big predators but this time they have to take second place.

First place is taken by a little known, but to hardened Africa travellers, very exciting little creature. He is typically an ant eater rather than the raider of termite mounds that most believe. This includes the Zimbabwean mint which depicts this little guy digging in to a termite mound!

The pangolin (Manus temminickii) is a rare animal whose shy habits make it all that much harder to see. Martin (one of our guides) found him on an early morning drive crossing the road just behind Kafunta. Some idea of how rare a sighting this is can be gained by taking note of the some of the clothing worn by those members of management called in by Martin.

Notably Anke is to be complimented on her choice of pyjamas. Pictures were taken and after much excitement every-one moved on and let the little guy get on with his life unmolested.

When Phil Berry was consulted he checked the records and as it happens this is only the seventh recorded sighting in the valley! Not only is the pangolin rare but it holds a special place in African culture. When one is found it is meant to be presented to the Chief of the area in which it was found. The lions have as usual been providing some entertainment.

Particularly true of two females who have cubs. The cubs are still in the hiding phase which can last anything from four to eight and, in my personal experience, as much as sixteen weeks. Guests are not the only ones to be dressed warmly and the cubs have their winter coats.

Some people have to be restrained from jumping out and trying to take a lion home. Just remember that they do grow up to need around six kilograms of meat a day. Our resident female leopard is still on the expectant mother list.

Hopefully she will be as good a mother as she is a hunter. She managed the feat of killing a baboon mid-day, out in front of the bar, 'without' any of the other baboons, puku or those guests eating lunch noticing.

This is an incredible feat as baboons are very alert and do not take to losing one of their own without a huge amount of fuss. There is always the possibility that the baboon was already dead.

This is hard to believe as the carcus would have been in the open all morning and either the vultures ought to have found it or at the very least some strange behaviour amongst the baboons should have been seen.

Though missing the actual moment of contact some of our guests did get to see the leopard dragging the baboon off in to the bush's. That's all for now but remember the bush is drying out and the game is once more starting to concentrate on the Luangwa River.

The buffalo are coming back and moving without bumping into elephant, my favourite, is once more hard to do. More great game viewing is on the way. I'll let you know what we see.

Greg Poole

Operations Manager
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Kafunta Safaris Kafunta River Lodge and Island Bush Camp South
Luangwa National Park
Box 83, Mfuwe, Zambia
kafunta@luangwa.com
Phone 00260 6 246046 or
Satellite Phone 00871 762068427
(office hours 0700- 1600)
For more info and Safari packages visit: www.luangwa.com