MDONYA OLD RIVER CAMP

News from the wild side

Another month other surprises in the wild wild bush. We had a break in the clouds and for a couple of weeks everyone has been enjoying the sun. Grass is growing fast and had reached almost 4 m tall, some grasses are drying up a bit other ones are making flowers offering a spectacular pattern of colors across the different landscapes.
In camp the Ana trees (Faidherbia albida) are making the new leaves, preparing themselves for a new season and elsewhere the Baobabs are instead losing their leaves showing their characteristic shape of a reverse tree. All indications of a upcoming change in seasons.

During the evenings we had the privilege to eat outside again due to the break from the rain and we have been amazed by clear starry skies and a good view of the Southern Cross within a portion of the Milky Way.

Storms have raged on the horizon up on the hills with thunders and lightening offering a good photographic occasion to the guests that wanted to experiment with long exposure technique to capture this dramatic scene.

This has been a very memorable season and we wish to thank all the guests that stayed with us and for the experiences we shared and their support to conserve this untouched environment.

We hope to see you again next season for more safari adventures in the bush.

By Rebecca, Andrea and all Mdonya Team.

LAKE MANZE CAMP

See you next June, but before March stories from the bush

Now that the season is drawing to an end and we await the start of the big rains, we can reflect on the happenings at Lake Manze camp over the past months.

Walking into the unknown factor at Lake Manze Camp at the beginning of the season has been a revelation as we were greeted with enthusiasm and a well oiled machine. A team that is geared up to satisfy all our guests’ needs and to exceed these expectations wherever possible. We can all say thank you to the Essential Destinations teams on a job well done.

Laygos has been a hit and his antics and photos will be on all guests’ lips for a long time too come. Thank you Laygos for gracing us with your presence and may you be around for a long time to entertain us. Hopefully many more naps in camp.

The new additions to the Manze pride are showing themselves more and more and are a delight to see when spotted in the open areas with their mother. So cute and adorable. The two male lions responsible have also been spotted on a couple of occasions and can be proud of their new offspring. Watch the video of the 2 cubs playing together.

We say thank you to all our past guests and those still to come for affording us the opportunity of hosting you here in the Selous. May the memories of your visit linger for a long time. We envy the guests who have never traveled to Africa as they have so much to look forward to.

We bid you a safe life’s journey till we meet again in the month of June for the reopening of the camp.

By Shaun, Milinda and all Manze Team.

FANJOVE PRIVATE ISLAND

A natural wonder.

We have come to end to the season and since some of the best ambassadors for preserving Fanjove are those who have visited the Island, we are dedicating this mini-newsletter to you all, guests and visitors.

We believe that sharing the Island’s wonders while providing information on current conservation efforts helps to ensure life-long supporters of Fanjove.

We are always very glad to introduce our guests not only to the myriad problems facing the island but also to the people who are working to solve those problems — as well as inform them of ongoing research, management, and educational projects focused on ensuring a better future for the island, its flora and fauna.

This month Fanjove has been chosen as honeymoon destination by a small population of squids: the warm shallow waters, where the sand is covered by a layer of sea grass, have been witness of this special mollusk love; couples were formed and as result eggs capsules were laid in clusters, each capsule containing 3/4 eggs and each cluster containing between 200 and 2000 capsules. Fanjove’s sea grass nurses at the moment a possible number of hundreds of thousand of baby squids.
Watch video I on mating squids
Watch video II on mating squids
Watch a video of a barracuda scavenging on a fish carcass

Thanks for an awesome season everyone and for your continual support,

See you in June!

Hassan, Hakim and all Fanjove Team.