LAKE MANZE CAMP

News from Selous Game Reserve

There is no script that can be written for the adventures that happen in the bush.

Imagine seeing an actual wild dog hunt as you follow the pack from the initial get together, to the pursuit, the actual hunt and the ultimate prize for the pack. Have a look at the precision of their plan and execution. This is what working together is all about.
The wild dog pack hunt as a unit and this is exactly what happened at the camp.

As the water in Lake Manze starts getting lower and less the birds have a feast. Awesome to see the varied species scan the water for a morsel to eat. Watch the White Backed Pelicans swim in unison as they herd the fish into a corner. Heads in and out of the water as they scoop the plentiful little fish into their large beaks. This mass of birds lasts for about two weeks as they clean up the drying water and gorge themselves on the plentiful food around.

The young lonely Lake Manze male lion has made his presence felt and has made the territory around Lake Manze his home. Sleeping close to tent number 9 he was rudely awakened by the local Elephant who abruptly chased him away. Tail between his legs he scampered away to find another shady area for his nap.

Thanks to Malcolm for getting these rare videos of the awesome action in camp.

So far, the short rains have not arrived, although threatening, and the animals wait in anticipation for the start as the will bring the much-needed grass growth for all to graze.

Safe travels.
By Shaun, Milinda and all Manze Team.

MDONYA OLD RIVER CAMP

News from the wild side

The first rains arrived at Mdonya Old River Camp. Nature is waking up faster than ever. The grass is turning green, the Baobab trees showing off their beautiful white flowers. Even the newly burnt area surrounding the camp is regenerating with Fireball Lilies piercing through the black soil.
The air is humid but fresh, the resident animals are happier than ever. The grass is tasty, the water is coming back.
The camp has been surprisingly busy since the water is more abundant. A total of five hyenas have been spotted every night in camp, even while having diner.

Fundi Mtoto, the resident leopard living in and around Mdonya Camp has made quite an impression this month when on a beautiful evening, our guests were welcomed back to their tent with him lying on their veranda!
Less famous due to his shy behavior, Fundi Mtoto’s brother was spotted in camp but at night only. He seems to have a bigger comfort zone but doesn’t mind walking around the camp when everybody is asleep.

Sikio Mbovu, the famous resident elephant came back in camp after a few weeks away. There is no denial, we missed him! Nevertheless, this month, he was spotted surrounded by a few other elephant bulls. He has taught them where to get water, but also comforted them while in our presence. Some of them were not strangers to us such as Sikio Mbovu Ndogo, Charlie and Louis. But others had probably never seen humans before and were therefore a little shy around us.

The vervet monkeys in camp welcomed their new arrival, again. The troop had never been so active before.
Another exciting animal was spotted early in camp. The mysterious wild dogs appeared while the sun was rising above the clouds. It was an absolute delight to see those amazing creatures trotting through the camp. Even on safaris, some of our guests got to spend a lot of time with a pack, which was very special to them but also to our team as we are so in love with them.

Safaris with the Mdonya Old River Camp team have not been less exciting to say the least. Between watching a pride of lions taking down a warthog in the heat of the day to admiring them tearing the flesh off a buffalo carcass, our guests could have not been more thrilled.
In a nutshell, Ruaha National Park and Mdonya Old River Camp had never felt that alive in months!
So enough said, December is around the corner and we will be impatiently waiting for you to join us for an amazing Christmas in Africa.

Until we meet again,
Iris, Kingsley and all Mdonya Team.