MDONYA OLD RIVER CAMP

News from the wild side

The sun is burning hot and a difference in air pressure and temperatures on the ground are creating dust devils on the dry landscapes rustling up dust all over the bush.
Water is becoming much scarcer and important resource, a relief is found along the Great Ruaha River and around several springs, for the animals this is the only way to survive.
This is the peak of the dry season, hard and cruel.
Life is a continuously changing, no exceptions in the bush and a promise of rain is encouraging us with grey clouds approaching and the clear scent of rain all around. Baobab trees are starting to flower and a cool breeze in the evening refreshes our minds.

Sightings have been good of numerous prides of lions along the sand rivers, the massive buffalo herd following the water sources, elephants with some very young calves, leopards, herds of herbivores and even a rare encounter with a Caracal!
In camp there has been a decline of elephants wandering through as they wonder other areas of the park searching for food.
We have however experienced a baby boom in our resident Vervet monkeys’ family with adult females carrying tiny babies clinging to their stomach.
Birdlife is increasing noticeably with many small granivores hoping around and some migrating species appearing.
We have had very active nocturnal animals with frequent pictures of civet, lions, leopards and even on several occasions two “honeymooning” leopards pictured together and even occasional serval sightings on our camera trap. Watch the video of this month nightlife..

October in Mdonya: heat, dust and dreams!
By Rebecca, Andrea and all Mdonya Team.

LAKE MANZE CAMP

Sightings of the month

October saw the start of the Impala dropping the young ones in anticipation of the rain and the new growth of the sweet grasses found in the Selous. Wherever you go they are bouncing and running about celebrating their new lives and the chance at life. Obviously this new crop does bring out the plentiful predators that are able to pick them off due to their inexperience .There have been many sightings of Lions, Leopard and Hyena joining in on this feast of young Impala. The circle of life here does have a meaning.

Unfortunately in their desperation to find water in these drying up ponds many young Impala are getting stuck. Our guides, drivers and guest have managed to rescue a good couple of them from an untimely death. Thanks guys.

As the smaller lakes and pools of water dry up the animals have moved ever closer to Lake Manze that still has plenty of water. This in turn has allowed us to have more sightings of animals in and around camp. A new group of eight elephants have made their presence known feasting on the Doum Palm fruits around camp.

Laygos our resident elephant is still a major treat with his show off attitude. Having a lie down nap next to the entrance to the dining area …. again …. priceless.

Thanks to all our valued guests that visited Lake Manze and helped make our days shorter. See you all again someday.

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

FANJOVE PRIVATE ISLAND

News from the water side

This month Hassan was on leave for some days and relieved by Malcolm who wants to share with you his happiness in seeing that a change is possible! We join Malcolm in thanking you all for having chosen to stay on Fanjove Island hence supported the conservation of this unique but delicate angle of the world.

“I have been snorkeling in Fanjove since the past 10 years. Not every body knows that when we took over the island it’s conservation status was not good at all, since the itinerant fishermen who were using it were very destructive. The corals were pretty destroyed and no fish.
The other day i was checking all the corals and i was amazed to see how coral once dead have now come back to life. This is something that now i can say makes me proud and makes me realise how all the struggle and effort we went through in the past 10 years were worth the results (when we started the process of renting the island from the village of Songosongo).
The colors of the underlife off the beach are stunning and teaming with fishes of all kinds.
I felt very good to see what we have achieved thanks to your presence!
Thank you all for having helped and for the continuous support you are giving us to this conservation project! As we can say tourism can and does really help conservation!”, by Malcolm.

We hope to see you again on Fanjove Private Island,
By Hassan, Hakim and all Fanjove Team.