MDONYA OLD RIVER CAMP

News from the wild side

All the staff at Mdonya Old River Camp would like to wish our readers Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We started the month with the exciting news that the buffalos had returned to Mdonya area, in many occasions we saw small herds of 50 individuals hanging around grazing in search of possible water sources constituted by waterholes formed by the rains, and nutrient growing grass, abundant in the area. Is a really good news because we had not seen any buffalo near camp since the start of the season.

On several occasions this month we have had special dinner time entertainment as the Mdonya pride of lions walked past camp. In two times we’ve been able to spot them with flashlights while they were passing into the old riverbed just in front of the bush fire place, all the pride are stating their territory searching for possible preys maybe buffalos, giving us wonderful exiting moments.

Another pride, the Mwayembe pride, not far from the camp, was surprising and giving the guests very good sightings of stalking and taking down three different buffalo at once! What a wonderful and dramatic hunting scene of lions kill. Watch the video (the video contains scenes that some viewers may consider disturbing).

The rains have properly set in now with dark and stormy skies, making gorgeous sunsets and stunning landscapes. Thunder and lightning bolts illuminating the dark nights. The Mdonya river started to flow, more or less 30 – 35 cm of running water into the riverbed renewing the life processes and giving more opportunities to the ecosystem to prosper and grow. We have on occasion been able to hear from camp the sound of the water crashing down the Mdonya waterfalls. Inspiring.

A happy, peaceful Christmas and 2016 to you all,
By Rebecca, Andrea and all Mdonya Team.

LAKE MANZE CAMP

Sightings of the month

The festive season is upon us and we wish all our guests, past and future, a Merry Christmas and a fantabulous new year.

A big thanks must also go to all the staff at Lake Manze for a job well done and the guys at Essential Destinations , our head office, for all the support and guidance throughout the year. May your Christmas stockings overflow with good cheer.

We have had some good rains in December and this has given the animals a reason to celebrate the extra growth of the sweet fresh grasses of the Selous. The lake has finally filled with the fresh rain water flowing into it, to the delight of the many Hippos, Crocodiles and the Catfish that have been buried in the mud. The juvenile Fish Eagles have been bellowing their famous African call in celebration of the many fish around.

Wild dog sightings of the Beho Beho pack have continued throughout the month although distances from various sightings were many kilometers apart. The dogs are really on the move looking for prey.

Various kills by Lions have been seen and reported with everyone joining in from the Hyenas to vultures and eagles. Some great sightings.

The big group of 24 elephants has been sticking in and around camp for quite a while now with guests commenting that * they are destroying your finely manicured gardens*. Elephants will be elephants.

Laygos popped in on a couple of occasions doing what looked like stretching exercises. The pictures will tell the story.

Hope everyone is enjoying a fantastic festive season and that your travels will continue throughout 2016.

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

FANJOVE PRIVATE ISLAND

News from a peaceful island

Dear Friends,
Another year is coming to the end.

Team Fanjove will remember 2015 for all the positive changes that it brought, for exciting challenges, for bright achievements and of course for all those amazing guests whom we had the opportunity to welcome.

It was an unforgettable year for all of us but we are sure that next year is going to be even better!

We celebrated the beginning of 2016 together with all our team of almost 30 people as well as with our guests from around the world, who joined us to celebrate this special occasion with a Fan-taSea New Year Fire Beach Dinner.

We had a special trip to the near by sandbank and a watched the final sunset of the year while cruising on a dhow boat with a glass of champagne.

We wish to all of you, your families and friends a very Happy New Year!

Hope to see you at Fanjove in 2016!!

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