11 May 2009

Well what can I say; it has been a fantastic week for game viewing leaving our guests over the week-end a little spoilt for choice. Things have really been happening here and Katuma Bush Lodge and the surrounding Katisunga Plain. Check this out:
Two male lions about 1,5 km from camp, these are two brothers of which Katuma Bush Lodge forms a part of their territory. The rest of their pride with which we had frequent sightings of over the week end consist of, four Lioness and three young cubs. One of the other lionesses is very pregnant and is due to haveher cubs any day now. Another exciting find this weekend was a hyena den not more than 100m from our main deck. The den consits of two adults and one young pup. Other sightings include a pride of fifteen lion on the Katuma River Road, another male lion lying next to a dead elephant not far from the rangers post. We have had a matriacle herd of about 15 ellies in camp, as well as a herd of about 100 zebra in front of our main deck . We are still seeing impressive herds of eland and I have had my first ever sighting of a bohor reedbuck. We also have a young family of bush-buck, male female and a young one living close to the lodge.

Our birding list is coming along nicely even though it’s early days yet. We have recorded 42 spieces so far which include some of the following:
Crowned crane, ground hornbill, purple crested turaco, long toed lapwing, saddle billed stork, white backed vulture, palm nut vulture, African fish eagle, African crowned eagle, brown snake eagle, bateleur eagle, bare faced go-away bird, magpie shrike, yellow-billed oxpecker and ruppels long-tailed starling, just to name a few.
This is really the time of year to be exploring Katavi National Park, the game viewing and birding have been excellent in the four weeks that my wife and I have been here.

Kind regards
Geoff Mullen.