Ninety lions (90) and a couple of barred owls.

[Bush dog]

@JayRon

 

Thank you so much!  And yes, Zimbabwe is indeed a fantastic country.  What upsets me a little and saddens a certain number of tourism professionals that I have met locally over the last 8 years is the fact that the bashing, that the country has suffered over the last 15 years from certain political lobbies and others, is always somewhat present while this one does not deserve it and, in my opinion, has never deserved it.  I recently read on this forum the question of a member who wondered if Zimbabwe is a stable country and that he or she was thinking of taking Kenya into consideration when Kenya always seemed to me not necessarily less stable but certainly more dangerous than Zimbabwe.  I hope you can make this self-drive trip.  I think you won't be disappointed.  Seeing so many lions together is indeed a spectacle that we never tire of.

[Bush dog]

 

@Atravelynn

 

I'm not far from ninety, two still remain to be seen.  Well seen, I also like the photo of the zebra and the hornbill.

[JayRon]

On 12/28/2023 at 2:35 PM, Bush dog said:

Thank you so much!  And yes, Zimbabwe is indeed a fantastic country.  What upsets me a little and saddens a certain number of tourism professionals that I have met locally over the last 8 years is the fact that the bashing, that the country has suffered over the last 15 years from certain political lobbies and others, is always somewhat present while this one does not deserve it and, in my opinion, has never deserved it.  I recently read on this forum the question of a member who wondered if Zimbabwe is a stable country and that he or she was thinking of taking Kenya into consideration when Kenya always seemed to me not necessarily less stable but certainly more dangerous than Zimbabwe.  I hope you can make this self-drive trip.  I think you won't be disappointed.  Seeing so many lions together is indeed a spectacle that we never tire of.

 

I totally agree about the bashing the country have received. I was there first time in 2007 when most things where running low like fuel, milk and bread. They still had their own currency at that time, but the inflation was skyrocketin. But we never felt unsafe and people were still friendly even the police  And I also think that Zimbabwe probably is a bit better/safer than a lot of other countries in Africa. 

The biggest obstacle for not being able to do the safari is that I am already going to Botswana for 3 weeks in july/august and, as you know, you can only use your money once  

Looking forward to seeing the last 2 lions  

[Bush dog]

We returned in the afternoon.  They were still there inactive and lying down, either under the bushes on the tree line, or in the trench, where I had seen them drinking in the morning, which, due to its humidity, gave them a little coolness. 

 

 

 

The next day was very calm, at least in the morning.

 

Purple Roller.

 

 

A few hippos, solitary males, probably ejected from their pod after a last lost fight in defense of their territory.  Considering the multiple scars on their sides, there must have been quite a few.   

 

 

 

The lions were apparently no longer there.

 

In the afternoon, we went back, still no lions.  So we decided to head to Buffalo Point.

 

Some species seen along the way: double-banded sandgrouse, side-striped jackals, great white heron.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again no lions.  Returning to the tree line, we turned right towards the east on the road which runs alongside it for a last section, very short in fact, which we had not yet explored.  There is no road anymore because the terrain becomes very rocky and hilly.  They were there hidden at the bottom of the rocks.

 

[Bush dog]

Lions on the rocks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[madaboutcheetah]

That's a lot of lions, Mike .....  I've only been to Mana in Zim.  Gonerzhou is on my list although not expecting much in term of cats - hoping for dogs though  

[Bush dog]

@madaboutcheetah

 

Indeed, Hari, it's a lot of lions!  As much as last year in Hwange, 70.  I also was very lucky with them in Matusadona.  

[Bush dog]

The next day we went to the place where we had left them the day before.  They were no longer there but just a little further away, on the other side of the rocks.  The good surprise was that they had been joined by the male, already seen previously, and two new females.  The pride was complete, 20 individuals.  We were able to observe them for a brief moment before the male gave the signal to leave.  They headed in a direction where it was not possible to follow them, probably the one taken by the buffaloes two days earlier.

  

 

 

 

 

A few pictures taken on the way back to camp ;  black-winged stilt and hippo.

 

 

 

Some birds seen at lunch time in the camp.

 

Arrow-marked babbler

 

 

White helmet shrike

 

 

Red-billed hornbill

 

 

 

 

 

[Bush dog]

 

The afternoon outing took place on the boat.

 

Elephant on the rocky shore, African fish eagle, hippos, crocodiles and African pied wagtail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bush dog]

Some variations on very cooperative striated herons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Their nest.

 

[Atravelynn]

Great animal shots but the glimpse of those pale aqua eggs sitting in the scraggly nest within the tree are a precious sight.

[Bush dog]

@Atravelynn

 

Thanks a lot for this last comment and also once more for all those previously made in this report.

[John M.]

   Those hippo images are special. I like the croc too.

[Bush dog]

Last pictures of the outing on the lake.

 

Black-winged stilts.

 

 

 

 

African fish eagles.

 

 

 

 

 

The dead trees.

 

 

 

[Bush dog]

Here I am at the last day of this trip.  The bartender had previously informed me that barred owls were nesting in the camp near the bar and that we could regularly hear them if not see them mid-morning.  So, I decided not to go on a game drive so that I could see them if possible.  I took the opportunity to wake up a little later.  As soon as I got out of bed, I noticed a bird landing on a branch near my room.  After wondering what it was (maybe I wasn't fully awake yet), I realized it was a barred owl.  So, from the inside, I first took a few photos, before daring to go out to get closer.  This didn't frighten it at all, probably used to the presence of human beings.

 

 

At the end of breakfast, a waiter came to tell me that the couple was there. I heard them before I saw them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grey-headed bush shrike

 

 

Black-headed oriole

 

 

The afternoon game drive was very calm.

 

 

The next day my flight to Victoria Falls, where the weather had started to cloud over, but still without rain, was quite early.  I spent the last night at the Palm River Hotel.  It is a new hotel, built along the Zambezi by the owners of Ilala Lodge.  It's much better, especially the food.  The only slight drawback is that it is 4 kilometers from the center.

This report is complete. I would like to thank everyone who showed interest in it and especially those who expressed it and even more those who added comments.  Zimbabwe is a fabulous country in every respect which deserves better than the low interest shown by some.

[AndrewB]

Just love those Owls @Bush dogand I have been known to stick around camp and look rather than drive out on occasion.

Thank you for your report.

[Zim Girl]

Thank you very much for this trip report @Bush dog.  I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it and obviously agree with you that Zimbabwe is a wonderful country. You totally captured the 'feel' of Hwange, and it was lovely to see pictures from Matusadona again.

I am a massive owl fan so also loved the pictures at the end.

[Atravelynn]

And there's the Barred Owls.  Excellent report from start to finish!

[BRACQUENE]

On 1/10/2024 at 12:08 PM, Bush dog said:

Zimbabwe is a fabulous country in every respect which deserves better than the low interest shown by some.

I couldn’t agree more Mike ; I have been twice to Zimbabwe in 2021 ( Mana Pools ) and 2022 (Gonarezhou) and those two were probably our best safaris until now ; great TR like always !

[michael-ibk]

Thanks Mike, great report with gorgeous photos - as always. Fully agree about ZIm - whenever someone asks me about my favourite safari country this is my answer.

Edited January 13 by michael-ibk

[wilddog]

fabulous report @Bush dog, and I agree with @Zim Girl, lovely to see Matusodona again. It's been awhile

[Bush dog]

@AndrewB @Zim Girl @Atravelynn @BRACQUENE @michael-ibk @wilddog

 

Thanks a lot for your much appreciated comments!

[offshorebirder]

Thank you so much for this excellent trip report Mike.   Great ending with the Barred Owlet and Bush-Shrike photos.  Bush Shrikes in general are a photographic nemesis of mine. 

 

Based on your advice at the end, I need to move a visit to Zimbabwe up several notches on the old bucket list.  I would love to combine it with a visit to Lower Zambezi NP in Zambia some time.

 

[John M.]

   Fine report as usual, Mike.Thank you.

   I would have liked to see more of Zimbabwe. I was very interested in your Matusadona experience. My most enjoyable days were spent walking in nearby Chizarira. Hwange not so much, except for tracking a black rhino on foot.

   Personal preferences can be interesting. My favorite accommodation at Victoria Falls was the A'Zambezi because it's out of town, a few kilometres upstream from the falls. Not a 'slight drawback' for me 😁

[Kitsafari]

lovely shots of the owls - worth giving up a morning drive for!