Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana 2023
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana 2023
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Hippo hunt in Zimbabwe, how it came about.
Under the unrelenting sun, Zambia suffered a crippling drought. The once lush landscapes withered and the mighty hippos, desperate for sustenance, resorted to digging into the parched earth. Unbeknownst to them, they had unearthed a deadly bacteria—anthrax spores, lurking beneath the surface. The helpless creatures began to succumb to the virulent disease, their bodies littering the banks of the mighty Zambezi River.
As hunger gnawed at the bellies of the impoverished locals, the sight of seemingly free meat proved irresistible. The locals butchered the carcasses and soon more than 500 human anthrax cases were reported in the area. As the outbreak grew and the death toll rose, the health department scrambled to warn the people, disseminating notices and offering education on the lethal consequences of consuming the diseased hippos. Yet, the pleas fell on deaf ears. The lure of such tender meat and the hunger that gripped them pushed them to continue their macabre feasts, heedless of the warnings. It was decided to cull 2000 hippos to save the locals from themselves. So began the big trophy hunt for hippos.
Highly territorial and dangerous, they are responsible for many human fatalities and frequently challenge boats. But, fewer of them to do so after the cull. And the anthrax disease petered out.
Zambia is home to the world's largest population of hippos, boasting an estimated 37,100 to over 50,000 across its waterways. The highest concentration of hippos in Africa is in the Luangwa River—around 48 per kilometer
Ernest Ndalama
Ernest Ndalama
I met Ernest and his wife many years ago when I went to help them in Zambia at their Veterianary clinic. A friend of a friend got my name and asked if I would go and help out a veterinarian in Zambia. The first time I went there I took lots of books, this time, computers and surgical equipment. This time both Enest and his wife were both veterinarians. We met at a resort to catch up and visit for a bit.
Barry did not eat them!!
Barry did not eat them!!
Mopane worms, locally known as Ifinkubala or Ifishimu in Zambia, are a popular, nutrient-rich delicacy made from the caterpillars of the Emperor Moth,
I ate them!
I ate them!
They are squeezed, boiled, and dried before being fried with onions and tomatoes—to a crisp texture. Served with nshima, they provide a, high-protein food source. But they taste like worms!
Zambezi River
Zambezi River
Victoria falls were not really that impressive but I was told they are very impressive in the spring after the rainy season. Ok but I have been to Niagra Falls!!
The falls form a natural border between Zimbabwe and Zambia.
I saw swimmers in the river but hippos and crocs lurk in the Zambezi upriver of the waterfall. Swimmers say the crocks and hippos don't get close to the falls. Not sure I would be so blase about it.
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls is known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya ("The Smoke that Thunders"). The massive waterfall is located directly on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Fed by the Zambezi River, it is considered the world's largest sheet of falling water, spanning 1,708 meters wide and falling over 100 meters.
Baboons at Vic Falls
Baboons at Vic Falls
They are theives, close your backpack! Quite fun to watch their antics and the babies hanging on for dear life.
Dr. Livingstone (I Presume)
Dr. Livingstone (I Presume)
Livingstone was a missionary in Africa in the 1800's after studying both medicine and theology in Glasgow. He travelled there several times, once with a wife and small children traversing the entire continent from Luanda on the Atlantic to Quelimane on the Indian Ocean in 1855. Apparently he was the first westerner to do so. That is when he discovered the waterfall and christened it Victoria Falls after Queen Victoria. His statue is on both sides of the falls, on the Zambian and Zimbabwe sides. Last time I was there I was on the other side and took a photo of the the other statue. He is revered in much of Africa for helping stop the slave trade which was already outlawed in the western world by the time he got there but still very much happening in Africa.
Protected Southern White Rhinos
Protected Southern White Rhinos
Southern white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum simum) are the largest of the African rhino species. They are not white, the locals were saying they had a wide mouth but the westerners heard white not wide so they were named, inaccurately.
Armed guards protect the few that are there.
Armed guards protect the few that are there.
It is claimed that there are only 9 or 10 white Rhinos in the Mosi-oa-Tunya park which is why they are guarded against poachers.
Plains zebras (Equus quagga)
Plains zebras (Equus quagga)
Zimbabwe is home to a thriving population of zebras, a dazzel of them everywhere and they are the cutest when they are babies. We saw loads of babies.
The black and white stripes act as camouflage and confusion as herds run (dazzel) their prey. They are unique to each zebra, males having thinner and shorter stripes especially in the back end. The stripes are also a parasite deterent, especially for the tsetse fly. And they are used for thermoregulation causing a microclimate around their bodies.
Don't try to domesticate them, they kick very well and have hurt many people badly who have tried.
We saw them all over, even on peoples lawns so it seemed like they could be domesticated but no......
Giraffe were hard to see, they blend in well even though they are so very tall. You could get so close to them that getting a photo of the whole giraffe was impossible. It is hard to believe they have the same number of cervical vertebrae as we do. Their hearts are very big as they have to pump the blood up to that head way up there. We would be driving along and there would be a giraffe munching on the acacia trees not minding us at all.
By far the best part of the trip was the helicopter ride over the plains in Botswana called the Okavanga Delta. It was a British pilot who lives in Canada (Alberta) who was getting his flying hours in flying tourists in Botswana. Seeing herds from above was amazing and pictures cannot show the beauty. I took a lot of video which is better but not as good as being there.
Pods of Hippos from above
Pods of Hippos from above
A large group of Hippopotami are called pods, herds or a bloat.
Okavango Delta is in the northern part of Botswana that floods each rainy season and we were there in the dry season. they called this area the jewel of the Kalahari Desert. The sparse vegetation does not look like it can sustain all the wildlife we saw.
Botswana is now a wealthy country thanks to the massive diamond mines.
We saw elephants in all countries we visited but Botswana had the most by far. They were quite destructive as noted when driving down the roads and seeing all the downed trees on either side.
The babies had fun throwing water around and making a lot of noise.
River safari
River safari
Such a shallow river, no paddling, just pushing off the bottom with a pole. This man was at the edge of the river for hire with a canoe. He was called a poler!! He had very poor english but then again, we did not speak any Shona or any of the other 16 official languages there. We did not get much history from him like on the big boats where there were english tour guides to explain everything. We stopped on an island for a bit and had a bite to eat which we were handed in a paper bag. Frankly with all the animals around, I was not keen on holding on to food.
Just an optical illusion, the bird is not getting a ride.
Kudu
Kudu
One of the many antelope in Southern part of Africa.
Ngoma Zanga Hotel in Livingstone Zambia
Ngoma Zanga Hotel in Livingstone Zambia
They cool the pools here, not heat them!!
Just Lion around
Just Lion around
On one of our jeep safaris we sat and watched a pride after a kill just hanging out. They act just like domestic cats and look so cuddly! They did not seem to mind us hanging out with them in close proximity.
Chacma Baboons
Chacma Baboons
Sometimes they were called the black footed baboons. They travelled in large groups called troops or flange, band, tribe or congress.
Baboons were everywhere even on the sidewalks at Victoria Falls and warning signs all over about keeping your packs closed to avoid baboon theft.
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