Bushtracks Expeditions

Days 1 - 8

November 17 – 24, 2007

Check back soon for a more detailed itinerary. Educational and insightful wildlife and cultural encounters include:

The Mango Trail Every November the Wild Mango, Cordyla africana, produces copious quantities of bright yellow fruit that the valley's elephants can't resist. One massive tree stands in the grounds of Mfuwe Lodge, and every day a matriarch, known as "Wonky Tusk," leads her family up the steps, through reception to the tree to feed on the day's crop. Katy Payne and Derek Solomon will be on hand to talk about the elephants' behavior.

Elephant Watch Late each afternoon hundreds of elephants, lead by various matriarchs, follow a set route across the Luangwa River to go into the villages to raid the crops. You will have the opportunity to assist with a research project identifying matriarchs and other individuals crossing the river. Once again Katy Payne will be on one of the safari vehicles helping to identify important group members and discussing the many behaviors that you will see during this amazing spectacle.

The Chili Fence Project Unfortunately elephants are notorious crop raiders, and hundreds leave the national park each night to venture into the local villages to feed on crops such as maize, millet and commercial mangoes. Recent trials in Zambia and other parts of Africa show that the use of hot chilies mixed with grease and old engine oil and smeared onto strings or ropes around a plot, effectively repel these animals. Join Rachel McRobb from the South Luangwa Conservation Society on a workshop at a nearby village and help them to erect the fence and smear the repellent.

Art in the Bush Bring your paints and sketchbooks and join Jonathan Truss on outings in the bush to improve your techniques or simply learn about wildlife art in the field.

Community Interaction There will be outings into Mfuwe village to visit the Chiwawatala primary school, sponsored by Mfuwe Lodge, and meet its children and teachers. At "Tribal Textiles," a community based project, you will be able to see how the stunning hand-painted textiles are made. The South Luangwa Conservation Society is responsible for anti-poaching activities in the park - meet the scouts and learn about their work.

Photo of the Week Competition Submit your best digital photographs each day and obtain expert advice from the three professionals. Then enter one or more for the competition to be judged on the final day with the opportunity to win prizes.

Fishing Parties By early November all of the migrant birds will have arrived in the Valley boosting the total number of potential species to over 470. "Fishing Parties" formed of huge numbers of storks, herons and egrets feed avidly in the drying pools as fish become easy prey and enormous colonies of brightly colored Carmine bee-eaters nest in the banks of the Luangwa River—a photographers dream come true.

Gala Dinner and Performance The local theatre group will present their play "The Horn of Sorrow:-a superb presentation on the plight of the rhino in Africa.